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Wii Sports is a video game that was bundled with the Wii console in 2006 as part of the Touch! Generations lineup of games. Because of being bundled with the Wii, Wii Sports was formerly the best-selling console video game of all time. It is a collection of various sports games that all use a unique, innovative control scheme that demonstrates the true potential of the Wii Remote.

It was revealed at E3 2006. The player can use the Wii Remote as a tennis racket, baseball bat, boxing glove, golf club, or even a hand to roll a bowling ball, and immerse themselves into the game while playing the sport on-screen.

As opposed to a dedicated sports game, none of the games included feature deep gameplay options. The graphics are also being kept very simple, far from the Wii's full capabilities. It is also multiplayer oriented, to show how fun gaming can truly be. With the simplicity, ease of use, and pure fun of Wii Sports, Nintendo intended to attract the non-gamer crowd through Wii's innovative gameplay style. In 2023, the game was put into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.[1]

It should also be noted that Wii Sports uses the Mii avatars you create in the Wii's Mii Channel.

Wii Sports was bundled with the Wii in all regions except Japan.

A sequel to Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, was released in 2009. The series continues to this day with Wii Sports Club released in 2013 and Nintendo Switch Sports released on April 29, 2022.

The video game is a companion piece to Wii Play.

Gameplay[]

  • Tennis - The Wii Remote is used as a tennis racket. The Wii Remote is held on its side, as the handle of the racket. Player movement will be automatic, and you will only control the swinging of the racket. This will handle power and spin of the hits.
  • Golf - The Wii Remote is used as a golf club. The player holds the Wii Remote like the handle of a golf club, and the motion-sensing capabilities are used to swing the club and hit the golf ball. The holes are based on the front 9 holes of Golf for the NES.
  • Baseball - The Wii Remote is used as a baseball bat. Pitching will also be controlled through the Wii Remote, but will be very simplistic. The bat may be held vertically to hit normally, or horizontally to bunt. Power and spin is controlled with the Wii Remote. You can throw different pitches if you hold down the buttons A, B, or both of them together.
  • Boxing - In the game, you will face off against your opponent in a boxing game. Using both the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk as fists to punch your opponent.
  • Bowling - A bowling game where you and your friends will swing your arm to roll the bowling ball down the lane and hit the pins. You have to hold down B to swing the ball and release when you are ready to roll it. You can also adjust the position and angle of your throw.
  • Airplane - Airplane is the only sport that cannot be played on Wii Sports, Airplane would have been the 6th sport in the Wii launch title Wii Sports. Unfortunately, it was scrapped by the time the final game was released and Bowling and Boxing were put in its place instead. The sport was showcased at E3 2006 to promote the game it was going to be included with. This game involved tilting the Wii Remote to control a plane around what looked like an early version of Wuhu Island. The main mode of this sport involved flying through either 90 or 140 rings scattered throughout the island before running out of time. Though the sport was absent in the final game, it was not forgotten; the sport would finally be added (albeit in a modified form) in Wii Sports Resort.

Training Games[]

  • Returning Balls (Hit as many balls as you can)
  • Timing Your Swing (Hit as many balls as you can between the orange field)
  • Target Practice (Destroy as many targets as you can)
  • Hitting Home Runs (Try and get as many home runs as possible)
  • Swing Control (Hit as many balls as possible in-between the coloured section)
  • Batting Practice (Hit as many balls as possible)
  • Picking Up Spares (Complete the spares)
  • Power Throws (Score as many strikes as possible)
  • Spin Control (Spin your bowling ball around the walls)
  • Putting (Try and get your golf ball into the hole)
  • Hitting the Green (Try and land your golf ball on the green)
  • Target Practice (Score as many points as you can)
  • Working the Bag (Try and knock as many punching bags down as you can in a limited amount of time)
  • Dodging (Dodge as many balls as possible)
  • Throwing Punches (Hit as many black targets as you can)

Development[]

While making of the game, the Mii characters were going to be replaced with Mario characters, but Nintendo chose to stick with the Miis as they are part of the console. Since Wii Sports' release, several Mario sports games were created for the Wii including Mario Strikers Charged, Mario Super Sluggers, and Mario Sports Mix. Thus, it is the first launch game on Nintendo home consoles not to have any Mario related characters.

Music[]

The tracks "Title", "Tennis Result" and "Title - Live version" (composed by Kazumi Totaka) are available with the CD Touch! Generations Soundtrack.

CPU Miis[]

There are 60 computer-controlled Miis in Tennis, Baseball, and Boxing that appear as opponents. These Miis also appear in the lanes next to you as well as the waiting area behind you in Bowling.

References[]

External links[]

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