PixlBit

The world (especially the Wii) has enough Wii Sports knock-offs, but Deca Sports 2 is, interestingly enough, above the rest of its competitors. Hudson Entertainment gives you a reason to go third party with this innovative collection of sports games.

Deca Sports 2 has, obviously, ten different sports, ranging from the standard tennis match to the literally foreign Petanque. I found Tennis to be a little unfair, as it was very difficult to find the "sweet spot." Almost every match I played ended with one side clean sweeping the other, varying from match to match. With all of the Tennis options on Wii out there, Deca Sports 2 should not be your choice for a tennis game.

Road Racing is a good motorcycle racing game with simple controls (press the 2 button to accelerate and the 1 button to brake, tilt the Wii Remote to turn). However, I felt that no matter how good I was at turns, it would be just as easy to come in last as it was in first, since the computer players were just expert bikers.

Mogul Skiing is one of my favorite Deca Sports 2 games, despite having never heard of it before. By using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to replicate ski poles, rhythm is used to go down a bumpy ski hill, make it to a launch, and then perform one of many jumps by executing different motions. Points are calculated based on your "turning" skill, but only count if you successfully make a jump.

Synchronized Swimming is a rhythm game that brings something new to the table, and while it’s a little difficult to catch on, it's a whole lot of fun. Using only the Wii Remote, you shake it in different directions to the beat of some public domain orchaestrations, occasionally shaking the controller in a circle. In a similar vein is Speed Skating, which combines the concept of Synchronized Swimming and Mogul Skiing. Basically, it's a rhythm game where you have to carefully time swinging your Wii Remote and Nunchuk to the rhythm of your movement.

Darts employs a different technique from other Wii darts games I've played, which involves holding the Wii Remote on its side, and squeezing the A and B buttons. While this is completely unnatural to hold, it works once you throw a few practice darts. I applaud Hudson for trying something different that is actually more like how darts are really held.

Kendo looks highly intimidating, but is actually very simple to play. Set up similarly to fencing, you have 60 seconds to get two strikes, and then you win. You move with the directional pad, double tap it to lunge, press the A button for a lunging strike and the B button to block. Don't expect something highly similar to real life Kendo, though, as this game is regrettably quick and slightly boring.

The game doesn't leave out the black top with Dodge Ball, where you catch, throw, and dodge in order to keep your teammates alive. This game, although simple, is fun and works well. Ice Hockey controls similarly to Dodge Ball, but outside of its pretty ice graphics, it is nothing to write home about.

Finally comes Petanque, the game that I wish was easier to pick up. This French game is like an enormous version of the childhood favorite jacks, and while I love anything different – and this sure is different – Petanque is just too slow paced for this kind of game. The game is played by tossing a jack into a designated area, and trying to get your balls as close to the jack as possible. The jack can be moved by the balls that are thrown at it, and you can use your balls to move those of your opponent. There is a meter to alert you of your strength in throwing the ball, but it is only useful after you throw it – making it not useful at all.

Because this game houses so many new sports, tutorials are crucial to understanding the rules and controls of games. The tutorials are informative, but long. My biggest complaint with the tutorials was that it was all or nothing, meaning that you couldn't skip segments of it and move on to the next set of instructions. They include practice, though, which really helped me get the jumps in Mogul Skiing down.

There are pre-made teams available, ranging from an all-male powerhouse team to an evenly balanced team. These are great because they make selection of players for certain games easier. However, Deca Sports 2 has the ability to create your own team of five completely customizable characters. Everything is up to the discretion of the player, from team name to heights of players. Creating the characters is just like creating a Mii, with just as many options, but without the in-depth ability to move things around the face or change sizes of features. I really enjoyed this option because it made the team unique and personal, and I could have even made a team of my family or friends very easily.

Aside from Free Play, where you can play single matches of every game, there are three different ways to play. League is the option that has you play every sport once against three other teams. Tournament is a bracketed tournament for one sport against other teams. Challenge gives you one challenge per sport to achieve. Each mode can be played with your own personal team, and Skill Points are awarded and removed for how you do in a game. When playing League, I found that I would lose just three or four Skill Points for coming in third place, but would gain eighteen for coming in first in other sports. Going to the Locker Room on the menu allows you to view all the awards and medals you won for winning challenges and completing modes, as well as view the Skill Points you've racked up for each sport.

The online option includes ice hockey, tennis, and dodge ball. After selecting the sport, you will be set up with a team of comparable skill level, so if you are new the game, you won't have your butt handed to you by some Deca Sports prodigy. That, too, is customizable, meaning that you can set your skill level higher or lower than it really is. This makes it easier to find someone to play, since there aren't too many people out there playing Deca Sports 2 online. However, you can always play with your friends online using their Friend Codes, or you can play every game on the menu with them offline in open matches or tournaments.

Deca Sports 2 is an innovative take on the overplayed sports menagerie. It is very user-friendly and has a wide variety of play options. Some sports may be a little boring, such as Kendo, but that is overshadowed by some of the intriguing off-the-beaten-path games, such as Mogul Skiing and Synchronized Swimming. The customization available in this game is excellent, which really draws you into your game, not just the game.