I managed to play a Wii today.
I am impressed quite a bit to tell you the truth, not with the game in question - although Excite Truck was fun enough to definitely warrant a 20 dollar purchase in the future - but the technology behind it.
Wii is a very sleek console, let me say that. The remote fits in your hand and it feels wonderful once you get used to it; it's a very well designed controller. Everything is in reach when the thing is turned horizontal, making it play and feel like a modern age NES controller. The d pad was initially extremely small upon first touching the thing, but after going through the menus and stuff in Excite Truck it's actually pretty intuitive and fits the controller design nicely. If you have big hands, you may have another issue altogether, but from my experience the Wii's controller is comfortable, and so damn light I can't understand how it would be possible for the arm/wrist/hand to get tired after hours of play. The controller is
extremely light. The dual shock is heavier, the snes game pad feels heavier, and shit, even the original NES pad feels a tiny bit heavier than the Wiimote. If there is a worry about the controller design itself, it's the Z button. It's on the bottom of the remote, and when you use the remote in horizontal play it is next to impossible to hit it. Maybe it's the way I'm holding it?
If there's one thing I don't like about it, it's the sensitivity at times. For example, you use the Wiimote in Wii's menu as a mouse of some sort, to pick out various icons in the browser. It works just like a mouse on a computer, you have a cursor, you pick what you want to open, and press the A button. This can be hard at times because the cursor really moves fast, and the Wiimote slips a little bit during use. I found it to be a great help to use two hands with the Wiimote to balance it out. I didn't have many issues after that, but I wonder if it's possible to customize your menu sensitivity settings?
But really, I can't gush over the technology enough. When I played Excite Truck it was pretty damn fun, not because it was something new, but it was a step towards something we have wanted to experience for years in the gaming industry - the ultimate form of immersion: virtual reality. When you actually play the thing, and experience it, you'll just "get" it. At first, the controls felt slippery, but yes, I would definitely say there is a learning curve. You can't just pick up the remote and play Excite Truck, the tutorials are highly suggested. Once I picked up the basics, and got used to the controller, playing Excite Truck was fun as hell.
Oh, and one minor quibble is that I kept pressing the dpad while playing. Dirty dirty habits!
If there's anything I wish Nintendo did more at these kiosks, it would be a full featured demo disc that gave a preview of all the various features the Nintendo Wii could possibly accomplish with this new form of control. One of which, that would be perfect for the occasion, would be a Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Tokyo Game Show fishing demo. They should have a demo for the most interesting features at the kiosks, and I don't understand why Nintendo went solely with Excite Truck.
Oh, and I made a Mii! The first one too. I can't wait for Sunday.
