For many, 2006's Wii Sports was a great introduction to motion controls, forging fond memories with each of its five main sports. Nothing in the same style was released on the underwhelming Wii U, but with the Switch recently surpassing the Wii in sales, hopes of a follow-up to the beloved title was reignited. The aptly titled Nintendo Switch Sports looks to recapture the magic of the Wii original, despite some key differences.
Wii Sports was, at its core, a showcase of the capabilities of Nintendo's newest hardware. With five sports available (baseball, tennis, bowling, golf, and boxing), the game was a demonstration of the motion controls in action, allowing players to imitate the feeling of sinking a perfect putt or delivering a devastating knockout punch. Despite not being bundled with the system on its release, Nintendo Switch Sports has drawn many comparisons with the 16-year-old original, including its featured activities and obvious visual upgrades.
A Familiar Selection of Sports Offerings
Nintendo Switch Sports, unlike its predecessor, houses six distinct activities. Of that six, half are returning from either Wii Sports or its motion plus counterpart, Wii Sports Resort. tennis, bowling and chambara (an advancement on 'Swordplay' from Wii Sports Resort) will be familiar to Nintendo fans, while volleyball, soccer, and badminton are new. Golf will be added via a free update, and the backlog of available sports surely allows for the potential of DLC sports down the line.
Retaining the popular activities from Wii Sports was a suitable step to ensuring Nintendo Switch Sports builds upon the successes of the original. Refining what was good about past iterations is something that Nintendo has always excelled at, so the familiar events will likely satisfy the influx of new Nintendo Switch owners, as well as allow Wii Sports veterans to flex their skills.
A High-Def Facelift For Nintendo Switch Sports
As was evident in the trailer's first few shots, the visuals of Nintendo Switch Sports are different from the low-resolution original. Wii Sports was a special game to many, despite being restricted to basic character models, a standard definition display, and simplistic user interface. The art direction of Nintendo Switch Sports is far more in-keeping with Nintendo's current slate of first-party offerings. The colors are vibrant and glossy textures bring out the best in each featured environment. Character animations are overhauled, and the days of Miis with emotionless facial expressions are long gone.
The cartoon participants more closely resemble Xbox avatars. Though Mii support is still going strong in titles like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Miis will be usable, but Nintendo Switch Sports has largely opted to alter the aging models to give the Wii Sports successor a unique flavor of its own.
Nintendo Switch Sports Uses Joy-Con Functionality
Technological advancements that have occurred over the past sixteen years have pushed the gaming medium forward. In that time, developers have utilized the increased power of modern consoles, and with Nintendo Switch Sports, Nintendo is no different. In Wii Sports, the motion controls were a new novelty, though its precision left much to be desired.
A unique selling point of the Nintendo Switch was its detachable Joy-Cons, packed with technology. The events on offer in Nintendo Switch Sports will surely look to utilize the perks of the controller, with a boost in motion sensibility and HD rumble easily overshadowing the now-outdated Wii Remote.
With the release of Nintendo Switch Sports now firmly set, comparisons between it and the original Wii Sports will continue. Players who are returning to the Nintendo sports genre are surely going to notice even the smallest differences, and the announcement trailer seems to showcase a game that advances on a winning formula rather than overhauling it entirely. Time will tell if Nintendo Switch Sports lives up to the anticipation, but the differences between the two look to be deliberate and plentiful.
Nintendo Switch Sports launches April 29 on Nintendo Switch.
