Wii Sports Resort - Event List

Summer is here, and if you want to stay active without getting a tan or even leaving the house, then Wii Sports Resort has enough outdoor events to keep you busy until the season changes. We've already covered several of the sports in detail during E3, but now, we've got our own build to play with, and we're impressed with the amount of content that is included. This could be because Wii Sports and Wii Play had a paltry selection, but now there are 12 main events--granted, there are a few repeats--with multiple modes within that you can unlock.

The list of games include: swordplay, wakeboarding, Frisbee, archery, basketball, table tennis, golf, bowling, power cruising, canoeing, cycling, and air sports. Below is a basic rundown of how each game works. For our impressions, skip down to the bottom.

Swordplay: You hold the Wii Remote as you would a giant stick and whap your Mii opponent to try to knock him or her out of the ring and off the platform. With the Wii MotionPlus, your movements will be mimicked onscreen, so slice and dice away with gusto. You can hold the B button to block, which will stun your opponent when he or she tries to hit back. Against a human opponent, this can be the most physically demanding of all the sports.

Wakeboarding: While your Mii is riding the wakeboard and enjoying the virtual fresh air and sunshine, you hold the remote horizontally to steer him or her by tilting the controller left or right. Getting air off the wake and doing tricks will earn you points. First, start by crossing over the waves that the boat creates. After you swerve to one side, immediately swerve in the opposite direction and jump over the wake by giving the remote a quick jerk upward. Think of how some people used to play the original Super Mario Bros. by flinging the controller as they pressed A to jump. You have to make sure that your board lands horizontally in the water or you won't get points. Wakeboarding is mostly about timing your jumps and landing properly because you can't control what you're doing in the air.

Frisbee: The benefits of the Wii MotionPlus will come into play here. By holding the B button and tilting the remote in one hand, you can watch your Mii adjust the angle of the Frisbee. You toss it as you would a real Frisbee, letting go of the B button at the right moment. Your happy, mechanical-looking dog will gladly chase after it and bring it back to you.

Archery: Archery is the most interesting because it requires more thought than waving the remote around. It's also the most complicated (initially) of all the sports. You hold the Wii Remote in your left hand, which acts as your bow, and hold the A button to lock into an over-the-shoulder view. The Nunchuk acts as the string, in which you pull back while holding the Z button. The lack of resistance from pulling back makes aiming with the remote a little tricky--unless you have a very stable left hand. The Z button will bring up a large circle that you use to guide your shot. Obstacles and wind will keep you on your toes, so some skill is actually involved.

Basketball: The goal here is to basically get the ball in the hoop before the timer runs out. You hold the B button to pick up a ball and make a gentle tossing motion with the remote. Chances are the ball will go in the hoop. No aiming is necessary.

Table Tennis: This is very much like tennis in Wii Sports, except it's much faster and has a smaller surface area. The Wii MotionPlus lets you easily return the ball with a backhand or forehand. If you want to make your opponent sweat a little, you can even add a spin.

Golf: This is similar to the original golf, except the angle of your swing makes a difference now. You can't swing randomly anymore and hope that the ball gets to the green. This actually works out well and changes the game quite a bit. A bar on the side indicates how straight your swing is, but you can take a few practice swings to see how your form is holding up before committing to the real deal.

Bowling: Bowling is still the same, except now you have more control when it comes to curving the ball.

Power Cruising: This is also known as jet skiing. You hold the Wii Remote and Nunchuk sideways as if you were gripping handlebars and press the A or B button to move. You steer by tilting and give yourself a boost by twisting the remote toward you.

Canoeing: Canoeing is not the most adrenaline-pumping sport in the bundle, but you do get to use the remote as a paddle in a canoe. Well-timed strokes, either alone or with a friend, will help as you try to maneuver your canoe through the tame waters.

Cycling: This is set up like the running event in Wii Fit, where you get a scenic tour of the island along the way. However, this time, it's not as easy as sticking your remote in your pocket and taking off--you shake the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to pedal your bike while steering. It takes a bit of practice to control your bike because waggling can throw you off center. A heart meter indicates how much stamina you have left, so you have to pace yourself to ensure you don't run out of breath.

Air Sports: There are a few modes in this category, two of which involve piloting a propeller plane. Think of the remote as a paper airplane, with its nose pointing at the television. You tilt left or right to steer and pull up or aim down to guide your plane. You can also jab at the screen to give yourself a boost and slow down by pulling back.

This is just a quick overview of each event, so we should note that each event will have variations, as well as multiplayer options. For example, air sports will include an aerial dogfighting game, as well as skydiving. Swordplay is not limited to only knocking your opponent out of the ring; there are speed challenges, as well as the option to play against an army of Miis.

Wii Sports Resort is an impressive package, and we haven't gone through all the modes yet. The events that we've tried are, for the most part, enjoyable and fun to play, but some are definitely better than others. It's most likely going to replace Wii Sports as the standard party game for when you have people over. What made the original so popular is that anyone could play, and the same holds true for Wii Sports Resort. It's laid-back and easy to get into, with clear instructions in all the games to help if you're unsure of what to do. The charming yet simple visuals are good enough to make you feel like you're on the beautiful island of Wii Sports Resort, which also serves as a sad reminder that you are not on a tropical island vacation. Check out more gameplay videos here and look for our full review when the game ships on July 26.