Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was trying to rack my brain on all the hate behind this console. But then I realized, taking out the Gamecube ports, online, and SD Card, really affect one game the most: Super Smash Brothers. If you are the type of casual gamer that just wants this console to get your fill of Mario, then this console is just fine. The console is not only a steal, especially with Mario Kart included, but many of the Wii hits are at great prices as well. One thing I do like about this Wii is the top-loading disc drive rather the dependence on motors to insert and eject discs, which are bound to stop working. Open the lid, pop the disc in, shut the lid and you're good to go. Simple and fool-proof enough for kids. I also liked that it came with the Wii Motion Plus Remote with rubber cover, nunchuck, and even AA batteries. So, Nintendo did give you everything to get you up and running right away. Oh, just to confirm it does have built-in memory for game-saves. It seems like you will have to go through a LOT of games before it finally runs out. Ok, so what's wrong with this model? The most glaring problem is the proprietary composite cable that it comes with. The Wii could do 480p with a special component cable that was strangely rare to purchase. However, with composite, you will only get 480i. What does this mean? It probably won't be the clearest image you will see. If you are picky about graphics and absolutely pristine images on your 60" HDTV, then not even the normal Wii will help you there. Before you buy this, note that the only video cable that works is the one in the box, that's it. It's probably safe to assume that no 3rd party peripherals that plug into the Wii, no wi-fi or ethernet devices, etc, will work with this Wii Mini. If you're just in it for Nintendo exclusives to play offline, you won't be disappointed. I hooked this up to a 32" Samsung and 32" Vizio TV. After some adjusting and brightness, I'm happy to say that the Wii Mini is definitely "good enough" in terms of image quality on both devices. Yes, it could be better with 480p component cables. But, kids and moms will not know the difference. It does have a 16:9 widescreen mode, which makes it all the more bearable. I really wanted to do this review because I saw so many negative reviews from people about this console. For those fans, the Wii U has online, HD, and everything else for more hard-core gamers. For my family, who wants to play a little Mario Kart and Wii Sports Resort on a budget, it's perfect.