Nintendo hit the ground running with Wii Sports when they first launched their funky new system months ago. It was the perfect choice for a pack-in game, because any and everybody can relate to the sports of tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing. It wasn’t long before videos flooded the net with demonstrations of families across the world swinging and shaking that Wii-mote and Nunchuck, practically guaranteeing an out-of-the-gate phenomenon. There was another game of the Wii series over there in Japan at launch though. Known in Japan as Hajimete no Wii (My First Wii), this game was the proper introduction to the Wii console and its funky controller for many. In other parts of the world it’s known as Wii Play and it’s finally available for us lucky North American fans.

Since Wii Play is comprised of nine smaller games, I’ve broken them down individually, giving a sampling of my takes on the diversions that make up the entire package. After I'll dish on the game's relevance, so make sure to check that out! These may be mini-games, but they're mighty fun! Plus, the fact that the game comes with an included extra Wii-mote only sweetens the deal, and guarantees some multi-player action!

Shooting Gallery
The spiritual successor of your favorite NES classic and mine, "Duck Hunt" (yes those dang ducks are back!). With the Wii-mote seeming like the modern-day Zapper most people can get right into this selection. This is the kind of game you can play when you need a quick in and out gaming fix or when you had a hard day at work or home and need to let off some steam or when you’re having a get-together with friends & family. Simple mindless relaxing play. Play it to get to your personal best or play it just because somebody just needs to be shot. Ha ha! Whatever works for you but you’ll have fun with this selection.

Find Mii
This is the one I REALLY enjoyed the most. It’s deceptive in how it pulls you in. The whole game is simply Nintendo’s version of ‘Where’s Waldo?’ It tells you to either “Find 2 look-alikes!” or “Find 2 odd Miis out!” or “Find the fastest Mii!” Whatever instruction it gives you, you are supposed to point out the Mii or Miis it asks for with your Wiimote. The deceptive part is how ‘DUH’ it seems at first. You take it lightly as if saying “oh that was easy” but shortly & suddenly it picks up in difficulty and you find yourself scrambling to find that blasted Mii amongst the crowd. The game is simple yet its simplicity can yield in great difficulty that will aggravate you to no end! Addictive!!

Table Tennis
Quite possibly the least complicated of these simple games which is saying a lot. It’s straight-up Ping-Pong and all you do is move your paddle with the Wiimote to connect with the ping-pong ball. Of course that description doesn’t prepare you for what you will face on that ping-pong table. Once the ball is in volley the action is fast & furious and many times you will feel that the ball is almost getting away from you but you JUST hit it in time to keep the game alive. Being so uncomplicated will probably make this selection a go-to favorite for partygoers and family/friend gatherings.

Pose Mii
Here's another one I liked a whole lot. This game takes your Mii and has him/her strike a pose to pop bubbles with that pose’s silhouette inside. It’s like your Mii is the Kii *ahem* the key to “unlocking” that bubble. This one will challenge you, I’ll tell you that right now. Once you get far enough you will grow appreciation for the challenge Pose Mii places upon you. The action is frantic almost from the beginning. The encouraging pizzicato string-centered traveling music keeps you pumped while you scramble trying to keep those bubbles popped. The background pictures of nature scenes soothes the tension brought from the frenzy of keeping those floating spheres away from the water-waves. Nintendo charm at its finest.

Laser Hockey
This one is certain to be another favorite of the Wii Play package. Air hockey NEVER goes out of style! That’s right in this game you’re playing a futuristic Wii version of that poolhall/arcade favorite, air hockey. Shigeru Miyamoto himself said that the physics behind this game were very realistic so knock yourself out using your air hockey skills to test out his declaration. The hot neon-sign look of the puck, paddles, and borders along with that grooving techno music really make this selection distinct from the others. The music has me reminiscing on the excellent background tracks from Nintendo 64’s Tetrisphere (loved that game). Chances are this game will leave you “making profanities”…let’s just say that. That ball can get very fast & when that opponent slips that puck past you they might have to call in Standards and Practices to prepare the Bleep button. Hahahaha! They might have to mosaic out your mouth so people can’t read the lips. *grin*

Billiards
It’s only natural that this game would be next. Ol’ fashioned 9-Ball Billiards set in a cool poolhall. Barney Miller & Night Court come to mind when I listen to the background music play. The nighttime skyline in the background of the poolhall can’t help but to underline the feeling. I’m expecting Miis of Hal Linden and Charles “Mac” Robinson to come by cheering me on while I screw up another shot. Oh yes, I suck at pool there’s no doubt—whether videogame or real. But that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment in the least. I’m happy just to hit the balls with the cue & watch ‘em bounce all around the table! Sometimes I just like to hear the ‘CLACK’! Play this long enough and you’ll be your own neighborhood Jeanette Lee (Jeanette Wii?) in no time ready to hustle the pants off of any up and comer who dared to undo his poolkit.

As you witness this game in play a thought will dawn upon you - done correctly, pool games will be HUGE on the Wii!

Fishing
Although this isn’t as involved as the instances of fishing on "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess", but don’t sleep on it because of that. Probably #2 on the list of Wii Play’s least complicated games this selection simply has you position your fishing rod in & along the pond to catch various fish for points. Simple mindless game you can relax with even while laying on the couch or bed. The art style looks like a child’s coloring book & the fish look like paper cutouts from a kindergarten art workshop. Another testament to Wii’s disarming nature.

Charge!
A fun bull-riding or rather cow-riding game that has you ride your beef-mobile down a country road knocking down scarecrows & jumping over sawhorses for points. This selection uses the Wii-mote in a different way than the others as it has you turn the controller sideways in the “NES position” to steer the cow. Good country-tinged background music plays while you gallop down the serene nature trail. Would be nice if they had alternate courses though, maybe just a couple to keep things interesting. But the feel of steering the cow is very enjoyable.

Tanks!
A more detailed selection on this game package. Some have said this game takes them back to their Atari 2600 memories with games like Combat. Ahhh, there’s nothing like cute war to make a pleasurable gaming experience. Fun bouncy military music playing in the Lincoln Logs-like battleground as little toy tanks shoot rounds & set mines to blow away the opposing forces. Boy it is such a freeing feeling to be able to shoot where you point the Wii-mote while steering independently. Tank fighting games like Battletanx would work excellently on the Wii. I’m interested in seeing how Battalion Wars Wii comes out after playing this.

The beauty of this game is how it stays true to Nintendo’s philosophy of accessibility. Practically anyone can jump right on in & have fun immediately, regardless of skill level. Maybe it’s because of this aspect that we’ll see these types of games having the longest staying power on the system.

When I played the games of Wii Play a sudden feeling rushed over me. I felt the same kind of feeling I did back when I played the NES for the first time, back when I first encountered arcades in the early 1980’s. It felt fresh and uncomplicated, but still challenging. That’s the vibe I got playing through this title. The arcade feel is there (some of these games would make great coin-ops) and gameplay isn’t dependent on a long back-story or an overly complicated control setup. It’s not about beating the game; it’s about improving your skill and ability. YOU make the game what it is. It’s not so dependent on you fitting a set parameter put in the game by the maker but more you defining the game to your own abilities. The medals earned are just the beginning. The simplicity of the game allows you to make your own complexity. If you get too good, then try playing looking at screen with your peripheral vision or making moves at very last minute to make the save. Be creative!

To some Wii Play may not be complex enough for their tastes (save some ‘tech demo’ silliness); it’s all a reflection of gaming generations and what types of games they were introduced to when they entered the world of gaming. Check out this piece by Sean Malstrom from the TheWiikly.com’s titled "Theory of Cycles" to better understand how views on what is “game” and “non-game” form. But more than anything this game underlines Nintendo’s aim to gather new and existing audiences of gameplayers together and a great reminder that it’s not about you or me, after all...it's about Wii.