Interviewee: Nintendo Wii

(Or, Like Thor to a Flame)

At 12:01 A.M., husband and I became the proud owners of a spanking new Nintendo Wii. We got Wii Sports with the console and picked up Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess besides. Unfortunately, we weren't able to pick up a third Wiimote and nunchuck combo for Killa, who was working and couldn't join us for the midnight launch, as all the controller accessories were presold.

It is amazing how much fun we had with the Wii before we ever stuck a disc in it: Boot up and configure system; Make Mii; Make husband's Mii; Make an Angelina Jolie Mii, in case she wants to come over and play with our Wii; Download original Legend of Zelda from the Virtual Console; Six hours and four labyrinths later, finally try out Wii Sports.

Ultimate Alliance is good so far, but I've discovered that you can take Wii toolboxery to a whole new level by smashing the A button to attack instead of using the gesture controls that are the very birthright of the Wii. No amount of gesturing nor A-button-smashing, however, seems able to prevent Thor from stumbling into every apparent pile of burning rubbish we pass by. If there is a fire in Marvel Ultimate Alliance, it is a safe bet that Thor is going to walk into it and die. Swap him out for the Human Torch at your earliest convenience.

We have yet to deflower Twilight Princess, which is still in its cellophane wrapper, pristine, propped up on the dining room table so we can look at it while we eat. We aren't yet ready to end the admiration process and move to the next phase (i.e., actually playing the game).