Wii Sports Resort for kids ages 11-17

Each season, Family Gamer lists its best games for family members of all ages. This week, we bring you their favorite game for big kids - Wii Sports Resort! So Auntie, if you're having trouble choosing the right game for your niece and nephew, Paul Govan, dad gamer,  is here to help.

Nothing better demonstrated the Wii's ability to entertain a wide range of gamers than Wii-Sports. A couple of years later, and with the MotionPlus Wii-mote attachment to improve accuracy, Wii-Sports is back.

Wii-Sports Resort takes the athletic action to an island location as it aims to do for the enhanced Wii-mote what Wii-Sports did for the Wii at launch - entertain an even wider audience. Additionally, more accurate controls should satisfy expert gamers who have long questioned the accuracy of the Wii's controllers.

What Sort of Game is This?

Sports games recreate a wide variety of real life competitive games. Depending on the sport, these have either an action or strategy focus. Popular sports games are often released on an annual basis, each year the game receives new player rosters and general game improvements.

What Does This Game Add to the Genre?

Wii-Sports Resort continues the tradition set by its predecessor of enabling gamers of all ages to play sports games without complex controls and button presses. Even though the original Wii-Sports was a big success, it at times struggled to keep track of your exact movements. Wii-Sports Resort with MotionPlus, provides much more accurate controls. This is seen in the one-to-one relationship between the player and the on screen character. This means players to replicate real world motions to perform in the various sporting activities.

This game complements the activities in the original Wii-Sports game with a range of games. Frisbee requires that you precisely match angle and momentum to throw a disc towards a target so your Nintendogs-like pooch can catch and return it. Jet Skiing is more familiar in video games, although here you use the MotionPlus enabled Wii-Mote and Nun-chuck as the handle bars, controlling both throttle and direction. Fencing shows off the new Wii-Mote's accuracy as you face up against other opponents, or the sword play mini games.

The only down side is the cost of getting set-up with the controllers. To play two players you need two MotionPlus add-ons, Wii-motes and Nun-chucks for some games. To play four players you are look at around GBP200 just for the controllers, excluding the console itself and the game. Although a 360/PS3 would be less expensive, they don't offer this one-to-one sporting experience - at least not until the PlayStation Eye or 360 Natal comes to fruition.

Wii-Sports Resort Tips

Cycling
Race in tandem or against other players to work your way through the field of competitors. Ensure you don't use up all your hearts as this causes you to stop to regain breathe.

Longer races are completed in stages. Each day a different race will allow you to gain ground, on the final day can go for the win.

Racing events are unlocked as follows:
1 Stage Race Over Talon Rock: Play 3, 1 Stage Races
1 Stage Race Up the Volcano: Play 5, 1 Stage Races
1 Stage Race Into Maka Wahu: Play 7, 1 Stage Races
3 Stage Race A: Play 3, 1 Stage Races
3 Stage Race B: Play 3, 3 Stage Races
6 Stage Race: Get about 650.

Table Tennis

Here the focus is on precision rather than strength. Work to move your opponent to one side of the table to enable a quick cross-court winner.

Serve a fast low shot by hitting a top spin just before the ball returns to your hand from the throw.

You control the left/right direction by the timing of your shot. Hitting a right-handed forehand late, for instance will force the return out right, hit it early to pull it left. Once you have your opponent out on one side of the table hit an early shot to cross-court the winner.

When going for spin rather than direction use a clockwise spin of the controller for topspin or anticlockwise spin for backspin, this generates much more travel.

Don't be shy in hitting early if you need to, even if your Mii isn't that close to the ball they will still hit the shot.

Once you have beaten the champion and have a score of over 1500 you can use the novelty racket. At the Select a Mii screen, simply hold the 1 button down while pressing A to choose OK.

Opt for a 11 point faster match by holding 2 on the Select a Mii screen while pressing A to choose OK.



Technique is key to develop good shots and opportunities to win.

Preparation: Firstly you need to ensure that you prepare for your shot early. Do this by bringing your racket back to a central/neutral position while the ball is on the opponents side of the net, this avoids triggering a shot when you draw your hand back to strike.

Contact: Secondly you need to ensure that you strike the ball with a sharp flicked action. Hitting early or late controls the return angle of your shot, getting in early often creates a sharp angle and opens opportunities to win the point in following shots. Returning smashes it is essential to try and hit the shot earlier than you think. Also, apply some spin (as described next) when returning a smash can get you out of jail.

Spin: Thirdly you need to learn how to apply spin comfortably. Light spin can be achieved with the angle and follow through of the bat and ball as in real life. Heavy spin can be applied by twisting your wrist anti-clockwise (topspin) or clockwise (backspin) just as you hit the ball. These techniques can be used to apply the following spin:

    * Heavy backhand backspin floats the ball in an anticlockwise curve.
    * Heavy forehand backspin floats the ball in a clockwise curve.
    * Heavy forehand topspin dips the ball in a slight anti-clockwise curve.
    * Heavy forehand topspin dips the ball in a slight clockwise curve.

Island Flyover

The key to the flying is to manage your height and speed, loose too much of either and you need to recover quickly.

Collecting the following i symbols in Free Flight mode unlocks the following:
10 - You can now pop balloons! (Adds balloons to shoot with your gun)
20 - You can now fly in the evening!
30 - You can now use the double blaster!
40 - You can now fly at night!
50 - The islands are now lit up at night!
60 - You can now fly a two-seater plane!
70 - The plane has a new design with your Mii on the side.
 80 - A vacation house has been built for you! (Look on the private island for an 81st point of interest!

Golf

Golf relies upon you getting a feel for Driving, Chipping and Putting. Practice taking shots beforehand to achieve the correct power and direction.

When driving and chipping you can press 1 to zoom into the green and 2 to view the gradient. This is really useful when planning Par 3 holes.
Beat every course with 1 under par to unlock the Three Holes - Special course.
Beat the champion to unlock a further 3 holes.
A real challenge for experts is to turn off the on-screen information by holding 2 on the Select a Mii screen while pressing A to choose OK.

Wake Boarding

The key here is to land a series of 10 jumps in a row. Each successful jump provides more speed and enables more complex stunts.

    * Landing flat on the water keeps these chains going and ensures maximum points.
    * Score to 400-500 to unlock the Intermediate level.
    * Score 800-900 to unlock the Expert level.
    * Score 1500 and beat the Champion to unlock two bonus courses

Frisbee

The key to this event is combining the angle with the trajectory. The pace of the swing has less of an effect.

    * In Frisbee golf, beat every course with 1 under par to unlock the Three Holes - Special course.
    * In Frisbee golf, you can play an expert version with no on-screen information by holding 2 at the Mii Select screen while choosing OK with A.

Sword Fighting

The key here is to find a balance between defense and offence. You need to quickly switch between the two. You can also use horizontal blows to out maneuver your opponent and gain the advantage.

    * Beat the Volcano round to unlock Reverse rounds where you can play all ten original rounds backwards.
    * Score 1000 to unlock special Samurai armor.
    * Score 1500 to fight the Champion in the evening sunset.
    * Defeated the Champion then hold 1 at the Mii Select screen while choosing OK with A to use a purple sword.
    * Beat the champion in Duel Mode and your Mii will have upgraded Samurai Armour.
    * Play in the evening by holding 2 at the Mii Select screen while choosing OK with A.
    * Switch quickly from a block to a hit and you can achieve a forced push/blow to your opponent.

Jet Ski

The key here is a controlled use of power. Remember to use both Nun-chuck and Wii-mote to steer and turn early rather than late as the craft has a tendency to under-steer.

There are three unlock able courses you may unlock via your overall event point score or just playing the game:
Score 350-400 (or play 5 times) to unlock Slalom Course Marina
Score 650-700 (or play 10 times) to unlock Slalom Course Cavern
Score 850-900 (or play 15 times) to unlock Slalom Course Shoals

Bowling

The key here is a combination of speed and angle at the point of impact. As in real world bowling you need to hit to the left or right of the front pin. This is best achieved by a ball thrown at speed curling in towards the pack.

    * You can change your ball colour by holding a direction on the loading screen; down for green, left for red and right for gold.
    * Score 1000 to unlock a starred bowling ball.

Archery

The key here is adjusting for the effect of gravity and wind on the arrow. The further away from the target the higher you need to aim and the more effect the wind will have.

    * The game instructs you to hold the Wii-mote in your non-writing hand as is true in real Archery, however you may find it easier to target by swapping this around.
    * For a pro challenge with no guides you can hold 2 down on the Select a Mii screen while pressing A to choose OK.

Basketball

The key here is timing your jump and release to utilizing the height of your leap.

    * Play at night by holding 2 on the Select a Mii screen while pressing A to choose OK.

What do People Play this Game To Experience?

Standing in your lounge deftly landing the perfect frisbee catch continues the magic that Wii-Sports started two years ago. Wii-Sports Resort takes that seed of enjoyment and expands upon it. MotionPlus makes the events feel all the more direct and tangible. No buttons to release, no complex waggling, just simple one-to-one motion controls.
How Much Free Time is Required to Play It?

As was true of the first Wii-Sports, you need quite a bit of space to play these games with other players. In particular you should watch out for lampshades and coffee tables when going for more exuberant frisbee throwing. Each game should last around 10 minutes and as such can easily fit into a spare half hour. Players who want a longer experience can work on their ranking with repeat plays.

What Factors Impact on Suitability for Novice/Expert Young/Old Players?

The design of the game, the controls and the visuals make this an extremely easy game to pick up my pretty much any ability or age group. Being sports focused there are no themes to mention. It does include fencing, which is a contact sport, but as elsewhere it sticks to its cartoon style.

While expert players tired of the original Wii-Sport's simplicity, with the MotionPlus controls they should find a more nuanced and challenging experience here. The greater accuracy of the controls enables the game to detect more moves and tricks from advanced players.

Thanks for reading the review, visit our Family Gaming Awards - the best games for the different people in your family.