Wii Sports Resort - Wii Fencing Minigame Review

Like many fencers, I approach any mention ofthe parry system would be like. The earlier
"fencing!" in a game or movie with trepidation. I'mopponents are like your U rated fencers - they
mainly looking at how "they" are going to screwwind up and you know exactly where they are
things up and totally misrepresent fencing as agoing to strike. Parries are executed as traditional
sport.sabre guards - 3, 4, and 5 will do just fine.
One of the most featured games in pre-launchWhen you make a successful block, the attacker
was the "fencing" game in Wii Sport Resort. I sawis "stunned" for a second which gives you the
the videos from E3 and the promotional stuff andtime to make your riposte. As you make
just had to try it. After my really bad experiencesuccessful hits to your opponent, they are driven
with Clone Wars: Jedi Duals, the bar was setback until they fall off of the mat, to fall
pretty low.American Gladiators style into the pool below.
The Asian influence is apparent in the game. TheMy kids (4 and 6) enjoy just having another
Wii menu calls the game "swordfighting" and notversion of "lightsabre fighting" and wail away at
"fencing". Score +1 (for not trying to call ittheir opponents. I'm enjoying setting up
something it's not.)parry-riposte combos and testing out various
When you set up for the game, you're put on atactics. (By the way, you can thrust and hit in this
circular platform above the water (thinkgame.)
dimensions of a wrestling mat) and are equippedThe lack of footwork control is a drawback, but it
with your "sword", which resembles a kendoreally does simplify the gameplay. (I would prefer
shinai, head guard, and chest guard.some sort of way to dodge or get out of
The motions are simple. You hold the Wiimotedistance similar to Punch Out.)
vertically and swing it to swing your sword. PullingFun Games Unlocked after Duals
the trigger (B button) activates blocks so you canThe other sword fighting games are a cutting
move the wiimote to parry oncoming attackschallenge and then "running the gauntlet". Do the
from your opponent. Though the on screencutting challenge once to unlock the 3rd game,
tutorial suggests holding the wiimote with twowhere you are the typical kung-fu hero fighting
hands (like you would do in kendo), I used onethrough the horde of bad guys until you reach the
hand. (Made it easier to emulate actual sabre"big boss" (who really isn't that great either).
fencing techniques than trying to remember anyI've only played that game once, but it was a lot
kendo.)of fun having my Mii run across a rope bridge
I wanted to see what you could do with thecutting through 20 opponents in just a few
game, so instead of just swinging away andseconds!
wailing on my opponent, I held back to see what