Winter Sports the Ultimate Challenge - Wii Game (Retro Fam)

We are relatively new to the Wii so I can't compare it to all of the games out there, but I can say that so far it is a blast for our family and a clear favorite for both the adults and kids. We have played the speed skating, downhill skiing and the luge games and are already addicted.The games vary in difficulty and in types of actions--we are still trying to make it down the slopes without wiping out multiple times but the speed skating is fairly easy just a lot of action in the arms. We are enjoying the variety and we still have many games to explore.I should also add that so far all of the games have a two-player option with a split screen so you are competing against each other. You can see your opponent whiz by or vice versa as you are racing.The realistic/human-like players are nice too. This is not cartoony like Mario but has more life-like graphics. You can't select your player's looks but you can choose the country you are competing for.Other notes:Music: good/competition-type music. Fun to play to.Sound and graphics: nice and realistic. I especially like the skiing sounds. It makes you feel like you are really on the slopes without the cold. Visually, it is realistic too because there are effects like snow sprays that sometimes partially obscure your ability to see what is ahead, etc. Oh, and the luge is a trip. You feel like you are traveling VERY fast. Perhaps it isn't the real thing but it is a fun substitute.Age level: either a very coordinated 5-8 o.

Except for figure skating, most of the events are lots of fun. The actions required in figure skating seem to have no relation whatsoever to the actual sport.Excelling at some of the events is quite difficult. There is a high degree of arm movement required in many of the events, although leg movement is unnecessary.Our favorite at this point is downhill skiing. Ghost competition against a family member in split screen is especially fun.One improvement I would suggest is to allow direct competition between family members in Curling. One can play at the same time as another family member, but never directly. There is always an opposing computer-generated team.I do recommend this game, but be prepared (in some events) to spend a lot of time getting good at it.