One of the best examples of the tapping functionality of the tap games is Tap Runner where rhythmically thumping a surface makes an onscreen runner move. By thumping the surface with a harder thwack, the runner jumps over obstacles. Another tapping mini-game dubbed Bubble Voyager features horizontal shooting action where a red mech shoots thick missiles at objects on screen. Tapping keeps the mech aloft and fires off ordnance. Every copy of the game is bundled with two cardboard boxes which may be used as playing surfaces. Two boxes are included since Let's Tap can be played by two players at once. Sega is thoughtful like that.

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Region Lock-out
Please note Japanese Wii games will not boot on USA or European Wii consoles due to the inherent region-lockout on Japanese Wii game discs. A Freeloader (and a Wii with 3.2U firmware) is required to play Japanese Wii games.

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1) Tap Runner - Sort of like an updated version of Track 'n Field where tapping replaces button mashing. Non-descript athletes run, jump, slide, swing, and soar across simple tracks that are dotted with obstacles.

2) Rhythm Tap - A rhythm-action game that is evocative of Taiko no Tatusjin from Namco. Circular cues enter the screen from the right and scroll towards the left and your job is to tap when the cues enter the circular target. Wavy-line cues require quick tapping to register proper hits. Stringing together sequential taps leads to combo metering.

3) Silent Blocks - Tap slowly and rhythmically to remove thin slabs from a tower that's made up of thin slabs. The challenge is to take out each slab without causing the entire shaky tower to collapse.

4) Bubble Voyager - Side scrolling shooter where players tap to keep a mech aloft to collect stars and fire missiles at spiky bombs, UFOs, and other objects on screen. Destroy the blinking bombs to cause chain reaction explosions. Each level ends with a landing sequence. The Battlefield option allows four players to battle each other in a tapping-shooting game.

5) Visualizer - Tap to create visual effects on a number of different surfaces or objects including a koi pond, a mass of movable spheres, fireworks, and a digital easel.

» In the introductory sequence which explains how to play, the diagram shows that you can use the included Sega Tap cardboard box or a box of facial tissue. We're guessing that both offer the same amount of vibrational conductivity. Once you've placed the Wii Remote face down on the Sega Tap box, a series of lessons begin which show you how to play. Note that the sequences are in Japanese but simply follow the animated diagrams that are shown and you'll be okay.

» In the three lessons, you're supposed to tap the box alternatively with both hands to make the runner sprint along. To make him jump, hit the box with both hands at once and he'll spiral upwards.

» Five games are available and to scroll between them, tap once to highlight the next game. To select a game, double tap and it'll be activated.

» Silent Blocks can be played by multiple players who try to slide out a slab without causing the entire tower of slabs to tumble. Before each move, players can select which slab to move and the direction of movement. We found that a slow yet steady tapping meter seemed to work the best to remove a slab with the least amount of disturbance to its contiguous slabs. A single-player mode features a taller tower where color matches may be made. For example, red and blue slabs initially make up the tower and if you remove a red slab so that at least three blue slabs are now touching, they'll disappear and the word alchemy will show up on screen. Chain combinations may also be set off where cascading slabs fall upon similar colored slabs. As the game levels up in difficulty, more colors are added to the mix.

» In Bubble Voyager, players tap to keep the mech aloft as it flies across the screen and picks up stars. The tap to fly mechanics sorta reminds us of Joust from the old school. To fire a missile, tap once harder on the board or hit the board with both hands. Watch the energy bar on the lower-left since it will drop gradually with every tap. It'll lose a chunk if you run into a bomb or get hit by a laser attack from the occasional screen anomaly. Each stage ends with a landing sequence which is supposed to be gradual instead of hard and jarring. Land softly and you'll be rewarded with "Hot Landing!" and 30,000 points. Power-ups may be picked up over the course of a stage such as shields, tri-shots, and HP replenishment.

» If you stay on top of the screen too long in Bubble Voyager, a bolt of laser fire will be shot in your direction from a vortex that appears on the right side of the screen. Black spiky bombs cannot be destroyed but blinking orange bombs can be blown up and they'll set off chain reactions if other objects or bombs are nearby. If you're in the vicinity of the blast radius, your mech will also be damaged by the explosion.

» The Fireworks option in the Visualizer Mode will cause an explosion in the sky whenever you tap. A non-descript city sits beneath that sky which is illuminated whenever a burst blows up above. While you're tapping and fireworks are exploding, the camera will take in the scenery from way up high, parallel to the explosions, and from the vantage point of someone standing on the street within the city.

» All of the game have to be played with the Wii Remote face down and you tapping. If you attempt to simply grab the Wii Remote and tap it, the game will halt all proceedings and instruct you to lay the Remote face down. We found that simply tapping directly on the face-down Remote also works and it's our opinion that Bubble Voyager plays much better in this way. Note however that you'll only need a single finger to tap on the Wii Remote directly since it's sensitive.

» A calibration utility allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the Wii Remote.

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