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Best Video Game Consoles

Wii? Xbox? PlayStation? You don't know the difference—you just know your kids want one. Here, we break down all the new game consoles.

By Christopher Healy

For the Home Entertainment Junkie

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The previous PlayStation, PS2, already offered a seemingly endless library of games. With the top-of-the-line version of the PS3, you get access to that catalog plus the breathtakingly state-of-the-art PS3 games. Not many kiddie titles have been designed specifically for PS3, but lots of cute, cheap ones are available for download through the online PlayStation Network Store (expect PS2-level visuals on those, however). What PS3 really wants, though, is to replace your CD player, DVD player, MP3 player, home-movie player, and maybe even PC (it has a built-in Internet browser). It even comes out of the box with the ability to play high-definition Blu-ray DVDs. Of course, you'll need to clear all that shelf space, since the console is the biggest and heaviest one on the market.

Pros:
• Loads of features beyond gaming
• Industry-leading graphics and sound
• Huge selection of games

Cons:
• Bulky and heavy
• Most family titles are actually PS2 games

Specs:
13" x 11" x 4"; 11 pounds, $400 to $500 (depending on PS2 and PS1 game compatibility), Amazon.

For the aspiring jock

Nintendo Wii

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The Wii's easy-to-use motion-sensitive remote, which lets you play tennis, baseball, and golf using each sport's real motions, has put this console at the forefront of the active-gaming trend. Many games are designed to be played standing up, and the new Balance Board accessory works out the entire body. Meanwhile, the online Wii Shop Channel lets parents download retro favorites ($5 to $10 each). The machine can't play music or movies, and its graphics can seem a bit five-years-ago—but it's so small and light that you can even consider taking it with you to Grandma's. Fewer of its games offer online multiplayer modes, so the Wii online community focuses on user-created content, including avatars called Miis (basically caricatures designed by the player), which can be used as protagonists in some games.

Pros:
• Great active-gaming options
• Inexpensive
• So compact, you can travel with it

Cons:
• Fewer online gaming choices
• Graphics aren't as mind-blowing as those of the more expensive consoles

Specs:
8.5" x 6" x 2"; 4 pounds, $250, Amazon.

For the Virtual Social Butterfly

Microsoft Xbox 360

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graphics

To take on a friend from around the corner or around the world, head to Xbox Live, the largest virtual community connected to any gaming system. Smartly divided into zones where you can find like-minded players, it can even pair you with one of equal skill. Unlike PlayStation and Wii, however, Xbox charges a fee ($50 a year) for online play. The Xbox online marketplace offers downloadable games and a growing selection of movies and TV shows, turning your 360 into an on-demand hub (it also plays CDs and DVDs). And while every console lets parents lock out particular games, only the 360 will automatically shut the system down for you if your kids go beyond the allotted play time.

Pros:
• Extensive parental controls
• Large and diverse online community
• Access to on-demand movies and TV

Cons:
• Online play isn't free
• Adapter for wireless connectivity costs extra

Specs:
12" x 10" x 3.5"; 8 pounds, $280 to $450 (depending on how much hard-drive memory you want), Amazon.