If you own a Wii console system or have played one at a friend's house, chances are, you've either played these sports games or play it more than most of the store-bought games. Why? Because sometimes the more casual games are more fun to play. And this product comes packaged in the box when you buy a Wii gaming system.

A nice feature to these games are the fact that your Mii characters are in the game. Mii characters are the custom avatars you create that look like each friend or family member. The game also keeps track of your high games and skill levels.

Basically, these five games are designed to teach the Wii-Mote controls and motions and make anyone more proficient with Wii game play.


Graphics & Game Play: While the graphics and game play are "cartoony" and more simplistic versus their stand-alone versions of each of these five games, they're actually fun to play.

For those wanting a little more detail, control and realism, each of these games has a more realistic version of these games geared more toward the kids. While the stand alone versions of these games require more manual dexterity to play, these simple controls are perfect for younger minds and fingers.

Sound: I find the sound effects to be right on the mark. The tennis racquet hitting a tennis ball, a bowling ball striking the pins, the crack of the baseball bat - all sound like the real thing. The music is the equivalent of elevator music made for gaming systems.


THE GAMES:

Tennis (1 to 4 players)

What a fun game! You can choose to play one game, best of three or best of five. Players use their Wii-Motes to serve and hit forehand or backhand shots. You actually stand up and swing your Wii-Mote so you're getting a bit of exercise in the process. After every point, there's a slow-motion replay. This can be good or bad depending on which side of the court you're standing on.

But I have a couple of issues with this game. Why is it always a doubles match while the "other" version of your character doesn't really play the game? I wish their was an option to play singles matches when only two players are playing. When four players play, all four characters actually play, but four Wii-Motes are needed to accomplish this. Also, on the one page devoted to this game in the manual, there's no mention of how to hit the "fast" (ace) serves.

Frustration occurs when your Mii character swings and misses - even though you swung at the right time. The problem is that the computer decides when and where to move your character. All you need to do is swing the Wii-Mote.

There is a more realistic tennis game available for die-hard tennis fans.

* * Wii Sports Tennis gets 4 stars out of 5 * *


Baseball (1 to 2 players)

Here's another fun game that players only have to concentrate on pitching and hitting. The computer handles all the fielding. But it has has it's limitations as well. First off, it's only a three-inning game. The batter holds the Wii-Mote like he or she might hold a bat. When the ball is pitched, the batter must decide when and if to swing.

If the game should end in a tie, there are no extra innings to settle it. It's just a tie. Not so cool.

Again, there are more realistic Baseball games available.

* * Wii Sports Baseball gets 4.3 stars * *


Boxing (1 to 2 players)

Now here's a game guaranteed to do two things: Get your frustrations out and beat up a friend or family member without any of the blood or bruising.

In this game, the nunchuk plugs into the Wii-Mote and they become the conduit for your punches. When you throw punches, your Mii character mimics that motion on the screen.

This is the best game (of the five on this disc) for physical exercise. You really do work up a sweat.

Yes, there are more realistic boxing games available.

* * Wii Sports Boxing gets 4.8 stars * *


Bowling (1 to 4 players)

This game edges out boxing for my favorite of the bunch. And the best part is that I don't need to rent shoes that thousands of other people's sweaty feet have been in!

While there are more realistic bowling games available, there is no need to buy any other stand alone Bowling game because they offer little more than what this game offers.

Each player controls a Mii character and uses the Wii-Mote to bowl. You can move your position on the alley and aim anywhere you wish. Depending on how you release the ball, you can also add spin to the ball for more accuracy.

When a player picks up a spare or rolls a strike, the computer is quick to praise you as the crowd roars. Great for a kid's self-esteem. My high game is 265! Wooooo Hooooo!

* * Wii Sports Bowling gets 5 stars * *


Golf (1 to 4 players)

As you can imagine, this is a more control-intensive game. Younger players will probably not play this game very often. While this is a fun game, I prefer the look, graphics and game play in the Tigers Woods golf game.

Basically each player takes turns driving tee shots, fairway shots and putting. Each shot has a certain power needed and it can get frustrating if you over shoot the hole so many times. Also adding frustration to any given shot are sand traps, water traps and the wind. So this game really takes some skill to master. More than younger eye-hand coordination can muster up.

* * Wii Sports Golf gets 4.5 stars * *


While most multi-game products would end there, Wii keeps the action coming. In addition to the five games, there are "training" and "fitness" sections.

Fitness:
The player embarks on a three-game skill course.

Tennis: you must return balls inside the lines of the court.
Home Run Derby: Ten baseballs are pitched and you must hit as many home runs as possible.
Bowling: The player is dealt various pins and must knock them down. You get five misses before the level is finished.

Each player is rated on Balance, Speed and Stamina and then given a Wii Age.

Training:

A player picks from five skill levels from each sport. Once a bronze, silver or gold medal is earned, two more locked levels for each sport (total of ten levels to unlock) become available.

Tennis: Returning balls served at you, then returning balls into a designated backdrop and finally returning balls at a target.

The unlocked Bowling level is VERY fun. After doing the basic spare pick ups, it progresses to power bowling. The player must knock down as many pins as possible. The spin on the game comes from ten levels of pins that progress in size. The first frame is 10 pins. Then 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, 55, 66, 78 and, finally, the tenth frame is 91 pins. I'll tell ya, this is tough. Any time the player rolls a strike, that pin amount is doubled in his or her score. There's nothing like watching 66 pins get knocked around at one time. I say 66 because that's the highest pin amount I could get a strike on. The highest I could get on the 91-pin frame is 89.

Baseball runs the player through a home run derby, a consecutive hits contest and an accuracy hitting level.

Boxing and golf run the player through exercises that teach skill and accuracy.

I recommend doing all of these levels before playing the actual games. It really hones your skills.


All in all, these five games and the training & fitness levels are sure to add hours of fun to any Wii console. It remains one of the more played discs in my Wii game collection.


Please check out my other Wii-related reviews:

Nintendo Wii Console System

Games:

Wii Fit

Super Mario Galaxy

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Pinball Hall of Fame for Wii

Jeep Thrills

Showtime Championshop Boxing

Wii Sports Resort

Game Party


ACCESSORIES:

Nintendo Wii-Mote

Nintendo Nunchuk Controller

Racing Wheel for Wii

Generic Wii Fit Balance Board Rechargeable Battery Pack

Silicone Cover for Wii Balance Board


Recommended: Yes