By Laura Molloy
In 2022, Nintendo launched Switch Sports, a sports focused game for their game console, the Nintendo Switch. The game was inspired by their previous game, Wii Sports, which was one of the company’s most popular games.
The release saw the return of fan favourites including; tennis, golf, and bowling. However, the game was missing boxing and baseball which were both featured on Wii Sports. The game also drew inspiration from Wii Sport’s companion, Wii Sports Resort, by including basketball and bowling.
Switch sports also included new games that Nintendo users did not have the option to play before. These included chambara, badminton, volleyball, and football.
Many users have expressed complaints over Switch Sports. From reading a Reddit thread on the topic, it seems many users find some of the games don’t perform as well, and the online subscription required for some of the games is an inconvenience. It was also noted that some games were only available after an update.
The game certainly isn’t a replica of Wii Sports which perhaps is the reason for many fans being disappointed, but it’s also important to recognise that motion controls being revolutionary at the time played a big role in the success of Wii Sports. Technology has significantly advanced since the orginal game’s release making it harder for newer games to compete.
With the announcement of an updated version of the popular DS game, Tomodachi life, it will be interesting to see if Nintendo captures the charm of their old games, or if it lets fans down once again.