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Johnny Minkley is a games expert for BBC Radio 1, editor of Eurogamer TV and former editor of the industry trade weekly MCV. He's played games for more than 20 years and has been writing about them for more than seven. Here he picks the top games consoles. Click to view Top 5 Video Game Consoles.
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Best For Families (Nintendo Wii) |
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 The console originally codenamed "Revolution" has delivered just that. Ignore the daft name and get your hands a games machine unlike any other. With its superb motion-sensing controllers, wallet-friendly price and focus on uncomplicated, active fun, Wii will be enjoyed by every member of the family. |
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When Nintendo came to design the successor to its modestly successful GameCube console, it asked itself two simple questions: what is stopping certain people from playing video games? And how can we turn these people into gamers?
The answer the Japanese gaming giant came to for the first poser was equally straightforward: the input device. Traditional video games controllers have followed a similar, tried-and-tested path for years, Nintendo concluded, with PlayStation’s DualShock pad seen as the default design.
But while using a joypad is second-nature to the PlayStation generation, for many mums and dads it’s nothing less then a mind-bending, multi-buttoned Mensa challenge. To answer its second question, therefore, Nintendo homed in on the one control device everybody is comfortable with: the TV remote.
The Nintendo Wii controller looks and feels like a telly remote, with one crucial difference: motion-sensing. And here the ‘Wiimote’, as it’s neatly dubbed, literally and metaphorically sweeps away the barriers to entry that formerly caused the uninitiated to recoil in Luddite terror.
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Back to the future |
In direct contrast to the multimedia home entertainment powerhouses of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Wii is unabashed in its absolute and overwhelming commitment to pure gaming. Wii does not output in high definition; it doesn’t play DVD movies let alone next-gen formats; it doesn’t have a hard drive, and you won’t be plugging in your iPod to pump tunes through the TV. Wii is all about games; but games, crucially, of a kind you’ve never before experienced.
“This is the most innovative games console ever,” hails gadget mag T3. “If you’re tired of playing all the same-old same-old games like Killing Zombies 6 and Driving Very Fast 9, you need to try it.” Wii also scooped the Best Hardware award in the prestigious Game Critic Awards 2006.
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How it works |
 The Wiimote gives full, razor-sharp 360 degree movement; its versatility is amazing. Swing it like a golf club; leap to smash down a lob in tennis; hold it like handlebars to pump a balloon; aim your weapon with pinpoint accuracy – the implementation is breathtaking, the potential mindblowing.
The controller also features a standard directional pad and small smattering of buttons, plus an in-built speaker which barks out sound effects to heighten your sense of immersion, although this does sound a little cheap and tinny.
While some games can be controlled solely with the Wiimote, others require the addition of the ‘Nunchuk’ – an analogue joystick attachment which allows for movement while the Wiimote is employed for more specific tasks. E.g. move your character around with the stick while waving the Wiimote to swing their sword.
The basic Wii package comes with one Wiimote and Nunchuk add-on, plus a free copy of the brilliant Wii Sports, a compendium of simple yet thrilling mini-games based on tennis, baseball, boxing and ten-pin bowling. Anyone can pick up the controller and start playing tennis simply by swinging it like a racquet. No manuals, no hassle, instant fun.
Many games also support multiplayer. There’s little to rival the thrill of a family or group of friends spread out across the living room, frantically swishing here and there in a game of doubles tennis.
However, bear in mind that extra controllers come at a price. Individual Wiimotes retail for around £30, with the Nunchuk weighing it at a further £15. £179 is relatively cheap for a home console; but throw in the extra three controllers you need for full multiplayer and the figure rises dramatically.
Wii is not just about quick-fix, quirky mini-games, though. Proof that the console is just as comfortable handling sprawling adventure epics was provided by launch title The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. “It’s probably the best Zelda game so far, and that means that Twilight Princess is one of the best games of all time,” writes BBC Collective.
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World Wii Web |
 Wii also offers a steadily evolving online service, broken down into various ‘channels’. The Mii Channel is geared towards younger gamers, and lets you create your own 3D avatars for use in games and online; the Photo Channel allows you to view and manipulate images stored on an SD card; and the Wii Shop Channel lets you download classic video games from NES, Super NES, N64, Mega Drive and TurboGrafx formats via a service called Virtual Console.
Prices vary according to age, e.g. NES games are 500 points, N64 1,000. 2,000 points costs £14.99, which can be bought online through Wii or as a scratchcard with a special code from your local games store. Nintendo has arguably the strongest back catalogue in games, and the process is simple enough for ‘net novices to negotiate with ease.
Many classic games work via the Wiimote by holding it horizontally as an old-school joypad. However, some either require an Nintendo 64 pad (you can plug four into the console via dedicated ports), or a special Classic Controller designed specifically for this use and which retails for around £15.
You can also download Internet browser software for free, but it’s clumsy and slow to use in its present form. And if you have broadband, the chances are you already have a home computer significantly better at surfing.
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Easy pleasey |
 Wii is great for parents who want to be able to engage with their kids on a fair and equal basis. And the nature of the Wiimote means there’s an active element to play, as opposed to the entirely sedentary nature of gaming as many imagine it. Wii is the perfect console for busy households, offering gaming that is fundamentally inclusive, and bags of fun. |
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Recommended retail price: £179.99/$249.99
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