This week marks the release of Nintendo Switch Sports - a follow-up to the popular Wii Sports game released in 2006.
The latest entry brings together six sports on release and will allow players to enjoy them both locally and online. If you've already been on Nintendo Life today, you've probably already seen our review-in-progress as online functionality is not yet live.
- Nintendo Life - Nintendo Switch Sports Review (In Progress)
That hasn't stopped other outlets though from slapping a number on their review, so with this in mind, here's a round up of some of the reviews so far. Keep in mind, that one of these reviews is still in progress as well.
Starting off with IGN, it gave the game 7/10 stars - noting how it recaptured the fun of Wii Sports, but ultimately lacked depth:
"Nintendo Switch Sports, like Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort before it, is best played as a party game, broken out for any gathering that needs a quick injection of goofy, active fun. While its sparse mixture of old and new sports varies in quality, Switch Sports largely sticks the landing on what made its predecessors memorable: intuitive motion controls, the ability to effortlessly get a group of people up and moving, and some killer menu music that’s liable to get stuck in your head all day. Just don’t expect to spend a whole lot of time with it before the novelty wears off."
NME awarded Switch Sports four out of five stars - stating how the value of the game was hard to argue with:
"Nintendo Switch Sports brings a beloved series onto modern platforms with aplomb. Though some minigames are slightly weaker than others, some impressive standouts – namely Chambara and Football – deliver an exceptionally good time. Better yet, Nintendo Switch Sports‘ £31 price tag is cheaper than most Nintendo games, and that sort of value’s hard to argue with."
Dexerto was just as taken with it, giving it 8.5 out of 10:
"Nintendo Switch Sports does the impossible — it builds on Wii Sports in clever ways, creating a new version for a new generation while also breathing life into dormant rivalries over a decade on. It’s a great showpiece for the Switch, and is easily one of the platform’s finest games — if you have friends to play it with."
Wccftech wasn't quite as impressed awarding the game 6.5 out of 10:
"Nintendo Switch Sports is a fun and nostalgic romp that offers nicely-upgraded visuals and well-implemented motion controls, but there simply isn’t enough of it. With a meagre six sports (only two of which bring anything truly new to the table) and very few extras, this one probably won’t compete for your attention for long."
And GameSpot's review is still-in-progress, but it's currently down as 7 out of 10:
"Playing by myself for an extended period of time was boring and monotonous, and the absence of certain single-player modes is a major oversight. But Nintendo Switch Sports is a fantastic multiplayer game that, for the most part, invites anyone and everyone to pick up a controller and flail their limbs about. It has its issues, but they fall away when you have other people to play with and are joyously going toe-to-toe in virtual sports. As with the original Wii Sports, Nintendo Switch Sports finds beauty and fun in simplicity. And bowling is great. Better than real-life bowling."
So, will you be picking up Nintendo Switch Sports this week? Leave a comment down below.
Comments 33
I read through or watched a majority of the reviews. It’s clear Nintendo really wanted to focus on the online aspect of the game which is why I think there are only 6 sports with little variations/single-player progression. The online play is awesome from what I played in the beta but the game seems to be lacking a bit outside of it. Still seems like a really fun game with friends, though. I’ll pick it up later when it’s on sale and golf is closer to coming out.
I won't be buying this as I still play Wii Sports with friends from time to time. I'll probably be buying Mario Strikers instead of this in June but I'm still on the fence with it.
Seems like the sort of game you bring out at parties with the family.
"Nintendo should focus more on the online MP stuff with certain games"
Nintendo does just that.
"Where's the single player stuff at?"
Sometimes you just can't win.
But I can't wait to play this.
Well, seeing as Nintendo is releasing yet another gutted game and expecting people to wait for updates to get the rest that they paid for, this game is a hard pass from me, even if it's cheaper than something like New Horizons. Wish Nintendo would actually finish their games before releasing them, but oh well, at least I still have the Wii versions of Wii Sports!
I definitely expected more from a new Wii Sports, but then again, I've heard that Club was a pretty barebones remake of the first game with added online and a convoluted payment structure, so...at least Switch Sports adds 3 new sports and has a distinct flavor?
Maybe they'll bring more sports into the game beyond golf, but it's tiring getting so many Switch games that feel half-baked at launch or have enough to start with, but get dripfed content that really should've been in the game in the first place. And it is kind of a shame that they didn't try and theme things like in Resort, even though Spocco Square is a spiritual successor to Wuhu Island. Would love to see a future game that perhaps incorporates a winter sports theme
Like some, getting this for nostalgic reasons. Decided not to wait.
If this was bundle free with every Switch OLED, I would had given it a 9/10 but as a standalone title it totally deserve that 6/10. It's a barebone sports collection with no meat in it so not worth the $40.
Between all the videos and reviews Ive looked at i don't think I'd even give this a 5, 6 bare bones minigames (with three of them being derivative of each other) and a 40 dollar price tag is not a "bargain." Will be gladly skipping this one.
What's there is fine. But price and the fact Wii Sports Resort exists makes this collection look a fair bit lacking in content.
I’m getting it. My kiddo is excited and I know we’ll have a great time.
When the game has 15 sports..i pay 39,90 for it.
Honestly, sounds like an easy pass for me. I already wasn't very convinced so, yeah, certainly not getting it now unless I can find it cheap. I'll stick with Wii Sports.
"...one of the platform’s finest games — if you have friends to play it with."
.
.
.
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I feel attacked.
its a good and even great game for the most part, and im sure ill have a fun time and get my $40 worth out of it.
but as someone who grew up with resort, the local play lacking a sense of progress and tons of sports/side modes missing is disappointing. ill have my fun online unlocking content and getting up the rank, but there'll always be this sense the game can be more. still looking forward to playing this
It’s no. 1 on the European e-shop for a week already. This game will be a massive, massive hit for Nintendo.
It does sound rushed and incomplete but I'm unsure why people are expecting depth from a Wii Sports sequel?? Have they not played this series?
i still bring out the wii u for 100 pin bowling when i have a few friends over. this doesn't have 100 pin bowling on it. no sale. simple as that.
Another day and yet another storm in a teacup about Nintendo releasing a sports game with free future add on content, people will moan it's typical Nintendo releasing a bare bones unfinished game etc etc.
They will of course totally ignore the fact that last time with Wii Sorts club you have to pay individually for each event, and when this i all added up it would come to a similar asking price of the new game, with of course one less event or the additional free content coming to Switch sports after release.
Of course none of this could match the original Wii Sports free console pack in price, but considering that game was paid for in Japan, it's also pretty safe to assume that it's cost in the west was built into the overall Wii console price, so not totally free then.
@Tandy255,
Same here, I will be buying Switch sports for the same reasons I bought Wii U sports club, it's a fun game with friends and family.
@AndyC_MK111,
So true.
The game looks great, and can already be bought physical on Amazon for only £35.... sounds like pretty decent value to me even before the additional sports land.
My "Storm in a teacup" comment is related the outrage comments that are sure to ensue from certain people on these comment sections, about Nintendo releasing a sub par unfinished game, and sticking two fingers up to it's loyal fans etc etc....
@AndyC_MK111,
Same here, not too fussed about playing online but may have a dabble to unlock some extra stuff, should not be locked behind the online though.
Bought it yesterday so my kids play during the last days of kings day holiday (Holland) when it unlocks tomorrow...
They will have at least as much fun with a day of doing this then e.g going with them to the cinema, so for me the value it obvious (since the last one if more expensive)... but I can understand everybody makes their own calculation.
@johnvboy I read a review somewhere that said you can still unlock things by playing the cpu instead of being online - I wonder if that is true.
I never played Wii Sports, loathe sports of all kinds and have no friends. I think I'll pass.
@presenttense,
It should be, as not everyone can access online, or is prepared to pay for it.
I got my fill of Wii Sports on demo kiosks back in the day. And the current offering doesn’t appeal to me but we’ll see what else they’ll add later.
My Wii Sports is still in its tape-sealed cardboard sleeve. And also my Link’s Crossbow Training, amazingly.
I keep forgetting that this is out tomorrow.
I already have Mario Tennis/Golf and 51 Worldwide Games (for bowling), so I’m tempted to give this a miss, for now, which is a shame as I’ve been yearning for a Wii Sports revival for so long, but this just isn’t cutting the mustard with such a barebones launch build. No golf at launch and the lack of baseball killed my enthusiasm, but I’ll consider biting once an updated cartridge is available (likely by early next year).
I’ve been on the fence for a while for this game, but I ultimately think I’m just going to wait for a price drop, if one ever comes. It’s just not worth the value to me in the end.
Meh. I want a new Pilotwings.
… Wun can only hope.
Hopefully this doesn't do well, so they'll learn from the mistakes they made (forcing online for avatar gear, for example), & maybe invest the resources in something worthwhile next time...
It's criminal that Baseball was excluded. That was the only game from the original which was actually good.
Am I still the only one who likes NSO?
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