In the midst of E3 last week, Konami revealed Hyper Sports R for Nintendo Switch, resurrecting the classic series for a modern spin on Nintendo's latest hardware.
The game is actually coming exclusively to the console, and Konami's brand and media manager Benjamin Kinney has explained that this is due to the Switch's unique technology options. In particular, the motion controls available thanks to the Joy-Con were considered to be a perfect fit for the game, especially with the level of sensitivity that those controllers can offer.
The reason it’s a Switch exclusive is because it’s such powerful technology. We were at [the Switch’s] launch with [Super Bomberman R], but even then the devs and the teams were looking at what the Switch could do, watching what Nintendo was doing with motion controls and the way Joy-Cons work — there’s potential. For sure, that’s one of the reasons we chose the Switch. And even look into the sports that we have coming out — volleyball and stuff. You can see that the motions that are going to be involved are going to be more sensitive. … The devs are working on all those motions to make them as natural as possible … more of a natural motion.
It certainly seems like Konami is going for a different angle to the motion control-based sports games we're used to on Nintendo platforms. Wii Sports was a fantastic experience at the time, simply because the vague motions you performed in your front room were being somewhat replicated on the screen, but this technology has been steadily advancing, allowing for a greater deal of precision in movements and other features. Kinney talks about making the motions feel "as natural as possible", so perhaps we'll start to see much more refined experiences in the sports genre moving forward?
We don't have a confirmed release date for Hyper Sports R just yet, but will you be keeping an eye out for this one? Let us know if you're looking forward to the game in the comments below.
[source polygon.com]
Comments 41
Instead of feeding us marketing stunts, Konami, why don't you make new or at least remake some of the older games from your library that people would MUCH rather see. If you do have respect for the Switch, give us an older Silent Hill or a MGS or something.
Then again, after the train wreck of Metal Gear Survive I have very little hope.
I'll keep my eyes peeled for upcoming information about Hyper Sports R.
Oh, please. Bring Dance Dance Revolution Ace to Nintendo Switch with Wireless DDR Dancing mat, Konami !
Anyone know if this included the original Track & Field as a bonus game?
If this is like Track and Field then I'm interested.
It's such a powerful technology but what about STABILITY!?
I'd rather not need to recalibrate the motion controls whenever I'm playing Mario Odyssey or Splatoon 2 but at least it's powerful...
I can imagine something like the triple jump being waggle with HD rumble indicators. Skeet shooting was my favorite (and least painful) event in the original, so I hope that's there in this one.
I think that there's an opening for a Wii Sports type game (Although partly filled by Mario Aces maybe), so maybe Hyper Sports could fill that hole.
a spiritual successor to track and field with modern graphics looks great but i hope there's some improvement on gameplay as well. I don't want to break my joy-cons
Didnt konami say they had 3 games to switch?
Could the Wii Sports lightning strike twice? Well obviously not to the same level as it did but this could have some interest among certain areas of the market. Interested in it from a party game perspective.
Its almost surprising seeing Konami actually talk about a game that isn’t a mobile game or chasing a current (or already past) fad.
@Anti-Matter I highly doubt we’ll ever see this come to consoles. Its a niche product and the added manufacturing costs of the required hardware would make it even less of a business sense.
Snore! How about your other neglected ips like Castevania, Contra and Gradius?
More "refined" motion controls are still motion controls... so I think I'll pass. This brings back memories of the thousand Wii Sports clones during the Wii shovelware days.
I like it. Finally racing game without cars, using just those 2 feet. I wish they make jogging games like marathon, games that lets you jog for miles in beautiful scenery.
Wish they put the Mario characters in for us people who miss these types of games.
@FX102A
"Its a niche product and the added manufacturing costs of the required hardware would make it even less of a business sense."
Why not ?
Namco can release their Taiko no Tatsujin for Switch with Taiko drum kit.
So, Konami can Revive Dance Dance Revolution again for Switch with latest songs from DDR X3 until DDR A with some new songs not from Arcade + Wireless DDR Mat like DDR Class Club.
To tell you, this October 2018, Dance Dance Revolution will celebrate its 20th Anniversary. I have been playing DDR Arcade for almost 15 years since year 2003 & still playing DDR Arcade until today.
I play sports already so idk if this would really interest me, besides not looking to get carpal tunnel with the waggle controls. I think that ship has already sunk. Give me Contra, Castlevania, or Silent Hill, Konami.
As a Switch physical collector I'm glad this is a digital only release, because I have no intention of supporting Konami. Now, if Konami were to release a physical copy of Metal Gear Solid HD Collection on Switch, well...then I probably wouldn't resist.
@Anti-Matter Except the Taiko drum kit is not essential to play; the joycons are an option. So the special edition is a niche product. EVERY DDR game would require a mat and if wireless is desired this is likely to drive the cost up further.
Then there’s the licensing costs for music, the near death of the mainstream music game industry and the fact that the last home console DDR game was in 2011. Honestly, Konami almost certainly believes this is dead outside of the arcade, where its style is best suited.
The return of waggle. Wow.
I think I preferred it when Konami stopped making video games, as this is just embarrassing. Hey Konami, how about something for actual gamers, you know, something like Castlevania or Contra perhaps. Or better still, something ORIGINAL.
@FX102A
"EVERY DDR game would require a mat"
Nope.
I can play DDR PS1 / PS2 / Wii with just only Controller Stick (at home) and i have been playing for very long times so i can obtained AA grade for almost every DDR songs on Expert difficulty.
"the near death of the mainstream music game industry"
Who said ?
Konami still has their DDR A, Gitadora Matixx, Beatmania IIDX 25 th style, Jubeat, Dance Rush, Sound Voltex, etc.
SEGA also has their Rhythm machine, MaiMai (Now is MaiMai Milk) with some artists from Ex-BEMANI artists (Jimmy Weckl, Hideyuki Ono, etc) & some commisioned artist from Ex-BEMANI too such as Tatsh (Tatsuya Shimizu), Sampling Master, Naoki Maeda (on Chunithm, another SEGA Rhythm machine also).
This looks like utter trash...
Sure... Konami you have other games that are better and be exclusive too.
Probably in the minority but yes, I am keeping an eye on this. Could be fun even if it turns out to be no match for Decathlete/Athlete Kings.
"...And stuff?" Lol, glad they seem to have undying support for the Switch but... any chance of you doing any new, meaty experiences, or digging out some other classics, Konami? Maybe? No...? Ok.
I'm gonna keep my eye on this one. I would love Hyper Sports brand to come back. Mind you, I hope the original dude is selectable
Probably cause Nintendo gamers are the least hostile to the company.
Those characters are pretty cute, though I can see they only really have one stencil for each sex, which I guess is a common budget constraint.
What Konami, no Rumble Roses? I’m not looking forward to this game at all but if turns out decent I would give a chance. I’m pretty much done with motion controls though.
Konami needs to wake up and see how well Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon did...
@Anti-Matter
My nicklcade has DDR and I freaked out when I saw it.... It's so rare to come across one now a days. Would love to play these games again, with actual good songs (and not poplular slow American pop songs, it was just weird in the Ps3 version). I second your statement to bring that game over!
@Ttimer5
Yeah.
Btw...
Did you remember when Konami announced DDR for PS3 & Xbox 360 during year 2009 ?
It was PERFECT DDR concept until suddenly Konami scrapped those ideas, replaced with Horrible DDR 2010 for PS3 & Xbox 360.
DDR needs more Eurobeat, Trance, Eurodance, Bubblegum, etc. Something that missed after DDR Hottest Party 2 Wii.
Well not interested in this game, and come on I bet it ends up as exclusive as super bomberman r was lol.
Oh man I remember the button mashing of the original! Ouch!
RSI: The Game!
@FX102A I'd say that, but Ubisoft is still turning a profit on the genre, so there's still some potential. Were they do go with the full accessory route, I imagine it would be an Asia only product though. Music games seem to be more of a thing there than here still.
So far I've been liking the idea of releasing an "R" series of games for Switch, but need to see more gameplay for this before getting excited. Loved Hyper Sports on NES.
Now there is a company who wants to use some of the new technologies Nintendo introduced for the Switch but instead of getting excited to get something new and probably awesome, the majority of people here is crying for remakes of games they can play on other platforms... Seriously... In another article people were complaining that company XY is keeping an successful IP alive because they want something new and yet here all you guys do is complain they want to try something new... People are never satisfied!
Interesting
Waiting for gameplay footage
@Hikingguy Haha, yeah, I love that 70's/80's style athletic clothing etc. Problem is they'd be reaching a limited group with that methinks
The art style here looks good though. It's as "modern" as that was back then
@Hikingguy The art style actually looks a lot like Fortnite, probably not a coincidence. But I think more broadly everyone's trying to clone the Dreamworks/Disney Studios/Pixar look now......all the kids are into it.
@8-Bit_Superman It stands for 'rip-off'.
Switch exclusive until it isn't anymore? Wonder how long this time til they port it and release it half the price on other systems.
Really wish Konami could prove things differently.
@8-Bit_Superman
R is stand for Return.
But I thought Joy-Cons weren't as good as Wii Motion Plus????
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