Last updated: 10/08/2006 by Steven Rodriguez

WiiSports is the five-pack of simple games designed to work best with the revolutionary Wii remote controller. It's also the game that will be included with every Wii (outside of Japan), so you’re going to get it whether you want it or not.

The games that make up WiiSports all make use of Miis, caricatures that can be created in the Mii Channel of the Wii hardware. If you want to make a Mii version of yourself, you can put it in the game and use it as your on-screen character. As you encounter more Miis, created by yourself or from friends that play on your system, more of them will show up in the background of the games while you play. Apparently, using the same Mii over and over again will increase its “skill level," which may affect the game in some way. The fact sheet that mentions this doesn't explain much past that, although it could just as well be a useless statistic showing how much you've used that particular character.

Here's a rundown of the five games included in WiiSports:

Tennis - 1-4 Players Simultaneous, Uses Wii Remote Only

Your character will run toward the ball automatically, so all you do is swing the Wii Remote like a tennis racket when the ball comes in your general direction. The remote makes it possible to make every kind of tennis shot imaginable: forehands, backhands, lobs, volleys, slices, overhead smashes and every combination thereof. The angle that you hold the remote with as you swing and how much power you put into it determines what type of shot you fire back across the net.

Baseball - 1-2 Players Simultaneous, Uses Wii Remote Only

Although there is base running and fielding, it's all done automatically. If you take that stuff out of baseball, all that's left to do is pitch and bat, which is what WiiSports Baseball is all about. The pitching player motions with the remote to “throw" a pitch (presumably with the ability to throw curve balls). The batter needs to swing the Wiimote with good timing and bat speed to try to hit it out of the park. It is the least complex game of the lot.

Golf - 1-4 Players Alternating, Uses Wii Remote Only

Like with Tennis and Baseball, the remote acts as the object with which you play the game. Swing it like a golf club to hit a golf ball, but be careful you don't put too much into it. If the controller isn't held steady as you follow through, it will put slice on the ball and cause it to curve out of control. Once you land on the green, you can try to get it into the clown's mouth with a smaller putting stroke.

Bowling - 1-4 Players Alternating, Uses Wii Remote Only

If you can pretend your controller is a bowling ball, you will know how to bowl in WiiSports. To start bowling, hold the controller in the same position you would normally hold a real ball. Press and hold the B Trigger to begin the approach, pull the remote back, fling it forward and then release the button to let her fly. It's possible to apply spin to the ball by twisting the remote as you release it so you can bag strikes like the pros. Or to shank it into the gutter like you normally do.

Boxing - 1-2 Players Simultaneous, Requires Wii Remote and Nunchuk Controllers

The game we thought would need two remotes to work apparently can be done with the Nunchuk analog stick attachment just fine, but you won't be using the stick as you duke it out. Each piece of the controller represents a corresponding fist. To deliver a left jab, jab out the nunchuk in your left hand. If you're looking to punch your buddy in the gut, do a low blow with the Wiimote. It's also possible to block high or low by pulling both controllers up against you, but who ever won a fight by curling up into a ball? Be like Little Mac and sidestep attacks by thrusting both controllers to the left or right.

All of the WiiSports games are designed to be multiplayer affairs, but remember that you're only going to get one controller in the box the game and Wii console come in. If you want to spread the fun to your entire four-member family, you'll need to spend more than $140 for three extra Wii remotes and another nunchuk attachment (for two-player Boxing). Not a very cheap proposition for a “free" pack-in title. Still, the game will be the best showcase for the unique properties of the Wii controller, and will definitely help everyone understand how it works.

Last updated: 05/12/2006 by Mike Sklens

Wii Sports is a series of titles aimed at everybody. The games, which will be included in a package, include Baseball, Golf, Tennis, and a Flight game. Each of them is very simple, emphasizing only the most important motions involved in each sport.

The characters in Wii Sports are look almost like Play-mobile dolls. They are simple bodies and heads, with small floating circles representing their hands. Players will be able to choose from a few different character faces, or create their own unique face through a set of pre-defined images that can be placed and moved around. These faces are stored in the Wii’s internal memory and can be accessed by other titles. No other titles using these features are known, but it’s a safe bet to say that other “simple" Wii games such as Wii Sports and Wii Music, which was shown at E3 but not confirmed to be an actual game, would use these faces as well.

Tennis lets up to four players play a match against each other. Characters automatically move towards the ball. Swinging is accomplished by swinging the controller. Players can swing forehands and backhands, and even add spin to the ball. The game is always doubles, and if only one player is a team, swinging the controller swings both teammates’ rackets. The first team to three points wins the match.

The E3 version of Golf presented two types of gameplay. The first, teeing off, is a challenge to get a hole-in-one. Players have to put enough force on the ball to make it all the way. The other mode of play is putting, which requires aiming and restraint to make sure you don’t send the ball flying.

Baseball is set up as a home-run derby. A pitcher sends a ball at the player, who has to send it out of the park. Accuracy is not a problem, as there is no way to get a strike unless the bat is swung too early or too late. However, timing is very important. The bat must be swung at the proper time, and with enough force, to get the ball out of the park.

The flight game is very reminiscent of the Nintendo classic Pilotwings. Players are given control of a bi-plane, and hold the controller like a paper airplane. By moving the controller, they can move the plane on screen. Rings are scattered about an island environment, and flying through them accrues points.

Wii Sports is a simple title with a simple goal: it is designed for everyone to play. All the games are extremely approachable, and their simple controls take almost no time to learn, though a little time to perfect. Nintendo is very concerned that the Wii Sports games be as non-intimidating as possible. The title will be available at launch, and though Nintendo specifically mentioned Baseball, Tennis, and Golf would be included, they neglected to mention whether the Flight game would be included.