Wii Play

"A good game, but make sure you're buying the package for the controller."

A good game, but make sure you're buying the package for the controller.

Wii Play is a small, yet fun offering of mini-games designed to get players comfortable with the Wii controller. Containing 9 different mini-games, players will be taught how to hold the controller and use it in different ways. The best thing about this game is that it comes with a controller - for only $10 more than a controller by itself. To be honest, though, I wouldn't say it's worth any more than that.

The games included are very fun, very addictive, and very easy to get into. Some games include your Miis in the action, while other games are Mii-free. Each game can be played in single player to try to earn medals and high scores, and multiplayer to compete against your friends. I wouldn't say any game is bad, but I am not fond of the Mii games. Either way, each game is of high quality and controls well.

When you first start up Wii Play, you will only have the option to play the first game - Shooting Range. Once you complete this game, you are able to move onto the next, and so on. Some might find this an annoyance, but it ensures the player will learn and understand the simpler functions of the controller before tackling the harder ones. One relief of this is that you can complete the levels with company - So it won't seem so tedious competing with a friend from the start.

The game is presented simply, but very neatly. The menu is easy to navigate, you basically just point at the game you wish to play. In game, the graphics are perfect and very stylish. Games like Laser Hockey and Fishing have colourful neon and paper-themed graphics respectively, while Billiards and Charge! seem to be in 3D. Sound wise, the game is not outstanding but in no way annoying or bad. The sound effects simply do the job. The simple pong sound of table tennis, the shooting sound of Shooting Range, and the particularly funky effects for Laser Hockey are all very welcome.

Each person will get a different amount of play time from this game. Some, like me, will lap it up and enjoy playing simple and fun games. Others may not see the fun side. In reality, to unlock all the games should take no more than 30 minutes, tops, and each game played against a friend should never take more than 5 minutes as the score limits and round limits are very low.

That leads us to the downsides of the game. While each game has good standard settings, it lacks even the simplest customisability. You cannot set the score limit for a game of Table Tennis or the life limit in Tanks. And sadly, for the level-based such as Shooting Range, Charge!, and Tanks, there is never any variation. Each time you play shooting range you will be playing the same few levels with the same targets in the same order. This, frankly, is the only real downfall, and while it does seem like a big one, most of us will get over it very quickly.

Even with that flaw, the game is still very good and very worth the small change it costs to come with a Wii Remote. Just don't go buy it for the game - think of it as a bonus with a controller. I feel anyone buying the package to play the game will be sorely disappointed. I give the game a 6/10, though I should explain my rating system will differ to most. 7 out of 10 is by no means BAD. 5/10 is average, so think of this game as ABOVE AVERAGE. I would honestly recommend this to anyone who would like another controller and extra hours of enjoyment from their Wii.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/18/06