Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is landing on Nintendo Switch 2 later this month, and I was able to play it for a second time, giving me more time to explore the island itself and some of the new sports. Is this going to be another hit this Holiday season, or is the franchise running out of steam? Let’s find out!
Explore the island
A while back, I was already able to play Nintendo Switch Sports Resort during Japan Expo in Paris, where the game had its world premiere; fast-forward to Gamescom, where I was invited by Nintendo to play the game again, this time for a full hour, showcasing a lot more than previously. The first thing I want to discuss is Wuhu Island itself; the fan-favorite location is returning in this sequel, and it’s better than ever. To discover the island, I got to play Prop Plane, Skateboarding, and Power Cruising to see it on land, water and in the air. These sports are a bit different from the others since they give you the freedom to explore the island while a timer is running out. The fun part about all three sports is that they are full of hidden secrets and unlockables to keep you entertained.
While Power Cruising, I ran into a pink dolphin that started a small side quest that had me follow it until the very end, where a reward was waiting for me. Besides that, I could also discover certain flowers and other collectibles while cruising around. I’ve already played a more competitive race during my time with the game in Paris, but it’s nice to see this more open approach for Power Cruising too. The same goes for the Prop Plane, where you hold one Joy-Con in your hand like you would hold a toy plane and fly it around just like you’d expect. By pushing your Joy-Con forward, you can give your plane a little boost, and by moving your Joy-Con around, you’ll move your plane around on the screen simultaneously. It’s a more laid-back, cosy experience, but it’s fun flying to the top of the volcano or trying to fly underneath its cave systems. The fun part about this mode is that you can also collect a lot of things along the way; my favorite were probably the balloons I was popping.
Last was Skateboarding, which is new to this version, and I could immediately see why. Here, you’ll use the mouse options of your Joy-Con to push your board forward and to steer. It’s a bit awkward at first, but once I got the hang of it, I was having a blast. Discovering the island takes a bit more time in this mode, but there are special rails that you can grind on to reach special locations or even score one of the photo opportunities. Again, exploration is key in this mode, and at the end of your time, you’ll see a small map showing what you’ve covered and what you can thus explore in a next round. I’ve played all three of these modes in co-op, but in reality, we were minding our own business and just enjoying the island at our own pace, which was perfectly fine.
Back for more
After spending some time discovering the map, we were of course also able to play some of the sports, including Table Tennis, Archery, Thumb Wrestling, Boxing, and Bowling. Thumb Wrestling is clearly becoming my new favorite. I already loved it the first time, but playing it again made me realize how much of a crowd-pleaser it really is. It’s just so stupid that it simply works extremely well. We definitely had the most laughs playing this, and for the kind of party game this one is, that’s saying a lot. Besides that, the most intense match was probably Table Tennis since our skill levels were on par. I would compare it to Badminton in Switch Sports because, just like that one, Table Tennis can go on for quite a while until somebody messes up or hits the ball a bit too hard. I loved that you can give the ball some small effects to hopefully surprise your opponent, but you better prepare to put in the work if you want to win.
Archery, Bowling, and Boxing, on the other hand, were a bit more predictable as they return to the roster from earlier entries, and they play as you remember them. One thing worth pointing out is that the Joy-Con 2 controllers are extremely accurate, and I never suffered from any delay or input lag. My Sports Mate always did exactly what I wanted it to do, so the game works extremely well. All of the sports therefore play very smoothly, and especially when you’re playing against another human player, you’ll have a blast with them for sure. It’s a bit too soon to say, but this one really is shaping up to become another great party hit in this successful franchise. A couple more new sports couldn’t hurt, but the returning fan favorites deliver on their promises without a doubt.
Early conclusion:
I was already convinced the first time I played a short demo, but after spending more time with Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, it’s clearly on track to deliver a great party game just in time for the big holiday season. If there’s one game that can unite the family this year, it’s going to be this one. Sure, a couple more new sports wouldn’t hurt, but everything I’ve played until now has put a huge smile on my face, and that’s still the main goal of this franchise. Can’t wait to jump back in for more!