Wii Sports has a heck of a legacy behind it. Packaged with the Wii console at launch, it's the best-selling single-platform game of all time, as well as the fourth best-selling game ever, behind only Tetris, Gran Theft Auto V, and Minecraft. Wrap your head around that.
It's no surprise, really. Being included with Nintendo's second-best-selling home console of all time (the Switch only overtook it last year), the Wii has shifted more than 100 million units in its lifetime. And if someone had a Wii, it was likely that they also had Wii Sports. The universality of Wii Sports was unstoppable. Motion controls certainly had their... off moments, but Wii Sports embraced the ease of swinging a Wii Remote around. You could play it, your parents could play it, your grandparents could probably thrash you at bowling — everyone could play it. It embraced Nintendo's family-friendly philosophy better than almost anything else before it.
We've had a sequel in Wii Sports Resort, but we now have a brand new successor on a new console in the form of Nintendo Switch Sports — and it's out this week! In the build-up to the new game's release, the lovely Alex, Zion, and Felix sat down with a cuppa (we assume) to discuss just what made Wii Sports so iconic and why so many people remember it so fondly. They share memories, talk about the Mii Maker, and assess its impact on the game industry.
This collection of five sports games changed motion controls and family gaming for the better, and everyone has their favourites. You can vote in our poll below to let us know what yours are — after you check out the video of course. Then, share your memories of Wii Sports in the comments below and on YouTube!
Comments 18
The other day, I was round my neighbour's helping her set up the Wii for her grandkids, 8 and 5? I think? Brought over some of my Wiimotes and a couple games; they had Sports and Resort and I brought I think Mario and Sonic 2012, NSMBWii, Wii Party, and MKwii. Didn't stay too long, but saw them having a blast with them, despite growing up on the Switch. One thing I noted was navigating the menus, especially typing in Mii names in the Mii Channel. They were kinda shaking and struggled to type the names in, and in general pointing to navigate the menus was a bit troubling for them. Indeed, they had a great time, but it has made me think if the Wii was quite as accessible as people made out? I'm not sure if it is quite as "pick up and play" as everyone makes out - sure, its easier than any "traditional" game, but I'd be interested in how the set-up process and diving into it was for people without a wingman so-to-speak to set it up for them.
Boxing on Wii Sports was a hidden gem for me.
It had a decent gameplay with better potential in the future.
I wish for ARMS style fight for new Boxing sport in the future.
Mii + Muscular Boxing skin from Miitomo + ARMS style = PERFECT Cartoonish Boxing game for me.
It was just pure fun that could be played by anyone and had that unique hook that anyone watching wanted to play. Sure the Wii remotes didn’t work as 1 to 1 accuracy but the fun came from moving your arms about and actually being convinced you were playing tennis etc.
@AndyC_MK111
Because this is about Wii Sports and there is Boxing in Wii Sports.
I really want BOXING got a better treatment for modern consoles.
ARMS in year 2017 was like a small oasis for me for a new standard of modern Boxing games, from the camera angle, the character movement, the way of character launched the punches, the damage that displayed in number, the Stamina Bar like Street Fighter style, it was Almost Perfect. Just add some more characters, customization, Normal Boxing fight, Cardio Workout, it will be even better than Ring Fit Adventures.
Brought grandma's to gaming. I love the blue background here though.
Just boot up the game and the menu screen will be all you’ll need to know.
@AndyC_MK111
Well, this article was asking about the experience of Wii Sports so I shared my opinion and my wish from Boxing on Wii Sports and the possibility in the future. 😌
What makes it Iconic? It came with the console to show off what was possible.
It was a shallow game if played alone but once you got the whole family including the cat (with a bit of sticky tape) to play then it became something more.
Just before anyone reports me for animal cruelty, I didn't use sticky tape as my cat has opposable thumbs and often beat us all at bowling.
It was a new, all-inclusive way to play. And it was awesome … for a bit. But in typical Nintendo fashion, they never expanded upon it. How hard can it be to add a new golf course?!? I’d be embarrassed if I set up this phenomenal way of playing with friends, and then let it wither and die … but it unfortunately sums up how Nintendo act, which is beautiful and bizarre in equal measures
The simplicity of the gameplay and presentation,
the latter of which the Switch sequel appears to have completely buggered up.
It’s iconic and that it came bundled with the Wii. It was a great free tech demo which was actually replayable
@ShadowofTwilight22 @AndyC_MK111
Guys, just calm down, its just a computer game
@AndyC_MK111
I get the repeated complaints about boxing can be annoying, but at this point you are just getting mad when someone doesn’t like a Nintendo game. If it offends you that much just block them.
@ShadowofTwilight22 @AndyC_MK111 Can both of you for the love of god please stop? If you’re going to argue do it somewhere else. Nobody else here wants to see this.
Table Tennis wii sports resort is just amazing.
The best sports game
This might have more removed comments than articles that are political. Not gonna lie it is kinda impressive to accomplish that feat.
@ShadowofTwilight22 While I loved Wii Sports, you are definitely not alone in that opinion. One of my best friends felt the same way. He never understood why I loved it as much as I did. haha
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