My children really like this game and I think it'll be even better when our balanceboard arrives!

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Did not know that a balance board was needed. Have just been able to get a balance board from a family member. Grandkids have not had a chance to play.

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This game is deceptively advertised on the Nintendo Web site as Playable Online with Friends. But the only thing that can be done online is to post your score. No interactive play is permitted. Nintendo is falsely advertising.

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Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games has many games (listed below) and play options so there's something for everyone. It also has variety for different situations, such as playing alone, as a team or against others, which make it a great all-around game.

Initial events:

Alpine Skiing (Downhill and Giant Slalom)

Ski Jumping (Individual and Team Large Hill)

Freestyle Skiing (Moguls and Ski Cross)

Snowboard (Halfpipe and Snowboard Cross)

Speed Skating (500m, Short Track 1000m, Short Track Relay)

Figure Skating

Skeleton

Bobsleigh

Ice Hockey

Curling

Dream Ski Cross

Dream Snowboard Cross

Other "Dream" events are unlocked as you play. These involve variations on the main events and some new ones. In the Dream versions you collect and use items, face obstacles, use different tracks, etc.

There are also 3 "Party Games" that seem silly when playing them on your own but should be a fun way to play many events quickly with a group of people.

Pros:

Multiple modes--Single Match allows you to select your events and choose Versus, Team Versus, or Co-op Play. Festival allows an individual or team of up to 4 players to take on events and rival challenges as assigned over 16 "days" of the Olympic games. This is like arcade mode. You can also check your records against others' on WFC.

Balance board option--you don't have to use the Wii Fit balance board but, if you have one, you can do 1-player games with it. It changes the game play and provides additional variety. (It's harder than the regular controls though!)

Multiple characters--the characters all have different attributes and special moves so it keeps the play interesting.

Many games--as mentioned there is something for everyone due to nice breadth and depth--and all ages should enjoy it. It's easier to unlock things than in Mario Kart. It even lets you accumulate points and "shop" for decals so you can customize your skis, bobsleighs and snowboard, outfits for your Mii, etc.

Cons:

Controls--if you want to play something that actually simulates hockey moves, skating, etc. this isn't it. The controls are fun and pretty responsive but not similar to Wii Sports or Wii Sports Resort (although using the balance board helps.) Also, the instructions for Curling tell you to use a bowling swing but neither my boyfriend nor I can get it to work that way consistently. We've found that you have to snap your wrist and then it works fine.

Balance board option--a pro but a con too as you can only use it for 1-player games.

No Wii Motion Plus option--it would be fun if WM+ worked with this.

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I really anticipated the release of the game--I love the Olympics and the true-Nintendo made Wii games have been great. This one is not. I made the big mistake of starting with the "Festival." The Festival goes on...and on...and on... We played for 3 hours to make it through all the days. We got through the last day ready to see the closing ceremony and along comes a rival. It's a hockey rival. The controls for hockey are so poorly thought out that we've found it impossible to get past this despite playing for more than an hour. There is no way to advance without beating the rival. Therefore, we played for more than four hours without being able to go on. No work around. No nothing. What a waste.

The lag between loading events is especially frustrating. It takes 30-45 seconds to load each and every event. When playing Festival mode, it loads and unloads the event each time you play it again (i.e., when trying to beat a rival) which makes it take forever. To top if off, while it's loading and unloading it plays a bad soundtrack with random applause. Very annoying to hear over and over again.

The controls for many of the games are not thought out well at all. I've already mentioned ice hockey, but many of the games suffer from similar problems. Team games are especially difficult to use with the controls. As has been mentioned previously, you cannot use the balance board if more than one person is playing--another design flaw.

Overall, this game is poorly designed. It seems that Nintendo did not think out how the game would work in real life when people are actually trying to use it. They tried to cram too much in and not to focus on playability. I would not buy this game again.

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