Does the Wii Sports magic still hold up in Nintendo Switch Sports?
Can Nintendo capture that magic again?
This original Wii Sports was driven entirely by the capabilities of the Wiimote - the included controller with Wii.
The Wiimote could detect movement but not actually track position.
Wii Sports Resort even included the Motion Plus add-on in the box.
Also, by 2014, the whole ‘waggle’ control concept was becoming somewhat long in the tooth.
Does the concept still hold up?
The available options for each game are extremely limited and the finer points aren’t well communicated.
Integrating the Sports experience into a very different console also presents interesting challenges.
So, while it is technically playable this way, it’s not really recommended.
I’m wondering if this is less due to the form factor and more due to split screen.
The Joy-Cons themselves are about as full functioned as a Wiimote with Motion Plus.
It lacks the IR camera and internal speaker but it’s otherwise the same.
However, while it plays well overall, there are two things to consider.
Secondly, depending on distance from my Switch, I found that there were sometimes connectivity issues.
It feels like a slower pacedRocket League, in some ways, but it feels surprisingly fun and satisfying.
Where Nintendo Switch Sports stays true to its roots is in terms of presentation.
It seems look best during actual gameplay with bouts of lower resolution appearing during replays or pre-match flyovers.
The same is true of portable mode, by the way, though portable does not allow split-screen.
The evolution in visual style is interesting and represents the first shift in the Sports franchise.
Until this game, Nintendo leaned heavily on the Mii system combined with simple backgrounds.
It’s so simple on paper but Nintendo’s careful tuning helps create something that is fun.
It built a new audience and would help shape future technologies.
Like so many ideas before it, Nintendo was there at the ground level.
And that includes Nintendo Switch Sports.
