The classic Nintendo game Wii Sports Resort was–dare I say–revolutionary for its time, being one of the first games to require the Wii MotionPlus accessory. Released in 2009 and composed by Ryo Nagamatsu, this may arguably be one of the only sequels which is better than the original(Wii Sports) with a new collection of minigames focusing on activities that would be played at a resort. But does the game have everything it needs to withstand the ages?

Playing either single or multiplayer, Wii Sports Resort takes place on Wuhu Island, a tropical island, where you can play a wide variety of games including: airsports, archery, basketball, bowling, canoeing, cycling, frisbee, golf, power cruising, sword play, table tennis, and wakeboarding. Some minigames even have their own subdivisions, such as airsports which include parachuting, dogfighting, and Island Flyover, which is essentially piloting. 

With the addition of the Wii MotionPlus accessory and in some cases the Nunchuck, an attachment added to the main controller, players were captivated by the responsiveness of the controllers and gave an even greater sense of immersion. But today, these same technologies are not as jaw dropping despite the ability to add spin to the ping-pong ball with a flick of the wrist. 

Furthermore the graphics seem cartoonish, and even when released were not impressive. Compared to the vivid graphics of Assassin’s Creed or NBA 2K-once mistaken for a real basketball game by my family-the game can not compete. 

Although lacking realism, the game is downright fun.  Logging into the game, you are greeted by the cheery, upbeat, and nostalgic main theme song. Not many video games have the ability to hear the song by itself and automatically remind you of the game, but Wii Sports Resort has that. Each game is straightforward and easy to pick up, and the simplistic graphics make it appropriate for younger and older generations.

Besides the actual minigames themselves, your character, considered a Mii, can be customized to look similar to you–adding an extra level of personalization and fun to the game. Possibly the most iconic and popular Mii character designed by Wii is Matt. And to fully grasp the level of care put into the game, one must know Matt. 

Matt can be seen throughout the minigames and is most commonly recognized for his resilience. Before each game, players may decide the level of difficulty they want to encounter, if seeking the most challenging mode, they will encounter Matt. In spite of the friendly nature of the game, competition may heat up fast, whether against Matt or against family and friends. 

If you do not want the competition, no worry. The game can also be played leisurely. One of its most endearing features is the minigame to throw a frisbee for a dog to catch. Easy to glance over, but the appeal to the game really shows through in all the small details. 

Even if some disagree that the small details pull the game together, no one can strip the game and the team who created it of the achievements it has been awarded. Receiving not only the BAFTA games award for the best family and social game, but also an 83% on GAmeRankings, 80% on Metacritic, and as of March 2020 is the third best selling game on the Wii, it’s hard to deny the success it has.

Despite the fact that success doesn’t always correlate to a fun game, the game is the perfect partnership of being family-friendly and letting out some of your competitive edge. And therein lies the charm of the game, it does not try to compete with the new games; Wii Sports Resort is authentic to themselves and is buoyed by its appeal to be a family-friendly game and be appealing to all ages. Regardless of being released a decade ago, this game is easy to pick up and entertaining to watch, which is why it should continue to remain in the cycle of games to play on game nights.