Board 8 > I'm setting up a Wii for the first time

(+) Yeah! (+)

Thanks to @PrivateBiscuit1, I am now the proud owner of my first Nintendo console in 15+ years.

Bear with me... I have very little experience with the console, as almost all of my friends had other systems, and those who had a Wii basically used it for Wii Sports and then got bored with it.

So far, I have discovered that I can use Amazon Prime on it... which is amazing because Chromecast doesn't support Prime Video, so this finally allows me to watch it on my non-smart TV.

Here is a rundown of the accessories I have:

2 Wiimotes
1 nunchuck
1 steering wheel
HDMI converter (just purchased this because my RBV ports are being used already)

And the games:

Wii Sports
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Mario Kart Wii
Mario and Sonic at the Olympics
Donkey Kong Country Returns
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Okami
No More Heroes

My questions
HDMI cable: good decision or pointless?
What other accessories should I purchase, if any?
Is an SD card the best/only way to back up saves? If I hypothetically replace the Wii with a WiiU in the future, can my saves transfer this way?
Do all of these games require using the Wiimote? Are there better controls for certain games?
Are there any other worthwhile apps to install on this?
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Are your Wiimotes Wii Motion Plus?

The only must-have accessory is the Classic Controller Plus

All your games can transfer to Wii U

The only other apps are apps from 3rd party that you need. All of Nintendos are long gone
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And no not all of those games require the Wiimote
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Jakyl25 posted...

Are your Wiimotes Wii Motion Plus?

One of them is. I assume I'll gradually increase my controllers to 4 in case I have people over... if we're just playing Brawl or whatever, do the other ones need to be Wii Motion Plus as well? What's the difference?

The only must-have accessory is the Classic Controller Plus

Cool, what games is this for? Why did I think I could use Gamecube controllers?
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the homebrew channel
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You can use GameCube controllers unless its a very late-model Wii. I didnt consider them accessories. Most games that will let you use Classic Controller also support GameCube controllers.

Wii Motion Plus is higher-fidelity Motion Control. You need it for Skyward Sword. Not for Smash though.
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

Why did I think I could use Gamecube controllers?

does your wii have gamecube controller ports

(a legit question, some do some don't)


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Jakyl25 posted...

Wii Motion Plus is higher-fidelity Motion Control. You need it for Skyward Sword. Not for Smash though.

Ha, it's actually the gold Zelda Wiimote.

Let's fill in the blanks, friends:

Wii Sports - Wiimote
Super Mario Galaxy - ?
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - ?
Mario Kart Wii - Steering wheel (do I need to use it?)
Mario and Sonic at the Olympics - ?
Donkey Kong Country Returns - (classic controller seems to make sense but is that true?)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Gamecube controller (?)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Wiimote
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn - ?
Okami - ?
No More Heroes - ?
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I'm not sure you'll be able to transfer purchases to a wii u after the wii eshop closes.

I guess you could download the channel anyway.
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CelesMyUserName posted...

Nelson_Mandela posted...

Why did I think I could use Gamecube controllers?

does your wii have gamecube controller ports

(a legit question, some do some don't)

Holy shit I didn't even realize I could do this! I has ports!!
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Galaxy is Wiimote/Nunchuck

Brawl is literally anything, it has like 6 control options

The steering wheel is just so you look less (more?) stupid steering the air in your living room with the Wiimote. Totally optional
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FWIW, I am keeping my Gamecube hooked up due to the Game Boy Player.
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Jakyl25 posted...

Brawl is literally anything, it has like 6 control options

Should I make a poll to figure out what the best setup is or has a consensus been reached in the past decade?
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

Jakyl25 posted...

Brawl is literally anything, it has like 6 control options

Should I make a poll to figure out what the best setup is or has a consensus been reached in the past decade?

Always GameCube
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

Wii Sports - Wiimote
Super Mario Galaxy - Wiimote + Nunchuck
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Wiimote, Wiimote + Nunchuck, Classic Controller, Gamecube
Mario Kart Wii - Steering wheel (do I need to use it?) same as above.... minus nunchuck
Mario and Sonic at the Olympics - I imagine Wiimote + Nunchuck
Donkey Kong Country Returns - (classic controller seems to make sense but is that true?)... sorry, Wiimote only
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Gamecube controller (?) nope, Wiimote + Nunchuck
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Wiimote (+ Nunchuck) with Motion+
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn - Wiimote, Classic Controller, Gamecube
Okami - ? Wiimote + Nunchuck
No More Heroes - Wiimote + Nunchuck

also you can find controller options on the boxart
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Jakyl25 posted...

Nelson_Mandela posted...

Jakyl25 posted...

Brawl is literally anything, it has like 6 control options

Should I make a poll to figure out what the best setup is or has a consensus been reached in the past decade?

Always GameCube

they literally made a GameCube controller clone for Smash 4 so that should give you some idea of how much of a consensus it is
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Yeah, they had to retrofit actual GameCube controller support to the Wii U as well just to appease Smash fans
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Oh yeah and you have approximately one month left before they disable the ability to add funds to your Virtual Console/WiiWare wallet in preparation for the eventual total shutdown
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

Wii Sports - Wiimote
Super Mario Galaxy - ?
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - ?
Mario Kart Wii - Steering wheel (do I need to use it?)
Mario and Sonic at the Olympics - ?
Donkey Kong Country Returns - (classic controller seems to make sense but is that true?)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Gamecube controller (?)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Wiimote
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn - ?
Okami - ?
No More Heroes - ?

Using a plain old Wiimote gives you the same scheme as the wheel. The wheel is just a shell.

Galaxy and No More Heroes are Wiimote/Nunchuk only.

Brawl for the love of God use the GameCube controller.

And I DON'T THINK you can use the GameCube controller on the Wii version of Twilight Princess, but I may be wrong. I just remember the GameCube version was usually considered the definitive version (before the HD version on Wii U) and I'm pretty sure the controls were a big part of that.
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And I guess the classic controller is really for virtual console releases and collections (like the Kirby Anniversary disc)?
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

And I guess the classic controller is really for virtual console releases and collections (like the Kirby Anniversary disc)?

Works for those, yeah, but also certain Wii games support it (Xenoblade springs to mind).

Edit: Found a list.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_games_that_use_the_Classic_Controller
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JonThePenguin posted...

Nelson_Mandela posted...

And I guess the classic controller is really for virtual console releases and collections (like the Kirby Anniversary disc)?

Works for those, yeah, but also certain Wii games support it (Xenoblade springs to mind).

Edit: Found a list.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_games_that_use_the_Classic_Controller

excellent, thank you
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you definitely need a classic controller for snes and 64 vc games. I think it says so in the eshop. maybe genesis too since some games have six button support.

others it's optional and the eshop lists compatible controllers.
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GameCube works for N64 games. I recall playing SM64 with a Wavebird
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Yeah, GCN is my preferred controller for N64 VC. Shame about no rumble but thats the case for all the options
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CelesMyUserName posted...

the homebrew channel

Consult /r/WiiHacks if you want to dip into that.
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Definitely check out Rhythm Heaven Fever
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So in terms of saving games... What's the difference between a Wii memory card and an SD card?
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I prefer WiiMote and Nunchuck for Brawl, but I'm in the minority there

also I feel I have to mention Wii has two of the best Kirby games to date in Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Return to Dreamland
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Johnbobb posted...

also I feel I have to mention Wii has two of the best Kirby games to date in Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Return to Dreamland

On my list ;)

Also the Kirby collection
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make sure to launch the wii shop and listen to the music for like 45 straight minutes.

I guess you could buy a SNES game or something. get a classic controller first though.
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transience posted...

make sure to launch the wii shop and listen to the music for like 45 straight minutes.

I guess you could buy a SNES game or something. get a classic controller first though.

I have an SNES for that ;)
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

Also the Kirby collection

I got the Dream Collection 6 years ago and still regularly listen to the cd soundtrack that came with it in my car
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Man, still surprised that got to you so fast.

I liked using the wheel for Mario Kart Wii, and I thought that Brawl was best used with a GameCube controller.

The Classic Controller is best for the Virtual Console games, which others mentioned, is closing down soon. So if you want anything from your childhood or a couple of the decent Wii Ware classics, grab those.

Also worth noting is that you can play any GameCube games on it. You just need a memory card for it and a controller.
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Unplug your sensor bar. Light two candles and place one to the left and one to the right of your TV. Then try and use the Wiimote.
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Are there any "must-have" Wii Ware games?
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Mega Man 9 if you haven't played it for anything else.
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There are a handful of Virtual Console games that are available outside Japan for the first time ever, most notably N64's Sin and Punishment (with full English voice acting).
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do you still have a hooked up SNES?

having them easily accessible in a good resolution with wireless controllers is worth $8 or whatever
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transience posted...

do you still have a hooked up SNES?

having them easily accessible in a good resolution with wireless controllers is worth $8 or whatever

Everything is hooked up. When I make my way to the burbs and can get a bigger TV I'm going to try my darndest to upscale the picture on the original console.
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

Are there any "must-have" Wii Ware games?

The Konami ReBirth series (Castlevania, Contra, and Gradius) are pretty cool

Also on Virtual Console you should check out some TurboGrafx-16 games if you don't have one. Bonk's Revenge, Air Zonk, Ninja Spirit, and Castlevania: Rondo of Blood are my favorites.
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If you don't already own Resident Evil 4 in one form or another, check out the Wii version.

Despite the fact that the back of the case shows that you can only use the Wii Remote + Nunchuck and Classic Controller schemes, you can 100% use the GameCube controller as well.

It's also a good version. One of the few games I enjoyed using the Wii Remote + Nunchuck for that game.
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baubeta posted...

Unplug your sensor bar. Light two candles and place one to the left and one to the right of your TV. Then try and use the Wiimote.

Seems like a fire hazard
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

So in terms of saving games... What's the difference between a Wii memory card and an SD card?

Upping my ignorance
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Do you mean the save data or the games themselves?

In either case.

For save data, it's merely for backup. The Wii reads save data off of the system memory as far as I remember.

For the games, you can play them off of the SD cards. If I remember right, the Wii has to do some loading on the games first before running them, but I don't think it was much of a problem.
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WhiteLens posted...

Do you mean the save data or the games themselves?

Yeah exclusively for the save data. I want to make sure everything is backed up in case of hard drive failure and to also ensure I can use it on the WiiU. I keep seeing "Wii memory cards" but they're all third party I think.
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Oh wait, you were talking about "Wii Memory Cards". Thought you were talking about the internal system memory.

Yeah those "Wii Memory Cards" ARE just normal SD cards. They were only called that back then to sucker people who didn't know any batter into paying more than they normally would with any other SD card.
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yeah that was confusing me reading that
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Nelson_Mandela posted...

Are there any "must-have" Wii Ware games?

Muscle March

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8BcndMxu44
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seconding muscle march the icon of wiiware

Pretty much every other wiiware exclusive wound up on Steam anyways like LostWinds, Nyxquest, Bit.Trip series

Although Wii is still the best system of choice for Bit.Trip Beat, you use motion controls to twist the remote around kinda like a pong controller in bar form. It just feels really great that way so the game loses a lot in the ports (including a 3DS port) imho

Also I'm like contractually obligated to tell everyone to play Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles My Life as a King but it's not a game for everyone, you're a king that constructs his kingdom (residences, shops, taverns, etc) and hire adventurers to take on dungeons you put up job postings for... it's not a very active game but I enjoy it
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