So, what do the Fi Clubbers think of the Wii on first impressions?
Lot's of mini-game action going on, but largely very lightweight. Having given Sports some more time over the weekend I do think there's more going on under the covers than initially appears - there's a Brain Training-style performance review thing that I can see becoming quite addictive. I like playing all of these games. Golf is really quite sophisticated once you get into it and I'd love to see a full-featured golf game along the lines of Everybody... although I'm sure EA have something realistic in the pipeline already.
Play was worth it purely for the controller, but again very fluffy and disposable. Duck Hunt, Find Mii and Billiards are the stand-out games there for me. I'm wondering if these games support four players with four controllers. I should go and look in the manual I suppose.
I've put in about 2.5 hours on Zelda and the real quest has just kicked off... there's a lot of the cutesy 'village quests' which essentially familiarise you with the controls and principles. Now it's gotten very dark and mysterious. I can't wait to settle down this evening and give it another couple of hours.
I'm really looking forward to a first rate FPS. I had hopes for Call of Duty III after the video but it's only looking like a 74%-er on Metacritic. Still, by the time I've finished Twiglet Princess it will be a few quid cheaper I guess.
I also took the SD card out of my phone and checked out the Photo Channel today... It does a quick inventory of your card and displays all the thumbnails. You can set up a slideshow, with your own choice of music (played from the SD card in mp3 format), or doodle over the pictures and post them to the message board. Quite good fun, especially for the kids.
I like it. I'm impressed with the control system, and I think they've designed a nice device, it looks, feels and handles like a Nintendo.
ReplyDeleteDuring Wii Play, when we were playing the Neon Pong game, I looked at the wireless control method and thought that it looked very 21st Century, and if you had shown me that in 1986 as I switched on my NES I'd have said yes, that looks like 20 years in the future.
I do however, feel that the machine, while enjoying a leap in control method, has not enjoyed a similar leap in power. I think that one of the Cube's Achilles' heels was the gulf between it and the other boys in the playground. Sure, the XBox had the edge over the PS2, but not as much of an edge. The Cube quickly looked dated and tired, and Nintendo, after first making the gameplay over graphics argument (which, don't get me wrong, is a good argument) dumped it early in it's life. Looking at Zelda, I can see a definate graphical improvement over Cube games, but I think it looks more current than next-gen.
It's a family toy, not an otaku gaming machine, a fun mini car instead of those overpriced sports cars. It goes places that they could not go, but it'll never reach the speed and power that they have.
It definately has a market, and based on opening sales, it has a huge market. It's not everyman's console, and it'll be like my DS is to my PSP -- a smaller, cuter more eccentric games machine. It's the machine that will get the family playing together like Buzz or Eye Toy. It will date earlier than the others, but if Nintendo hold their nerve and keep supporting it, no one will care.
Gah! Joystiq is runnung a story about a story running in Game Informer that talks about all things Zelda -- present and future at least.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd run the story past you.
"The new issue of Game Informer (#165) reportedly alleges that the next Wii installment of The Legend of Zelda has been "deep in development for around a year." Admittedly, this rumor comes as little surprise, since consistent first-party support is crucial for Wii's success.
We needn't remind you that Twilight Princess is a GameCube game with tacked on Wii functionality. While no doubt a key asset to the Wii launch, Twilight Princess is not a showcase for the new platform. Rest assured Nintendo has been working on 'that' particular Zelda entry since the moment the Wii concept was birthed. That's not to say we expect a true Wii Zelda before 2008. Remember, Metroid and Mario are holding it down in '07.
Game Informer also reports that Phantom Hourglass for DS as been delayed until October 2007; a full year after the Wind Waker sequel was initially expected. Sound familiar?"
Gosh darn it all to heck. I was looking forward to Phantom Hourglass. A lot.
Yeah I saw the bad news about PH this morning. I honestly can't *imagine* what could cause such a delay. I mean, we're talking about the DS here, not some stonking new machine with unfamiliar architecture. Weird.
ReplyDeleteI was pretty stoked to see the Zelda Wii game though. I hadn't really thought of the fact that Twiglet Princess wasn't the Wii's Zelda. What a bonus.
Do you still want the 'cube before it goes up in the loft dude?
I like it; my wife likes it; and my 5 year old daughter likes it.
ReplyDeleteI've been pleasantly surprised at the ease of setup, and at how well the pointing and moving control works - I can use the virtual keyboard pretty quickly - I have been wondering if the rumbling when the pointer goes onto or off a button helps here.
I have Wii Sports and Wii Play - and have spent more time on Play so far, as we learn the intricacies of control, and I try and work out how to beat my wife's high score on the fishing game.
The shooting is great - I was a real Point Blank fan on the PS - it seems very accurate, no lag, a good satisfying light gun game.
I think I need to work on my fitness age tonight - I am younger than 58 - honest!
did anyone elses arms neck and shoulders ache like fek?
ReplyDeletei obviously overdid it a bit. they should seriously put a warning on the box to stretch and warm up before playing the damn thing.
oh - i like it too!!...
well, i havent played it, but apparently the straps arent up to much!
ReplyDeleteNintendo recalls 3.2m Wii straps
Personally I think the straps are fine, as long as you're not the kind of knuckle-dragging moron who thinks it's funny to let go of a controller.
ReplyDeleteWe had five people, plenty of booze and a good competitive spirit going on and noone managed to let go of the controller (although I am seeking the cost of a replacement lightbulb from NOE ;D )
The ever-topical Penny Arcade refer to Ninty's latest move as 'idiot insurance'.
ReplyDeleteMine is 5517 3013 1180 3274
ReplyDeleteIf you add that I'll get yours automagically. The Miis seem to migrate one per day in the order they were made, or you can send them straight from the noticeboard or Mii channel.