In 2006, Nintendo was just about ready to release its new system, the Wii. A console initially unlike anything previously seen from them (or anyone else, for that matter), the Wii's games centered heavily around the motion controls of the Wii Remote. It was initially written off as a gimmick, but Nintendo wanted to prove that it wasn't, and in order to make that happen, they picked the easiest, dirtiest way to prove motion controls could work: put them in a sports game. Seriously, sports games are truly the quickest, simplest way to prove that motion controls can be fun, and "Wii Sports" proved all of that and more back in 2006.
"Wii Sports" succeeds in how accessible it is: this is the prime example of a game anyone can easily pick up and play, as it's easy and fun for all ages. The sports themselves are simple to play, but still provide their share of excitement, and they are made better by the great motion control. Even if it's something you might not think about today, "Wii Sports" showed off the motion controls of the Wii pretty fantastically, and it was definitely unlike a lot of what had been seen at the time. This was made all the better by the game's emphasis on multiplayer, which was extremely fun in and of itself.
In terms of negatives, though, the biggest and most gaping one is just how little there is to do in the game. I get it: it's a free pack-in title that's not supposed to have the depth of most other titles, but outside of the main sports, there are only a few small practice modes. It would've been nice if they added a bit more content to make this feel like more than just a quick, interactive tech demo. Also, while the motion controls are consistently great, I do find them a bit finicky during a game like Golf, and it feels like it's the hardest sport to do well in.
Overall, "Wii Sports" was an influential game when it came out, and for a moment, it showed everyone that motion control can be plenty of fun. These days, it might not be a game you return to every day, but it's still a pretty fun title that's engaging and accessible for the whole family.
Final rating: 7 out of 10 "Good"