Wii Warm Up: Hey there, sports fans
Not all gamers are fond of sports games, but those who are usually know their stuff. Whether you consider yourself the Wayne Gretzky of the genre (oh Great One) or if you just like to dabble once and a while, it's time to rate the Wii's performance as a console for sports games.Which Wii sports games work? Which don't? What are some of your favorite and least favorite things about the sports genre on the Wii? Do you prefer titles with many different sports in them, or games that only focus on one sport in particular?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lord Bowser @ Jun 29th 2008 11:02AM
Warriors... come out to plaaaaaaaaay!
Mr Capo @ Jun 29th 2008 11:31AM
Pro 2008 is the big shock for me. I've been a big fan of the series since it began and I more than scoffed at the idea of the game on the wii. WRONG. Its the best pro evo yet. I never want to go back to controling just one player ever again. My fav sports/any game on the wii.
James @ Jun 29th 2008 11:33AM
Baseball is an obvious one. SSX showed some amazing potential.
Super Sluggers is looking more and more tempting by the day.
seetrapp @ Jun 29th 2008 11:40AM
On a side note, NHL 94 needs to be on the virtual console. And it better be the Genesis version. It could be difficult to do since EA published it. Wayne Gretzky was the great one, but Jeremy Roenick was the man in NHL 94. Also, other than this game, I know nothing about hockey.
nillaP @ Jun 29th 2008 11:49AM
dont know about anyone else but to me madden 08 for the wii was horrible
Mr Khan @ Jun 29th 2008 12:14PM
That was true for many, not just you. Mostly because the online was utterly broken
Chris @ Jun 29th 2008 12:16PM
The Wii does a decent job with sports, but it should be better. MLB 2k8 is all right, but it has some technical issues, terrible graphics, and lacks online play. Madden 08 was good for the most part, but, again, graphics weren't too great, there were some technical issues, and online play took forever to connect with someone to play (yet it's still one of the Wii's best online games). I haven't played much else besides Wii Sports.
Sports games with motion done right feel great with the Wii, but ones that don't are terrible.
Mr Khan @ Jun 29th 2008 12:17PM
Of course Wii has the potential to do sports games best, and it has done a good job so far, just not in the one arena that would prove it (Madden)
They really did Soccer games well, though. Mario Strikers Charged and Pro Evo 2008 were both exceptional. We Love Golf! is on the horizon, and now all we need are Mario Golf and Mario Tennis
FYIan @ Jun 29th 2008 12:32PM
My friend and I play Strikers Charged regularly and for many hours at a time. As far as I'm concerned, it has the best online play of any Wii game that's out, and it is just so darn replayable.
I was so disappointed when Brawl released with the horrible online mode that it has, instead of one like Strikers.
It also happens to be the least sports-like sports game out there. :p
toonaminet @ Jun 29th 2008 2:44PM
From what sports stuff I have played on the Wii golf games are pretty fun.
Rjay @ Jun 29th 2008 4:13PM
Without a doubt (and amazing to say) it has to be Wii Sports Tennis. I've been battling to break the 2000 level for over a month now and last night I finally did it!
I used to complain that the game cheated when you get up that high (like losing 30 points when you beat your opponents 3 games to 2 ) but I now realize that it was scoring you on how well you beat your opponent and taking your last game into account. Pretty tough to play at that level consistently...
It has re-awakened my interest in Tennis (the real one) and I found watching the Wimbledon matches extremely interesting and was able to follow the strategy and set ups much more closely and understand what they were up to before the announcer explained it.
Pretty amazing for a "little" game like Wii Sports Tennis!
Shane @ Jun 29th 2008 5:50PM
Still waiting for a cricket game, yeah I know there is Beach Sports but it is not the same as the real thing. Hopefully it will sell very well and someone will release a fully fledged cricket game.
Ting Lee @ Jun 30th 2008 9:47AM
Wii sports is pretty good, especially the tennis, boxing and bowling (in order). I will happily buy a new boxing game with more depth in game play and a more precise control.
I have not played much baseball games but The Big's pitching and hitting is great. I love how you have to twist the wiimote while swinging the pitch to get the different throws. After a few round of the Big, it makes you better appreciate pitcher fatigue. It is easy enough to get the pitching right early in the game but tough enough not to be able to consistently get good pitches. I am looking forward to this year's version.
NBA live was a major letdown. Horrible control.
Terry @ Jun 30th 2008 10:00AM
My favorite sports games that use the motion controls well are the tennis, bowling and baseball from Wii Sports, and Tiger Woods 08. I thought Madden 08 was okay, but definitely could use some work. I've avoided other bowling and boxing games that have come out because some of the reviews I read said that the motion controls weren't great and/or the stuff in Wii Sports was still better. I eagerly await the new Mario baseball game though.
mongoloido @ Jun 30th 2008 10:21AM
I think the MLB Power Pros series has great potential, but I'm not buying the new one because it once again remains a PS2 port with wiimote only for exhibition play... I didn't buy a Wii to play games solely with control pads and buttons.
PunchyMcJunk @ Jun 30th 2008 11:58AM
Tiger-Tiger-Tiger Woods Y'all.
To the untrained Wii-mote Wielder, it may not seem all that precise, but it actually takes into account a lot of what goes into a golf swing, and translates it well into what happens on the screen.
dwhite601 @ Jun 30th 2008 7:06PM
I just bought a Wii console because of some Wii games include beach volleyball. I'm really looking forward to a new dedicated beach volleyball game. How about a Beach Spikers 2 or Summer Heat Beach Volleyball 2?
mentalsticks @ Jul 1st 2008 12:00PM
wii table tennis COULD have been GREAT. I bought it, played it a bit, then put it away as it has No left hand mode!!! what moron made that decision? that's 20 bloody percent of the world market! (of course, they won't find out until after they bought it so who cares...)
Kit Grose @ Jul 1st 2008 11:14PM
Wii Sports Tennis is fantastic; particularly the added value that the ranking gives you as incentive to play more than just one game. I'd love to see full 5-set matches though (not 5 games per match).
The Wii is in desperate need of a quality hockey game, and a Burnout game or equivalent (the Burnout series on the PS2 was/is one of the greatest games on any platform).