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Junior league

But this is an old git writing, and arguably Sports Mix is really a game for kids. It's certainly too control heavy for the greybeards Nintendo also likes to target, and insufficiently violent or realistic for the 18-24 age range that forms the mass of the gaming audience. That leaves casual gamers like me, and nippers. I wasn't keen, but what about junior?

Mario Sports Mix

Jolly hockey sticks

Too easy, said my eight-year-old son, who found that once he'd got the controls sorted - ah, youthful ambidexterity, I remember it well - beating the opposition was generally straightforward. He played it solidly through a weekend and hasn't been back since. Mario Kart, Star Wars Lego, Donkey Kong Country Returns - these he comes back to time and again.

Verdict

Mario Kart Wii shows how good simple, lightweight minigame-style titles can be. Make it accessible, quick and fun, and the punters will love it. Nintendo and Square Enix have tried to come up with an equally successful follow-up, only to stumble onto the court, sneaker laces untied. There's some fun to be had here, particularly if you're a kid and there are more than one of you playing. But there's just not enough staying power to warrant a place in the Wii's premier league. ®

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65%
Mario Sports Mix

Mario Sports Mix

Play four sports against pals or some of Nintendo's most famous cartoon characters.
Price: £40 RRP More Info: Nintendo's Mario Sports Mix page

wat?

"Mario Kart Wii shows how good simple, lightweight minigame-style titles can be."

It's a full blown kart game - not the best in the genre admittedly (that's still crash team racing) but certainly not a lightweight.

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Anonymous Coward

Quite probably

But you gotta admit they have come out with some crackers in their time.

MarioKart, Mario Bros, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Wii Sports resort to name but a few.

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0

Yawn

More overpriced rubbish from Nintendo, I bet that it's price tag stays firmly at £39.99 forever.

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