Wii Play was largely sold as a vehicle for a second Wii Remote, bundling the controller with the game for a small premium. Because of this, it found its way into millions of homes. While often dismissed as a mere tutorial collection, it contains some surprisingly addictive gems.
Let’s be honest: ‘Tanks!’ is the reason anyone remembers Wii Play. It is a surprisingly deep, strategic shooter that supports two-player co-op. Bouncing shells off walls to destroy enemy tanks never gets old, and the later levels offer a genuine challenge.
The rest of the package is mixed. ‘Shooting Range’ is a fun Duck Hunt homage, and ‘Find Mii’ is a charming ‘Where’s Waldo’ style game. However, games like ‘Pose Mii’ and ‘Charge!’ feel shallow and repetitive after just a few minutes.
As a standalone game, Wii Play is thin. But as a pack-in with a controller, it was a steal. It serves as an excellent ‘Game 101’ for non-gamers learning to use the remote, even if veterans will only stick around for the Tanks.
Anthony Micallef is the creator of Anton Retro, a platform dedicated to retro gaming enthusiasts. With years of experience in Nintendo homebrew and modding, he creates guides to help gamers get the most out of their consoles.
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