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An encouraging start. But I can't imagine Frisbee throwing, even if it does work the way it should, will keep my attention for long, even with friends playing the multiplayer mode. What I'm about to play, Sword Play, however, is a different story.

One of the best games at E3 2008One of the best games at E3 2008

Matt tells me to hold the Wii Remote with both hands as if it were a sword. He then tells Simon, our associate video producer and genius camera man, to take a Wii Remote and do the same. The screen splits vertically in two, like the boxing in Wii Sports, and I see Simon's Mii with sword in hand in front of me.

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I'm itching to jump straight in and slice Simon into finely cut pieces, but Matt wants us to practice first on virtual wood and, oddly, terrifyingly giant pencils. I slowly move the Wii Remote about and, brilliantly, thrillingly, my Mii mimics my actions perfectly. A log appears. "Slice it," Matt encourages.

I begin with single slices, carving the wood in two. I imagine myself as some sort of samurai god slicing bamboo in a Japanese forest, perhaps with scores of ninjas closing in on my position. Then, I get cocky. I start slicing back and forth, from side to side, trying to carve the wood into as fine pieces as possible as quickly as possible, before it disappears. I'm sweating - it's hard work, but it's just about the best thing I've played at E3 so far.

And it's about to get better. I face off against Simon. At first we simply swipe at each other wildly, clumsily, without strategy or forethought. But then, as we realise our berserker rage isn't getting us anywhere, we begin to slow down, trying to block and anticipate each others' moves. I swipe strongly up down, smacking Simon on the head and pushing him back until I win a ring out. It's brilliant fun.

We didn't enjoy this so muchWe didn't enjoy this so much

Finally I play Power Cruising, a game that will rekindle memories of Wave Race 64 in every Nintendo fan's mind. By holding the Wii Remote and the Nunchuck like bicycle handlebars, I turn the jet ski left and right and through markers on the course. It's actually quite difficult, and no-where near as fun as the sword slicing action I've just experienced. It's all too easy to lose concentration and allow the controllers to lower or twist so they're not positioned correctly, since they are not attached to anything. I get the impression you'll get used to it, but the immediate thrill of playing Power Cruising doesn't come anywhere near to the immediate thrill of playing Sword Play.

Wii Sports Resort has reignited my gamer soul, a soul crushed by my hands-on time with Wii Music. I'm not in love with Wii Sports Resort as much as I'm in love with what it means for the future. "Someone has to make a proper lightsaber game for the Wii now," I beg Matt, as if he can pull some strings and make it happen before I have to leave Nintendo's E3 hotel suite. Finally, finally, the Wii is realising some of that tremendous potential it promised back at E3 2005.

Why will Wii Sports Resort sell by the bucket load? Because it's the sequel to the game which convinced millions of non-gamers to buy a £180 video game console with a funny name. It therefore makes perfect sense that Nintendo is choosing to bundle the new MotionPlus accessory with what is likely to be the system's most successful game.

Wii Sports Resort is due out exclusively for the Nintendo Wii next spring.

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