While the original Deca Sports wasn't exactly critically acclaimed, that didn't stop it from selling more than 2 million copies. It seems that people are just itching to swing and shake that Wii Remote until their arms fall off to pretend they're actually playing sports. Deca Sports had a healthy list of games, but it was plagued with poor AI and overly simplistic control schemes. At a recent event, we were able to try three of the new games in Hudson's upcoming Deca Sports 2: tennis, ice hockey, and speed skating.

　　No fighting in hockey, but you can push people.

　　The controls are still simple and straightforward, which is part of the game's appeal, but some skill is required in terms of timing. We started off with some tennis, which works very much like Wii Sports tennis except that you have some control over your movements. You can charge the net holding the A button and move back using B. The timing takes a bit of getting used to, because it's not as twitchy as Wii Sports tennis, so you'll have to anticipate and swing ahead of time to ensure you make contact. Swinging the remote in an upward motion will lob the ball over the net, and if you can time your shots correctly, you can also do special shots. Serving took a few tries to get the hang of, but once you figure out the timing, it's really easy.

　　Ice hockey took a bit more concentration since it's a faster-paced sport. During face-off, a circle appears and then closes in around the two players, and you must shake the remote to try to get the puck. You skate around with the analog stick, using the C button to change players. Holding B will charge your shot toward the goalie, but normally you can pass by just waggling the remote. You can't throw down the gloves and fight with the opposing team, but you can push them down by shaking the remote when you're up close. However, we found that when we got carried away, we'd steal the puck but then pass it off by accident.

　　The final event that we tried was also the least demanding. Speed skating is about rhythm and timing, so all you have to do is hold the Z and B buttons and swing downward when the bars fill up onscreen to mimic the left and right movements of the skater. On turns you'll swing only your right or left arm, and the bars will light up if you get the timing right.

　　Fighting's been reserved for kendo, in which you can beat people with a big bamboo sword.

　　Other games that will be included are mogul skiing, kendo, petanque, dodge ball, darts, motorcycle road racing, and synchronized swimming. Wi-Fi is included this time around, but since the game is still early in development, we were told that the only sports that have this option right now are ice hockey and tennis. There will be no Mii support, but you can make your own teams and select what size players you want (small, medium, or large.)

　　Deca Sports 2 keeps the same simplistic look as the first game with easy-to-play control mechanics for anyone who wants to feel active while staying in the living room. We enjoyed what we played so far and look forward to trying out the other sports. We'll keep you updated once more information becomes available. Be on the lookout for the game's release this fall.