Well, I may as well talk more in depth about this one. The recent announcement of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort at the June Nintendo Direct has me hyped to be returning to Wuhu Island. Even if it has been changed for this latest release. So, why not go back in time to when the island was all the rage with Wii Sports Resort? Getting into the swing of motion-controlled sports on the land, across water, and in the air.
The original Wii Sports released with the Wii in 2006, providing a first real taste of motion-controlled gaming for many. For me, I loved bowling. Though I also enjoyed tennis and golf. Baseball and boxing weren’t played as much, so when Wii Sports Resort released in 2009, I didn’t mind that they weren’t included. Tennis had become the table variant, which I didn’t mind. Bowling and golf were the same as ever, so I continued to enjoy what they offered.
Getting into Star Wars as I was at that time, swordplay became an instant favourite. Duel saw me fighting against another on a platform, using the motion controls to both attack and defend. Showdown was a super mode, letting me live out the fantasy of being a one-man army storming through various sections of the island. The only one that didn’t really get a look in was speed slice. It was the only one that didn’t allow for combat, so it had fewer plays.
Another of the sports to quickly become a favourite was air sports. Island flyover was the closest thing to freely exploring the island the game had. Flying around in the five minute time limit, seeing all the sights I could or just messing about. It was why I was so excited for Pilotwings Resort when the 3DS launched. Of course, there was also skydiving, which was a fun one to mess about with. And also dogfight – one of the multiplayer-only games that simulated air combat.
Cycling was an interesting one, needing to utilise draft from other cyclists to not get tired easily. It was a tactical race, balancing going fast without using all the energy. Otherwise a stop would be needed to refill. It was a great one to load up on occasion, though it got me wishing I could just explore the island freely while cycling, too. Creating my own cycling routes to race.
Frisbee was a nice, relaxing one. Whether taking on the golf course with the frisbee, or playing with a dog at the beach. Golf with frisbees is a lot different than with a ball, though wind would still play a part. It also helped that getting the frisbee into the ‘hole’ required a lot less accuracy than with the ball. As for playing with the dog, it was a lot of fun to aim for the highest points and watch the dog make a jump to catch it. Or be disappointed that it couldn’t when outside of the target zone.
Of the sports on the water, power cruising was the most fun. Tackle the waves while driving through rings to restock on time as you head to the finish. The perfect time attack mode. Wakeboarding was also the perfect points attack mode, needing to keep up a sequence of tricks and successful landings to accrue the most points. I would always be taking multiple attempts on both of these whenever I played them.
The only sports I wouldn’t really play were canoeing, basketball, and archery. While archery was fun, it’s one I was bad at. No matter how many times I tried. Of course, I still enjoyed where the archery was taking place. Basketball was a great points attack sport when played in three point challenge. Though speed is the downfall of it. Pickup game, which is quite close to an actual basketball game, I barely ever touched simply because it felt too stilted.
As for canoeing, it was the most fiddly, I found. Especially when needing to row at speed for the speed challenge or versus modes. It needed a nice, smooth motion to row and swap sides, otherwise it could just get stuck to one side. It was nice to relax with the practise mode, helping the mother duck find her ducklings with no time limits at all. If I needed to relax on the water, this is where I went.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is bringing a number of these sports back. Bowling and golf are always welcome. Table tennis and regular tennis are both here this time. Archery, basketball, power cruising, and island flyover all make a return too. Of the new sports, I’m definitely going to enjoy skateboarding, especially if it does allow for exploration of the island on the ground. Thumb wrestling I can see providing some entertainment, too. We will see when it releases in October.
Images Taken From:
Wii Sports Resort is a Timeless Masterpiece | RTGame
