As super heroes say, with great power comes great responsibility. And, as video games say, with each success comes a long line of pale imitations.

Think about it: Wii Sports was great. But all those contenders to the throne? All those mini-game sports compilations that have come down the pike? They're not contenders; they're pretenders, offering up cutesy graphics and simple controls, without having any of the depth or staying power that Wii Sports delivers.

Does Deca Sports, the latest sports-themed mini-game collection to arrive in the Sports Gamer offices, have what it takes to knock Wii Sports from its perch?

Boasting 10 games in total, it offers six more than Wii Sports offered. Here's a listing of the games for your eyes to skim over: badminton, archery, figure skating, snowboard cross, beach volleyball, kart racing, soccer, curling, supercross, and basketball. In other words, offerings range from the obscure (curling) to the mainstream (basketball, kart racing, etc.).

The single-player options are surprisingly robust. If you're going solo, you've got Open Match, Tournament, Deca Challenge, or Deca League to choose from. But as with Wii Sports, you'll get the most from Deca Sports by playing against others in multiplayer matches. Luckily, two to four people can face off against each other, or even play on the same teams against one another.

Most of the sports on the disc require only the Wii remote to play. For example, Kart Racing requires you to turn the remote 90-degrees in order to "drive" your kart. For Curling, you'll have to line up your shot using the remote's D-pad, then give the rock a virtual "shove" by pushing forward. (The control scheme is very similar to Wii Sports bowling.) Badminton involves properly timed flicks with the Wii remote to keep the shuttlecock in the air.

But if you want to participate in figure skating, you'll need to connect a nunchuck to the Wii remote. Use the control stick to follow your skater's routine around the ice, then flick the remote at key moments to pull off tricks and earn higher scores from the judges.

None of these games, on their own, is particularly awesome, but taken together as a 10-game roundup, Deca Sports forms a nice package. And yes, it's a package that deserves a place on your gaming shelf, right next to Wii Sports.

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