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I’m sick and tired of people complaining about the “Console Wars.” Sure, it was good and fun when I was seven, but hearing people write off the Wii as a “child’s toy” or say that there isn’t anything worth buying on the PlayStation 3 is annoying and I am sick of the ignorance. So I have taken it upon myself to go through all of the current generation (consoles and handhelds) and give the ten best reasons each one is worth owning.

The list isn't in any real order, more of a "loose order," so before you're at my throat about something being number two when it should really be number three realize that these aren't in any real order, just sort of ascending in importance.

10. The Virtual Console
It might seem shocking to see this as the last one on the list, but in reality you should be surprised it made it at all. For as convenient and cool as the VC is, the combination of a slow trickle of titles and Nintendo’s refusal to release anything that gamers would care about stops it from being any higher on the list. Not only that, but let’s be real; there are ROMs and Emulators. The VC still makes the list because it is easy to use, fairly inexpensive, and has the capability to eventually bring some great import titles to the states (or whatever region you call home).

9. No More Heroes
You can say that it's immature, you can complain about the open-world, you can even say that No More Heroes does little more than take “advantage” of all of the gimmicks of the Wii, but don't for ONE SECOND think that this game doesn't kick ass. Travis Touchdown has earned himself a spot as one of the most unique characters in gaming, and the over-the-top blood and gore should scare away anyone who wants to write off the Wii as immature.

8. Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure

That's right, suckers, this stupid looking game is freaking awesome. Anyone who ever complains about the Wii's third party support should be force-fed a few levels of this one, and anyone who tells you that Zack & Wiki is only for children should take on some of the later bosses. I mean try and take on, of course; they are nearly impossible.

7. A Strong Library (And Stronger Ports)
Yeah, that’s right, I called the Wii’s library strong. Go ahead, laugh, point out all of the bad games, and than play Metroid Prime: Corruption, Super Paper Mario, Mario Kart, Trauma Center, Mario Strikers Charged, and Excite Truck. Just because there are a lot of bad games for the Wii doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of good ones. Sure, it’s a disproportionate number, but that’s because of shovelware, there are still gems. Okami, Resident Evil 4, and the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess are all also better to play on the Wii over other playable systems. And I personally feel that, when you come down to it, Wii games provide more replay value.
 
6. WiiWare

Love it or hate it, the Wii's motion sensing remote makes it different. The problem isn't with the hardware, but with developers taking advantage of the console's ridiculous adoption rates and churning out endless waggle-fests for the console, knowing they will at least sell enough to recoup their investment. WiiWare is the solution to that; letting small, independent developers create titles that take full advantage of the system's unique hardware and create awesome games. If you disagree with that, may I suggest you play Lost Winds? If you still disagree, I suggest you shut the hell up and quit being a hater, because that game rules. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King does too, and is an amazingly deep title considering the system's storage issues. The future for WiiWare is also fairly clear, with games like Mega Man 9 and Strong Bad coming soon.

5. Super Smash Bros Brawl
When Super Smash Bros. was first released on the Nintendo 64 gamers were blown away by Nintendo's take on the fighter genre. The Wii version, Brawl, takes it to new heights, bringing a huge cast of characters and levels to the ring. However, for every fan of the series there is someone who doesn’t “get it.” If you're a fan of fighters, Nintendo properties, or just fun, arcade-style gameplay, invest some time in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, you will be a fan.

4. Party Games
For as much as Boom Blox, Mario Party 8, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, Rayman Raving Rabbids, and Wii Sports could be reasons to buy the system on their own, they are better used as proof that party games on the Wii are unmatched. Many people who bought the system for Bowling and Tennis in Wii Sports complain that they wasted their money, while steadfastly refusing to actually try any other games. The game is full of amazing party games, with Boom Blox being one of the best offline multiplayer games of the generation.

Anyone who considers themselves a fan of Super Mario Brothers or platformers in general and hasn’t played Super Mario Galaxy should be ashamed of themselves. It is arguably the best platforming experience ever developed and some of the levels in the game have the most innovative design and interesting game mechanics I have ever seen. Not only that, but it takes advantage of the Wii's motion controls without force feeding them down our throat, which should count for something. The graphics are also fantastic, making me want to slice the throats of all of the developers who lazily port PlayStation 2 games to the console and hope no one will question them.

2. Price
The Wii is really freaking cheap. Like, when compared to the price of the PS3 you could be using Wiis as book ends, and you could easily grab a few games and an extra controller before reaching the Xbox 360’s price point. The list is Top Ten Reasons to Own a Wii, and the Wii being a cheap console that comes bundled with a great game is reason enough.

1. The Future

The Wii's future is indeed bright, even if the Winter 2008 lineup is incredibly bleak. Super Mario Sluggers, Animal Crossing, and whatever else comes out this year will likely be great, but it's the following years that will surely show what the system is capable of. No, Nintendo didn't officially announce a Pikmin, Mario, Zelda, Star Fox, or Kid Icarus game, but we know they are working on all of the abovementioned titles. There are rumors that Factor 5 is involved in Star Fox and that Miyamoto is already overseeing Mario and Zelda, so don’t worry, the future is bright.

Check back next week for: Ten Reasons to Own a PS3!

Related Articles:

No More Heroes – Wii

LostWinds – Wiiware

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