Wii Sports is a fun title that provides a unique, entertaining experience for everyone.
Presentation: Wii Sports shows a slick presentation with Nintendo, and (more of these) upcoming "Nintendo Mii implementation-esque' franchises written all over it. The use of Mii's throughout Wii Sports is great, and it's really a key feature that sets it apart from other sports games on the market. With a casual game style, and a few modes that add areas of replay value and depth for a more hardcore gamer, Wii Sports is game that easily can appeal to everybody. But most of all, it is the Wii Remote itself that sets it apart from other sports games, and keeps the presentation at a unique, smooth level. Without it, Wii Sports simply wouldn't exist!
Graphics: The easiest way to describe the graphical style in Wii Sports is 'simple'. Your Mii Character is represented in sporting environments that well resemble your character, and artistically place them in a world that fits them perfectly. The games models (or Miis) are simple, and the arenas, (courts, rings, whatever you call them) are simple enough to get the main idea across the screen. There isn't much detail being used and it's easy to say that Wii Sports wasn't produced for technical achievement. However, everything in the game sports a crisp, clean feeling (the game also runs in Widescreen and 480p) that really sets aside the need for complex textures and polygons. With that, Wii Sports while not beautiful, gets the job done in a simple and fresh manner. Sound: A long with the graphical aspects of Wii Sports, there is a similarity in terms of the sound department. Wii Sports, wasn't developed to sport fantastic sound either There are a few memorable tunes being used on screen, as well as general sounds being heard in other sports games. However, the real level of sound comes in the form of immersion - right in the palm of your hand. The Wii Remotes internal speaker, while not of the highest quality, helps give the gamer a greater feel as he plays the game. Listening to swoosh of a baseball releasing from his grip, or the ever famous cry in a boxing match in the form of 'Knock Out!", the speaker helps translate some of the on-screen sound right into your own hand. While not a complete necessity, it's an interesting feature that nevertheless helps improve and set the experience apart from the rest.
Gameplay: The game play in Wii Sports, is probably one of the stronger, and more interesting aspects of the game. Because of Nintendo's unique controller, we get an experience that no gamer has ever played before... and for the most part, it works! To break it down simply, all five of Nintendo's sports games (Baseball, Bowling, Boxing, Golf, and Tennis) are played using the Wii Remote in various position, while performing various gestures and actions. You'll pitch in baseball by moving your arm or wrist, and you'll hit a tennis ball - either from the left or right depending on the way the ball is coming toward you - with a flick of the wrist or a full arm movement. Most notably, attaching Nintendo's Nunchuk attachment to the Wii remote to perform quick jab, dodge, and uppercut in boxing. All of these are performed in ways that you can imagine - ways that you would (generally) translate in real life. Of course, a few tidbits are included to help make the game more controllable (such as having to hold the A Button when hitting a ball in golf, you don't want to accidentally hit the ball unplanned!) and, these small features are accompanied by tutorials that can easily appeal to someone who's never played a video game before. This system works well and provides a new and entertaining experience for all gamers. Although, sometimes a few gestures may go unrecognized, though rarely ever, it's easy enough to assume that every movement won't be translated on screen in a game such as boxing. Simplicity was one of the key components in Wii Sports, and with that thought in mind - how are you to expect a full fledged game in each of the five sports games provided? As simple as it is... sometimes Wii Sports may feel a little too simple. For example, playing a game of tennis is a great experience, but soon gamers may realize that only a flick of wrist is needed to swing your Mii's tennis racket, now a fully fledged arm movement. In other aspects, some games are not as fully fledged out as they could be. Wii Baseball for example, only requires you to hit the ball, and pitch the ball (pitching, requires a simple gesture, as well as the press of a button for various styles of pitching). Your other Mii's, will play outfield, and run the bases all on their own free will - sometimes at points that their rather clumsy AI (while although funny, would never translate into a professional baseball game) can tend to annoy you. Added to that, the game doesn't completely stretch to as long as traditional sports games. You can only play up to nine holes in golf, three innings in baseball, and five games in tennis. Even so, Wii Sports wasn't meant to give gamers fully fledged sports games all in one package, it was meant to show the various qualities of the Wii Remote. As such, I find it much easier to get through a three inning game of baseball rather than nine whole innings... Wii Sports is in many ways, too simple that lengthening the games such as these, would make the overall game feel a tad too far fetched. While some of you may be a tad disappointed by what feels as the lack of depth in some of the games, Wii Sports also includes modes not usually found in other titles. Firstly, a training mode which allows the user to practice their various skills which they will use in the five sports, earning medals and high scores for different Miis. Secondly, is the Wii Fitness mode which scores (or ages) gamers to how well they perform three simple challenges, which of course, was inspired by Nintendo's Brain Age series. Both of these features provide gamers a different, though entertaining view of different aspects of five sport titles. While it's easy to assume that some games are more fun than others (my personal favorite is Bowling and Boxing, with Golf being rather bland after awhile), you will soon play the game enough to realize a few strengths and weaknesses that are offered in this package. Regardless, all five of the sports each give insight to gamers and developers of what the Wii can do at the tip of the iceberg, and it will be exciting to see what we can expect for gamers in the future in not just sports titles, but of all types of games for Nintendo's new system.
Multiplayer: Probably the aspect that lengthens the value of Wii Sports is the game's multilpayer, which is probably one of the games strongest points. Gamers can easily sit down (or stand) to enjoy five sports games with their friends in a fresh and entertaining manner, both with bragging rights and laughing rights as they challenge their friends in five of Wii Sports, sporting offerings. Gamers can create their own Miis and use them... and it is even nice to go to a friends house and take a fitness test with a Mii unique to their own Wii system. Gamers can even transfer their Miis from system to system using internal storage on the Wii Remote to be used in the actual game. Players will spend hours playing Wii Sports with their friends, which is one of the greatest offerings that this game has. There may be nothing better, than gaming at home in your living room with your friends and family, whether they play video games as their own hobby, or that they may be playing a game for their first time.
Value: The value of Wii Sports is an interesting thing to discuss... mostly by the fact that this game is included with every Wii system in the United States . As such, while the games in Wii Sports don't have enough depth that will keep you glued to your television for five hours straight for many weeks, there is enough offerings for you to easily pick up this game and play it.... once a day, twice a day, or maybe twice a week. The Wii Fitness tests will keep you coming back, and the training results are great mini-games that appeal in keeping casual and hardcore gamers interested. But most of all, the unique gameplay aspects provided by Nintendo's Wii Remote will keep gamers interested in Wii Sports, even in a year or two. Nintendo has shown with Wii Sports that you don't need technical achievement to keep a game fun. Simplicity, wide appeal, and just a little pizazz will make Wii Sports a game that gamers will remember - as (likely) the first time they experienced immersion on the Nintendo Wii.