Console Gaming Confessions

Although I am pre-dominantly a PC gamer I have occasionally dipped my toes into the murky water of console gaming.  My console of choice isn't really that cool or cutting edge (it was once though), it's the Nintendo Wii.  I can feel the eye-rolling going on all the way through the Interweb!  I wouldn't call myself a hardcore Nintendo follower, I play specific series and don't try to keep up with the latest and greatest.

Nintendo has been a staple in my life since I was a child (see early post with picture of first Nintendo).  When I was 9 or 10, my brother and I received the first Nintendo console as a Christmas present.  We spent hours in the basement playing Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt and later on Legend of Zelda and Dr. Mario.  So maybe it's that connection to childhood that has kept me playing Nintendo games.  I think it's that way for many people.

My favorite series on the Nintendo are Mario Kart, Legend of Zelda, the Metroid games, and Mario Party.  Maybe it's more that I have fond memories of playing in a group, because the games are virtually the same even as the consoles themselves improve.  The motion controls on the Wii were groundbreaking at the time and added a fun new aspect to the classic Nintendo games.

There are also some exceptional standalone games that aren't part of any series.  My absolute favorite Nintendo game (Wii) is Okami.  The gameplay is very unique and beautiful. The motion controls add a fun feature in the way you use it to "paint" attacks and abilities.  Usually I try to avoid Japanese games, because I don't really get them, but Okami is an exception.  The story plays out as a Japanese folktale with you as the central character--a white wolf (there's way more to this, but I don't want to ruin it).  The combat includes racking up attack combos and timing your special paintbrush abilities for just the right moment.  The story is engaging, cute, and exciting.

My personal console choice is Nintendo mostly due to the nostalgia factor.  If you want to play the latest/greatest games you would probably be better served if you went with the new XBox or PlayStation models.  Or better yet you could just buy a PC and avoid having to fork out $400 every 2-3 years for the next model of console.