Anybody who has ever owned a Wii should remember the glory days of the console, when you would call your friends over, grab your controllers and take each other on in a flurry of virtual sports.
Now, the nostalgia factor has been ramped up for Nintendo Switch Sports, bringing back three fan-favourites alongside three new offerings, so that there’s something for both new and old gamers alike.
Early on I could tell that Bowling was still going to stand tall amongst the crowd. The simplicity of the game and, the option to turn on a special mode where you would have to throw your balls around obstacles to hit your pins, means that there are countless hours to enjoy as you take on your family and loved ones.
It’s a classic, and is packaged here alongside Wii Sports favourites Tennis and later addition, Chambara. They’re both also a good time, Tennis especially, whilst Chambara will take some getting used to if you want to take a battle to the next level, rather than just slashing and whacking as fast as possible until your opponent falls to their watery defeat.
Of the new additions, Volleyball is a bit flat. The pace is slower than expected and there’s a little bit too much complication when it comes to scoring those points. Unlike any of the other sports in this collection, this is one probably best played on your own against the computer.
Football is fun but, the use of the required leg strap for this sport is a little limited. It feels like the foundations have been laid for what could be an essential play in future but for now, I wouldn’t mind swapping this one out for another classic - Baseball, for example.
Then there’s the excellent new game, Badminton. You can really build up some fantastic rallies with your opponent here and take it from me, your arm will be aching after just a few minutes if you’re not hitting the gym at least three times a week. I was left frustrated when competing against my 12-year-old brother; my character ended up flat on his face a number of times because I lunged forward, attempting to smack back the shuttlecock just a fraction of a second too early.
Local co-op play is great and now, you're also able to compete against random opponents online, putting your skills to the test like never before.
Perfectionists will want to also check out the new Pro Certification that each sport offers, giving you the chance to compete once again online, and increasing your Pro League rank when compared to the rest of the world.
Those who are obsessed with how their avatar looks will be happy to know there are plenty of unlockables, so you can add some cool gear to your character and stand out amongst the crowd. It's a nice addition, but an unnecessary one for the majority of people.
Overall, the game is undoubtedly an essential purchase for those who want to get the most out of their Nintendo Switch consoles.
Nintendo Switch Sports is available now, exclusive to the Nintendo Switch family of consoles. Just remember that for half of the games on the platform, you can't really play on Switch Lite consoles or, with the Pro Controller. Joy-Cons are essential.
MORE FROM GAMING: Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction new trailer: Battle The Fog in the game’s upcoming Crisis Event
Tagged in Nintendo