Have some outdoor fun on the Wii - Military Video Games, computer games, games, gaming - Army Times

Have some outdoor fun on the Wii

Nintendo Wii owners itching to become outdoor sportsmen without leaving home can do so with two new video games for their favorite console.

Mastiff’s “Deer Drive” is the first hunting title to allow simultaneous multiplayer gaming on the same television, while Hudson Entertainment’s “Fishing Master World Tour” lets you cast off in 40 different locations around the globe and compete with others over the Internet.

Bear in mind that these games are not meant to be authentic simulations, but rather arcade games designed to give a fun and harmless taste of these outdoor pastimes.

Deer Drive

(Mastiff; $29.99; rated “Teen”; http://www.mastiff-games.com/; 3 stars out of 5)

Loosely based on the arcade hunting game, “Big Buck Hunter,” Mastiff’s “Deer Drive” for the Wii is a fast-paced, pick-up-and-play hunting experience that challenges players to bag deer, grizzly bear, moose, rabbits and other creatures in the wild. Be sure to avoid shooting the female deer or else you’ll be penalized with a score drop.

If desired, you can hunt prey by yourself and attempt to rack up as many kills as possible within a certain time limit (with varying weather and terrain as you progress through stages), but “Deer Drive” supports up to four gamers in a number of multiplayer modes such as Versus (where two players compete simultaneously; the player with the best score after three rounds wins) or Hunting Party (where two to four players compete by taking turns with the controls).

The Wii’s motion-sensing and wireless controls are used to aim, fire and reload, and you can use the optional $25 Wii Zapper accessory to hold the Wii Remote more like a hunting rifle.

While the game lacks the excitement of a slower-paced authentic hunting simulation, it’s a decent multiplayer game for casual players looking for a quick fix.

Fishing Master World Tour

(Hudson Entertainment; rated “Everyone”; $29.99; http://www.hudsonent.com/fishingmaster2/; 3.5 stars)

Billed as the first global fishing game for the Wii, “Fishing Master World Tour” allows up to four players, represented by cartoon avatars, to compete online in virtual tournaments. The goal is to catch the biggest fish in various locations, such as the Amazon, Easter Island, Hawaii and even under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Using the Wii remote and nunchuk controllers, you can cast off from a shoreline or while trolling on a boat, and attempt to hook a fighting fish and reel it in without the line breaking. The built-in rumbling technology in the Wii remote adds to the experience.

You can catch more than 200 different kinds of fish spread throughout seven regions around the world. If you want to see your top catches or show them off to friends, open the Fish Journals menu. Here you can also read descriptions about the different fish, view earned trophies and peruse optional quests to catch certain types of rare fish. Points awarded for big catches can be used in the shop to buy new rods and bait.

Along with the online options, “Fishing Master World Tour” also lets you compete in head-to-head modes in front of the same television.