"Wheeeeeeee!"

Wii Sports is free. It comes as a pack-in with every Wii console. So why bother writing (or reading) a review about it? Well, this just might be one of the reasons why you pick up Nintendo's new machine-- or don't.

Graphics:
At a glance, it's easy to dismiss this compilation as kiddy, last-gen, and kind of dumb overall. The graphics, admittedly, are not very impressive, and the characters within look like elongated Fisher Price toys. But the game wasn't built with technical wow in mind, and it still displays a lot of charm with its clean and glossy coating. The game is also strongly tied to the Wii's Mii channel, a place to create custom caricatures of yourself. These can then be imported into Wii Sports to represent the on-screen players. Custom characters are nothing new, but it's a fun addition here and makes the game a little more personal. It's deviously pleasing to box a character that looks just like your younger brother.

Sound:
Wii Sports is also a good showcase for the Wii remote's built-in speaker. Other games like Twilight Princess overuse it to the point where it's no longer novel. In Wii Sports, however, it is used to heighten the believability that you are actually holding a tennis racket or golf club. Whenever you swing the remote, it makes a woosh sound, and a solid thwack accompanies every successful hit of the ball. The music, on the other hand, is negligible. Few of the games even have background music, and what is present sounds too much like Sesame Street and not something that came out of Nintendo.

Gameplay:
In fact, Wii Sports as a whole feels a little out of place in Nintendo's history. The company is always quick to capitalize on its past successes, but there's not a trace of Mario to be found here. And that's good. Wii Sports is able to stand on its own as a compilation of five different sports: tennis, bowling, baseball, golf, and boxing. All offer a fair amount of fun, but they were meant to be simple games, and you won't find a lot of depth here. There are no wacky tennis courts or bowling lanes, and the golf mode only features nine holes. Tennis doesn't even allow you to move your character; it's "tennis on rails." Baseball, in particular, is a joke. All you do is either hit the ball or pitch the ball. There is no integration of playing outfielder or running bases, and it makes baseball the weakest entry. The strongest entry, however, is easily bowling, followed by tennis, then boxing, and finally golf.

Controls:
What's really important, of course, is how these games utilize the technology in the Wii remote. And what it does is so natural and intuitive, anybody can readily pick up on it (including my parents and five-year old nephew). To swing your tennis racket, golf club, or baseball bat, all you have to do is swing the remote in the same fashion. Bowling is a little more complicated, because it requires holding a button down, but that button press is meant to mimic your grip on the ball. You can even add spin to your throw by twisting the controller once you've released the B button. Lastly, boxing requires plugging in the nuncuck attachment. Tilting and shaking each part of the controller blocks and punches respectively. It's easy to understand and adds a refreshing, new level of interactivity to video games.

Unfortunately, not all of it works. While I love the boxing mode, it feels clunky and unresponsive at times. I will often throw a punch when I was trying to block or repeatedly miss my opponent's head when it's directly in front of me. Putting in golf is also ridiculously frustrating. The controller is ever so sensitive, and trying to tap the ball usually results in you hitting it full force. And bowling, for as great as it is, imposes a barrier on spinning. Left-handed players find it impossible to spin the ball to the left and right-handed players to the right. This may be how it is in real life, but this is still a video game, and I should be able to spin the ball however I please.

Lasting Appeal:
Because of the game's limited depth, there isn't much for you to do playing solo. Nothing to unlock. Nothing to achieve. With a few more players, however, this is by far the best party game for Wii yet. And it's easy to find people to play, too. Non-gamers are more willing to jump into a round of Wii Sports than Rayman Raving Rabbids or Super Smash Bros. Melee. The fact that this games gets you up and moving also makes it a good choice for daily exercise. A few rounds of boxing will have you sweating almost as much as Dance Dance Revolution. Yes, it does make you tired and does give you a sore arm in the morning. You don't have to exaggerate your moves and throw your arm out on every serve, but the game is more fun that way. If you get into it, you'll really like this one.

Overall:
Wii Sports does not mark the end of traditional gaming. Instead, it acts as an introduction to what is possible on the Wii and hopefully paves the way for better things to come. Tennis, bowling, and boxing are some great examples of this potential. There just isn't much substance overall to get overly excited about, and some of the tasks, like putting, are made more difficult with the controller, not easier. But Wii Sports is a fun, unique experience, a game that finally bridges the gap between Non-gamer Grandma and Hardcore Timmy, and that's what makes it worth it.

Points:
+ Takes interactivity to the next level
+ Controls are easy to pick up
+ Mii integration is fun
+ Works well as a party game
-- Some things are made harder to control
-- Not a lot of depth overall

Score: 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/18/06