Nintendo Wii Bundle with Mario Kart Wii
Yes, we know. The Wii is most certainly on its way out. But that doesn't mean it's lost all of the great games. If upgrading to the Wii U is not on the table, this Wii bundle may be the way to go, not to mention it can be had for half the price of the entry-level Wii U. ($150, available now)
The good: The Nintendo Wii Hardware Bundle (with Mario Kart) has a lot going for it: clean, accessible design; a great library of family-friendly games; a still-iconic controller design that can be used for motion games or more traditional button-based games; Virtual Console library and WiiWare games that offer a unique and affordable collection of classic titles; the Wii Remote Plus controller, updated with built-in MotionPlus; and Netflix streaming.
The bad: Online connectivity is hampered by closed-garden design; graphics and video playback cap at 480p; other than Netflix, the Wii has no other video-streaming or entertainment offerings, and can't play CDs or DVDs; its graphics continue to look ever more outdated compared with rival consoles, and the unique qualities that motion gaming offered are now available in accessories from rival consoles; and, finally, the decision to replace both Wii Sports games with Mario Kart in this bundle may disappoint casual consumers.
The bottom line: For families and lovers of casual games, the even more affordable Wii still represents the best console bundle value in terms of dollars spent, but it's also the system that's first on deck to be outdated. With the announcement of the Wii U, the Wii is a declining console. Still, its sizable and often unique back library of games is still worth playing.
October 31, 2012 3:58 PM PDT
Photo by: Nintendo
