by Wayne Reeves

Created on: February 04, 2008   Last Updated: January 27, 2009

The Wii has captured the imagination of old and new gamers around the world. Nintendo have usually suffered at the hands of Sony and Microsoft in the console battle in recent years but not anymore. Quite what makes the Wii experience special cannot be fully answered until you play it.

It has been well-documented that the Wii isn't in the same class when it comes to processing power, but what it does make up for is sheer gaming fun. The key to its success is the motion controlled remote and nun-chuck, when utilised properly, can lead to an experience that few gamers have had before.

And this is where the Wii can truly be considered next-generation, it is a new level of interactivity, a bridging of the player and game so both become as one. You'd never think that actually taking part in virtual bowling could be this deep in a game; it's part of the Wii sports that comes packaged as standard with the console. You'll be twisting the remote left and right and getting the ball to spin in next to no time, trying you're hardest to better your score.

That is where Nintendo have struck console gold, accessible gaming for everybody. Not every game is family orientated but there are plenty of games already on the market with the idea of multi-player, multi-generational gaming in mind. Now serious gaming doesn't have to be the sole preserve of the teens to mid-20's, the age spectrum has broadened and gaming has grown up.

It would be nothing without solid titles in its games library, and Super Mario Galaxy is one such title. Graphically it's a work of art, and it puts to shame any critics that say the Wii is inferior when stood up against the Xbox 360 and PS3. A stunning world is realised, Mario has never looked as good as this, and a perfect demo of just what a Wii can really do in the right developers hands.

Once you get over the wow factor, the game is virtually flawless in its design, creativity and enjoyment factor. From stages that involve riding on the back of a manta ray, on a water course in the sky, to running through a course on top of a big ball, the game throws up different ideas on every stage. The Wii remote is used in many different and new ways from level to level, each feels unique, challenging and most importantly fun.

Nintendo have also seen fit to have a Wii shop that you can access via Wi-fi, this enables gamers to browse the virtual console titles, many past and popular titles from the NES, Mega-Drive, SNES, Gamecube, and even Neo Geo can be downloaded and saved to the Wii memory. With new games added every week, this addition is another reason why a Wii can be considered a solid purchase now and for the future.

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