Underrated Game Review of the Week

A WHOLE ISLAND TO YOURSELF

Review for Wii Sports Resort

The Wii showed up on the market about 3 years ago and its shinning proof of its ability to incorporate wireless fun was Wii Sports. With only 5 games at the time, Wii Sports saw immediate success from fans all over the spectrum of video games. Parents, kids, tweens, mid-twenties, and even old people fell in love with the game that gave golf, tennis, boxing, bowling, and baseball a new way to play. Well its been 3 years, and finally Nintendo has come out with a "sequel" to Wii sports, Wii Sports Resort.

Wii Sports is a complete game more than it is a test for the new Wii Motion Plus. Nothing wrong with some improved play mechanics, but the feel is that Wii Sports Resort was built not from the past, but for the Wii Motion Plus specifically. The sports selected seem to be included to show up the Wii Motion Plus for what it is, a booster for the Wii-motes already crisp capabilities. Although, to my personal dismay, Baseball and Tennis were excluded from the list of games to reside on the island, the list of 13 sports are as follows: Swordplay, Wakeboarding, Frisbee, Archery, Basketball, Table Tennis, Wakeboarding, Golf, Bowling, Power Cruising, Canoeing, Cycling, and Air Sports. Although it seems like 12 sports wouldn't be enough, each sport is broken down into different playable games in that sport, leaving for over 40 activities to play which will lead to alot of play time for such a game.

Golf and Bowling make a reappearance, but not with alot of change. New scenery for Golf makes for a new visual experience and gives the new 18 hole option of play, along with the 3 and 9 hole play from the old game. Wii Motion Plus does refine the gameplay, giving you the control to pull or slice the ball depending on the position of the controller. Also, a new terrain view makes for easier putting in the way of seeing the surface and changes in leveling on the green. Bowling doesn't change too much, just an increase in the games ability to pick up wrist movement to make the throws more authentic feeling.

If there's a downfall in the game its that every activity in the game requires the Wii Motion Plus, leaving for players without the connection out of the fun, although its doesn't necessarily effect the games overall playability. Overall, with Wii Sports Resort, you're getting tons of fun in a small box. The included Wii Motion Plus is a definite plus, since soon Wii games will be exclusive with the Wii Motion Plus. But with 12 games, over 40 activities, and nothing but fun packed into this sequel... the money spent is the fun earned with this game. I just wish Baseball would've made it in the sequel... at least I have a reason to keep the original Wii Sports.

Overall Rating: 4.5*

*Out of 5