Any Wii remorse out there?

[rhoelsch]

Before I get a Wii (or at least try to look for one), I wanted to ask those who own one if the novelty wears off after a few months... I can get one this month, or hold steady and look for a PS3 for the holidays (not an Xbox person)...my wife has expressed interest in a Wii, and typically shuns gaming alltogether... your experiences, please

[DaveMMR]

Nope, no Wiimorse (uggh - sorry about that) here.  The Wii has gotten plenty of play in our place.  Friends come over and the little machine doesn't get a rest.  I haven't gotten bored with it yet either.  I can download old games if I'm not into playing the new ones at the moment.  Plus the Wii is a very attractive machine to the non-gamers (especially wives and girlfriends). 

That being said, don't buy it for the "novelty" of it.  That will wear thin.  Buy it because it has some genuinely good games for it (Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid 3, LOZ: Twilight Princess, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, etc.) and for it's social possibilities (Wii Sports with the wife, Warioware with a group of friends, etc.).  If Nintendo first party games aren't your cup of tea (and you don't see yourself playing much with others) than maybe you can pass.

[PhiDeltCraiger]

I do have some Wiimorse. I bought it over a year ago and played it consistenly for about nine months. Then I bought the 360. Now the Wii is only played when friends or family are over. Bottom line is the Wii is best for multiplayer/party games. If you are going to be mainly playing solo get the 360 or PS3.

That being said: The 360 is much better than the PS3. The playstation may be more power full and slightly better graphics it fails in the bringing the full gaming experience. The xbox live service is much better than sony's. More games are out for the 360. However, the PS3 has bluray. Its really about personaly preference in the end.

Just my $.02

[knave]

I'm really happy that I bought a Wii last summer.  I play it all the time, though I also play a lot of Gamecube games that I missed out on.  If I were to go back, I'd buy it all over again.  I love playing tennis or bowling with the wife and kids.

I did find that after a while it wasn't the control style that kept me coming back but the fun and more active gameplay. (or the GC games)

[ChadTower]

I'm probably one of the only people that has a GC sitting next to the Wii.   

[havic626]

i like playing the wii, but my kids LOVE playing it.  Plus its also fun to watch family and friends wear themself out playing the boxing on the sports games it comes with.

[AtomSmasher]

No Wii remorse here, but I do agree that if you don't think you'll like the first party Nintendo games (Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc.) then I would pass on it since theres currently only 3 or 4 really good third party games for it.

[somunny]

Bought one on launch day and played it for about six months.  Once the novelty wore off for me, I sold it.  I definitely don't regret buying one, though.  Especially since I was able to make a profit on a used system.

[patrickl]

I liked playing a few games on the Wii, but really only a few. I hardly ever play on it anymore. Personally I'd rather have a PS3 or Xbox 360.

My kid still uses the Wii though.

[pointdablame]

I've got some Wiimorse.  After playing the few games I was really interested in (Mario, Super Paper Mario, Metroid, Zelda) it's been relegated to 3rd tier gaming for sure.  I rarely have folks over and in the mood to play Wii games.  We'd all much rather play Rock Band or the like.

My 360 is by far my go-to gaming system.  There's a list in my head of games I want to play on the 360 (and a few on PS3 as well) but the Wii has been pretty much collecting dust for months now.  Smash Bros will change that, and Mario Kart likely will down the line as well, but other than that.......   

[shmokes]

I don't have Wiimorse, really, though I haven't turned my Wii on in over three months.  Mostly I just don't have any time.  I've never even played Mario Galaxy or Metroid Prime 3, so it's not like I've got nothing to do with my Wii.  All things being equal, including price, though, I'd buy a PS3 to be perfectly honest.  I've VERY disappointed in the motion control on the Wii.  And, of course, the CPU/GPU leave a great deal to be desired.  Still, though, I've had loads of fun with it, especially when I have groups of people over.  I'm glad to have one, and I won't get rid of it, but it's definitely not the gaming revolution it could have been, IMO.  I think in the end Sony will still come out on top this generation (if not in Hardware sales, definitely in software sales).

[DaveMMR]

(if not in Hardware sales, definitely in software sales).

Yup, PS2 titles. 

[RTSDaddy2]

No regrets here - we bought ours on launch day and it was dead by February; the replacement is still running strong though.  Wouldn't trade it for anything.

There are a couple of things I've been disappointed with lately though, the first being the lack of new channels.  I know WiiWare is coming soon, and that should be interesting, but I really had hopes that we'd  see quite a number of useful channels and they just aren't there.  I understand they are also used for VC games and the like, but one of the Wii's big selling points for me was the different channels.  By the time WiiWare comes out, it will be the first useful channel in about a year, I think (since shop channel).

The lack of games with a true understanding of the Wiimote is frustrating also.  I'm not technically minded enough to know if I truly agree with shmookes position on how good it is, but one thing's for sure....very few developers outside Nintendo are making good use of them.

That said, Super Mario Galaxy is a hell of a game, one where the motion controls are just as near perfect as you could ask...and from what I hear Super Smash Bros. is going to be the next big thing for it also.  For what few disappointments I do have, once again I would NOT give it up for anything.  If I had bought it for the novelty though, I would be severly disappointed....don't do that.

[pointdablame]

The internet capabilities of the Wii aren't just mediocre, they actually upset me.  Friend codes, diff codes for systems/games, almost complete lack of online play, no new channels.... its just a mess.  Nintendo has no clue what to do in the online space and it really is a shame.

I don't even do a lot of online gaming, but having Xbox Live and even the PS Store is really nice.  That's a major disappointment for me with the Wii.

[shmokes]

That said, Super Mario Galaxy is a hell of a game, one where the motion controls are just as near perfect as you could ask...

Like I say, I've never played Super Mario Galaxy.  For all I know, Nintendo finally figured out how to nail the control problems.  But my guess is that if it has "near perfect" control it is using the analog stick and the pointer, but not the motion sensors.  In my experience the motion sensors are useless except for large, crude gestures.  Hence, a golf swing works pretty well, but putting is a mess in Wii Sports Golf.  Bowling is great, but Boxing is crazy bad.  And in Twilight Princess, having to waggle the remote to swing the sword is an exercise in frustration, while using the pointer for things like the bow-and-arrow is brilliant with the controller.  So I suspect that if you love the use of the Wii Remote in Mario Galaxy it's because they made heavy use of the pointer, and little use of the motion sensors.

[DaveMMR]

SMG is about 90% "just pointing" with the Wiimote (and that's only to grab "Star Bits").   There are a few levels, though, that have you do different things with the Wiimote (e.g. one level has you maneuvering Mario on a ball ala Monkey Ball and you use the Wiimote like a joystick).  So yeah, there are practically no chances in that game for frustration with the controls.

I don't know if the sensors are all that unreliable (without saying they're reliable either).  I agree with you completely on boxing and golf on Wii Sports.  But there are some titles where they seemed to have gotten it working quite well (I was actually kind of impressed with Rayman: Raving Rabbids; It may have something to do with the game refusing to play until you to move closer to the TV).

EDIT: Clarity

[ChadTower]

I have no trouble getting Wii Sports Golf to work well.  I hit putts with good consistency.  It just takes practice - and there is no perfectly consistent way to do it because of so many variables.  That's no different than real putting, and in that manner, it's a lot more real than you're saying.

Boxing can be a little frustrating but only until you figure out the exact necessary movements.  They aren't quite what you would think.  Took me a bit of time but once I got it I went high pro in a weekend.  My 6 year old got it instantly - he went through Boxing like Little Mac on steroids and was 1300 before he lost a fight.  I think it's because he's so small and fast - very short quick thrusts, and it was when I emulated him rather than actually throwing adult sized punches that I started winning high level fights.

The game everyone gives credit for, bowling, it just way too easy.  My wife has trouble with it but I went pro in 10-11 games right out of the box.  The one that kills me is baseball - hitting actually feels really natural except the lack of feedback - but those damn sidearm pitchers at the pro level are almost unhittable in a three inning game.

[patrickl]

I'd say the only game where the motion sensors work is in WarioWare Smoothmoves. At least the girls enjoy playing that game and it's funny how you have to hold the controller differently for every little game.

It's nice that you can quickly switch from a gun game to a driving game without hooking up different controls, but the problem is that the driving is so incredibly inaccurate that it's hardly worth the effort.

I actually had quite some problems with the controller in one of the Raving Rabids challenges. The one where you have to switch the radio on per color and then knock out the rabbids with that color. Now and then it just will not hit the rabbids no matter how much I swing the thing around.

[ChadTower]

I finally beat Thousand Year Door last night - so now I can move on to Super Paper Mario.  It has only been sitting there since Xmas in the shrinkwrap.  I still have to finish off Mario 64 before I will open SMG.  I have this odd need to beat the prior games before going on to the new ones.

[DaveMMR]

I actually had quite some problems with the controller in one of the Raving Rabids challenges. The one where you have to switch the radio on per color and then knock out the rabbids with that color. Now and then it just will not hit the rabbids no matter how much I swing the thing around.

Funny, that one was one of the easiest for me since it requires non-specific waggling of the stick to hit things. 

The controls for Metroid Prime 3 take a little getting used to but once you do it's pretty spot-on.

[ChadTower]

The thing that bugs me most about the online service is that if you don't use WiiConnect24 half of the online stuff is disabled.  WTF is that crap.

[ClubNinja]

Interesting reading.  I camped out for a launch Wii, got it home, and we played it non-stop for about 2-3 months.  Ultimately, I found that I had no long-term interest in any of the games (I think Wii Sports held the record for only losing me after 2 months instead of 2 days).  By the end, I was renting games on a Friday night and either completing them or getting very bored of them by time they were due for return on Sunday. 

I was also very disappointed with the online play.  You could argue that the Wii is designed more for in-person multiplayer, but rarely have gaming playing company at the house, so the whole party aspect is kind of useless.  As Chad noted, WiiConnect24 was very frustrating and we missed out on most of the functionality by keeping it disabled.  As far as downloadables went, I really didn't have any need to rebuy classic games, nor did I really care about Everybody Votes or Mii Parades. 

Finally, I remember picking up Need for Speed Carbon and driving around with the various control styles for about 30 minutes.  By the end, I was thinking how much more fun I would've been having with a standard controller that didn't rely on the fruity motion stuff.  That moment, teamed with lack of compelling games and lame online service, is what led me to ultimate Wiimorse.  I sold the Wii and games I had, and - as someone else noted - made a profit on the whole experience.  I used the cash to buy a PS3 and have been enjoying that paired with the 360 infinitely more than the Wii. 

Since then, I've played Mario Galaxy and mostly liked it, but not enough to justify the entire console.  I've also watched 3 vastly different friends buy a Wii, love it for a relatively short period of time, and move on to either PC or 360 gaming. 

[versapak]

Interesting reading.  I camped out for a launch Wii, got it home, and we played it non-stop for about 2-3 months.  Ultimately, I found that I had no long-term interest in any of the games (I think Wii Sports held the record for only losing me after 2 months instead of 2 days).  By the end, I was renting games on a Friday night and either completing them or getting very bored of them by time they were due for return on Sunday. 

I was also very disappointed with the online play.  You could argue that the Wii is designed more for in-person multiplayer, but rarely have gaming playing company at the house, so the whole party aspect is kind of useless.  As Chad noted, WiiConnect24 was very frustrating and we missed out on most of the functionality by keeping it disabled.  As far as downloadables went, I really didn't have any need to rebuy classic games, nor did I really care about Everybody Votes or Mii Parades. 

Finally, I remember picking up Need for Speed Carbon and driving around with the various control styles for about 30 minutes.  By the end, I was thinking how much more fun I would've been having with a standard controller that didn't rely on the fruity motion stuff.  That moment, teamed with lack of compelling games and lame online service, is what led me to ultimate Wiimorse.  I sold the Wii and games I had, and - as someone else noted - made a profit on the whole experience.  I used the cash to buy a PS3 and have been enjoying that paired with the 360 infinitely more than the Wii. 

Since then, I've played Mario Galaxy and mostly liked it, but not enough to justify the entire console.  I've also watched 3 vastly different friends buy a Wii, love it for a relatively short period of time, and move on to either PC or 360 gaming. 

Pretty much how I felt exactly.


The Wii was only great when there were was a party like environment in my house to make use of it.

When it came to solo play, there was just nothing to hold my interest. Especially when it was sitting next to my 360, which now with Rock Band, is the only thing that makes it out when there is a party environment goin on.

[ChadTower]

The Wii is working well for us because I have the kids - they're now old enough for useful multiplayer gaming.  I have been slowly rolling out games for it, though, so that we don't tire of the system too fast, given its low volume of good titles.  We're big marks for first party Nintendo content.

[shmokes]

Ya know, now that I think about it, this probably applies to me as well.  My Wii used to get used like crazy when I was in undergrad.  I always had groups of friends over, though.  Now I'm in law school and there's not nearly as much socializing going on (not to mention that I've only lived here for six months so I haven't made nearly as many friends as I left behind -- and my wife just works so she hasn't made any friends to speak of).  My daughter is too young to have any interest in games.  I'm sure the lack of any party-atmosphere at my place plays into the fact that my Wii has not been turned on in over three months.

[hypernova]

but putting is a mess in Wii Sports Golf

Never had problems putting or doing anything else in golf.  None of my friends have problems putting either.  Just finished a round of -7 last week during a party.

Boxing is crazy bad

I finally figured out how to hook and uppercut consistently...

You just have to move so slow in the backswings that it leaves you exposed far too long, thus any CPU over 1000 and ANY human opponent will slaughter you.  So basically just pumping your hands in and out like an idiot as Chad suggested will get you far over pro level, and is essentially the way everyone plays.

And in Twilight Princess, having to waggle the remote to swing the sword is an exercise in frustration

What's so hard about flicking a remote?  How can anyone have any trouble with swordsmanship???

[shmokes]

Never had problems putting or doing anything else in golf.  None of my friends have problems putting either.  Just finished a round of -7 last week during a party.

That is simply not true.  I've played Wii sports with dozens of people on at least four different consoles.  Beyond that, I've read MANY reviews and impressions of the game.  I simply do not believe that your controller and/or copy of Wii Sports is different than anyone else's.  In the putting game the controller has a very difficult time registering that any movement has been made when you need to just tap the ball a foot or two to get into the hole.  If you swing hard enough for the controller to register any movement, it's often reads it as a long put.  I have my golden golf clubs.  And I've got a gold in every practice event.  I can out-golf most people in Wii Sports Golf.  I know this is a universal problem, especially for people who have not learned to compensate for the controller's shortcomings.

I also have pro-status in boxing, and I've figured out how to throw the various punches with some degree of consistency.  It seems to work best if you treat the controller like it's a spoon or shovel and you make quick, sharp digging motions, instead of motions that resemble actual punches.  But once again, the fact that I can compensate for the controller's shortcoming to some degree does not make those shortcomings disappear.  It makes for a really poor game of boxing.

Lastly, in Twilight Princess, for the most part the fact that I have to waggle in order to accomplish something that that could be done with a button press (and, indeed, was done with a button press as recently as the E3 prior to the games final release) is merely obnoxious, but there are parts of the game when timing is crucial when it has a significant impact on gameplay, (the final battle with Ganon being the most conspicuous example -- very frustrating).

The motion sensors just aren't what they should be.  If Nintendo was going to foresake any and all technological advancement in lieu of focusing exclusively on a new control scheme, they should have nailed it.  They didn't.  The pointer is perfectly acceptable, but not great, and the motion sensing is poor.  Imagine having a button on a controller that only registered some, or even most of the time when you pressed it, even when you pressed it perfectly.  THAT is what the motion control amounts to on the Wii's controller.  It is completely unacceptable.  The system can be loads of fun, and certain types of games can make fun use of the crude motion sensing that the system is capable of, like Wario Ware.  But it's crap, really.  Any game that needs even a modicum of input accuracy uses either the pointer or the nunchuck, or it's crap. 

Look at the reviews of Tiger Woods Golf for PS3/360 compared to Wii (there are at least two out, maybe three).  It is an damned-to-hell-and-eternally-burn-in-a-lake-of-fire SIN that Tiger Woods is better on PS3/360 than on the Wii.  Think about it.  How can that even be possible unless there is something fundamentally wrong with the Wii controller?

[dweebs0r]

Anyone with Wii-morse can contact me if they are interested in selling their Wii.  I am looking for an older (ie: moddable) Wii.

-D

[Moose13]

Santa got the Wii for my kids (4 & 6) for Christmas. They can't get enough of it. As for me, I like the fact that anyone, even if they never played video games before, can pick up wii sports and play at any time. Yeah, the controls aren't the best but it's a blast when your 4 year old can be competitive in sports games (OK, he plays much much more than me). I have to say that if I didn't have kids, I'd have a 360 (most likely due to easy modding) or PS3.
One thing saddens me though. My 4 Y.O. told me just last night "We don't like the arcade anymore Daddy, only the Wii".   
Of course my arcade machine is my pride, but I guess 80's nostalgia doesn't sit too well with someone born in 2003.

As far as the older Wii's that can be modded; they ALL can be modded. I have a D2C mod, it plays everything flawlessly.

[ChadTower]

As far as the older Wii's that can be modded; they ALL can be modded. I have a D2C mod, it plays everything flawlessly.

Sure, but the newer ones cost a lot more to have done.  Very few of us are going to want to do that super fine soldering.  I'm a pretty good solderer and I won't go near that one.

[Moose13]

Yeah, I modded a PS2 in my day, and I opened the Wii and though maybe I'd venture into it. I got the thing open and the drive out but when I catually saw the points to soldered, I brought it to a place to get done. There is no way I could have done it myself. I agree, the points are way too fine.

[shmokes]

I sound harsh.  But I don't have Wii Remorse.  I'm glad I own one, and I've had loads of fun with it.  And I'll have loads more fun with it in the future.  I just think that all-things-considered, I'd prefer a PS3.  I think the PS3 is a better system.  It is, of course, objectively a vastly superior system in every way besides control (and price, I suppose).  I think we can all agree on that.  For this reason, I think the Wii was a big let down and I think it explains why people so often love the hell out of the Wii at first, and then it starts gathering dust.  It's not a worthless piece of ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- or anything.  It's just not what it should have been.

[knave]

You guys are bumming me out.  I like the Wii, My Kids Love the Wii.  It is fun. 

But it's not a PS3 or Xbox 360.  It's just not the same.  Some days I want a 360 to try out some of the xbox live titles(N+), and perhaps rockband.  But when it comes down to it I know that I made the right decision.  There are tons of really fun games I want to play, some are Wii games and some are GC games. I don't have time for them all.  I wouldn't have time for the other systems either.  And my Kids wouldn't have most of the content that they like.  I also have a fondness for genisis games.  So if my old girl ever gives up the ghost I know that I'll be able to get most of my favorites off of the VC. (not to mention NES games and Neo Geo titles)

Is the Wii perfect...Heck no.  I really want some better online options and I wish oh do I wish that they would at least enable the Wiimote power button when I'm playing a GC game.  I'm spoiled by the Wii's total wireless nature.  But despite it's flaws it's my first current console since the sega and I am using the heck out of it. 

I'm having a good time...I hope I'm not a minority.

[Sir Auros]

I have Wiimorse. Waited in line at launch and have had it since then, but once I finished Twilight Princess, I didn't really play it again until Metroid Prime 3, and then it was inactive until Super Mario Galaxy (which I still haven't played enough to complete). It was a hit at parties until we had a second guitar for Guitar Hero and now the Rock Band set, so it doesn't even get used then.

It's still only compelling as a Nintendo game playing device to me, but my 360 gets playtime every day.

[TOK]

Definitely think its over-rated. The things that make it accessible for kids and non-gamers are the very things that make it boring for gamers. Way underpowered, and the controller is a gimmick in about 80% of the games.

Wife bought ours for our daughter and we played some bowling and stuff on it, but it doesn't even get played an hour per week.

[dweebs0r]

Very few of us are going to want to do that super fine soldering.  I'm a pretty good solderer and I won't go near that one.

Yep.  Me too.  I have modded several consoles.  I dont want to mess with the Wii and I dont know anyone I trust enough to send them a new Wii to mod given the difficulty of the mod.

-D

[hypernova]

In the putting game the controller has a very difficult time registering that any movement has been made when you need to just tap the ball a foot or two to get into the hole.  If you swing hard enough for the controller to register any movement, it's often reads it as a long put.

Now I'll admit that there are times here and there that it doesn't register my short putt, but never do I overpower a putt that is less than a foot, nor has my 40 year old boss who's played it well since he first had the chance.  He is nowhere close to being a gamer.  He doesn't own any systems.  The only thing he has going for him is he golfs for fun.  He putts as well as me in the game.  I'd say he's played a total of no more than 12 rounds combined when I've brought the system over.

Lastly, in Twilight Princess, for the most part the fact that I have to waggle in order to accomplish something that that could be done with a button press

That would defeat the purpose of the console, wouldn't it?

the final battle with Ganon being the most conspicuous example -- very frustrating

What's giving you trouble?  SPOILER:  Assuming you mean the sword fight in the field, the only trouble I have is one of his attacks is extremely quick, and hard to spot before it's too late.  Now the horseback before that can be annoying, but once again, you've got little time to react.

The motion sensors just aren't what they should be.

I would agree to an extent.  Boxing is a perfect example.  It cannot accurately register quick movements precisely when those movements can vary from left-right, up-down, etc.

This system is a start.  For a generation that will last five or so years, it'll suffice in its capabilities.  I would like to see a successor that is as perfectly accurate as is possible without getting pricey.

It was a hit at parties until we had a second guitar for Guitar Hero and now the Rock Band set, so it doesn't even get used then.

My group isn't into that kind of thing, and personally, I don't get the big deal with those.  Not my cup of tea.  Plus, my strumming hand cramped after two songs on GH2.

[Sir Auros]

It was a hit at parties until we had a second guitar for Guitar Hero and now the Rock Band set, so it doesn't even get used then.

My group isn't into that kind of thing, and personally, I don't get the big deal with those.  Not my cup of tea.  Plus, my strumming hand cramped after two songs on GH2.

And I just don't get the appeal of waving around a very imprecise controller to play largely mediocre or subpar games. 

[shmokes]

No . . . I'm talking about the game of pong that you play with Ganon's energy-projectile.  Sorry if that's a spoiler, but if it's a spoiler you haven't played a Legend of Zelda game since Legend of Zelda II on the NES.

On the putting game I never hit them long either, because I've got the thing figured out.  But it frequently takes me more than one try to get the thing to register my swing.  I just don't get frustrated and overcompensate. 

Also, I think you misunderstand my point about waggling where a button press would suffice.  The motion control in Wii Sports bowling is a net gain.  You could not accomplish with a single button press everything you do with a life-like motion that resembles an actually roll in bowling, complete with spin.  Same goes for baseball.  And with tennis, a great deal of data goes into your swing including backhand/forehand, speed of swing, etc.  You cannot accomplish with a button press the same thing that you do with motion controller in those games.   The same cannot be said about Twilight Princess.  The ONLY thing waggling adds is frustration.

[RTSDaddy2]

Also, I think you misunderstand my point about waggling where a button press would suffice.  The motion control in Wii Sports bowling is a net gain.  You could not accomplish with a single button press everything you do with a life-like motion that resembles an actually roll in bowling, complete with spin.  Same goes for baseball.  And with tennis, a great deal of data goes into your swing including backhand/forehand, speed of swing, etc.  You cannot accomplish with a button press the same thing that you do with motion controller in those games.   The same cannot be said about Twilight Princess.  The ONLY thing waggling adds is frustration.

With all due respect, NOW I understand your frustrations with the Wiimote.  It's not your lack of explanation, it was my lack of understanding.

Saw a demo of Super Smash Bros yesterday, still hoping to find a copy of it this morning.  I've never played this title before, but was amazed at how easy it was to get in to and figure out.  Maro Kart Racing also reviewed in latest Nintendo power, as well as glimpses of WiiWare titles.  Oh, and WiiFit is on it's way as well (yes, I AM interested in it, if not downright excited). Seems like a cure for my doldrums is just around the bend!

The one this I do wish - seriously - that would happen is that we'd see a few more third party titles do well.  Sure the Rayman thing was well received, as was Zack and Wikki (sp?) but it'd be fun to see third party titles generate near as much "splash" as these established titles are doing.