The seven-year itch doesn't really apply to consoles; it's more like the 7 month itch. Gamers are a fickle bunch and just like anything you may love; get close enough and you'll see the Wii has its shortcomings. A patchy online mode and a lack of key third party IP's are factors which mean we sometimes find ourselves falling into other arms - arms that are, admittedly better-looking but arguably a lot less sociable and definitely harder to introduce to your parents!

Read the industry rags and you may have been led to believe that your Wii is old news and that flashier models are where you should be blowing your hard earned wads. Heaven forbid! Thus, N-Europe is here this Valentine's Day to remind you why you ached for your little white box in the first place. Afterall, it's only when you are close to something that you truly get to see the warts and all.

So read on as we attempt to Wii-light the fire in your gaming love...

She's friendly to all:

One game and that was it - we were enticed forever. A pack-in title that revolutionised gaming. One piece of software brought motion gaming to people all over the world and all you had to do was swing your arms to show everyone how brilliant gaming had always been. You may think it's not for you nowadays and you may prefer a button press rather than a mere 'timed' swing of your arm, but what Wii Sports did for the rest of the world (who weren't gamers) is still astonishing. It brought Nintendo's plan to bring gaming to the masses literally into motion - the world over.

Classic franchises that are meant to primarily appeal to existing fan bases have been re-established on Wii like never before. Certain titles will always sell to gamers, but with the Wii the clever bods at Nintendo have made their 'core' titles sell to those who had previously never picked up a controller.

Giving Mario Kart Wii a steering wheel (whilst making the control setups a genuine joy to experience) was a bold move that turned into pure accessible gold. Giving New Super Mario Bros. Wii (arguably one of the most major retro-style games on the system) a lick of paint along with some multiplayer goodness and advertising it as a game for all of the family was an idea of genius, which is reflected now in the sales figures. Rebooting Punch out!! with motion controls, using a vast amount of experience to deliver snowboarding, wave-racing and sports-based games with the Balance Board - these all felt like they were coming from a company who were craftsmen (and women) of the highest order. Franchises feel fresh whilst feeling like the Nintendo games we've been playing for years.

She won't break the bank:

Nintendo's machine might not have the best-looking tech this generation, but it is far from an ugly duckling when it comes to gaming value. Nintendo realised it was fun content that sold their consoles, not pretty-looking graphics. "They've said that for years" we hear you preaching. Yes, we know, but when did they aggressively go after a market with new IP's and advertising which actually worked?! Only now, that's when. Nintendo have marketed their little console to death with panache and we've enjoyed every minute of it. (Even when the B-rated celebs got up and crooned about how great Mario Kart is...)

For those still sulking about being 'left out', Nintendo have catered to their core gaming sect like never before. That's why the Wii will have two Zelda's, three major Mario games and two Metroid titles - core franchise classics. Amongst these, a litter of other excellent titles like Punchout!!, Mario Kart Wii, Smash Bros. Brawl... Nintendo gamers have never had it this good since the SNES years.

She's social:

Sure it may have been Sony who initially made gaming 'cool', but it was still only cool for those with a pre-existing gaming (or karaoke!) disposition. Parents would never be seen enjoying the Playstation around the family TV. Wii changed that, bringing multiplayer social gaming to "everyone" in a truly revolutionary, exciting and friendly way. Wii is arguably the most social games machine of the decade, bringing families together and providing content for all ages like nothing before.

She understands your retro cravings:

Sometimes gamers forget how great the Virtual Console is. Remember the enthusiasm over its announcement? Faults and all, the Virtual Console is still astounding and reflects where the industry has come from far better than any other online setup on any other platform. It is perhaps as true a library of the history of videogames as you may find without turning to emulation. Even then, its warts-and-all approach to its source material is both a flaw and a redeeming quality that true 'core' gamers should grasp and wholly appreciate rather than sulk about.

She looks good in motion:

Finally, where would the industry be today without motion control? Defining and shaping the industry is a Nintendo hallmark and as competitors take their lead and manipulate their designs to great effect, gamers drool to motion arcs and cameras. But with the Wii, motion control can still feel, at times, like the greatest control scheme ever. Play Wii Sports (and Resort) and it's hard not to enjoy the instant, almost passive appeal of the controls. They become invisible like the very best Nintendo games.

As motion came about, off-beat, entertaining and unique titles have been born in the somewhat genre-heavy industry. Classics like Eledees, Boom Blox, Warioware, De Blob, and Let's Tap spring to mind with a wealth of other titles offering motion controls which have truly shaken the industry. Nintendo were right when they said they were making a revolution - it appears the Wii could just affect the entire future of the electronic entertainment industry.

So thank you Wii, you've truly brought some fantastic experiences to us as gamers and smiles to those who had never played a videogame before. For that we love to spend our time in your gaming arms and we look forward to our future gaming relationship. And who knows, we may even send you a love letter all over again next year, afterall, old habits die hard.

Got a comment? Tell us why you love the Wii below...

Mark "Tapedeck" Lee
- Staff Writer, N-Europe.com