Sixteen years after the Wii Sports tsunami, Nintendo is reigniting the flame of motion gaming with Switch Sports. A solid update, alas a bit stingy.
Handheld console, touch screen, casual gaming… Nintendo has ushered in several major gaming trends over the past four decades. Big N, however, made its biggest move by introducing the motion gaming in 2006, via his Wii. Muse of the latter, Wii Sports reproduced the physical movements of the players with a disarmingly user-friendly ergonomics. With 82.9 million copies sold, Wii Sports rises today, like nothing, as the fourth best-selling game in history, behind Minecraft et Gran Theft Auto V. The arrival of Switch Sportsits spiritual sequel, is therefore announced as an event.
In 2010, when the Playstation Move and the Xbox 360 Kinect were also released, motion detection was emerging as the future of video games, with or without a controller. The intuitiveness of Nintendo’s Wii went so far as to parachute it into nursing homes, where it is still active today. But moving your body has not become a standard for gamers. Microsoft stopped its Kinect six years ago while Sony relegated the light stick of its PS Move to the virtual reality of its PS VR headset.
Perpetual movements
Nintendo has not dropped the case, even if it limits the motion gaming to small movements of the controller on Switch, in particular to aim at Splatoon 2 et The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. More precise than a stick to target adversaries in these 3D universes, the gyroscope returns to its origins on Switch Sports. Get up from the sofa and mimic grand gestures over six sports disciplines is therefore mandatory. We are partly advancing in known territory since tennis and bowling already lived Wii Sports while the chambara has asserted itself as one of the flagship disciplines of Wii Sports Resortin the suite.
Backhand, forehand, slice, lobs… The increased precision of the Joy-Cons of the Switch allows ball effects that skillfully renovate tennis. Bowling offers interesting variations, especially with tracks full of obstacles of increasing difficulty. Intense duels with the sword of the chambara seal a joyful reunion.
Among the three new activities of Switch Sports, badminton and its ease of access should convert the most recalcitrant. What perhaps to continue with the volley. The most physical and technical sport of the package, the latter requires juggling between blocking, smash and other passes, while managing cooperation with teammates. Less demanding, the foot is played him with a huge ball way Rocket League. In the lobby or online (up to 16 players), Switch Sports will host golf this fall. This welcome free update unfortunately does not erase a taste of too little in terms of content.