This has to be the question we are most commonly asked, be it by readers, friends, family or just randoms met at the pubs: “I am thinking of buying a console, which one do I buy?” It seems like a simple enough question, but it is a tough one to answer. Indeed, every time the query passes someone’s lips and there eyes widen in anticipation, shaped with naivety, there is little we can do but take a deep breath, sigh a little and begin. “Well…
The first decision you need to make is “what kind of a gamer am I?” Do you just want to be able to put something on and have a bit of fun when your friends are around for a BBQ? Do you want to be right on the cutting edge of gaming technology struck with awe every time you pump the machine through your high-def home theatre? Do you have a particular genre allegiance, like puzzle games, or strategy games, or adventure titles? Are you part of a particular demographic: a pre-teen, an elder statesman or maybe a parent with kids to play with? Are you interested in multiplayer gaming? Offline or online? Is there are particular series you simply must play, like Zelda, Halo or Ratchet & Clank that might be found on only one console? We could go on.
Before deciding which console you want to buy, you’ll need to get a general idea of what type of gaming experience you want by answering questions like the ones above. You should also have a good idea of your budget, and also look towards any major life changes that could occur over the next couple of years: do you plan on updating your TV? Have you a baby that is on the verge of becoming a young child? Are you going to move into a flat with friends? As you will see from what is detailed below, the answer to these questions will end up directing you towards one console over another.
Ok, so are you in the right head space? Let’s go…
The Nintendo Wii
“What’s this Wii thing like?” – this is probably the second most asked question of game journalists? Nintendo has done a remarkable job in marketing the machine, making just about everybody on the planet think it is going to be a blast of fun and an object of desire. And it can be quite a lot of fun, but the Wii is a long way from the games machines offered by Microsoft and Sony.
The Wii isn’t a format you will religiously come home to and put on. It’s great to crack out when the kids won’t shut up. And it can be a blast at BBQs or dinner parties where a range of players of differing skills and experience can find themselves laughing and having fun on a level playing field. With its motion-based controls and generally dumbed-down gameplay, it is not about epic 100hr adventures and all about 30 min bursts of low-emotional investment gaming.