Filling out surveys and the such on the internet really helps when it comes to treating yourself to products off the internet, and having accumulated a lot of money in HMV e-vouchers I decided to purchase my first Nintendo Wii game since the launch of the console. As if it hasn't been hard enough to find the Wii console in stock, there's one game that has also alluded many customers due to the fact that it comes with a 'free' controller - and that game is none other than Wii Play.

Arriving a few days after ordering, it came in a parcel envelope bigger than usual due to the fact that the packaging for the game is not the same as anyother video game. Wii Play comes in a cardboard box with a picture of a Wiimote in a hand as well as loads of little other random images that apply to the game in some way, e.g. there is a picture of a tank and there is a tanks minigame. The right hand side of the box is cut away so that when you walk past in store you will see the Wiimote sticking out in your face in all its glory. The Wiimote is excellent packaged in its little plastic case as well, it's almost a shame to get it out. Interesting the cardboard box has a little rounded triangle shape (you'd know what shape I meant if you saw it), which allows retailers to hang Wii Play up in their shop, when usually with games you will find them lined up along a shelf.

When you first turn the game on, it is very similar to the way Wii Sports begins. You have to press A and B together to start the game, select how many players are playing and also select your Mii that represents you (that's your little person that you can edit so it looks like you, it's a brilliant little idea that is fun for all the family - all 5 of us have a Mii, so read my review on the Wii console if you find yourself hungry for more details). Once you've done all this you will find yourself on a screen with your Mii standing in the middle and loads of other Mii's walking around behind him or her. Around your Mii are the nine different games, but you have to play each game in order going from left to right. I like the fact that you have to play the first minigame before you can move on to the next, makes you try them all and gives a feeling of achievement when you 'unlock' them, not that it's hard to do so - all you're doing is playing them.

Well a shooting minigame doesn't really teach you anything, nor does it make your brain work that hard, so that's why the second minigame is designed to get you thinking. At the beginning of each round you are given a task, which will usually be something like find the two lookalike Mii's. You will then be shown a crowd of Mii's, some of which are your own designed ones, and you will have to use your Wiimote to aim at them and then press A to select them to say, "Yes, they are the ones with something in common." If you select the wrong Mii by accident, you can deselect them by clicking on A with them again. Whilst doing this the timer is counting down, and you accumulate more time by doing things well, much like an arcade style game. If you do something wrong, you will find your time drops even faster.

TABLE TENNIS

Can't say I like this minigame at all, using A and B you can flick between three different poses that your Wii can make (standing normally, legs apart and some really random pose) and using the controller you have to move your Mii around the screen to fit into bubbles. This minigame is designed to teach you how to tilt the Wiimote accurately, and you will find yourself having to change the way you hold the Wiimote to fit your Mii into poses. As the rounds go on the more bubbles you'll get, and you'll find yourself having to change poses within the round rather than from round to round. Shiny bubbles can stop the clock, so they're really helpful. There is a perfect bonus for every round you go without 'dropping a bubble' and once you've dropped three the game is over.

LASER HOCKEY

I absolutely hated this at first, not being a fan of snooker or anything in real life I didn't think I would like this one bit, plus I didn't know the rules. It's actually 9 ball, so you have to hit the balls in order or you'll lose points. You lose points for doing stupid things like potting the white as well, but believe me it happens (well to me it does).

FISHING

As for the terrains you play on, they change as the game goes on and get harder. You will also go from fighting tanks that can't move to ones that can bounce huge rockets off walls about three times. It's crazy, and I'm yet to complete it but this is the one game that makes me want to go back to playing Wii Play. When you're playing against a friend, it's pretty much a race against them as it's the first person to blow up your computer opponents that gets the points. If you want to take your friend out of the race, you can always blow up their tank.

Wii Play takes advantage of the Wii Message Board that is a key to your home hub on the Wii, just like Wii Sports does, it gives you messages telling you and the rest of your family if you've made a new personal best or something to that affect. Whilst it is a fun game for what it is, there is no way this would have sold if it wasn't for the free Wiimote. The game will not stand forever in time, and I have to take that into account when giving my final verdict on the game, rather than what supposedly comes free with it. I'm sure this won't be the last time Nintendo bring out a game with 'Wii' at the beginning, in fact I know 'Wii Music' is on the way, and it is all trying to teach you how to get the most out of your Wii - although after completing Zelda: Twilight Princess it is unlikely that this game can teach you much about your Wiimote that you didn't already know. Graphics wise we know the Wii is not capable of the same things as PS3's, but there is no real attempt to be graphically special here. The most interesting thing you will see when playing this game is a farm background as you play Charge. The final thing I have to say however is, if you want a new Wiimote you might as well splash out the extra few pounds on getting this game as well.