According to a well versed video game player, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is one of the hardest Wii games. It requires constant activity, motion, and skill. Those comments alone sold me on Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. It capitalizes on the best thing about the Wii; it gets players up and moving.

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games is a competition between two great video icons Mario and Sonic. Players choose a character and compete to win the gold at the Olympics in Beijing. The game is rated "E" for everyone. It is an ideal Wii game for kids, once they learn how to use the controls.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is not designed for hardcore gamers, but casual players and kids who enjoy a little fun on the Wii. There is not enough substance in the game to keep avid gamers' attention and drive them to endless hours of competition. That is not a bad thing. I find the best Wii games are just for fun. Save heavy hitting titles like Call of Duty and Madden for the Playstation 3 or XBOX 360.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympics includes short versions of a variety of Olympic competitions including track and field, tennis, swimming, jousting, rowing, and more. Mario & Sonic at the Olympics also contains Olympic Games created exclusively for the Wii. They may not be actual Olympic Games, but they add to the competitive feel of the game.

To get the most out of this game, play with two or more players. Competitions don't last too long, which allows other players to get a turn without waiting forever, and allows us sluggards to play without becoming too winded. Hey, your arms get a great workout playing this game.

One drawback of the game is that some of the controlled movements are difficult. If you select a hard game first, you may not be willing to give the other games a chance. This is especially true for kids who may get easily frustrated and give up.

Given time and patience, players will get the hang of how to use the controllers to move their characters efficiently. I think the critique of the game is borne of Wii's difference from other systems. It is difficult for me to figure out which A,B,C, or X to push on other systems, but the functions of the Wii seem logical to me. Go figure.