and All Consoles

The Nintendo Wii has only been out for a short time now, but already blogs and discussion forums are filled with Nintendo fans begging for additional features. Nintendo has always been good about listening to their customers, so hopefully some of these ideas will be include in future releases of the console. Here are just some of the most popular requests for additional Wii offerings.

1. Add More Colors To Choose From

Sure, the white and gentle blue scheme currently being sold is nice, but come on now, people want a choice. Sure, you can currently purchase vinyl skins and faceplates that cover your Wii with a new theme. If Nintendo offered a variety of different colors though, they could pocket the money for themselves. Also, we wouldn’t have to hunt these 3rd party skins down on places like eBay and go through the trouble of sticking them on ourselves.

2. Add Support For The Firefox Browser

Currently the Nintendo Wii runs with a version of the Opera browser, but it’s somewhat limited. If Firefox became available for the Wii, it would create competition that could quickly improve internet browsing with this console. There have been a few rumors recently that just such a browser is in the works, but so far these are unconfirmed.

3. High Definition Support

Why on earth wasn’t the Wii designed with HD support? Non HD television sets are already going the way of the eight-track and you’d think Nintendo would have wanted to be ahead of the trend. On the other hand, there is talk that HD support is in the works. Maybe it’s all ready to go, and Nintendo was waiting until everyone in the world has a Wii, and then they’ll offer HD support as an upgrade and pocket even more money. Time will tell.

4. Play DVDs

This is another feature that should have been a no-brainer. As it is, Nintendo has already confirmed that the next version of the Wii released in Japan will likely be able to play DVDs. What about the rest of us on the other side of the planet though? Including the ability to play DVDs means one less component in the home theater, which would make the Wii even more attractive to potential customers.

5. Automatic Updates

Why can’t the Wii update by itself when it is in standby mode? That would be so much easier than the waiting for lengthy downloads when the console is on. Heck, all the other guys are doing it, just look at the update service provide for the xBox through xBox live. We know Nintendo has the infrastructure to do this, but apparently they are still a little uncomfortable with online integration.

Maybe the above is expecting too much too soon for such a new unit. Hopefully though, Nintendo won’t rest on its laurels and will continue to update and improve the Wii based on what their customers are asking for.

Despite its very recent release, the Nintedo Wii has already become incredibly popular. Although the games are not as intense as titles you might find on next-gen consoles such as the xBox 360 and Playstation 3, Wii games are nontheless selling very well. Along with the huge market for these games also comes the usual demand for game guides, cheats and codes for those that want to gain a questionably ethical edge over their friends when they play. To this end, here is a review of several of the top sources for this information. Please use it at your discretion.

WiiCheats.com

This is one of the top ranking websites for Wii Cheats now online. It has a large number of codes and unlockables for Wii Sports which makes it a valuable resource for anyone who enjoys playing this bundled title. Although it has information on many other titles too, there aren’t that many cheats for the other games. Also, the forum at WiiCheats is nearly inactive and there is little to no user interaction, ratings or comments on the site.

MyCheats.com

Now this site is the place every Wii player needs to visit as soon as possible. Not only do they provide some of the most in-depth player guides available online, they also have many video walk-throughs that will show you exactly to find many hidden secrets in many Wii games. Furthermore, MyCheats lets visitors contribute their own tips, cheats and codes which they then add to the website. The multi-page guides here are an incredible resource for any Wii owner. For example, at last check the MyCheats.com guide for Call of Duty 3 on the Wii was over 17 pages long. And if you’re looking on exactly how to win Legend of Zelda; Twilight Princess, you need look no further.

cheats.IGN.com

The Wii cheats section over at IGN is a must stop for anyone who grabs new Wii titles as soon as they come out. IGN’s cheat section for Wii titles updates so fast, you’ll have a hard time staying on top of the new information that comes out. Furthermore, you can request Wii cheats you are looking for. IGN is such a large site, that you’re likely to get a response to your request in a very short period of time. The only downside is that the cheats and codes are mostly user submitted, so you’ll occassionally come across some tips that have not been verified yet. Testing new cheats and codes to see if they actually work is half the fun though, so this is not that big a deal.

As you can see, there are at least a few good places to go online to find guides and cheats for your favorite Nintendo Wii games. Be sure to test them out by yourself ahead of time before you use them when playing against your friends. Hopefully they’ll be impressed by your apparent improvement in gaming skills!

With all the hours I spent playing games from the Legend of Zelda series, I could have learned to speak a language fluently, or could have gotten a Master’s Degree in nuclear engineering, but no matter.  It was fun and engaging.  Zelda is the granddaddy of all adventure games as far as I’m concerned, and the new Wii A Link To The Past brings it all back.  Now, you can invest more of your life into exploring Hyrule!

Now receiving transmission… it’s a telepathic message from Zelda again!  Your mission is to find the Master Sword, then descend into the Dark World to do battle with the fearsome Ganon.  Defeating Ganon will bring peace back to Hyrule and, who knows, maybe Link and Zelda have a chance after all.  Eh?  Know what I’m saying?

But the real, exciting, totally new, super-cool feature of the new game is its multiplayer setting.  It’s called “Four Swords.”  You and up to three of your swashbuckling buddies can play the game together.  Four Swords is a totally different mission.  You get a message from Triforce, and the levels are set up so that you have to cooperate with each other to beat them.

In the Four Swords mode, you not only fight, but also have to solve puzzles.  For these, you have to work together with your friends.  You also collect rupees, just like in the original game, so you have a chance to compete with one another too.

Like all the games in the series, you meet strange men in caves who give you tips and sell you things.  You get crazy abilities from things you find.  You battle your way through the depths of Hyrule to get keys that open doors to the places you need to go.  One of the magical items that you use is a Magic Mirror that allows you to teleport from the Light to the Dark Worlds.

The graphics look great, and the music is fantastic.  It has the classic graphics from the old game.  They haven’t changed a thing, which makes it kind of charming.  The music is new, though, and it’s just as cool as you would expect from a new Zelda game.

One thing that’s caused us to lose hours of our life with Zelda games is that they are long.  A Link To The Past is no exception.  It takes forever to get through the whole game, so it’ll suck you in.  And, once you beat it, it’s been so long since you first started it, that you’re ready to go back through it all over again.  If you buy this game, you might as well take a lengthy vacation from work and hang up your social obligations for a while.  It’s engrossing.

A Link To The Past is the third Zelda game to be released on Wii in a relatively short time, but it is definitely the best of the three.  It was released some time ago on the Game Boy, but other than that, it hasn’t been available.  It’s definitely worth the money, especially if you’re a lifelong Zelda fan like me.