Wii MotionPlus – Is It Worth It?

With the Wii MontionPlus, playing golf on the Wii feels much closer to the real thing than any game experience before it.

Recently, I was having a mental tug-of-war on whether or not to splurge on EA's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for the Wii. Why the Wii version specifically? Well, I wanted to try out the Wii MotionPlus attachment for the Wii Remote.

Eventually, I folded and headed to my local EB Games to pick up the bundle that includes both the game and the Wii MotionPlus.

Since bringing it home, I've put in many hours with the game, playing hole after hole. I can confidently say Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for the Wii is solid. And with the addition of the Wii MotionPlus, it becomes much better.

When Nintendo first introduced the Wii MotionPlus at last year's E3, they promised it would further enhance the motion sensing capabilities of the Wii Remote. Even the slightest of wrist movements at whatever speed would all be accurately captured for a more realistic gaming experience. I say that Nintendo has delivered thus far on that promise.

When playing Tiger Woods, the Wii MotionPlus gives you about as true a golf experience as I've ever played in a game. Just like in real life, your hand and wrist position is the key to a long straight drive. As you swing through with the remote, the direction you turn your wrists, either in or out, will determine the direction of the ball. How much you close in or open up your wrist positioning will dictate the degree to which the shot draws or fades.

The motion and speed of your swing dictates whether you hit the ball hard and long or soft and short, a valuable feature for approach shots (particularly during putting).

When you combine all of these variables, playing Tiger Woods with the Wii MotionPlus forces you to think about your approach for every shot you make. The end result is remarkably realistic.

You're probably thinking that judging the Wii MotionPlus based on just one game is a little premature. I disagree. If we are considering how the Wii MotionPlus will enhance gaming on the Wii, then Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 provides ample evidence that it works – and works very well at that.

The real question is whether game developers will create games that effectively utilize the capabilities of the Wii MotionPlus. I’m certain we’ll find out over the coming year.

Ultimately, I think the Wii MotionPlus is worth the investment. For just $25 (CDN), it has the ability to elevate your Wii gaming experience. The price is even better when you purchase it bundled with a game. Aside from Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, you can get it with Grand Slam Tennis and soon to be released Wii Sports Resort and Red Steel 2.