Wii Play

"Think of it as a tech demo for the Wii"

At the time of Wii Play's release, the Wii was still a new console that introduced to us a controller that allowed us to interact with games in ways we have never seen before. This game is pretty much there to familiarize us further with the Wii. It includes nine simple minigames that show off the Wii Remote's technology in different ways. Fortunately for the buyer of this game, it includes a free Wii remote controller.

As many of us already know, the Wii is already brimming with heaps of minigame collections. Some have been done well, some are practically unplayable. How does Wii Play stack up against the rest? Let's find out.

First, there is a simple game called Shooting Range. It plays exactly like Duck Hunt. The object of the game is to shoot at the flying targets on the screen. As you progress through each level, the targets become increasingly harder to hit. This game shows off the capabilities of the pointer function in the Wii remote.

Next, there is Find Mii. If you're ever read “Where's Waldo?” you will understand how to play this minigame. You will be told to find two or more identical Miis in a crowd of different Miis in a limited amount of time. This game also uses the pointer function in the Wii remote.

The third minigame is called Table Tennis. The concept is simple enough. You move the paddle around using the Wii remote to hit the ball at the opposing player.

The fourth minigame is called Pose Mii. You must change the pose of your Mii and tilt it to make it fit in a corresponding bubble. This game uses the pointer and tilt functions of the remote.

The fifth minigame is called Laser Hockey. It is basically a neon-style version of Pong where you can tilt your paddle to change the angle of the ball. It is yet another game that uses the pointer and tilt functions of the Wii remote.

The sixth minigame is called Billiards. It is one of the most interactive Billards games you will ever play. The Wii remote is treated like the Cue stick. You can pull it back and move it around just like you would in a real game of pool.

The seventh minigame is called Fishing. It is a pretty mundane task to just hold your Wii remote out in front of you and expect one of the flat fish to take a bite.

The eighth minigame is called Charge! It is easily one of the most fun minigames Wii Play has to offer. You tilt the Wii remote forwards to make your cow move faster and you quickly jerk it upwards to jump over obstacles.

Finally, there is Tanks! In my opinion this is the deepest and most fun game on Wii Play. You control the Tank with the control pad on the Wii remote or the analog stick on the Nunchuk. You can use the pointer function to aim your missles at opposing tanks and fire using B. You can drop mines with A and there are also destructible environments.

Wii Play does not have outstanding graphics or sound. This game is best played with 2 to 4 people. It is a great way to show off the Wii's features to someone new to the Wii. It comes with a free remote which comes in handy anyways. It's up to you to decide if it has enough value to warrant a purchase. All in all, the game was not really designed for long sessions, but just to show off what the Wii remote can do. If you enjoy short minigames and you want an extra remote, this game is for you.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 01/08/08

Game Release: Wii Play (US, 02/12/07)