Thursday 15 Oct 2009

Wii Sports Resort had a lot riding on its shoulders, not only was it the follow-up to the best selling game of all time Wii Sports, but it was the first of Nintendo’s titles to showcase the highly anticipated Wii MotionPlus accessory. Having seen the incredible precision introduced in first Grand Slam Tennis and then Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, I was interested to see if Nintendo could deliver a title that would live up to the hype.

So the big question really is how does the game shape up against the anticipation the publisher and game industry has created around it. I am happy to answer that in my humble opinion Wii Sports Resort is a resounding success. Nintendo has created another really fun title that gamers and non-gamers alike will enjoy.

The first thing you’ll notice is the welcome increase in variety with the twelve mini-games in Wii Sports Resorts, quite a step-up from the original five mini-games included in Wii Sports. And while each of these games will no doubt appeal to some more than others, meaning that every one who plays will have a different favourite game, all of them are well-polished and fun. However, not all of them showcase the Wii MotionPlus as well as others, simple due to certain actions not requiring the fine motion sensitivity Wii MotionPlus provides.

As with Wii Sports, as soon as you play Wii Sports Resort certain games will tickle your fancy more than others. For me the Frisbee was not only one of the most fun games, but it was one of the games which illustrated exactly what Wii MotionPlus brings to the motion gaming experience. The action of throwing the Frisbee is so natural yet it took some time to get used to the sensitivity. For years us gamers have become skilled in the use of buttons, triggers and rumble. This new world of motion sensing takes some time to get used to, primarily to reprogram our brains to pay attention and put more effort into the action we are performing. When playing Wii Sport Resort you just can’t be the stereotypical couch potato gamer and really have to get up, get involved and probably get fitter in the process.

Table tennis is another game I really enjoyed because of the excellent implementation of Wii MotionPlus. You can achieve an incredible level of precision control over the angle of your shot. With a little practice you will be swinging your paddle like a pro and slamming shots to your opposition’s end.

Shooting at stuff is always a favourite and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Archery mini-game turns out to be the favourite with many gamers. It makes perfect use of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to imitate the real action one would need to perform in Archery. Holding the Wii Remote with your right hand, you draw back with the Nunchuk in your other hand as if you were holding a bow and arrow. You can shoot at the bulls-eye targets and go for the high score, but soon enough you will no doubt begin the hunt for the elusive fruit. On each level there is a hidden fruit that is far…far…far away and all you need to do is find it and then put an arrow through it. When you get it right and pierce one of these suckers you’ll do the dance of joy for sure!

In keeping with the fruit carnage theme you have got to try out the sword fighting. You can face off against another player in an attempt to knock your opponent into the water below, or try your hand at Speed Slice. In Speed Slice a random item is tossed in the air with an indication of the angle it needs to be cut at. You then need to perform the correct slice motion before the other player as the item lands. This is a perfect party mini-game and will have you slicing anything from a piece of sushi to a cupcake and even bamboo.

You can also choose to explore Wuhu Island, soaring over land and sea while performing aerial tricks in your aeroplane. The more brave among us might enjoy the challenge of cycling around the island, but be warned you are bound to work up a sweat! You can also venture out into the water with three fun water sports: wakeboarding, power cruising and canoeing. Golf and bowling make a re-appearance while basketball is a welcome addition. The controls for golf and bowling have been so refined thanks to Wii MotionPlus that I found myself having to unlearn the bad habits I had acquired in Wii Sports before I could perfect my putting and bowling skills. But once you have mastered the new methods, it works a charm!

The game comes bundled with one Wii MotionPlus accessory and you can get away with passing around the controller for most games. However, if you can gather your pennies for an extra Wii MotionPlus it is certainly worth it for the games like Table Tennis where passing the controller is not optional.

There is something for everyone in Wii Sports Resort and plenty of hours to be spent practicing to beat the records. It is a great game to pull out during a party, especially if the crowd doesn’t normally play games. It is super easy to pick up and play so literally anyone can participate and be competitive within minutes. The bundled Wii MotionPlus works well and will continue to add value with new titles compatible with Wii MotionPlus in the future. Well worth the purchase.

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Contributor:	Lisa

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