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Wii Sports (Wii)
by Flukepiestalker
I would recommend anyone purchasing a Wii to buy this title to go with it (if it doesn't come with) - this is so much fun and despite having it for several years, we still occassionally turn to it in a moment of desperation.
As a one player game, there is not much too it. Most of the fun is designing you little Mii ... character which you will use in the games. I can be fun to design it either to look like you (mine flatters on the weight side) or a mockup of a famous celebrity (I have a couple, one looks like Noel Edmonds and the other Ossie Osbourne - now that's a real life boxing match I'd pay to see...). The rest is all about becomming better and better at one of the five sports on offer. When you play a game, you will receive a number points dependant on your performance/base ability. Once you reach a certain number of points you become a 'professional' which gives you jazzier equipment to use is a given sport. Beware though, a poor performance can result in minus points - so you need to be consistent.
It says on the box that you will need plenty of room to play this, and if you stand up and take it seriously then yes, this is true, but I (being quite a lazy person) find it much easier to just sit down and use minimal effort. My wife (who refuses to play tennis or baseball with me anymore) would agree that this method is just as effective, so don't be put off if you are a couch potato (like me).
There are two modes - free play and training - the training is really good, offering a different challenge to the normal game.
The sports:
Golf - I found this the trickiest of all the sports. As you would expect your wii remote becomes your club, and it's all about the power/straightness of your swing. We found that after a while it was easier just to hold your remote in a vertical postion and 'flick' it, which gave better control and accuracy than standing up. Plus you don't look like an idiot and the lampshades are safe.
Training mode is target practice - scoring more points the closer you get to the pin
Boxing - wow this is like being in the ring yourself - after 10 minutes of this I was ready to collapse - my arms hurt and I was sweating profusely after swinging around like a nutter. You basically control a pair of gloves that are on screen and punch as you would in real life, holding the nunchuck in your left hand and the full remote in the other. As a two player game this is hilarious - it's all about who can come out swinging the fastest and who can keep it going the longest before the coroner is called!
Training mode is against a punchbag - this can get a bit irritating, plus it is really, really tiring. there is also a mode where you have to avoid tennis balls thrown at you by your trainer by leaning your remotes left and right. It is quite fun to get hit though as it makes a dull thud noise, which is funny.
Tennis - not a lot too this - there is no worrying about moving your player to the ball, as this is done for you, it is all about striking the ball with expert timing to direct it either left or right. The A/B buttons control what kind of shot you hit (lobs/topspin etc).
Training mode is continuous returning within the court and target training.
Bowling - this is the best of the lot - two modes - standard ten pin bowling, and 100 pin bowling - which is exactly what it says it is. The action you have to use for the wii remote can be a little confusing (my mum kept dropping her ball behind her), but once you get the hang of it you'll be able to heave it down at 100MPH and spin it at right angles (by twisting the remote as you release). This is the game we turn to if there is nothing else we fancy doing.
Training mode is fun here - from single pins/tricky shots to barriers to swerve the ball around, it all improves your game.
Baseball - you wii remote becomes your bat/throwing arm. The split screen is a bit confusing to start with in two player mode and you really need to concentrate. The running between the bases is also a bit confusing as you need to be able to move your thumb to the control stick on the remote in order to get your dudes to run. this can be tricky having just takien a huge swing with it to hit the ball in the first place.
Training mode - hitting home runs is the most fun here - if you crack one perfectly it 'goes out of the ballpark' (as the commentator goes wild).
Best of all, the techniques you ise in this game, can be transferred to others, plus it'll strengthen your wrists!
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Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
by Flukepiestalker
The original Donkey Kong Country on the SNES was brilliant - and graphically and musically way ahead of it's time, so I was really excited when Nintendo announced this title for the Wii.
As soon as you switch on this game, it takes you back to the SNES version, with the same relaxed music and general look/feel. Donkey Kong's ... stash of bananas has once again been nicked from his underground place of storage (clearly he should have thought about additional security measures after the first game) and it's up to you (as either Donkey or Diddy Kong) to go get some more.
This game is basically a platformer, but a really fun and challenging one at that. The levels involve a lot of skill in terms of the timings of jumps/runs and running jumps! There are hidden areas and puzzle peices to collect, as well as time challenges and unlockable levels. You can also ride animals as they appear around the levels, that have the ability to smash items/walls or jump over gaps that Donkey/Diddy just can't manage. It also slips it some 'miecart' levels where you ride a train over various obstacles - these are particularly fun.
The game also has a fun (I say fun...) muliplayer option where both monkeys are on the screen at one time. BUt be warned - this can be infuriating as one character is dragged along by the other, so if you are goingt o play it multiplayer, play it with a very good friend (otherwise it could turn ugly). There are several levels where the two us playing agreed it would be better/easier to complete as a single player.
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Mario Kart (Wii)
by Flukepiestalker
After the fairly disappointing Mario Kart double dash on the gamecube, I wasn't sure what to expect when this was announced but this is a really fun game and has bought the mario kart series up to date with a brilliant outing on the Wii.
The controls are a little bit hard to get used to at the beginning, and you will ... definitely be in need of a steering wheel attachement for your Wii remote, otherwise it just feels all wrong.
Jumping skid turns are back (which means shortcuts/different paths are available) and they have increased the number of weapons on show. The one player game follows the familiar (winning) formula of three classes of CC (50,100,150) plus mirro mode, and 8 different courses/grand prix.
What they have done really well though with this game is the unlockables. Impress on the track and you are rewarded with a mixture of extra cars and characters - my favourite character has been 'Funky' Kong. You also have the time trial version which also unlocks characters/cars, so even if you are a master of the grand prix circuits, you have a way of testing yourself (even against the creators ghost wii's).
Finally, the fun'est element of this game is the ability to challenge your friends (or enemies) on line and enter tournaments (where you will be made to feel humble - despite proclaiming you are the best driver in the world) - so plenty to keep you going even after completing the main game.
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