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Wii Play wii Game Reviews
Wii Play
Critic Score
Metascore: 58 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
6.5 out of 10
based on 41 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 68 votes
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Rate this game

In Wii Play, the star of the game is you. Create your own personal Mii character with the Wii console's built-in Mii Channel and then play as yourself in this compilation of nine simple, fun games like target shooting, table tennis and fishing. Wii Play comes bundled with a free Wii Remote, so a friend can instantly join in the action in any of the included games. You can play at home or save your Mii on your Wii Remote and play with it on a friend's console, or use any of the six ready-made guest characters. Wii Play's nine different games are the perfect introduction to what the Wii Remote can do: Shooting Range - A modern version of the Nintendo classic Duck Hunt. Shoot the targets on the screen simply by aiming your Wii Remote. Find Mii - Can you spot a face in the crowd? Use your Wii Remote to point out the correct Mii characters as quickly as you can. Table Tennis - How long can you ping pong? Use your Wii Remote like a paddle to bat the ball and try to beat the computer or human opponent. Pose Mii - Twist the Wii Remote to rotate the Mii characters and quickly slot them into the correct positions as they fall down the screen. Laser Hockey - Tilt and turn the Wii Remote to bash the puck into the opponent's goal, in this high-speed arcade-style game. Billiards - In this version of Nine Ball, aim the Wii Remote at the screen to line up your shot, then pull back and push forward to strike the ball. Fishing - Move the Wii Remote like a rod: dip the hook in the water, wait for the fish to bite (the controller will rumble) and pull back hard to land it. Charge - Take the bull by the horns! Steer your wild steer by holding the Wii Remote sideways, as if gripping reins, and topple scarecrows to score points. Tanks - Take control of a tank with the Wii Remote; aim the cannon, bounce shells off walls, and blast your opponent to bits. [Nintendo Europe]

PUBLISHER: Nintendo
DEVELOPER: Nintendo
GENRE(S): Action, Party
PLAYERS: 2
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2007

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

91
Official Nintendo Magazine UK
All nine games are suprisingly addictive, and if you're planning on buying another Remote you really should go for this. [Christmas 2006, p.76]
78
AtomicGamer
As a $10 packin, Wii Play does provide a good value, if only for Laser Hockey, Billiards, the Shooting Gallery and Tanks.
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73
Gaming Target
I’d say overall Wii Play is worth it, if only for the extra controller. I now have three. If you know an easy way to get another nunchuck I’d love to know.
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70
Game Informer
While you can play any of the games solo, Wii Play is clearly designed as a pastime for friends; every one of the nine is best played with two remotes. It’s also a little odd that the entire game seems oriented towards teaching players how to use the Wii remote.
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70
Cheat Code Central
Playing multiplayer doubles the fun and all I could ask for is the option to share this with four players at a time, but two is all you get, which makes sense in most of these games anyway.
Read Full Review
70
NGamer UK
It's a fun multiplayer-with-the-family experience, not really a keeper. [Jan. 2007, p.40]
70
PALGN
Wii Play excels at what it sets out to do, and as a package deal with a Wii Remote is a no-brainier purchase for new Wii owners.
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70
Nintendo Power
All of the games in the Wii collection sport a surface-level cleverness that makes them brilliant demos of what the Wii means for the future of game design, but only a few of them offer enough depth for repeated visits. [Mar. 2007, p.86]
69
Gamer 2.0
If you have no need for a Wii Remote at this time, it may be more feasible to find a friend who’s in need of the Wii Remote to split the cost or just hit up your local used game shop for cheaper, used versions of the game.
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65
Nintendojo
The game and controller is easily worth what retailers are charging, and the package is an ideal way of getting the Wii message of playing together across to the casual consumer. Wii Play is far more than just a collection of minigames, it is an extension of the console itself and should be the first port of call for all new Wii owners.
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64
GameTrailers
As a standalone game at full price, we would rake Wii Play over the coals. But as a pack-in with the Wii Remote that basically costs $10, it’s a winner.
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60
Armchair Empire
If it were a standalone game, I’d recommend forgetting Wii Play, but it comes with a Wiimote, so really the game is $10US so it’s really hard to argue against picking it up.
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60
Next Level Gaming
Wii remotes are in limited supply, and ten extra bucks isn’t a bad deal for the set.
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60
G4 TV
Wii Play may sound like some kinky German fetish video (our last Wii pun, we promise!), but it's actually good, clean fun overall -- aimed at those who either A) are in diapers, B) list Pac-Man as the last video game they played, or C) a twisted combo of both. It also caters to lazy bastards, with its ability to be played from a sitting position.
Read Full Review
60
DarkStation
Nintendo release another title that makes perfect use of its quirky controllers, but with just a few truly memorable games in the collection, it's best as a weekend rental.
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60
GameSpy
On one hand it's very simple and addictive for non-gamers, but on the other hand it's more of a novelty for core gamers. The price is high, although the "free" controller makes it more than worthwhile if you're looking for a second controller and a cheap set of mini-games that are fun for a few hours.
Read Full Review
60
1UP
Play is made for people who don't really like games, and if you're someone who really does, that's a problem. Sure, most of these minigames are fun...for about 10 minutes. But hey, maybe your grandma will want to marry it.
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60
Games Radar (in-house)
If you're buying this for solo gaming, save the cash or just head to a friend's house - multiplayer's the only way to go with Wii Play, and even then you'll be satisfied within a week.
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60
EuroGamer
Wii Play has a few timeless gems that should prove to be party favourites this Christmas, but regular gamer, in particular, shouldn't expect the novelty value to endure much beyond that. Think of this as commercial tutorial.
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60
GameDaily
While introducing the finer points of the Nintendo Wii remote through mini-games like billiards and a cattle-racing game, all of them come up short in replay value, even with the ability to compete against a friend.
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60
Gaming Nexus
Wii Play is about the best reason to pick up an extra Wii remote, unless you have four already.
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59
GameBrink
So essentially Wii Play is a series of nine mini-games aimed at teaching people how to use the Wiimote and kind of use the Nunchuk. It costs next to nothing and is packed in with a controller, so for a few minutes of fun with a friend why not get it? [JPN Import]
Read Full Review
59
Da Gameboyz
The lack of mini-games that really grabbed me was just too small.
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59
GamerNode
A Wii Remote costs $40, and can't be found. Wii Play costs $50, and comes with one. Worth buying only if you want an extra remote.
Read Full Review
59
netjak
If you’ve already tracked down four remotes, you might as well leave this game on the shelf; you’ll get at least as much enjoyment out of the game that came with the console.
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55
Kombo
If you're in the market for a Wii-mote, pick this up, as you get one with it, and it's only 10 bucks more. If you're not, then pass. It's a little too simple and will be short-lived for most.
Read Full Review
55
IGN
It is simply not worth $50 or, for that matter, even half that. But it's a $10 companion piece to a Wii remote and it does succeed as a technical demo of what Nintendo's new peripheral can do.
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54
GameSpot
Few of the nine minigames that comprise Wii Play have much staying power.
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52
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Play is for people who don't really play games, and as someone who really does, that's a problem. [Feb. 2007, p.86]
50
VideoGamer
By ordinary standards there's simply nothing here - bar Billiards - that offers anything worthy of more than a few minutes play. As an introduction to the Wii and its unique control scheme it just about works, but beyond that there's very little here to get excited about.
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50
Games Master UK
Not really a game as such, but a capable if uninspired introduction to the wonders of Wii. [Christmas 2006, p.85]
50
WHAM! Gaming
More varied but less fun than Wii Sports, this collection of mini-games basically adds $15 to the price of a new Wii controller. Sounds like a good deal, but it turns out it's barely worth even that.
Read Full Review
50
Detroit Free Press
Frankly, there are no blockbuster offerings here. This collection of simple games is fun to play a few times, but as the package includes the Wii remote and the game for only $10 more than the price of the controller alone, it's well worth the retail price, especially given the scarcity of additional controllers for the system.
Read Full Review
48
Jolt Online Gaming UK
The extreme banality of the package which would only just about hold the attention of the seriously young members of your family for any length of time can’t be ignored.
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45
NintendoWorldReport
It lacks depth, meaning that you’ll grow tired of it within minutes – even with a friend.
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42
The Onion (A.V. Club)
The "low-budget, high-fun" strategy that paid off for Nintendo with "Brain Age" and "Wii Sports" finally draws a blank.
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40
GamePro
If you needed an excuse to pick up another Wii Remote and you have an extra Hamilton in the wallet, then by all means pick up Wii Play. Just don't expect to fully get your money's worth.
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40
Gamestyle
So it’s not a great compendium, but does come with a remote, so that’s a bonus (especially for multiplayer games of Wii Sports with your non-Wii owning friends).
Read Full Review
40
Thunderbolt
Though the collection features a few gems like Billiards and Laser Hockey, much of the lineup is composed of half-assed mini-games with little to no depth whatsoever.
Read Full Review
30
games(TM)
Although bundled with a Wii Remote, it's still impossible to recommend Wii Play. Many of the mini-games feel clumsy, and the ones that don't are destined to be short-lived at best. [Christmas 2006, p.136]
30
NTSC-uk
Forget what you have heard about this being a title that will “train” you how to use your new hardware - it doesn’t. You can learn much more with the in-bundle magnificence of Wii Sports, or the genuine innovation offered by Wario Ware. Let’s hope that more consideration is put into future first party releases of this ilk.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 6.5 (out of 10) based on 68 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

DJ LINK gave it a10:
This is worth a purchase and it's very cheap, being bundled with a Wii remote and a lot of fun. It's a great way to show off the Wii for what it is and what it can do and, with medals to achieve, there is come longevity for those that want to be challenged. The only game I didn't enjoy too much was the bubble one but in multiplayer me and my wife played a ton of billiards and the lookelikey game (she liked the Miis we had created being part of the game). As a serious gamer it is a wonderful feeling to get non-gamers (especially partners who tend criticise the hobby) to play with you and have a good time. For this to be so universally panned is cynical and is missing the point. Buy it, it's worth it.

Guilherme M. gave it an8:
Not a hardcore game, but very simple and fun. Just like Wii sports

[Anonymous] gave it an8:
Tanks and shooting games are nice. Many hours of fun. If you need second controller game is well worth ~10$ extra it costs.

Jerry R. gave it a7:
The billiards are worth it alone. I wish Wii would come out with nothing but a variety of pool games with this format of play.

Special C. gave it an8:
This game is not groundbreaking but it is highly addictive and fun. It's a good quick fix game that my wife and I play often. If you are going to spend $40 for an extra remote, spend the extra $10 for Wii Play.

Brett K. gave it an8:
Has some fun 2-player mini-games for only a very sleight price premium over a bare wii-mote. I recommend this for anyone who wants a second remote.

David G. gave it an8:
If you whizz through all the games, it's barely worth the premium over just getting a second remote. But with a little perseverance and open-mindedness, all apart from Pose Mii are surprisingly compelling. Find Mii looks the most childish but turns out to be tough and addictive, the best of the lot.

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