When the Wii first came out, people were excited to see the new motion-control abilities available for a video game system.  The enthusiasm died down for some, because they realized that the Wii controller didn’t have 1:1 realistic interpretation of hand movements, and was later dubbed the waggle stick.  I don’t believe Nintendo ever claimed that the Wii had 1:1 perfect motion controls, I think it was just hoped, or assumed by some; when they found out the reality, they went into a nerd rage and have been storming the internet ever since. 

Now, Wii Motion Plus, the new add-on for the Wii remote is out, and people are upset that Nintendo didn’t include it in the first place.  Well, kids, technology evolves, gets smaller, and cheaper.  So, I have Wii Sports Resort.  I’ve played it by myself, and with different groups of people.  What I can say is that I got a friend, who is a die-hard 360 action-game fan, to enjoy Sports Resort.  In fact, when he and his friend came over, we had some heated ping pong matches.  The Wii Motion Plus peripheral works great.  It essentially puts you, and your motions, into the game like never before.  The MotionPlus brings the arcade into your living room.  Sports Resort retails for $50, has 12 games, and comes with the $20 Motion Plus, so I would say that just about any Wii owner should get this game.  If you had fun with bowling, or tennis in Wii Sports, definitely get this game.  Golf in Wii Sports wasn’t good, but in Sports Resort, it’s great! 

Favorite games in Wii Sports Resort

Golf:  There are a total of 18 holes – 9 from Wii sports, which are spiffed up, and 9 new ones.  You can actually swing the controller like a golf club and it works!  When you putt, you can see the slopes, and adjust your shot accordingly.  This is the first time that I’ve ever felt that video games have really captured golf well.

Ping Pong:  This one is great for head-to-head action.  You can do downward and upward swipes to make the ball curve differently.

Archery:  Hold the Wii mote with one hand, and pull the nunchuck back with the other like a real bow!  This one requires a steady hand, and skill.  There are 12 different shooting ranges available.  Some difficult ones are farther away, move, and there are sometimes objects that obstruct your shot.

Swordplay:  This has head-to-head sword fighting, but there is also a mode in which 2 players slice different objects as fast as they can in different directions.  If both players slice the object correctly and at the same time, then it comes down to who sliced more accurately.  There is also a mode in which you face off against a slew of opponents at a time.  They get progressively more difficult, and will block, and attack as soon as they reach you.  This mode has 10 levels.

Frisbee:  You can play catch with a dog, and try to hit balloons while also trying to throw accurately to hit the bullseye.  Use curved throws to skillfully get the most points.

Bowling:  This is the same as Wii Sports bowling, but the 100 pin bowling is open automatically, and there is a new mode called “spin control” which has boards that block your shot; you have to use spins and good timing to get past the obstacles.  This bowling is a lot more accurate and enjoyable than the original.

The Games That Ae Good But Are Not My Favorites

Air Sports:  I had fun exploring the Island and finding the hidden checkpoints.  There are 3 different time settings which change the types of things that will appear, and include daytime, sunset, and night.  There is also a dogfight mode for 2 players which has you shooting each others balloons (your health), and scrambling to go through hoops faster than the other player to obtain more balloons.  My main gripe with flyings is that there isn’t an option to make the plane faster. 

Cycling:  The steering is somewhat difficult to get used to.  You hold the Wii remote and nunchuck up, with the d-pad and analog stick facing you.  There are a few different races, and it’s pretty challenging.

Basketball:  You can shoot 3 pointers “around the world”, and you can do a real game, but you aren’t in control of the players’ movement at any time.  You can dribble, pass, shoot, and block shots.  It’s actually kind of fun with 2 players.

Canoeing:  I have only played this by myself, against another player, and also having another player in my canoe.  I can imagine this one being some retarded fun with four people trying to steer one canoe.

The Duds Of Wii Sports Resort

Wakeboarding:  This one is very simple.  You just hold the Wii remote sideways, steer youself across the waves, catch some air, and make sure to land safely.  That’s pretty much it.

PowerCrusing:  It’s really unfortunate that this one isn’t more fun, since Waverace 64 is one of my favorite games from that era.  The controls are a little too unresponsive, and the tracks are just boring.

Conclusion

I wish there were even more to this package.  The flying  in the game makes me want a real Pilot Wings sequel.  Motion plus works great, and I can’t wait to see other games such as Zelda use it.  Essentially you’re only paying $30 for Sports Resort considering that it comes with a Motion Plus, so I highly recommend this game.  It’s much much better than the previous iteration, and it is great for multi-play.  The only person to whom I don’t recommend this to is the gamer who only games alone.

Grade: B+

 

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