Wii Play

Best For: Ages 5 and Up
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Genre: Arcade/Puzzle
Available For: Wii
# of Players: 1-2
Fun Factor: 4 out of 5

After mastering "Wii Sports," what's a casual gamer to do for more great family fun? As if on cue Nintendo unleashes "Wii Play," another compilation of simple and fun minigames for your gaming pleasure. "Wii Play" comes with nine simple and easy-to-master games and an additional Wii remote, making this a great option if you haven't gotten into the multiplayer action yet. Additionally, the game makes great use of your Mii's (little people you can create to represent yourself). Without further ado, here are the minigames:

Ping Pong: This one lacks depth; you simply move the remote from side to side to continue the rally. Simple and fun, but ultimately shallow.

Find Mii: A clever and kid-friendly variation on "Where's Waldo" has you finding Mii's that look alike in increasingly larger crowds.

Pose Mii: An odd little game that has Mii's falling inside bubbles and standing in one of three different poses. You must quickly change their pose with a button and twist the remote to get them at the right angle. Relentless fun.

Laser Hockey: Like air-hockey, only with a cool neon look to it. A solid, competitive game.

Fishing: This one tells you which fish to hook and a jerk of the remote pulls them from the water. Interesting, but lacking in depth.

Charge: Hold the remote sideways and tilt left or right to turn, forward and back for momentum, and upward to jump. You're riding a cow (yes, a cow) and trying to knock down scarecrows. Funny to watch, fun to play, but other Wii games have taken this concept much further already.

Billiards: A real surprise. Excellent physics, compelling gameplay (set your shot, draw the remote back, and move it forward like a pool cue), but there's only one Pool variation here. If there's anything this compelling little game proves, it shows that a full billiards game for the Wii would be a great idea!

Tanks!: Reminiscent of Atari's old Tank and Combat games, Tanks! is played from a top-down perspective. It is the only game that requires the Nunchuk controller add-on. You move your tank through a maze while trying to destroy other tanks. Simple, strategic, and fun.

Target: Point the remote at the screen and use the trigger to shoot balloons, ducks, targets, and eventually space aliens in this obvious homage to Nintendo's classic "Duck Hunt" game.

Parents take note: There's nothing to worry about here unless the shooting game bothers you. (It's like a carnival and there's no blood.) The games are shallow and simple, which make them perfect for kids 5and up. For social gamers and families, this is a must-have game for your Wii console.

More Video Game Reviews »