Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii, being the smallest, cheapest, sleekest console, seems like the perfect choice when considering one's options. Some people think that the Wii is only for casual game(r)s, but trust me friends, it is not. With intense titles like Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime: Corruption, and The Godfather: Blackhand Edition, the Wii doles out challenges left and right. It's also versatile and innovative, offering titles like Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii, and Wii Sports, breaking the mold of the usual first-person shooter, RPG, or Adventure game. 

Speaking of Wii Sports, you'll find it can be successfully implemented in a variety of situations! (Ed. note: should be read in Bob Odenkirk's voice)

- Cheer up a depressed friend!

- Get your (grand)parents in on the fun!

- It'll be a hit at a party with lots of people!

- Any type of intoxication makes Wii Sports even more fun!

Aside from hard-copy releases, the Wii offers gamers both a "Virtual Console," as well as the brand-new "Wii-Ware" catalogue. The Virtual Console contains old releases from basically all of the old consoles, ranging from the original NES, to Sega Genesis, Neo Geo, and Nintendo 64, all at very reasonable prices, usually ranging from $5-10. Wii-Ware is a sort of X-Box Live Arcade type excursion, more focused on creating full, new games.

The Nintendo Wii's interface is simplistic and easy on the eyes. One chooses their destination by choosing one of the many "Channels" available on the Wii, such as the Mii channel, the Photo Channel, the Forecast channel, or the News channel.

A Mii is a character that you create to represent yourself (or others) in multiple Nintendo games. There's a variety of options to choose from, allowing one to fully customize the face, as well as shirt color. The customizable face options are specific yet varied enough to create almost anyone, as evidenced in the many online collections of famous people Miis. The Wii's Mii system perfectly suits the vibe of the console, and performs more than adequately, and often, hilariously, in third person scenarios throughout various games. Sometimes more fun than an actual game, messing around with Miis provides hours of entertainment, no matter your age.

As Microsoft and Sony scramble to pick up the pieces and develop Wiimote-like accessories as well as knockoff Mii creators, Nintendo is one step ahead of them, already producing previously unseen game accessories such as the Wii Fit balance board, which is compatible with a number of games that will soon be released. This product that is able to satisfy (if given the chance) all demographics of gamer, pushes the boundaries of video gaming with the motion-control system and accelerometers contained in the Wiimote, and is cheaper than both other next-gen consoles deserves nothing less than a 7 out of 7 in my opinion.