According to most, Nintendo has done an incredible job with the Wii’s included software, simply entitled Wii Sports. The general consensus: “Wii sports is so much fun! OH MY GOD!” However, is there really anything that will keep players hooked for more than 10 hours of gameplay?

Wii Sports is a very simplistic collection of sports games including baseball, bowling, golf, tennis, and boxing wrapped into a small cutesy package. Although the ideas and mechanics of these games are exceptionally basic, it is this very idea that has turned an entire nation into Wii-ners that can’t put it down. The character models within each game are again very basic with oversized heads, puny legs, and a complete lack of arms.

On a side note, never before has a video game console forced the creators of every one of its games to include a safety warning to prevent serious injury during play. Then again, few video games have ever been this interactive.

Let’s take a quick look at each of the included mini-games.

Boxing:

Likely the most popular of the included games immediately out of the box, Wii Boxing employs both the Wii-mote and nunchuck controllers to represent each character’s oversized fists individually. Holding both controllers at face level prepares your boxer for battle in a defensive position, and each controller acts independently to deliver jabs, straights, hooks, and uppercuts depending on how the user moves. While the single-player game allows gamers to train and hone their boxing skills, the core of the game lies in the two-player versus mode in which friends or foes can swing wildly to virtually beat the Wii-ness out of each other on the big screen. While Wii Boxing is genuinely fun for the first few runs, the responsiveness of the controllers is disappointing and can make your boxer annoyingly difficult to control at times, especially during the single player training mode. The frustration caused by this can be so great at times that even the most dedicated of gamers will want to pass the controller to the next drunk frat boy ready to play and look idiotic.

Tennis:

Employing only the Wii-mote, Wii Tennis is probably the most simplistic of the included games to control. There are two movement options available during play, forehand and backhand. That’s it. Players are given no control over character movement other than these two swing options as the game decides for itself whether or not it wants to guide your character correctly to a return position, sometimes forcing an embarrassing stumble and pointless miss. However, the ability to lob and add spin to the ball is definitely a plus and adds heavily to the depth of the game. While Nintendo’s aim here was obviously to make another simple game that everyone can enjoy, many experienced gamers may find the game a bit lacking in overall depth, but many others will love it until their wristbands snap and friends complain of broken noses.

Bowling:

Wii Bowling is probably the longest lasting of the simple game package, making it a welcome addition to experienced gamers. Unlike Wii Boxing, the Wii-mote responds exceptionally well here, applying the appropriate throw speed and spin as guided by the player. There’s not much to say about bowling; it’s simply a very strong title in the package. It is easily the most intuitive and longest lasting of the games. My personal favorite.

Baseball:

Wii Baseball is another very simple sport that proves entertaining for those who enjoy basic games. While most baseball simulations require the player to master complicated base-stealing, pitching, and roster management, none of these features are present. However, who needs them? This is Wii Sports! Very similar to its sister Wii Tennis, Wii Baseball requires that the player only pitch or swing while the Wii controls the fielders itself. Unlike Tennis, it provides just the right amount of simplicity to make this a more entertaining addition. Again, however, the excitement begins falling after just a couple of games and is not likely to entertain for more than a few hours.

Golf:

Golf is definitely the deepest of all the Wii Sports, but that’s not exactly saying a lot. While the idea of using the Wii-mote to line up a shot and deliver the appropriate power to swing is intuitive, the actual execution of these processes is not. It can be overly impossible to correctly align your shot and deliver the correct amount of power to your swing. A feat many “casual” gamers or gamer-girlfriends will find overly challenging. The selection of holes for the courses is nice, but the amount of practice required to consistently play well is far too great.

Wii Sports is a decently strong title. Its simplification of sports games will attract many new players to the Wii. The games are short, sweet, and fun. However, it may be too simple and lacking in depth to hold a dedicated gamer’s attention for very long. Still, what can one expect from a FREE game?