Deca Sports 2 review

Following the success of Wii Sports, several sporty compilations have jogged onto Wii. And while Wii Sports Resort warms up in the changing room, Sports Island (AKA Deca Sports in the US) is first out of the blocks with a sequel.

Last year’s events have been replaced by ten new disciplines ranging from motorbike racing to synchronized swimming. But while the sports are new, the presentation is still average at best. With no Mii options you have to pick some genero-characters, and the arenas seem oddly lifeless.

The quality of the sports varies wildly. Petanque works well (it’s like a Gallic take on Wii Sports Bowling) but stick-swiping kendo is monotonous. Tennis gives you more control than its Wii Sports peer but lacks Wii Sports’ intuitiveness. Darts is nigh-on impossible, as you have to hold B and A on the remote while doing a pretend dart-chuck, and synchronized swimming could have been great with a bit of timed arm-waving, but is merely done with small remote flicks.

As with its predecessor, this works better in multiplayer as the spirit of competition helps mask the control issues and lackluster presentation (man, those bikes are twitchy). But with so few of the games being much fun to play anyway, a purchase doesn’t seem worth it.

Jun 12, 2009