We've correlated the reviews from numerous other sites to give you a fair picture of what the Wii is actually like.
Farcical they may be, but new console launches are a staple of the industry and Wii represents something truly 'new' in an industry often criticised - not always fairly - for being unoriginal. It's exquisitely designed, superb value at £179 and, though it may not be graphically advanced, playing Wii is an unique experience in gaming.
It's not a perfect experience. The Wii Channel system feels rather underdeveloped and a rechargeable remote would be welcome, but these are minor quibbles for what is otherwise a console without genuine comparison.
The Wii Remote, the object on which Wii above all else relies, is a wondrous piece of design managing to be both easy to use while adding a level of depth unsurpassed by anything we've ever called a 'controller' in the past.
Wii is rather like a white Christmas: it may not happen often, but when it does it is well worth the wait. [TrustedReviews.com]
Is the Wii worth picking up? It all depends on what you're looking for. If you've been clamouring for an all-purpose next-generation multimedia box with blinding hi-def graphics, the Wii will be a disappointment. But Nintendo was never competing in that arena anyway: the Wii is focused squarely on delivering fun and innovative gameplay, leaving Sony and Microsoft to battle it out at the high end.
The Wiimote and its motion-sensing, pseudo-virtual-reality controls are the biggest draws of the console, and its online capabilities, Wii Channels, Virtual Console and GameCube backwards-compatibility are just a thick, sweet layer of icing on an already tasty cake. With a price tag of just £180 -- far less than those of its competitors -- and the included Wii Sports disc that provides mindless fun out of the box, the Nintendo Wii won't disappoint. Whether it will be merely a short-lived novelty or a sea-change in videogaming, only time will tell. [CNet UK]
Pros: • Motion sensitivity • User-friendliness • Selection of games • Third-party support • Appropriate for all ages • Free wired/wireless connectivity • Backwards-compatibility • Retro gaming emulation
Cons: • Less powerful than rivals • No true HDTV support • DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-ray playback missing • Sensor bar required • AA-battery destroying remotes • Lacks hard-drive, online music/video downloads
