Nintendo Wii: a Gamers Console?

We've all heard about the popularity of the Nintendo Wii. Its sales dwarf that of the PS3 and the XBox 360, but is it really the right console for you? Well, it all depends on what type of gamer you are. The Nintendo Wii is a fun console, that can not be denied, but is it a console for a hardcore gamer? I think not, and here's my opinion on why gamers should steer clear of the Wii, if they're looking for a hardcore gaming console.

Games:

Nintendo Wii games are just that, games. That may sound like a strange declaration, but just listen for 1 moment. The Nintendo Wii games are fun to play, and extremely thrilling for short periods of time, but that's all they are. They aren't as immersive as XBox 360 games, they aren't as graphically pleasing as the PS3 or the XBox 360 and they don't suck you in the same way the PS3 does.

And in terms of selection, the Nintendo Wii is effectively useless. While it has some entertaining classic games like Super Mario and Zelda, it doesn't have any big-boys like Halo, Grand Theft Auto, Killzone. It is thoroughly lacking major names.

Online:

The Wii has no online, and while people looking for a small bit of entertainment won't find this too bad, true gamers will see this as a major turnoff. The simple fact is, gamers want good games, but they also want games with “replay value”. With no online ability, “replay value” is seriously cut down on. If you finish a game on the PS3 or XBox 360, you can always play it online against other players, in a constantly developing universe. If you finish a Wii game, all you can do is replay the same campaign or trade it in for less cash than you spent on it.

Graphics:

While the Wii's graphics are good for last generation consoles, it can't survive against modern graphics. The simple fact is, Nintendo can only provide us with Cartoon based games, they can't master real-life graphics the same way Microsoft and Sony can. They can't bring you the graphics of Grand Theft Auto or the detail of Killzone. They can muster together a new Mario game, which may be entertaining, but it just is not enough for modern gamers.

The simple fact is that the Wii is fun and entertaining, but that isn't all that hardcore gamers of today want. They want the beauty of Halo, they want the expansiveness of Grand Theft Auto, they want the detail of Killzone, and most importantly, they want it for every single game.

If you're looking for a fun time, the Wii might just be for you, but if you want a hardcore games console, you'll need to invest in a XBox 360 or a PS3.