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Wii Sports

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8.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 51 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 130 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo

Genre(s): Sports

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: November 19, 2006

Summary

Tennis (1-4 players): Players grab the controller like a racket and swing – the game will register forehands, backhands, volleys, lobs, slices, spin and power depending on how fast the user swings and at what angle. Don't worry about moving around the court to get to the ball – the game automatically moves players into position. Baseball (1-2 players): Grip the controller like a bat and swat fastballs out of the park in a home run derby. Timing and bat speed will make all the difference between going yard and whiffing, so keep an eye on the ball and swing for the fences. In the two-player game, one player pitches and the other bats. Golf (1 player): Step up to the tee, hold the controller like a golf club and swing naturally to smack the ball onto the green. The harder players swing the club, the farther the ball will fly, so be sure to take some practice swings before going for the pin. After reaching the green, line up putts carefully, practice the stroke and try to hole out. [Nintendo]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: GameSpot Preview(s) Official Website

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...

Official Nintendo Magazine UK

The ideal way to get into Wii gaming. It's funny, simple and approachable, and gamers and non-gamers alike should get something out of it. [Christmas 2006, p.62]

N-Europe

Just as a Nintendo 64 without "Super Mario 64" was unthinkable, so too is a Wii without Wii Sports. It’s one of the most perfect launch games we’ve seen.

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Nintendojo

In terms of control and immersion, Wii Sports destroys the competition and provides an excellent foundation for other developers to build upon.

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PGNx Media

Wii Sports is the perfect pack-in for the Wii since it really shows off the system’s unique capabilities and manages to draw in casual gamers who would otherwise not want to play videogames.

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AtomicGamer

The game does a great job of showing off what the system is about and showcasing the system’s abilities.

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GamePro

We can't help but enjoy the fact that we're getting a solid sports experience for nothing. It's definitely more fun in groups and won't have a great deal of longevity, but anyone who doesn't find at least some fun in Wii Sports has a heart of coal.

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GameZone

Sure, it lacks goals and can be beaten very quickly. But the ultra-responsive technology and high multiplayer replay value are far greater than any other party or sports game collection.

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Nintendo Power

The single-player game is good for practice and daily tests, but Wii Sports shines as a multiplayer game. [Jan. 2007, p.96]

NGamer UK

It's bloody good fun and you'll enjoy playing it for ages. [January 2007, p.38]

Eurogamer

Brilliantly embodies the Wii's dramatic premise: that this kind of control can appeal to people who don't play games and people who used to play games as well as people who've been playing them for as long as we have.

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AceGamez

Despite the shortcomings in presentation and pruning in some aspects of the modes and play, what Wii Sports gets right it gets right with flying colors, showing that what may have appeared as a gimmick - the motion-reading controllers - is actually a revolution.

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Sydney Morning Herald

Highly approachable and hugely entertaining for all ages, Wii Sports serves as a great introduction and advertisement for the innovative Wii motion-sensing controller.

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Games Radar (in-house)

The game's meant to be a no-frills, no-pressure entry point into the Wii and its bizarre new way of playing videogames, and it's impressive that it manages to be a lot of fun at the same time.

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Games Master UK

More fun than a box of ferrets and almost genius, but it feels just a bit too slapdash. [Christmas 2006, p.64]

VideoGamer

It may not win any awards for the best looking or sounding game but it's great pure fun, and is instantly accessible to pretty much anyone.

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GameDaily

Wii Sports certainly won't be hailed as the most realistic sports sim on the market, but it's the best thing - next to a bottle of tequila - to take to a friend's holiday house party.

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GameTrailers

A couple of the games are rewarding for the long term, but most can be easily whipped into submission in a matter of hours. The visuals are also severely lacking.

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GameSpy

It's a game you can play with your friends and family, and it perfectly highlights the direction that Nintendo is taking with the platform. It's not the best-looking game on the system, and it's definitely not the deepest, but it may well be the most fun.

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eToychest

This is a simple game about simple fun, and everyone owes it to themselves to try it out to get a taste for what the Wii may in fact have in store for us all very soon.

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NTSC-uk

A massive, massive success as a launch title. Ignore the negativity you may have heard, and embrace this marvellous new bit of kit into your home.

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Boomtown

It’s simple, addictive, compelling and innovative all rolled into one.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

It’s accessible, addictive, and an excellent tech-demo for the Wii-mote, not to mention an obvious choice to whip out when you want to show off your new purchase.

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Gamer 2.0

With the exception of Boxing, everything in Wii Sports is entertaining, and there's a little more depth than the simplistic presentation might lead you to believe.

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GameSpot

Wii Sports makes for an ideal pack-in with Nintendo's new console, providing some fun, simple gameplay that's accessible to almost anyone.

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Cheat Code Central

For a free game that’s included with the system, we couldn’t be happier. We hope that Nintendo expands on the Bowling, Baseball, and Tennis games and tweaks Golf for future releases because they have a real winner on their hands.

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GamingExcellence

Despite these two solo modes, Wii Sports is really all about getting some friends together and playing a few matches of tennis or bowling. The game isn't designed to be a true authentic sports simulation, it's all about the sheer entertainment value, and this is where Wii Sports really shines.

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Gaming Age

Create your Mii and challenge your friends (both gaming and non-gaming) to a game of bowling. I guarantee they’ll be hooked and so will you.

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IGN

Your non-gamer friends will be dazzled by the immediately intuitive controls and the imported Miis. But the title sacrifices incredible depth and visuals for an immediately accessible experience.

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Kombo

The bottom line, really, is that Wii Sports, as a multiplayer game, is downright fun. Whether your thing is tennis, baseball, golf, bowling or boxing, you’re bound to be smiling - at least for a few seconds - while playing Wii Sports.

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Deeko

If I had to pay for them, I probably wouldn't, but as a freebie included with the system, they're great for showcasing the system's capabilities and give all of the people in your household a chance to game — even those with no previous experience!

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PALGN

A very solid first effort for the Wii, and provides just a taste of what is, and what will be, great about the Wii console. Pick it up, play it and have fun. Very nice.

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My Gamer

This is one you can feel confident about showing your family and friends who are normally saying things like "pish-tosh" when you bring up video games.

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Da Gameboyz

Wii Sports is all about showing what Nintendo's newest console an do in terms of innovation and making gaming accessible to everyone and overall it does a great job of this.

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Gaming Target

While the game isn’t exactly deep, who cares? It’s free and it’s fun; and that’s all that matters.

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N-Insanity

Who needs the outside world when you can get some decent exercise in your very living room or bedroom? It may not be anything rigorous, but it'll get your body moving in ways that it normally may not.

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GameBrink

For the hardcore there’s not much here that you’ll be playing for more than an hour other than the training mode which gives you a lot of challenges but ultimately falls flat.

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netjak

This glorified tech demo is an excellent game for groups, whether the serious gamers you'd expect from a college dorm or the kids at a family reunion.

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Extreme Gamer

In Wii Sports, innovation and gameplay triumph over substance, graphics, and depth, a feat which only Nintendo could accomplish.

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Computer and Video Games

Wii Sports is neither bulging in features nor graphically impressive, but when you put everything together, you have a fun package that, although better in places than others, is varied enough to keep you entertained for a good while and brilliant in multiplayer.

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Edge Magazine

Perfect? No. Indispensable? Yes. Wii Sports more than earns its bundled place as an essential component of the hardware. [Christmas 2006, p.76]

Gaming Nexus

You can’t expect too much from a pack-in game, and Wii Sports is no exception. While it’s true that you will probably have a good time with one or two of the activities presented on this disc, it’s just as likely that you’ll get bored of them after only a few plays and never touch them again.

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Play Magazine

Still, as a pack-in, it's hard to take pot-shots at a game that so perfectly acclimates users to the new control. [Jan. 2007, p.76]

Gamestyle

Gamestyle still has concerns over the longevity of what could be a glorified Wiimote training session; but we were surprised at how much fun is here for the short term at least. It’s shallow, yet immensely playable, and a great introduction to this revolutionary system.

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Thunderbolt

It gives gamers a small taste of what the WiiMote can do for their gaming experiences and a reason to keep playing the new system, but nothing more. Its appeal and flaws lay with its simplicity.

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GameCritics

The greatest strength of Wii Sports—its unparalleled accessibility—ends up being its greatest weakness. Although the game initially feels like a breath of fresh air, the failure of its novel control scheme to provide the sensitivity needed for continued growth and mastery ultimately sucks much of that air right back out.

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Game Informer

None of these sports are fully fleshed out, and they simply represent a range of motions to perform with the controller.

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1UP

As a demo that gives a glimpse into the Wii's gaming future, Wii Sports is reassuring, charming, and good, clean fun.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

I like the concept behind this pack-in, but Wii Sports simply ends up being an overly publicized demo. [Jan. 2007, p.63]

games(TM)

In its 'free' state, Wii Sports is a triumph when presenting the abilities of your new console, but in reality, it's an extended victory for the console itself and not praise that should be bestowed upon the game. [Christmas 2006, p.106]

Console Gameworld

Despite control issues Wii Sports is probably one of the only launch titles that offers so much fun from such a small package.

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Digital Entertainment News

It's free, so you're getting what you pay for. Yes, it can be fun, but it should have been a lot better.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 130 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Ralph H gave it a10:
This is the only Wii game that really uses the capabilities of the controller to the max. You can put spin on shots in tennis, affect the speed, direction, and spin of bowling shots, crank home runs in baseball, and throw various punches in boxing, all with amazing accuracy. The Wii's success is because of this game. It is simple and fun, but still recreates the true physics of playing these sports. No other game I have played for the Wii uses the Wii controller as accurately as Wii sports.

John M gave it a7:
Good game to get used to the wiis control system, the games are fun, especially with a group of people, but the sports are very limited (is bowling actually a sport??). Overall a decent package that every wii owner gets for free anyway

Rover T gave it a6:
They do a good job with what appears to be a low budget game. I think it's actually pretty realistic for a sports videogame. I cant say dont buy it because it comes with the Wii, but if you lose it under the couch I dont think its worth more than $15 to buy another.

Sque M. gave it an8:
Wii Sports Review Graphics: 7.5/10 (Simple but appealing) Sound: 7.5/10 (Sound effects and music are okay) Controls Average: 38/50 = 7.6/10 Tennis: 9/10 (Almost though it swings without me swinging it) Baseball: 10/10 (Simple, sweet and to the point) Bowling: 9.5/10 (Awesome but the problem with throwing can throw you off at times) Golf: 6.5/10 (It's hard to hit it at the right speed) Boxing: 3/10 (Really hard to throw a punch) Gameplay Average: 37/50 = 7.4/10 Tennis: 7/10 (Good though it gets boring after a while) Baseball: 9.5/10 (Awesome though I wish it actually follow the rules of Baseball) Bowling: 8/10 (Fun but gets boring after a while) Golf: 5/10 (Gets boring since this uses the same layouts even when you play a new game) Boxing: 7.5/10 (Though controls suck, it very fun once you get used to it) Lastability: 8/10 (Lots of replay value for a launch game) Overall: B+ (Weird for a launch game that's really this good).

Jack H. gave it a7:
I must admit, the bowling is fun, but I mean, come on! Only 5 sports? I suppose that's the best you can get with a game that came with the console. Tennis is sort of fun, baseball wears my arms out, golf is alright (I guess), and boxing is a bit short in my opinion. This could have been a great game if only it had some more content.

Ryan B gave it a9:
This is an excellent game for those who are more casual gamers and want something to pick up and play. It is also very family friendly and the whole family will have a bunch of fun playing this.

Henny E gave it a10:
After 4 back surgeries I thought I was done with bowling, but then along came the wii. I can now play tennis and bowl with kids with grandkids, golf with spouse and even play by myself. My daughter bought me the wii for my birthday and said something about me needing more exercise, boy was she right! I exercise everyday with the wii sports and don't even realize that I am exercising. I strongly recommend the wii sports and not just because it is included in the purchase of the wii system.

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What The Critics Said

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