The Nintendo Wii was one of the most successful home consoles of all time, with revolutionary motion controls that were a game changer. Even though the Wii was released way back in 2006, it’s still worth playing today, due to the innovative control scheme and unique experiences.
It’s Super Cheap
More than 100 million Nintendo Wiis were sold. At one point, it seemed like every household had a Wii. They even had them in retirement homes, due to the Wii being marketed as a video game console for everyone, with motion controls that allowed anyone, young or old, to pick up a Wii remote and start playing.
This market dominance means that you can still pick up a Wii for dirt cheap. They are omnipresent at garage sales, thrift stores and online marketplaces. People are practically giving them away. You may even have one packed away in a box in your own garage or attic!
Games Are Cheap Too
Unlike some other retro consoles, Wii games can be found pretty easily. As an added bonus, like the console itself, they’re usually pretty cheap. The inexpensive asking prices for these games could be due to the Wii having more than 1600 titles released during its lifespan.
It’s important to note that many of these games are what is known in the industry as “shovelware”: low-quality games that were released quickly to capitalize on the popularity of the Wii. They often consist of mini games that make rudimentary use of the Wii’s motion controls. You’ll want to avoid these games like the plague and consult Reddit or your favorite online video game publication for recommendations.
Hidden Gems
When people think of the Wii, they almost always think of Wii Bowling, arguably the only game that everyone played on the Wii Sports disc. Of course, the Wii had Nintendo staples like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda, but hidden among all of the shovelware your grandparents gave you for your birthday were some truly unique and compelling games.
The Wii was also home to tons of on-rails shooters. The motion controls were perfect for reflecting the feel of arcade shooters. The Wii had original titles like Dead Space: Extraction and House of the Dead: Overkill, as well as arcade ports of classic shooters like Ghost Squad and Air Blade.
Lack of Ports
It’s worth noting that many of the excellent titles released for the Wii have never been ported to another console. Games that were developed specifically for the Wii were designed to take advantage of the console’s unique motion controls. While other consoles have supported motion controls, they have never enjoyed robust support among developers or consumers. It is highly unlikely that ports of Wii games will ever be made, regardless of their quality, so the only way to experience them is to get your hands on a Wii.
Backward Compatibility
The Nintendo GameCube was an odd little box and, as far as I know, the only console with a built-in handle to carry it around. Getting your hands on a GameCube can be difficult, but collecting and playing the games is not, as the Wii is backward compatible with the GameCube. The Wii can read GameCube discs natively, and there are even input ports for the original GameCube controllers, as well as the memory card.
Note that not all Wii models are backward compatible with the GameCube. The easiest way to tell is if the console has a door that hides the GameCube controller ports. Alternatively, ensure that the model is RVL-001 to have compatibility. If you can’t get your hands on a Wii that plays GameCube games, use Dolphin Emulator for your PC.
Brings People Together
Multiplayer games are nothing new. I can remember playing Goldeneye 64 with my friends and arguing about who was “screen peeking.” With the advent of high-speed internet, multiplayer games only grew in popularity, but it’s not the same as getting together with friends in the same room and experiencing the joy of gaming together, as was possible with the Wii.
By combining gaming with accessibility, Nintendo discovered that fancy graphics wasn’t everything. While other consoles have tried motion controls, with varying degrees of success, the Wii was the only one to really nail it. There were tons of games that had broad appeal, from hardcore gamers to total gaming neophytes. The Wii was, and still is, a console made for parties and playing with other people, fostering connections through gaming.
Easily Modded
“Modding” a video game console means modifying it to unlock additional features not originally intended by the manufacturer. Modding the Wii is super easy and adds more functionality to the system. For example, you can run homebrew applications.
The Wii enjoys an active hobbyist developer scene that creates new apps for the Wii. This includes emulators for other consoles, like the Gameboy Advance, Nintendo 64 and more. There are also applications that allow you to “rip” a game disc to an external hard drive, which you can play directly from the external drive. This protects your game discs from scratches and also allows faster loading times and a more convenient way to play your games. The benefits also include restored functionality, like private servers to restore online multiplayer in games like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros.
Drawbacks
In the realm of gaming, the quality of the Nintendo Wii games stands the test of time. However, due to the system’s age, there are some limitations that need to be taken into consideration.
Only 480p Resolution
One of the most glaring issues with the Wii is that it only has 480p (and 480i) output. This is a far cry from what modern gamers are used to, with many modern consoles capable of 4K resolutions and beyond. This means that when you connect a Wii to a modern TV, the picture will not look as crisp and sharp.
No HDMI
One of the other problems with the Wii is that it doesn’t have HDMI output. Instead, the Wii outputs its video signal via RCA composite cables, as Nintendo capped the resolution output to 480 and wanted to make sure that the Wii was compatible with older TVs.
Unfortunately, modern TVs are largely eschewing this old technology, due to obsolescence. It’s entirely possible you won’t be able to connect a Wii to your TV. Fortunately, there are adapters that will solve this problem. There are many adapters, but most are small boxes that will convert an older connection type to HDMI and are plug and play.
The Nintendo Wii was a revolutionary console that truly innovated how we play games. We may never see another console like it, but thankfully, the Wii is pretty easy to get your hands on today. If you’re in the mood for more retro video games, be sure to check some of the best modern retro consoles available.
Image credit: Unsplash. All images by Ryan Lynch, unless noted otherwise.
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