Nintendo Wii Console (Includes Wii Sports)

I’m a little late reviewing this item, having bought it just over 9 years ago, but having played it again recently, I’m compelled to put some words down about the Wii, as a decade on It’s still a fantastic piece of kit. I’m also conscious that there are still people buying the console for the first time who might appreciate the view of a seasoned user.I’ve been a gamer since my childhood (I’m now 42), and have owned many different bits of gaming hardware over the years, starting with a Sinclair ZX Spectrum back in the early eighties, through many generations of Sega, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft consoles since then. Without exception, the progression has always been represented by incremental increases in processing power of each new generation of hardware, with the competition always trying frantically to out-perform each other. Usually the primary indicator of this was graphical capability, with players being blown away by the new levels of realism afforded by bigger, better video chips.But when Nintendo launched the Wii, it was already behind the latest generation machines from Sony (PS3) and Microsoft (Xbox360) and it was widely known that the Wii simply couldn’t compete in terms of raw power with either of those. In fact, it was dismissed by many as a failure before it was launched, purely on the strength of its inferior hardware. The focus on ‘fun’ through the crossover with physical activity through the motion controllers was written-off as a novelty fad that would soon pass, with many proclaiming the console would only really appeal to the younger generation, and certainly not “real gamers”.How wrong they were. Nintendo were certainly taking a gamble, but it paid off big time. Not only was the Wii fun, but it engaged a wider demographic than either Microsoft or Sony had ever hoped to court with their consoles. Young children, teenagers, right through middle-aged and elderly players. The versatility offered by the Wiimote controllers to interact with games in a much more subtle and organic way opened the door for a whole host of wonderfully creative games, and even tried and tested genres had a new angle.The free Wii Sports disc bundled with the Wii gives a great introduction to the potential of the hardware and the motion controllers, with bowling and tennis being a definite favourite for many a rainy family afternoon (or wine-fuelled adults evening!). Then there are games like Cooking Mama. Who would have thought chopping onions would even be a thing on a video-game, let alone it actually being a physically taxing task, and much more fun than in actual real life? Putting an entire recipe together and seeing how well it turns out is an absolute blast, and when in competition with another real player, things get even more fun. Then there’s Trauma Centre, which takes the concept to an altogether more serious (albeit still hilariously fun) level. You take on the role of an upcoming surgeon, carrying out actual surgical procedures on patients, using the Wiimote and Nunchuk controllers to cut the patient open before manipulating various tools to carry out increasingly more complex and sweat-inducing procedures – getting ranked on your performance each time. Titles like these just could not be replicated on the PS3 or Xbox360, for all their technical power.There are literally hundreds of titles for the Wii that are worth playing. Sure, there are some that are duds, and the Wii versions of the majority of multi-platform games are not a patch on the PS3 or Xbox360 versions of the same game. But the point of owning a Wii is for all the games that do not, and cannot exist on PS3 or Xbox360. Thinking of the Wii as an alternative is all wrong – it’s a completely different proposition. If you already own a PS3/Xbox360, or PS4/Xbox One for that matter, you should have a Wii as well! It’s true that the Wii-U has since been released, and is a fantastic evolution in itself, but the Wii is still a very relevant console in 2016 as it is still such undeniable fun, has such a huge back catalogue of games and peripherals, and is available at a fraction of the price.Ultimately the Wii was a landmark moment in gaming. One that should be applauded, as a victory for gaming itself, over the mindless pursuit for bigger, faster, stronger hardware. The Wii did, and still does fire the imagination, and is a reminder why Nintendo is so very important to the gaming industry.

Great quality, easy ti install, brilliant selection of games and wellness activities

Discs wouldn’t read for the wii

Works ok but one wii remote had problems with the movement in a game and i had to get a new wii remote for it apart from that my mum and i are happy with it wish the game that came with it came in its og box but can not have everything

I am very happy with my purchaseIt arrived when it said it wouldAnd it's exactly as it was described

Thanks to Amazon, we had a console on 9th December. Resisted the temptation to sell it on EBAY like everybody else seems to be doing so here are my reflections.Beautifully compact and unobtrusive - was very surprised to find no digital output for sound (to play over a surround sound setup)but here is the rub - graphics are very good and more than adequate, stereo/prologic sound is again more than adequate. We don't have the RGB scart lead and even over the standard composite video lead when displayed on a B&O Avant RF, images are crisp and colours vibrant. Set-up is 5 minutes out-of-the box.By far the most impressive thing about the Wii is that everyone - of all ages - wants to play it. No console in our house has ever been used by my wife of her own will, and there she was playing tennis and ignoring the pleas of the wailing kids to have a go. It really attracts 'non-gamers' with the use of simple movements. Give it two to three minutes to get the basic idea of the handheld control and you'll be away.I bought the Console and also ordered 'Play' which comes with an extra controller - I think we'll need all four controllers working over the Christmas period to be honest!!!!I deal in premium audio visual goods for a living and it is strikingly obvious that Ninetendo have struck a good balance with the Wii console - sometimes High Res images and Dolby Digital/7.1 outputs are simply not necessary. My initial impressions are that the console will widen the appeal of gaming and make people prance around like fools enjoying themselves with other 'non-gamers' amongst friends or extended family.We are using the Sports games bundled with the Console and those we are buying effectively for free in 'Play' (for the price of an extra controller which comes with the game)to get used to the console and the new controller which is highly impressive.I can only think that as developers get to grips with the potentials of the new hand-held controllers the games will get more and more impressive and enjopyable. Well done, I think the Wii will take a sizeable chunk of the market share based on my first experiences with the family.

Product came fine as described, slightly scuffed but that's fine, I was buying a used console. HOWEVER, the wii came with all the previous owners data still on it (save games, miis and store info). Had to do a factory reset. Be more cautious seller!!

Item came in really good nick and seller very friendly definitely a 5 star rating, and recommended to anyone buying consoles and games