Wii Review - Wii Play

Ever since the release of the Nintendo Wii and the rise in popularity of Wii Sports, Nintendo fans and casual gamers alike have been searching for the perfect follow-up in which to import their Mii's and have some more party game fun. Unfortunately, despite the hype surrounding this title, this isn't the game you're looking for.

Wii Play is essentially a collection of nine mildly entertaining minigames for up to two players to play. This fact alone is disappointing in itself, because what made Wii Sports such a popular title is that it had games that supported up to four players. At any rate, here are the games and how they stack up:

Shooting: This game was obviously inspired by Duckhunt, as they actually had similar looking ducks fly around in the background as you're trying to hit targets. In fact, all they needed was that silly laughing dog at the beginning and they would've had a nice nostalgia trip for the older gamers. Other than that, this was a rather entertaining diversion made more so if you have a second person playing as well.

Find Mii: Essentially a Wii version of Where's Waldo which can be played with two players. Kinda neat at first to see all your created Miis running around waiting to get spotted, but gets old fast. Definately not one of the better games.

Pose Mii: I absolutely hated this one. Your cursor becomes your Mii as bubbles fall from the sky with various poses on them. It's your job to get your Mii in the right pose and then place them into the bubble. More irritation than fun, this is easily the worst game in the entire package.

Ping Pong: Don't expect this to be another Wii Tennis, because this is much more simplistic. You don't have to swing your paddle at all, you just have to make sure it's in front of the ball when it starts heading your way. This game could have used a lot more depth, but is still very enjoyable to play with two players.

Laser Hockey: The physics on this game are really crazy, but I think that's where a lot of the enjoyment of it comes in. You will have a load of fun playing with a friend as you will most likely spend the duration of most games scoring points on yourselves. From my experience, you're probably much better off not touching the puck as it heads towards your goal, but then, I'm sure there are those out there with exceptional control over this game's paddle.

Billiards: Much to my disappointment, this is not your standard game of pool. Actually, it's just a game of 9 Ball which you have the option of playing with another player. It's cool trying to pretend your Wii remote is a pool cue for a little while, but when you realize how limited this particular game really is, the magic wears off fast.

Fishing: This one is merely okay and is somewhat enjoyable with another player. You use your Wii remote as a fishing rod and slowly place your hook in the water. On the top is a desired type of fish that the game wants you to go for and you just wait on a fish to grab your line. Once it does, you jerk your arm back to catch the fish, and depending on the type, you will earn points. This continues for a few minutes and whomever has the most points when the time runs out is the winner.

Cow Race: Not as cool as it sounds. Each player hops on the back of a poorly controlled cow and races towards the finish line, trying to hit all the scarecrows they can. The winner is not determined by who finishes the race first, but rather who hit the most scarecrows on the way through. It's a humorous game to start with, but once you realized how poorly cows are at racing, the charm wears off quickly.

Tanks: Easily the best game in this entire package. My friends and I have plugged hours upon hours into this game because of its simple concept and addicting gameplay. This game gives you the option of using the Wii remote/nunchuk combination, which in my opinion works the best. Each player controls a tank placed in a tiny obstacle course littered with destructible walls and other enemy tanks. You can fire a barrage of bullets, or lay mines, but you must destroy the enemy tanks by any means necessary. You can even bounce bullets off of the walls and use the ricochet to beat your opponents. The single player mode gives you lives, but in two player mode, if both players perish, it's an automatic game over. It's a mindlessly addictive experience that can only be described by trying it out yourself.

Although there aren't that many great games in this package, it is still a great deal and worth picking up. It comes with a Wii remote, which in itself is $40. And considering that this entire purchase is only $50, it doesn't take a math expert to realize what a great bargain this is. If you see yourself needing an extra remote in the near future, this is definately a worthy purchase.