Each mini-game teaches you a different aspect of the Wii-mote’s capabilities as you play for either one or two players – with two player mode definitely more fun that playing on your own, although two players is the maximum, unlike Wii Sports which can accommodate four players simultaneously in games like tennis.

The very first time you load Wii Play, you’ll noticed that the mini games are locked – you have to play each, one at a time, and successfully complete the game before unlocking the next – and when they are all unlocked you can play any of them at any time.

It gives hints and tips on how to play and is pretty cool for a Wii first timer to go through, but once you have unlocked all the games, I couldn’t find a simple way to lock them again so the next person who has never played the Wii before can go through this quick and fun tutorial process. Still – any ‘new’ player will quickly figure the Wii and it’s motion sensing remote controls out, that’s more than half of the instant appeal of the Nintendo Wii, so this minor thing is no big deal.

So, what games do we play in Wii Play?

Well, the first game is called “Shooting Range”, where you have to shoot balloons, clay pigeons, soda cans and even UFOs! The action gets frenetic at the end, and especially in two player mode is great fun. Them there are a couple of games that revolve around matching objects on screen, with the objects being called Mii’s. These are comic like characters that you have full control over creating in the Nintendo Wii itself, and is your virtual Nintendo Wii ‘character’ or one of your digital personas.

One of these games is called ‘Find Mii’ is like a Where’s Waldo (or Where’s Wally for those who know him that way) where you need to match Mii’s faces. In ‘Pose Mii’ you need to learn to twist your controller to match the orientation of the Mii’s floating about in bubbles on screen.

Then there’s table tennis, which is especially fun in two player mode, laser air hockey with funky neon lighting and cool sound effects, a simple fishing game, a game of billiards where you use the Wii-mote like a pool cue, a cow-racing game where you get to hold the Wii-mote horizontally in your hands like a steering wheel, and a strategy game called "Tanks!" where you can plug in the Nun-chuk accessory and play a game of shooting tanks and simple ‘terrain’ maps to navigate through while you hunt your opponent and they you.

Wii Play isn’t a game that enjoys the fresher and more interactive gameplay of Wii Sports, but is a game that at US $49.95 effectively costs $10, as it comes bundled with a US $39.95 Wii-mote controller.

Because you’ll want to get at least one extra Wii-mote, paying $10 extra to get this game is a no brainer. Why wouldn’t you? It contains a stack of fun mini-games that are great fun to learn to play, and great party games where guests are keen to try a range of Wii experiences.

And even though new Wii games are on the way, including new Mario and Metroid titles (and more), while Wii Play isn’t something you’ll likely regularly play, it’s still worth having.

Wii’re glad it’s in our collection, and wii think you will be too.
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