Extreme Sports Right in Your Living Room

Sweat pours from my forehead as I pedal me and my partner up the mountain's hill. We're only halfway around the island and miles from the finish line. The animated heart in the corner of the screen keeps blinking and beeping at me, signaling that I am about to fall off of the bicycle due to heat exhaustion. Panic sets in.

Cycling is one of the thirteen sports to choose from in Nintendo's Wii Sports Resort, a game that is entertaining for all ages. Gamers can enjoy the original Wii games at another level with the Sports Resort and play some of the sports that they love to play in real life.

          The graphics aren't meant to be life-like, unlike most of the games around today. Instead, the characters are obviously computer animated, which would usually be considered a downfall. In this case, however, it adds to the silly and fun nature of the sports themselves. The different settings are also animated in the same way, creating childishly entertaining worlds.

Sports Resort offers some of the sports played more often outside of the videogame world, such as Frisbee, basketball, golf, and bowling. Frisbee tends to be a little bit boring after a few rounds because it is so simple, but for those who truly love the game and cannot get outside, it fits the bill. Basketball is a little more difficult, especially against the computer players who do not have any mercy on less-experienced gamers. Golf and bowling are two of the favorites, bringing commonly enjoyed sports into the living room.

Swordplay, wakeboarding, archery, power cruising, table tennis, canoeing, and air sports offer slightly more obscure options for gamers who want to try something new. They each are a little more difficult than the more conventional sports like basketball, probably because there is less familiarity with these types of games. Each one is interesting though and though it might not be exactly like the real sport, it definitely gives gamers a glimpse at what the sport might be like.

Swordplay is one of the best sports out of the seven more obscure choices. It offers a new perspective on something that is prevalent in other games of today's generation. Rather than pressing one button to fight as a character, the Wii Sports Resort gives the player a chance to enter into the world of sword fighting and battle an opponent with physical movement.

          Cycling is the most entertaining out of all of the sports offered, providing for some outrageous laughter from all those involved. The required fast-paced hand movements and turns are comical for both the players and the spectators. Turning is slightly difficult and can cause some frustration; however, after several attempts, it becomes easier.