A decade after its release, the Nintendo classic shows one way it’s way better than real tennis.
Few video games have achieved such phenomenal, mainstream popularity as Nintendo’s Wii Sports, particularly the game’s recreation of tennis. Honestly, though, the whole thing left me sort of cold. It took a sport that I’ve always personally found a little lacking in excitement, then combined it with motion controls that remove the ability to control your position on the court.
So after I tried the game a few times back in 2006, I thought, “Eh, that was sort of fun,” then went back to playing Valkyrie Profile 2 and Ape Escape 3. I may have sold Wii Sports tennis short, though. It’s got enough lasting entertainment value that even a decade after its release, people are still firing up their Wiis for a match, and as this crazy clip shared by Japanese Twitter user @fp_ll proves, Wii tennis has the potential for some amazing action that rivals any found in the dragon-slaying, primate-capturing games I passed it by for.
https://twitter.com/fp_ll/status/780405386276777984As savvy gamers know, while the appeal of motion controls is that they allow you to interact with the game by performing the movements you would in reality, often you don’t have to go through the entire real-world range of motion for the hardware to register an action. Because of that, you can swing the Wii’s controller in a more compact arc than you’d need when hitting a real tennis ball with a racket, which means your onscreen character can whack away at the ball with blinding speed. And if you can do that, so can your opponent, which makes inhumanly fast rallies like the one seen in @fp_ll’s video possible.
It’s so fast that the graphics themselves have trouble keeping up, as if you pause the video in certain spots you’ll see a character’s racket has glitched so that he’s holding two at once. The capabilities of the two Wii athletes playing the net are so far beyond those of actual humans that online commenters have had to turn to the world of anime to find suitable approximations.
— AHOMOA (@AHOMOA22) September 28, 2016https://twitter.com/antikris77/status/780744026848919553
And if you think the frenetic digital visuals of Wii tennis call for some frenetic digital music, here’s a portion of the match set to dubstep.
— El Showdomizador (@ElShowdomizador) September 27, 2016
Now I just wish I’d known about the full potential of this game 10 years ago.
Source: Otakomu, Twitter/@fp_ll
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’d like to clarify that nothing said here should be construed as his saying something so laughably untrue as “Playing Valkyrie Profile 2 was a bad idea.”

Wii Fit sequel to make the jump to Nintendo Switch, promises tons of fun and sore muscles【Video】
Relive 16 childhood video games with “NES Remix” on Wii U
Princess Peach-themed Nintendo Wii remote available later this month
Nintendo announces moratorium on Wii U repairs, which ends hardware support for two gens of games
The 10 most important Japanese video games ever made
Massive manga collaboration bringing 100 years of Shueisha manga to Uniqlo T-shirts【Photos】
Visiting Japan’s Gyarados Pokémon park in the city with a special connection to Magikarp【Photos】
Canned cuteness as Hello Kitty and friends kick off Can Chara capsule toy line【Photos】
7-Eleven Japan has a hack for creating insanely delicious potato chip rice meals
The Grind, the Tornado, and the Samurai – Video explains how to use Japanese toilet bidets【Video】
Which Japanese beef bowl chain’s near-identical demon grater onioroshi ponzu gyudon is the best?
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
New adults go wild at Seijinshiki Coming-of-Age ceremony in Kitakyushu, Japan 【Photos】
Adorable New “Pokemomo” Brand Goods Coming to Pokemon Center Stores Across Japan
Starbucks Japan releases the new Soupuccino, but is it everything it’s cracked up to be?
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Totoro cream puffs and Catbus cookies are finally available in downtown Tokyo
Giant hotel rooms in Osaka reflect the new non-niche face of travel in Japan.
Japanese women showing rebounding interest in giving Valentine’s Day chocolate【Survey】
Japan’s kid-friendly ski program is now selling Pikachu snowboards for a limited time only
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
This table tennis comedy video isn’t “boring.” It may be the best video ever!
Japan’s most popular game console: PS4 sales to surpass Wii U
We play Super Smash Bros. for Wii U【RN24@E3】
This just might be the greatest UFO catcher game ever【Video】
If Nintendo made a smartphone, it might look something like this 【Video】
First-look video of new Nintendo Museum shows off giant controllers fans can actually play games with!
Nintendo announces new “2DS” portable, Wii U deluxe gets a price cut
Nintendo’s crazy new Ring-Con and RingFit Adventure are its new exercise/gaming hybrid【Video】
Chinese table tennis champ stripped of $45k prize after emotional outburst【Video】
Entire Internet bonds over a “smashing” gesture of kindness from Japanese online game seller
Cute cats from Japan show their love for competitors at the Olympic games
Anime fan’s husband builds an awesomely hilarious birthday present for her【Video】
New game on Nintendo Switch requires players to act drunk for superpowers
Hilariously intense kendo match shows off the psychological side of the samurai sport 【Video】
Leave a Reply