Guest Author - Lisa Shea

One of the best features of the Nintendo Wii console is that it can play vintage games. With online downloads, you can reach back through thousands of games - back to the origins of Nintendo!

Sure, the Wii can play all 530+ GameCube games by sticking them into the unit, just like the PS2 can play PS1 games and the XBox 360 can play XBox games. OK, actually the Wii is *better* because the Wii will actually *play* those GameCube games. With our XBox 360 it's hit or miss whether a game actually plays that we put into it. They only enable certain games. With the Wii, you'll be set with *all* the GameCube games you own and enjoy.


But expand your horizons. Stretch your mind back to the glorious days of Adventure, with the duck-dragons. How about Pitfall? Those cartridges are long gone - but Nintendo has saved them all for us!

Once you put your Wii online, you get online download access to their FULL library of games. This means games from:

* Nintendo® 64
* Super Nintendo Entertainment System® (SNES)
* Nintendo Entertainment System® (NES)

But heck, they don't stop there. How about some games from the Sega Genesis? You also get games from the TURBO GRAFX16 too!

Yes, you can buy new games if you want to, taking advantage of the moving-wand controller and the high level of graphics. However, to me, that's only a small part of the Wii story. Having access to thousands of classic, fantastic games - without having to track down obscure titles on eBay and pray that they're still in functional shape - is just amazing.

Is there a downside? I suppose you have to have an internet connection to download them. I imagine most of us do. You also have to pay a small fee for each game. But there are definitely games I would gladly pay to be able to play in my living room. Yes, fancy graphics are great - but the classic strategy and appeal of those original games really shines. It really proves that if you have a wonderful game idea, graphics are secondary.

Give me those duck dragons any day :)