Wii Sports

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Inclusive sports played a new way -- fun for all!
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that everyone from 5-year-olds to grandparents will enjoy playing this game, which is bundled with every new Wii console. While the multiplayer mode is the most fun feature, parents should make sure that all players have enough room to move and swing their arms. The only violence occurs in the boxing game, which parents of younger kids can skip. It requires players to jab with the Wii controls, hitting an opponent's virtual head and body to try to knock the opponent out.

  • Fosters cross-generational gameplay. However the gameplay in Wii Boxing involves beating opponents up for sport.
  • In Wii Boxing players simulate a punching motion by swinging their arms. These punches hit an opponent's face and body; there's wincing and a thudding sound, but no blood. You win a round by knocking an opponent out.
  • Not applicable.
  • The baseball scoreboard says "Nintendo Wii," and there's a banner advertising Wii Sports in the tennis stadium. All other banners display innocuous, made-up slogans like "Big Bat," "Superstars," "Power Up!" and "Hit a home run!"

What's it about?

Bundled free with every Wii console, WII SPORTS is a collection of five Mini games that does a great job of introducing players to the Wii's fun motion-sensitive controller. You'll use the Wii remote (at times paired with the Nunchuk) to mimic the actions of swinging a golf club, baseball bat, and tennis racket. Up to four players can play Wii Sports, and there's also a single-player mode against computer opponents. Players are represented by their Miis (cartoon-like customized avatars), and any other Miis stored on the Wii will randomly appear as teammates and spectators.


Is it any good?

 

Are the games simplistic at times? Sure -- Wii Baseball, for example, is little more than a batting cage where you try to hit balls out of the park. But in Wii Tennis, your player moves around the court automatically, but you control the ball's direction, spin, and speed as you hit forehands, backhands, overheads, and lobs. The only game that might concern parents is Wii Boxing, where two boxers square off with the goal of knocking each other out.

Because of its simplicity and easy-to-learn controls, Wii Sports is the kind of game that everyone -- even non-gamers -- can participate in together, and that's what makes it so compelling. It fosters cross-generational interaction, making it great to bring out at family gatherings and parties. And the fun multiplayer mode means endless re-playability. This game ushers in a new way of playing video games, one that motivates players to move, stretch, bend, swing their arms, and be active.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about what makes this game so much fun. Is it the ability to simulate real sports or is it that you can play with friends and family? Do you think Wii Sports can help you get better at real sports? When you play on a team -- like the doubles matches in Wii Tennis -- what constitutes good sportsmanship?


This review was written by Erin Bell
Kid, 12 years old
July 14, 2010
 
the game is the best, it's kinda educational cuz it teaches being a good sport lol

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Teen, 15 years old
April 18, 2011
 
Boxing, bowling, tennis, etc.!
This game is great! I don't know why anyone would dislike it, especially because it is easy to play, fun, and can be played as a small group activity. Wii Sports is very easy to like!

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Kid, 12 years old
August 9, 2010
 
Ok game
Im with jdog200. Its not bad

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Kid, 13 years old
April 11, 2011
 
A very good tech demo.
This game is a tech demo for the wii. It isnt really a game as its only really made to show off the wii's potential. You buy it with the wii and it has 5 games. Tennis, Bowling, Boxing, Baseball, and Golf. I will review each. Tennis is extremely simple and in that respect its just like the other games. You hit a ball with the waggle of the remote. The harder and faster your move, the harder your hit. But its more about the timing of your hit than the power. The scoring is like regular tennis. There are two players on your team and you control both of them. If one moves, they both move. You cannot control where your players move. The game controls that aspect. Now this is a fun game. However it lacks any sort of lasting appeal. Its not terribly fun, and although I liked it, it isnt something you will replay. Bowling is the game you will come back to play. You swing your remote back to wind up while holding B. As you move your remote forward you release B. There is a noticeable problem because the ball seems to roll to the left way more than to the right. However the game will register your throws differently depending on how you threw, so the controls aren't bad, but you will still need to align your mii to the right a bit to plan ahead for the left spin that will happen. Other than the left spin, the game is fun, and you will play this several times sometimes with your friends. This is probably the game you will come back to most. Boxing involves you boxing against other miis by using the motion sensors in the wii remote. However this game requires you to plug in the nunchuck as well, and you use both hands to simulate a punching movement. The controls register well for the most part, and the game is somewhat fun. But you won't come back to it. Don't worry parents, there is no blood or anything like that. The next game is baseball. You swing the remote to throw the ball, and you swing the remote to swing at the ball. It's that simple. You have zero control over the outfield, thus the game has been dumbed down quite a bit. Playing against the computer is fun early on, but the computer opponents will quickly ramp up their skill level to the point at which trying to defeat them is an excersise in futility. I really only play this game with friends, because I actually do want to have a shot at winning. The final game is golf. It's not much more complicated than that, and much like the other games, virtually all the controls revolve around motion controls. You swing the remote to swing the club. Simple as that, and fun as that too. I liked the game. However at times it got boring. I have to admit that I am not one to talk since I REALLY SUCK at this game.....I am awful. On the screen it will usually tell you how far you are away from the hole. The measurement is ridiculous. It will often say you are several yards away from your hole even if it LOOKS like its less than a foot away. This game also has training. What I mean is, you can do drills of all these games to increase your skill level at the game. The drills are fun but I did not notice any improvement in my skills. I feel that this is a good tech demo, but it will not keep your interest for too long. Still, it is fun and you will play it for the 3 or 4 days before you wise up and purchase Mini Ninjas, New Super Mario Brothers, and Wii Sports Resort.

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Kid, 10 years old
February 1, 2011
 
Its OK Fun You Learn About Sprots Violence: Boxing Language: None

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Kid, 12 years old
July 15, 2010
 
Bad
It's a poor game now, I used to play it now, Wii Sports Resort is way better.

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Kid, 11 years old
May 22, 2011
 
"Mii" Little Bro loves it!
Wii Sports.....it can even turn a couch potato to the most sport savvy child you've ever seen!

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Kid, 10 years old
April 25, 2011
 
ohio
my grandma and grandpa live in ohio.one time when i walked in the door,they said 'we got a wii!! sinse then,we played bowling ,baseball,and boxing witch can get iffy,when you punch people. if you are a wii starter,this is the game for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kid, 12 years old
February 12, 2011
 
WHY HATE IT?
I like this game alot, heres the reveiw. violence...... The game has you boxing, but that is all, nothing graphic at all. sex..... none profanity......... none

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Kid, 10 years old
October 17, 2010
 
Wii Sports
Well DUH This Game Comes With The Wii.Wii Is Amazing.The Best Of The Best.But Everyone Says The Boxing Is Violent.No Blood.Best Reccomendation.

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This review was written by Erin Bell
Topics:sports and martial arts
Platforms:Nintendo Wii
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Sports
Developer:Nintendo
Release date:November 19, 2006
ESRB rating:E for Mild Violence

This review was written by Erin Bell

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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