The Pacer

Issue date: 1/16/07 Section: Technology

Media Credit: Karen Langdon

The last time Nintendo fans were fortunate enough to have a game launch with a console was back in 1991, with Super Mario World for SNES.

That is, until now. The newly released Nintendo Wii is playable straight out of the box due to the addition of Wii Sports, which is quickly making a name for itself in the gaming world. Wii Sports is a little package with a lot of punch, boasting five different games in one: boxing, bowling, golf, tennis and baseball.

The Wii's innovative new controller system makes all five more realistic: rather than pressing buttons and maneuvering control sticks, gamers can actually throw punches, swing tennis rackets and hit home runs all with the use of a motion-sensitive wireless remote.

The player can create seemingly endless customizable characters on the Mii channel that will appear whenever Wii Sports is played, and can choose which character they would like to be before every game.

Wii Sports also includes Training and Fitness modes: training mode offers variations on the different sports in which additional exercises are unlocked after the first ones are completed. Players can compete for bronze, silver, gold or platinum medals.

Fitness mode calculates the gamer's "fitness age" by a test of three randomly selected challenges from training mode. The player's "fitness age" takes into account speed, balance, and stamina and ranges from age 20 to 80.

Now let's take a closer look at the individual sports.

Boxing - This is the only sport that uses both the remote and the nun chuck controller. The player throws punches and leans from side to side to avoid being hit. When either player's health meter is depleted, he is knocked down.

In Training mode, the player uses combo punches to hit a punching bag, dodges tennis balls (or gets smacked in the face by them), and practices accuracy hitting the trainer's mitts. Boxing supports up to 2-person multiplayer.

Bowling - In Bowling, the player holds the B button while swinging the remote back then forward like actual bowling, releasing the button to throw the ball. The player can adjust the position in which he is standing or the angle he is facing to compensate for difficult shots or (in my case) a strange twist of the wrist resulting in an incredibly accurate gutter ball.

Training mode includes a variously placed spare exercise, hitting increasing numbers of pins (up to 91!), and an exercise to practice control and spin techniques. Bowling supports up to 4-person multiplayer with a single remote.

Golf - The player swings the remote like a golf club, choosing the appropriate strength. Practice swings are available, and come in very handy for those tricky puts on the green. The player can also adjust which club to use as well as his position, just like in Bowling.

Training mode for Golf starts off with a putting exercise, moves to chip-ins and ends with a driver accuracy exercise. Golf supports up to 4-person multiplayer with a single remote.

Tennis - In Tennis, the player's character automatically moves to wherever the ball is headed (although sometimes not quite fast enough) and the player must swing the controller to hit the ball.

Training mode includes an exercise for returning serves practicing different kinds of swings, hitting the ball through a specific area, and playing against a brick wall with a target. Tennis supports up to 4-person multiplayer.

Baseball - Baseball lets the player both bat and pitch. The pitcher can choose between several different types of pitches, and can vary the speed of the pitch by how fast they "throw" the remote. The batter then swings the controller using the correct timing and power. All the other players are computer characters (without legs!) who may or may not be good at fielding the ball.

Baseball's training mode begins with a home-run derby; then the player practices batting precision to hit the ball into specified areas of the field and finally batting practice with 30 balls to attempt to hit into play. Baseball supports up to 2-person multiplayer.

There you have it! Wii Sports is a great introduction to the Wii's incredible controller system, and at the risk of sounding cliché I must say there's something in it for everyone. Not being a big fan of sports games myself, even I came down with a case of "Wii elbow" after an afternoon of addictive Baseball and Tennis.

As far as ratings go, Wii Sports earned a whopping five stars from Nintendo Power, which was by no means undeserved. Wii Sports is a game you simply can't put down.

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