Summer Sports 2

Summer Sports 2 Review

Menu:
sound options, easy-hard difficulty of AI, left/right handed, game length choices (points/rounds), everyone against each other or team based, up to 4 players, no customization of 12 predetermined 20s guys/girls (with their own names) to choose from like original game (now better looking, more 3d & detailed). the only bad thing is sometimes instead of calling the player by the profile name, it calls it by the name the game gave that character, (that's a bit lazy).
you must select 2 players (don't have to on mini golf & shuffleboard arcade) even if one has to be an AI player. for turn based games (most are except the full "backyard style basketball & 3 player team soccer games), I just play both players & change the players to 2 human & play both. that way I don't have to deal w/the slow as molasses AI's turn. it's the one thing that pissed me off on the original game that is still here is you can't FFW the AI's turn. it also still tries to be like a human & has it scroll through choices slowly before deciding & the final action. ~roll eyes~
the loading times during menu choices are instantaneous & for game loading it's pretty quick & while you wait you can scroll through the 3 page instructions, motion pics & rules of that game (great idea).
Graphics:
VERY beautiful fantasy theme art (use of colors/glowing lights, flowers, stone statues, like a zelda/easter island wannabe), w/PS1-PS2 graphics. very nice use of many textures, but graphics still blocky. it's MUCH better then the first SS, much better then most overly cartoony/boring, hard to see 2D mini game collection titles.
Sounds:
done well, goes well w/the theme & always has an upbeat feel w/great island drum & percussion focus. there are a couple of songs.
Unique features:
can "taunt" the person who's turn it is by hitting the d-pad on your wiimote to make random sounds (ringing phone, animal growling, doorbell, etc.) on their remote speaker. has stats of every aspect of your gaming, what accolades/awards/acheivements you've earned (shows what you earned so far at end of games as well, time playing, favorite games, how many points you've earned & title status (has 7 starting w/beginner, then novice, etc.,), etc. in general & on details of all the games individually. accolades are for instance, getting certain points in a round, getting all bad targets, never missing, throwing the bocce ball out of bounds, getting a really bad score, doing a special move, etc.
Camera:
many games have zoom ability; many games are a close 3rd person style w/reality eye level cam which is MUCH better then the original far/overhead cam style that other mini game titles also use.

Games:
Bocce -
simple controls, can drop the white ball in hard to reach statue or step crevices, past water or narrow ravine hazard. you also can also slightly control ball`s roll direction after toss w/d-pad, decent very close third person view, can do overhead zoom w/A button. uses a pointer near the white ball instead of a too easy trajectory line which I always found simplified the game too much on other mini game titles.
Archery -
uses the IR to aim (so sensitive like real targeting), pull back & uses wind & gravity physics so you really have to think about arc, etc. great feature is that there are many diffrent targets at different distances & heights & the wind changes on every turn so you can't use muscle memory. only issue is once you pull back, the IR target does move which is good, but it moves stiff/slow which is still too easy.
Football Target -
throw football at stone bulls-eye targets that pop up/down fast in blue/yellow/red colors w/obstacles also in the way. you lose points if hit red targets. you aim w/tapping thenunchuck stick which zeros in to the closest target so you can throw fast enough to actually hit targets. you also hold the stick in left/right direction to move your player since the play area is wider then the screen. has 5 diff patterns & some have where coconuts are thrown AT YOU. the controls are boring though, they should have used the IR instead & the nunchuck to throw, or something else.
Soccer -
control all 3 players (including goalie) by switching (A) between players, can steal, kick, sprint, use nunchuck to control direction of your players. great intuitive controls that you understand immediately.
Shuffleboard -
great look, usual style w/added ability to hit lily pads that float around the stone board for extra points. controls DO work, you have to HOLD A while in service stance or when pulling the wii mote back/forth for the power gauge or else it acts erratic. then push the puck w/B & wii push/flick. had a glitch/bug when my puck reached the other pucks w/o touching, they all slightly lifted up like a baseball wave (funny).
shuffleboard arcade -
like bowling w/a puck & more a puzzle because there are also obstacles & lose points if hit other colored pins. no AI to be forced to play with
mini golf -
9 holes, more puzzle like then cute as the original was, only uses small flame as trajectory indicator instead of too easy/long trajectory lines like other mini game titles. overhead cam is right overhead & bit weird to my eyes. no AI allowed to deal with, holes have steep hills, hollow logs, wind, tree branches, logs, monkey statue swinging obstacles, etc., not very exciting though.
Basketball -
regular game where can steal & make baskets, etc.
Slam Dunk -
kind of a a memory game, you do a series of different motions in a fast speed to do a complicated dunk & then get rated. 5-6 different types of dunks on each of easy, med & hard levels. easy has you do 2 motions & hard has 5-6 different motions & buttons to do as well. very weird idea, but original.
Shot clock -
do many shots as fast as you can. sensitive wiimote controls to twist of wii mote & speed but done well like reality.
Horse (basketball) -
can choose to bank, swish, bounce or hook the ball. you decide how to aim by using the IR to move the ball around the zoom of the basket & use physics as well as how fast your swing the wiimote.
around the world (basketball) -
usual rules

What they did better -
artwork & graphics, instantaneous loading times except for loading a game which only has a slight delay & has instructions to read, camera angles, pointer instead of too easy trajectory aiming dotted line, intuitive & sensitive controls, adding a different styles to some old style games to add more interest/challenge, many choices in settings.
What still sucks -
you can't FFW the slow as molasses AI's turn, some games may seem weird or boring, they shouldn't count the similar games as completely diff games, could use other sports like volleyball, dodge ball, etc., since it's really only 7 fully different sports.

other reviews: commonsensemedia & cheatcc (also screenshots)
videos: youtube (has several)

Summer Sports 2 Feature

• Aim carefully as you draw your bow and arrow to hit your target. Toss a football with pinpoint accuracy to hit moving targets. Each game type uses unique Wii gestures which intuitively recreate the feel of the real sport.
• Adventure Island has a whole new set of games for you to play. Choose from Football Toss, Archery, Bocce Ball, Soccer, Mini-golf, Shuffleboard, Ten Pin and 5 types of Basketball fun.

Summer Sports 2 Overview

The cool island breeze is calling your name! Join the Summer Sports crew to take on all new sports challenges in Summer Sports: Island Sports Party. Create your own island party as you play 12 distinct games: Bocce Ball, Archery, Basketball, Football Toss, Mini-Golf, Shuffleboard, and more.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 19, 2010 20:20:15

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