I’ve been looking forward to the release of Madden NFL 11 since I first heard that New Orleans Saints Quarterback, Drew Brees, would be the featured player on the cover. Yes, I am a Saints fan. Really, the Saints weren’t so good in Madden 10, but they are downright fine in Madden 11. This game consists of little tweaks that enhance the game, as opposed to completely changing the system. I happened to like the changes made in NFL 10, so I was hoping gameplay wouldn’t be too different from that. What I have found is that Madden NFL 11 offers a more efficient system of gameplay than past Madden titles.

Honestly, I feel that the more casual Madden fans were left behind a bit by the last few titles. Hardcore football fans reveled in the complexities of the play call system and relished in mastering it. However, EA had always attempted before to appeal to a broader audience of football fans. Madden NFL goes back to that core audience, with more authentic, realistic gameplay. Attempting to emulate every minor move the pros make, EA has succeeded in creating the most realistic Madden to date. Those of us (like me) who could never dream of actually playing football really have a chance to feel like we’re in the game with the adjustments made to Madden 11.

The biggest deficit to EA’s Madden 11 remains the defense. While playing on offense seems like a rather seamless experience where you step into the game as the commander of your favorite NFL team, the defense seems a bit fast paced. You gotta pick your plays wisely and quickly enough to keep up with the AI for the other team. Fast plays may not be easy for less experienced football buffs, as the defensive controls seem a bit clunky to handle. However, the defense has always been weaker on Madden, and the frenetic action provides a bit of challenge to the game, so hardcore Madden players won’t feel like the entire game is easy to master. There is a level of challenge and it comes in the defensive plays.

By the same token, the results of successful defensive plays are breathtaking. The gameplay looks as realistic on defense as it does on offense. While the controls may seem a bit clunky, the actual gameplay is not. The players flow as smoothly and accurately as their real life counterparts. In terms of aesthetics, EA improved tenfold when it comes to Madden 11. Ultimately, though not yet perfect, Madden 11 is a step up from past releases of the game, making it worth looking into as an legitimate upgrade.

This is a football story. It is plain and simple. The entire point of Madden NFL 11 is to play football and be successful at it. You can play every level from Beginner to Superstar, with more assistance and easier gameplay options for newbies to the franchise, and harder, more challenging gameplay for Hardcore, Madden Superstars. Win the Superbowl and have your very own Superbowl Parade, then head to D.C. to shake hands with President Obama, just like the pros. Adding in the new Online Team Play mode adds a level of excitement as you have the opportunity to play 3 on 3 co-op games online. This is an upgrade from co-op mode, which was a part of Madden 10. Also, you can have the chance to run you own Franchise both online and off in On-line Franchise and Offline Franchise modes. This is pretty much the primary carryover from Madden 10, so if you dug these modes, as I did, then you will enjoy playing them in Madden 11.

Enjoyment/Fun Factor: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Madden is the type of game that allows for repeated play, from game to game, with a multitude of outcomes. The best upgrade, feature wise, to Madden NFL 11 is the new play-calling system, GameFlow. This is what makes playing on the offense so great. GameFlow allows for a far more accurate, authentic play-calling experience than any of the previous Madden releases. Essentially, based on what down you are playing and where you are located on the field, the game will offer a chance to use a pre-determined play. Using GameFlow, any player of any skill level can find success on the field. Be prepared though because the AI for Madden 11 is a whole lot tougher then in past titles, so players do not get off too easy.

The benefit to GameFlow is the ability to play an entire game faster. In fact, GameFlow is said to cut gameplay time in half. For those with headsets, GameFlow also offers audio advice and assistance when executing specific plays. Essentially, you, the QB, have an NFL pro coaching your game for you thanks to this new system. This is pretty big and is really exciting to use when actually taking advantage of GameFlow. Also, if you are a football fanatic who wants to coach yourself, you do not have to take advantage of GameFlow, if you do not want to.

Online, payers have the chance to go head to head with their opponents. You can set up Online Franchises and there is the Online Team Play mode I mentioned previously. You can turn on coaching tips, which add a key element of coaching assistance to the game. Of course, these are optional, and the game is paused to give players time to assess and integrate the advice of real NFL coaches. Also helping out players is the new kick meter, which seems a bit easier to use than the old one.

The new locomotion animation system is a brilliant addition to Madden NFL 11, as it allows the body of players to twist and swivel during plays more authentically. Spinning out of tackles never looked quite so good in previous versions of Madden NFL 11. Other new features to enhance game play include new QB ratings, better lighting, which improves the game’s aesthetics dramatically, and changes to the run blocking system, for smoother transitions during gameplay. Your AI defenders actually have the ability to block, which was not always the case in Madden 10, and caused a bit of frustration during games.

By far, the dumbest addition to Madden NFL 11, and the major reason why Madden 11 is not worthy of a five rating is an annoying little rating system called the “Old Spice Swagger System.” Talk about shameless advertising and the Swagger System isn’t really that cool anyway. The Swagger meter is determined by plays, and can allow for boosts that help players get the advantage in winning games. Call me an old fashioned fool, but I don’t like the idea of boosts in sports oriented games, especially not football games. It really isn’t winning if you need boosts to do so. Oh, and to add even more lame-o fun courtesy of Old Spice, the Old Spice “Swagger” Player of the Game is announced at the end of the games you play, because product sponsorship is what it’s all about, right? Bad move on EA’s part for allowing Old Spice access to the game. Old Spice is an old man’s cologne, so I, personally, do not appreciate the shameless promotion for a product I will never buy.

Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars

The controls got a little bit easier thanks to dual stick controls. You can use the sticks to make plays as opposed to the buttoned conversions of the previous releases for Madden. The good comes with the bad. The doofy part of Madden NFL 11 is the use of the D-Pad for defensive plays. I hate the D-pad. It is hard to utilize. With increased pressure by AI opponents, the use of the D-Pad is a huge deficit to the controls. Otherwise, Madden is not that hard to play.

Ease of Use: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Visually, Madden NFL 11 looks stunning. This has to be one of the most vibrant games in the series. On an aesthetic level, every minute detail is clearly visible, from the detail of the football helmet to the look of the football as it is being thrown. To accommodate the new gameplay systems, EA has gone out of their way to emphasize the look of the game. Their intentions were to, obviously, make Madden NFL 11 look and feel like players were actually on the field and inserted into the game. On this level, EA succeeds. I really enjoyed sitting back and watching replays of all the awesome plays I made, on the field. I felt as much in the game as I was a spectator of it, which is pretty awesome!

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars

Madden 11 features the play by play vocalizations of famed sportscaster, Gus Johnson. He steps in to replace Tom Hammond. The addition of Gus Johnson and the return of Cris Collinsworth as the games commentator make Madden 11 feel more like NFL football than past additions. The sound is crisp and clear with a dynamic soundtrack that features music by AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bush, Queen, Ozzy Osbourne, Zombie Nation and Kiss. The game also features a selection of team fight songs, including the fight songs of the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins. The audio from music to sound effects come through clearly and without the need for volume toggling, making this one of the more successful audio compilations for the Madden series.

Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

There are some pros and cons to the changes made to the controller when it comes to the Disability Friendliness of the game. Much like the main problems I had with the game, playing the offense is easy peasy, even for a big ol’ gimp like me. Defense is a sticky situation, because getting the controller to respond in time for the snap is just plain difficult. As I stated before, Madden NFL 11 utilizes duel analog stick action. I like this because my thumbs are naturally poised over my sticks. Spinning away from tacklers has never been easier and the movement looks seamless. On the defensive side, you’re going to be fiddling with the D-Pad, which is a pain anyway. So, while there are advances in accessibility, there are also deficits. Overall, this game is fairly accessible, for those with semi-limited to moderate physical limitations.

Madden NFL 11 is a step above Madden NFL 10 and other, previously released titles in the Madden game series. The new GameFlow gameplay options allow for smooth gaming transitions and an overall, more realistic gaming experience. The visual quality for Madden is stunning. EA improved dramatically on Madden’s look and therefore, players truly feel as if they are in the game. This is the best Madden game I have played. Honestly, I am pretty addicted to this game. My favorite part was winning the Superbowl and having my own parade. For a guy who will never play conventional forms of football, this was a dream come true, and it is all thanks to Madden NFL 11.

Overall Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Madden, Madden NFL 11, Madden 11, Xbox 360, Video Game, Review, Electronic Arts, Sports, Football, NFL

Madden-mania has become a global phenomenon. I have finally succumbed to it. I played Madden back in the early 90s and felt very frustrated by gameplay. It was hard. It was too frustrating to attempt to play, so I pushed my love of football to the side and dismissed the series. Other fans of football, fans from around the world, didn’t dismiss the game. In fact, they celebrated it long and hard enough to make it into one of the most popular, most successful, and most profitable game franchises in video game history.

I admit I should have given Madden a second chance a few years ago. The last few releases have looked amazing. I decided this would be the year I’d reintroduce myself to Madden. I’m a huge sports nerd. I love me some football. If I could actually play the sport from my living room, why not? Well, I’m definitely glad that I’ve taken the chance and stepped back into the Madden arena. What a fun game Madden NFL 10 is! It’s so crazy. I never thought Madden would be fun. I never felt so into a football game. I never felt like I was on the field, actually making the plays until now!

This game is not without its faults. Sometimes pressing A doesn’t always happen immediately when you are trying to get the ball snapped. In the event you hit A over and over like I do, you’ll be looking at an incomplete pass. You need to be patient to make the throw, and if you aren’t you lose out. The online league options should be ironed out more for future releases. This is a great idea, but needs to be expanded upon. Occasionally, the games offer a bit of lag. This wasn’t a huge problem, but every once in a blue moon I noticed this.

Madden NFL 10 is beautiful. The visual quality for Madden NFL 10 is standout. You have a lot of detail. You can choose from a plethora of options to configure each and every game you play down to the look of your players’ uniforms. The amount of control you have over your team and your players is what makes the game. Of course, getting down all the functionality to make the game work is the hardest part. Still, it’s not that hard if you have some idea what you’re doing and you play around with the features, as I did.

There really isn’t a story to Madden NFL 10. Essentially, the game is about football. You can play as any team in the NFL in a variety of football game situations. The whole idea behind Madden is to give football fans the chance to play as their favorite teams and their favorite players.

Enjoyment/Fun Factor: 5 out of 5 stars

Step into the NFL with Madden NFL 10. You have the opportunity to be immediately thrust into the game when you first turn it on. You can choose your team, your opponent (play 1 or 2 player games), and then face a selection of menu options. You can choose every element of the uniform your team wears, mix and match retro uniforms with modern ones, choose the stadium where you want to play, a game level, which dictates the level of play (Beginner, Intermediate, Pro, etc.), the weather (cloudy, clear, heavy snow, etc.), your stats level (Rookie, Pro, etc.), whether you want the accelerated clock, how long you want each quarter to last, and a selection of other, individualized game options.

From there, you’ll be hearing the commentators discuss the game, and in no time you’ll be involved in the kick off. It’s smooth sailing as you take on whatever team you like. You choose the plays in every mode, but Beginner. If you are a Beginner, color coding allows you to follow a path for success in each individual play. In Intermediate mode, you can choose a play based on the kind of offense you or your opponent plans to use. You can choose from the Run Offense, Pass Offense, Run Defense, Pass Defense and Special Teams. The Pro levels of play lets you choose your plays with much more options. You can even select plays Madden recommends. There is even the inclusion of plays such as the Hail Mary and the Wildcat offense.

On the offense, you have to fight to connect with receivers or find an open hole to run through. Sometimes this is easy, but sometimes its brutal and you are up against a defense that makes you fight your way down the field. One of the coolest aspects of defense is the turn over. I had games where I received multiple turnovers, as I tried to block receivers. This is better than the fumble. I never did manage to win a single fumble. The fumble option has you pressing a series of buttons that flash on the screen quickly. The combination is so fast it’s hard to punch in the buttons. I am told you can turn this off, but I haven’t attempted to, at this point.

The gameplay runs smoothly with realistic movement on the offense and defense. The QB functionality has improved from other versions, especially with the inclusion of QB ratings and signature throwing styles. WRs have more options for running specific routes and DBs are improved in the level of in field coverage. Each player has a lot more functionality, as they follow the ball. There are also enhancements to the kicking. You can kick from Middle, Right, and Left. When you kick, you automatically move down field in a defensive position after completing the kick. You can, of course, switch players mid-play, if you prefer, but if you don’t the AI puts you into the action on its own.

One of the more interesting additions is the Pro-Tak technology option. This is the ability to gang tackle. You can tackle with up to 9 different men. You can use this to improve the QB pocket in order to evade blitzing, enhance the rush, and you can also steer tackles all with this new technology.

To keep with the authenticity of the NFL game, midway through the game, you’ll be treated to a halftime show with Alex Flanagan. You can skip through it, but I prefer to watch it as it highlights all of the exceptional plays you made during the first half of gameplay. A smaller version of this is available post game. A few plays are shown, but aren’t as detailed or highlighted as during the halftime show. There is also an instant replay option after every game you play.

Speaking of highlights, Madden NFL 10 features something I believe is new to this edition of the game called The Extra Point Show. This is Madden’s post game show, which mimics the post game shows you expect to see after watching your favorite game on Sunday. You can view the show to relive the action during your weekly games and to check out the other happenings going on with your online Madden franchise. The NFL Network’s Fran Charles and Alex Flanagan provide the commentary for The Extra Point Show, making it about as realistic to a post game show as you’re going to get.

Speaking of Online Franchise options, this is one of the most touted new features that EA added to Madden NFL 10. I feel this is still a work in progress. It’s an ingenious idea for this type of game, but there is definitely room for improvement in future releases of Madden. Online Franchise options allow for up to 32 teams in a real-time run NFL scheduling league situation. This features live drafting, and you can also participate on the league message board. Better still, you have the ability to gain access to your franchise not only though your console, but also online and through an iPhone.

This isn’t the only online option. There is the online co-op mode. Madden NFL 10 allows for a lot of connectivity amongst players and their friends. In online co-op mode, you can control a player in an online game and your friend can control another player on the same team. You will play against the CPU while communicating with your friends, with the option to play any position on the team you want. You can switch players prior to the snap. I played as QB while my friend played wide receiver on offense, and then we switched positions. This teamwork option is pretty cool if you have friends who play Madden. The on screen camera also takes on a different angle during play to accommodate the positions you choose to play.

While I can only talk about how authentically realistic this game is from my experience with the older Madden titles, and as a fan of football, I’ve read discussions by gamers online who feel that this is one of the most authentic Madden titles, to date. I would have to say that I agree with the authenticity from a football fan’s standpoint. I honestly felt like I was in a football game. I didn’t feel like I was on the sidelines looking in. From every snap of the ball, I felt the pressure of the QB or RB to perform. I was coherently aware of the defense closing in and I had to make quick and efficient decisions or face consequences. The same can be said about the defense. I felt the pressure to close in on the offense and thwart their ability to get a first down. When they did, it was frustrating!

This authenticity extends even into the injuries that players sustain. You have players getting injured on field. You have to wait for them to be removed from the field to play. You get updates mid-game about the players and are told when they are taken out indefinitely. This may be a relatively small addition, but it is the little things that make the game so authentic.

There are a few other authenticating features I’d like to mention, but they weren’t really all that thrilling or necessary. Madden brings out the chain gang on close plays, just like in real games. The Superbowl Presentation show is about as realistic as it gets. Coaches are visible pacing or shaking their heads on the sidelines mid-game. The announcers make reference to them throughout the game. There are new player accessories to make gameplay more authentic. On close touchdowns, the referees even attempt to make a logical judgment on whether it is a TD or not.

Madden NFL 10 has a plethora of options and modes to keep you involved in the game. I like the online single player options. You can run drills. There are some mini-games (the weight lifting competition) that mix it up with actual game play. You can partake in a scrimmage or even play against another player. I don’t have a lot of friends who have Madden, so I wasn’t able to explore the franchise options as much as I would have liked. However, this gives those who may not have any friends with Madden the chance to actually compete. The only mode of play I’m not fond of is Superstar mode. I feel this is under developed and not much attention went into making Superstar mode spectacular.

I should note that some players have reported glitches in the game, that have frozen their players or put them on loop. I cannot comment on this. I haven’t experienced this problem personally, so there really is no judgment I can make on this.

Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars

The controls for Madden NFL are extremely easy to use. When playing offense, you have to figure out how to snap the ball on your own (or you can read the manual), but it’s the A button, so it isn’t rocket science. From there, you are given buttons you can press to find the receiver of your choice. The buttons also are used to choose a play. It’s really rather elementary. Once you have the ball in your possession, you can experiment by pressing the colored buttons to dive, spin, and improve your movement through defensive traffic.

On defense, you really only need to know how to switch amongst players and how to attempt to deflect or intercept the ball by jumping. The rest of the team works for you to try and sack the QB, though I recommend doing that on your own if you can. Most of the time, I prefer to hang back and take on the WRs because they aren’t always covered. If you can put the pressure on the QB by blocking their WRs, you can give your teammates time to sack them, or you can switch players to sack them yourself.

Ease of Use: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I remember what the early Madden titles used to look like. They were good for their time, but as graphics have continually improved with better gaming systems, Madden has continued to evolve, graphically. I’m going to be honest. The visuals for Madden are stunning. It could only get clearer if the actual players would be morphed into live action players.

The intricate details show on everything from the design on the helmets and uniforms all the way to the line markings on the field. There are minor instances of pixelation, though that is definitely kept to a minimum. Other visual errors such as blur or noise are not present. There is occasional moments of over sharpness, but nothing to write home about and there really are no visible edge enhancements that stick out beyond what is available through the animation.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The audio for Madden NFL 10 comes through loudly and clearly. This is a sound effects dependent title. You have the crowd cheering, whistles blowing and various other football themed sounds. This adds to the realistic feel of the game. The announcing dialogue is perfect. It comes through exactly the way I expect my announcing to be done. Listening to the announcers is an identical experience to what you hear on Sunday/Monday football. I didn’t need to toggle my volume to hear, either, which is always a plus.

Of course, the audio truly shines when it comes to the game’s score. This score is fly. It’s rockin. This just shows off how great the audio is for this game. The musical interludes are primarily in the Rock and Hip Hop genres. Expect to be treated to a plethora of high energy songs by 2 Pac, the Beastie Boys, Judas Priest, Nas ft. Puff Daddy, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down, Korn, Nirvana and more.

Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

As a gamer with a disability, I cannot be more thrilled by how accessibility friendly this game is. If you can play Xbox then you can play Madden. That’s really all you need to know. It isn’t hard to press any of the buttons. There are no weird combination button plays. The fumble fight, I’m told, is just as hard for those with no physical issues. Overall, everything is as you’d expect for an Xbox 360 game. I played several games in different modes and did not struggle in any of them.

The downside to Madden is the lack of subtitles. I don’t know if there is anything a hearing impaired person can do to add subtitles to their game, but on a standard television that allows for subtitles there isn’t anything that adds what is being said to the screen. Luckily, you mainly miss out on just the announcers and the score. You should be able to figure out what is going on game wise and are able to make game play decisions without needing to hear sound. So, even if it sucks you cannot hear everything on the game, if you have a hearing impairment, you should still have little trouble playing Madden NFL 10.

Madden NFL 10 is awesome. I don’t have the luxury of referring to the last four or five Madden titles for comparison. Coming into this game, I can tell you that it is awesome. I really enjoy playing Madden and partaking in the football experience. I love football. It is my favorite sport, so getting the chance to actually be a part of the action is really cool. If you are a football fan or you like the Madden franchise, I recommend you check Madden NFL out. With better graphics, more gameplay options, and the ability to be any team you want, there isn’t much to complain about in this latest Madden release.

Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Madden, Madden NFL 10, Madden 10, Xbox 360, Video Game, Review, Electronic Arts, Sports, Football, NFL

When the Wii was first released, I was hesitant. It’s not that I didn’t think all the cool motion features were nifty, but let’s be honest. I’m in a wheelchair and it looked like way too much motion for me to handle. One of the reasons I play video games is because I can go snowboarding, drive a race car, and do a lot of physical things I can’t physically do, due to my limitations. I ended up contacting Nintendo about my concerns. I wanted to know that if I invested in purchasing a Wii that I would get my monies worth. Nintendo assured me that the Wiimote was sensitive enough that I’d have no problem, even with limited mobility in my hands and arms.

Well, come to find out, games with the Wiimote were either hit or miss. On some games, Ashtyn (my able-bodied girlfriend) could barely get the Wiimote to do what she wanted it to do. Others required smooth enough, small motions, and I could handle them. Still, others required massive, grandiose movements that just weren’t happening for me (not from my chair or my bed). Most of the time, I stuck to playing Xbox 360 and my PS3. That’s depressing for someone who grew up with Nintendo, but I figured, maybe Wii just wasn’t right for me.

Enter Wii Motion Plus…

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one having problems with the Wiimote. Nintendo devised the much more sensitive Wii Motion Plus, and it’s major release comes with the “Wii Sports Resort” video game. I have the original “Wii Sports” game. I can handle most of the “Wii Sports” games, but I’m not that coordinated when I play them. I did, however, beat Ashtyn at cow racing (a small victory). The Wii Motion Plus has restored my hope in Nintendo. It’s sensitive enough to use, and even those with very weak arms (yet minimal amounts of movement), like myself, can actually enjoy playing a Nintendo system again.

The controls were a breeze to use. I admit I faltered at a few of the motions (don’t attempt to bowl while in bed, if you can’t really roll your arm in an under arm bowling motion), but on the whole, I found “Wii Sports Resort” to be a much better executed, more fun, easier to play sequel to “Wii Sports.” It is definitely a workout, which I think is an added bonus to Wii. I can gain strength a little bit, despite having a progressive muscle disease, and I can definitely maintain strength, slowing down progression. When playing Wii fit, I actually feel the burn I feel when doing Physical Therapy exercises like hand cycling. If this game can do this for me, imagine what playing it regularly could do for most of you out there who are able bodied.

The benefit of Wii is that it gets you moving, and if you are anything like me, you feel a strong desire to compete. When Ashtyn beat my basketball three-shot score, the competitor in me came out, and I steadily shot baskets until I tied with her. Considering she got 15 baskets, and then I came back with 15 baskets of my own, I was pleased. Of course, the more I tried to beat our tie, the more tired my arm was, but I didn’t give up trying until I could barely score a basket anymore! I still haven’t beaten her though I am certain I will beat her score eventually, because that’s just how much fun it is to play “Wii Sports Resort.”

You get to play as your Mii in a series of sports-like competitions. The story is this. You and various other Miis have been dropped off on a secluded island paradise, the Sports Resort aka Wuhu Island. Here you can partake in a series of sporting events. The competitions range from light and casual to hardcore with everything from sky diving to sword fighting. Along the way, you accrue points in each activity, as you attempt to compete against up to three other people.

On a side note, though I don’t have first hand knowledge, I’ve been told Wuhu Island is also featured in the Wii Fit Video Game.

Enjoyment/Fun Factor: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The best part of buying “Wii Sports Resort” is the fact that you receive one WiiMotion Plus controller device with Wiimote Jacket cover. You only get one, so if you plan to play against others in your house without having to take turns, you are going to have to buy additional WiiMotion Plus devices. Luckily, you can pick them up for about $10 a pop. Getting the WiiMotion Plus is not only necessary to play Wii Sports Resort, I highly recommend it merely because it makes the Wiimote much more sensitive and easier to use.

Like every other game, navigating the Wii Menu to play “Wii Sports Resort” is fairly simple. You’ll need to calibrate you Wiimote(s) before playing, after hooking the WiiMotion Plus up to it. If, at any time during your gameplay, you feel that the Wiimote isn’t sensitive enough, you can pause your game and re-calibrate your Wiimote/Wii Motion Plus. I really didn’t find this necessary. The Wiimote re-calibrated itself before I played a few different games, and since it only takes a minute or so, I don’t really mind this. With as easy as the Wiimote with WiiMotion Plus movies, I feel the minute spent re-calibrating is well worth it.

Once your Wiimote has been calibrated, you can hop right into playing. Once you head to the game list menu, you can choose from a total of twelve different sports games to play.

The list of games includes:

-Air Sports
-Archery
-Basketball
-Bowling
-Canoeing
-Cycling
-Frisbee
-Golf
-Power Cruising
-Swordplay
-Table Tennis/Ping Pong
-Wakeboarding

Some of the games have multiple playing options. For example, in basketball, you can play a timed three-point shootout game or a 3 on 3 game. The Air Sports includes sky diving, flying a plane to sight see and collect locations, and so forth.

How you play the sport is based on whether you use the Wiimote and the Nunchuk or not. The motion of the Wiimote mimics the motion you’d use if you were really playing the sport. While I recommend going all in on each individual sport, if you, like me, have limited mobility in your arms, you will find that most of the games allow for similar yet smaller movements. For example, instead of flicking my arm/wrist above my head to make three-point free throws, I was just able to flick my wrist in a certain manner and hit the basket well enough to compete with Ashtyn. The Wiimote is that sensitive. Of course, games like golfing and bowling took a little more creativity to come up with a way to mimic the sport without having the ability to extend my arms and emulate the motion of using a golf club or throwing a bowling ball.

Most of you will have absolutely no problem using the Wiimote with WiiMotion Plus. The level of accuracy is amazing. The control you have when playing the games in “Wii Sports Resort” are so vastly superior to those from “Wii Sports,” it’s like a drastically different game. It’s better, of course, but still different. I found this game to be less frustrating and the game options have a better selection the second time around.

It’s good to have the nunchuk handy. While most sports allow you to play with just the Wiimote with WiiMotion Plus, you cannot do archery or cycling, for example, without the nunchuk. Also, nearly all of the games allow you to share one Wiimote and take turns, with up to four players. However, in order to compete at canoeing, you must have multiple controllers or you cannot compete.

Other than having fun, “Wii Sports Resort” has one other, very important primary purpose. The game gets you moving. Your heart starts pumping. Your adrenaline is coursing through your veins. The whole family gets off the couch for some real exercise and some healthy competition. Exercise made fun…What more could you want?

Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars

I feel like I keep repeating myself, because the biggest improvement between “Wii Sports” and “Wii Sports Resort” is the ease of use when it comes to using the Wiimote and WiiMotion Plus. The sensitivity makes using the Wiimote much easier than ever before. Every time you play a game there are clear instructions on how to play, what buttons to press, and in some of the games (such as canoeing) you can even practice before you play, to get the hang of how to use the Wiimote.

The majority of games have you swinging, flicking or moving the Wiimote in some way while releasing a button. It’s not hard at all to get the hang of playing these games. Once you run through the basic instructions, you shouldn’t need to a second time. It doesn’t get any easier than this.

Ease of Use: 5 out of 5 stars

If you’ve seen the Miis then you know exactly what to expect when it comes to visual quality for “Wii Sports Resort.” The animations are sharp. They run smoothly. I can’t point out any particular moment that is filled with visual errors. The bright colors and cartoon-y animations just add to the fun factor when playing this game.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars

The audio quality for “Wii Sports Resort” is pretty good. The primary sounds are effects and a musical score. Everything is decidedly cheerful, which is what I expect of this type of game. On the whole, everything comes through loud and clear. The score is pretty good, but hardly taxing. It isn’t like the score you’d hear for a much heavier game. For what the game is, the music fit perfectly. As for sound effects, everything from the swish of the basketball as it flies through the net to the slapping of the paddle as you canoe through the water can be heard with relative ease. Also, each sound is quite realistic.

Audio: 3.5 out of 5 stars

While I don’t allow Accessibility to factor into the overall vote for the games I review, I do like to mention how accessible the game is for those with physical disabilities and those who are hearing impaired. The instructions for how to play each game are clearly labeled on the screen, so those with hearing problems can easily read them and play the game.

As far as physical disabilities go, you probably do not own a Wii if you have no mobility in your arms or hands. I have limited mobility in both, due to muscle weakness. I found that, overall, “Wii Sports Resort” was relatively easy for me to play. I had to run through a few of the games more than once until I got the hang of them, but there were very few games I simply could not play.

No matter whether you have a disability or not, playing “Wii Sports Resort” is excellent for your muscles. The more you can move the more you will get from this game. If you are looking to lose the pounds or maintain your weight, this is a fun alternative to traditional exercise.

I am impressed by how much the WiiMotion Plus improves usage of the Wiimote. This makes “Wii Sports Resort” a lot more fun that its predecessor. Unless you are completely incapable of using your wrists, hands and arms, I highly recommend “Wii Sports Resort.” It’s a safe, family friendly game that gamers of all ages can enjoy and appreciate. There isn’t really anything bad to say about this game other than I wish there were more hours in the day, so I could spend more time gaming! With games like this I have hope for Nintendo’s future and continued success in the gaming industry.

Overall Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

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