Get active at Wii Sports Resort.......for a price! (Wii Sports Resort incl. Wii Motion Plus (Wii))

Member Name: moog27

Product:	Wii Sports Resort incl. Wii Motion Plus (Wii)
Date:	10/08/09 (131 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fun to play with family and friends, lots of game choices, some really fun games, multiplayer

Disadvantages: very expensive, some potentially boring games, not as well designed as it could be .

Wii Sports Resort was my youngest brothers birthday present but for the purpose of research I decided to try it out myself.

The game is for the Nintendo Wii and has a whopping recommended retail price of £49.99 although it is currently selling on Amazon for £39.99. This price includes the game and a "Wii Motion Plus".

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The Wii MotionPlus
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This is an accessory which attaches to your Wii Remote to enhance its motion sensing capabilities. It detects and reproduces your movements in the game, so whether you are playing basketball or doing some archery, every little movement you make is accurately portrayed in the game.
The Wii MotionPlus is essential for game which is why it is included but its inclusion automatically makes the game a pricey one which is a bit of a shame. Whilst you only need one Wii Motion Plus for single player games and the remote can be shared for games such as bowling and golf, there are many sports such as canoeing and table tennis that you will need an additional Wii MotionPlus and Wii remote for in order to play against someone. An additional Wii Motion Plus can be purchased for around £18. Whilst it is not essential I would strongly recommend purchasing an additional one if you want to play against your friends and family. It is also worth noting that some games require a Wii Nunchuk controlled for each player too so if you don't already own one it will be an added expense.

The Wii Motion Plus is easy to attach to your remote and comes with an extra long Wii Remote jacket to keep it all safe from knocks and bumps. There is a useful instruction video showing you how to attach the Wii Motion Plus and how to re-calibrate it by placing the remote on a flat surface. As the Wii Motion Plus is such a sensitive accessory, do make sure that you attach the wrist strap as shown (and use it) to prevent the Wii remote flying through the air and hitting something (or someone!) as this could damage it.


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The Game
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The previous Wii Sports game has been very popular in my household, with many of us becoming quite competitive and even my grandparents getting on board with the bowling. Wii Sports Resort encompasses some aspects and games from the original Wii Sports but offers new games, all of which are set on a tropical island. The game offers 12 different sports in total, all of which can be played by a single player and many can be played with up to four players. As with other Nintendo Wii games, Wii Sports resort enables you to import your Mii Characters into the game which is a nice feature as it allows you to use your character whilst playing sports to acquire your various high scores and progress.

Throughout the game you can earn "stamps" this feature seems a little bit half hearted as you only get them for certain achievements and it is not a particularly interesting feature, even for my youngest brother! The competition for high scores and the challenge of beating your opponent serves as better motivation than the whole stamps thing.

A summary and evaluation of each sport available is as follows in order to give a true picture of the whole game and to allow you to make an informed decision on whether it is the game for you!


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Swordplay
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Swordplay is a sport preferred by the boys in my family. There are three different game options with this sport but it basically involves using the Wii Remote as your sword. The Wii Motion Plus sensor is very good here at picking up every movement you make and it is very realistic. You need to have been successful in the "speed slice" game in order to unlock the "showdown" game. I don't hate the Swordplay but it is not really my kind of thing. I am happy to have a go at it once in a while but to me it does get boring very quickly. However the boys love it so maybe it is a gender thing!


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Wakeboarding
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Wakeboarding is played using the Wii Remote horizontally as though you are holding on behind the speedboat. As the boat drags you along you can tilt and flick the remote to perform acrobatic jumps which score you points in the time limit. The multiplayer function with this game is by taking turns so you only need the one remote. Although this game is fairly simple I actually do enjoy competing to get the highest score as there is a reasonable element of skill required to do well.


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Frisbee
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Frisbee includes two different games; Frisbee Dog and Frisbee Golf. At first you only have access to Frisbee Dog and I think it was perhaps inspired by game of Frisbee from the Nintendogs game for the DS. This involves throwing a Frisbee with a wrist flicking motion whilst holding the remote. A cute looking dog runs after and catches the Frisbee and you earn points depending on the accuracy of your throw. Playing this game unlocks Frisbee Golf, which follows the concept of golf but using the Frisbee to move towards a target in as few throws as possible. I enjoyed this game the first time I played it but it soon became boring as the graphics are fairly uninteresting it is not particularly exciting unless you are playing against someone else. Only one Wii remote is needed for this game as you take turns in multiplayer mode. But this is not a game that I would choose to play again.


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Archery
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Archery is my favourite aspect of the game. I think perhaps because it involves a genuine level of skill and there is some good variation in difficulty as well as good prospects for competition which makes it fun to play. The game involves using the Wii Remote with the Nunchuk controller attached. The Remote represents your bow as you take aim and you pull back using the Nunchuk. The motion is surprisingly similar to real archery and the sound effects, motion detection and graphics are very realistic. There are increasing levels of difficulty and I have enjoyed both playing competitively against up to three other players and trying to achieve the highest scores. I really do like this game and it has been very well designed.


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Basketball
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There are two different games in Basketball. One (which I prefer) is where you compete in scoring as many baskets as possible in a given time limit. The game is played by holding the Wii remote and swinging it over your head in the same way you would if throwing a ball. The Wii MotionPlus sensor does a very good job here as it is really accurate in detecting your movements. The second game is a 3 on 3 version of basket ball where you can dribble, pass the ball, defend and shoot. It is mildly entertaining for a few plays but gets a bit monotonous unless you are playing against someone else using two remotes.


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Table Tennis
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I enjoy the table tennis as it is similar to the original tennis in the old Wii Sports game. It is most enjoyable when you play against a friend using two remotes. The graphics and sound effects are very good on this game and I cannot really fault it. After you have successfully played in "match" mode, the "Return Challenge" will be unlocked where you need to try and return as many serves as possible without missing a ball. This game is fun although it probably doesn't involve quite as much skill as the Tennis game in the original Wii Sports.


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Golf
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The golf is very much the same as on the original Wii Sports game other than the scenery is slightly different and the remote is more sensitive due to the Wii Motion Plus sensor. I have never been interested in golf and it is not a game I played on the original Wii Sports game so this is another one that is not for me. My brothers have enjoyed competing on it but personally I cannot see the fascination. So I assume it is fun to play if you like that sort of thing.


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Bowling
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I was utterly addicted to Bowling on the original Wii Sports game so was very excited to see that it has been included in this game. The Wii Motion Plus sensor makes the game more sensitive to your movements and the graphics are slightly different but other than that the game is the same. It is enjoyable and a great one to play with the family. My grandparents love to come and play bowling with us as the movements are intuitive and it is very realistic. In addition to a game of bowling there are various other bowling activities that are fun to do such as "spin control" where you can practise your spin. My only criticism of the bowling is that due to the increased sensitivity of the remote, getting a strike is much harder than before which is a little bit frustrating!


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Power Cruising
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In powercruising you are sat on a jetski and use the Wii remote and Nunchuk as your "handles". Using the buttons and intuitive movements you either play competitively with a friend using another remote or play on your own to navigate through a slalom course. I enjoyed this game although holding both the remote and nunchuk and the angle require quickly became uncomfortable (although perhaps I just have weedy arms!). The sound effects, graphics and accuracy of movement are very good. The game is fun but not one I would be able to play for long periods of time.


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Canoeing
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Canoeing involves using the Wii Remote as your paddle. What impressed me with this game is how realistic it is. I love canoeing in real life and the motions required to play the game are very similar. You can play a speed challenge or against another player. The game is fun but I find that when I am racing against someone you get tired very quickly!


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Cycling
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Cycling is played using the Wii Remote connected to the nunchuk. You move your arms in a pedalling motion and tilt your body to participate in a cycling race or compete against your friends. I enjoyed the game the first time I played it but it quickly became boring as I found the motion very repetitive.


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Air Sports
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Air Sports includes Skydiving, Island Flyover and Dogfight. In skydiving you jump out of a plane and hold the remote flat in front of you to represent your falling body. You score points by linking up with the other skydiving characters. I found this game quite boring after the first couple of plays as it is only 1 player and it incredibly repetitive.

In Island flyover you use the Wii Remote as your plane and fly around the island. You an shoot at balloons but other than that there is very little point to the game! It seems like a bit of a space filler!
Dogfight can be played by two players at the same time (using two remotes). You fly around over the island in the same way as the previous game but have to collect balloons and shoot at each other to burst your opponents balloons. I have played a few games of this with my youngest brother and it was fun temporarily but we soon lost interest in it.

Overall the air sports were particularly disappointing as they were very uninteresting and seem like a bit of a waste of space.


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Interview with a 10 year old
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Much of the above is my own opinion as a 22 year old female. However, the game was initially purchased as a present for my 10 year old brother. Therefore, the review would not be complete without his opinion so the following is his answers to my questions about the game:

Q - What do you think of the Wii Sports Resort game?

Mikey's Answer: Its great. More exciting than the other sports game.

Q - What are the main things you like about the game?

Mikey's Answer: I like how the sensor is much more accurate with the remote. Especially like with the sword fighting, that's really cool.

Q - What things do you think are not so good about the game?

Mikey's Answer: Some games are a bit boring, like the Frisbee games...they are a bit pointless.

Q - Would you recommend the game to other people of your age?

Mikey's Answer: Yes because there are lots of different games on it so you don't get bored and in all the games you can play against other people.


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Summary of the Positives
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Plenty of different sports and games to choose from.
The Wii Motion Plus sensor is very effective in detecting the smallest of movements which increases accuracy.
The games are easy to understand and intuitive to play.
Suitable for all ages.
Many multiplayer games can be played by sharing one remote.
Being able to play friends and family adds the element of fun competition.
Attractive graphics
Great, very accurate sound effects.
Participation in most sports is very realistic.
Encourages physical movement whilst playing the games which is healthier than sitting still staring at a screen.


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Summary of the Negatives
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The game is very expensive
If you want to play against friends and family you will most likely need another remote, nunchuk and another Wii Motion Plus sensor and this will cost you extra!
Quite a few of the games are quite monotonous and could get boring quickly, particularly for adults.
The sensitivity of the Wii Motion Plus makes some games a bit too difficult.
As some games from the original Wii Sports are included, it is a shame that not all of them are updated and included in the package.


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Overall
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My brother seems very happy with his birthday present and has already spent many hours playing the games. However I do feel that it is slightly disappointing, there are quite a few negatives (as mentioned above) that could easily have been avoided. Having said that, the game is enjoyable ad there are many games that I am happy to play. I think that it is more suited to children, particularly those of my brothers age. I don't see myself playing the game on my own much but when family are playing I like to join in as it becomes quite a sociable and enjoyable activity. The game is a lot of money and I can't say that it is definitely worth it, but if you can get a good deal on the game then I would recommend it as a family game.

Summary: Not cheap but their should be something for everyone.