GamesRelay

Name: Wii Sports

It's a game every Wii owner will play at least once, mainly because it comes bundled free with the console. A cunning strategy if ever there was one for getting a game into the hands of your customers. With this being the main Wii launch title, it's getting a lot of hype especially for how the controls will function on the new console. The whole game is more a collection of minigames, with Bowling, Baseball, Tennis, Golf and Boxing, the game does lack depth and the whole thing is short lived after you have gotten over the initial excitement and novelty period of playing with your new Wii, but again it's free so it's hard to criticise something which is included with the console.

One of the most striking things about Wii Sports is its pick up and play factor, all the sports are easy to get to grips with and the motion controls make things even easier. All the games can be played with just the remote apart from boxing which requires the nunchuk as well. With the game being split into smaller minigames, this review will be split into smaller reviews based on the individual games.

Bowling is probably the best of the bunch and easily the most favourable, having you position your Mii in line with the d-pad so that you can setup the perfect shot by getting the angle and trajectory correct, it's not too difficult to hit all the pins but some pratice is required. Lining up your Mii for the shot isn't just the only tactic you need to employ before you let go of the ball, the Wii remote picks up the angle and rotation that you are holding it in so you have to be careful that you don't just let the ball go in any old manner. You get a full 10 frames with bowling so it can be a great party game with some friends, it allows 1 – 4 players to play bowling but only one can go at a time.

Baseball is the hardest of the lot, trying to position your bat into the right angle is one thing but actually having to swing your remote in time to hit the ball is the most challenging. Just like real baseball this game takes skill and it's easy to miss your first few shots. The game has you playing in a home run derby either batting or pitching, it's pretty realistic in how you control the batting and pitching and when your batting you don't need to concentrate on where the bat hits, it's the timing that defines if you hit the ball or not. Your Mii moves nearly exactly the same as you move the remote, lining it up behind your shoulder getting ready to bat. It's a great game, and again can be played with friends if you take it in turns.

Tennis is the multiplayer game of choice on Wii Sports, allowing you to either go one on one, or as doubles. The remote serves as the bat and thankfully the AI takes over the position of your Mii leaving you just to getting your timing right while serving and swinging. Flicking your remote up and giving it a quick swing will get the ball moving, the remote picks up on the position it's held in which can define the direction of the ball, it also, depending on how quick you flick the remote, defines the speed that that ball is hit in, giving you a forehand or a backhand swing. The accuracy of it all is fairly good, it's not the next Virtua Tennis but then it doesn't use motion controls like Wii Sports does.

Golf is a patient game, angle, trajectory, speed and stance all play a part but the Wii Sports version thankfully makes it a little easier for the novice golf players. Just like a real golf club you hold the remote in the same fashion bringing it back above your shoulder depending on the power you want to give, the game simulates power with an on screen meter so you can keep track of exactly how hard you want to hit it which is extremely useful while putting. It's not just about the shot mind you, the wind plays an important factor in your shot and angle, plus your ball bounces and rolls as it lands on the fairway, it adds a nice layer of realism to it all but still keeps it easy and accessible for every player. Golf gives you nine holes in total which will keep you busy for a little while. While there isn't multiplayer per se, you can just as easily take it in turns while playing the holes or running the whole course.