Serving up a smashing sequel
By Paul Hunter
Nintendo revolutionized gaming with Wii Sports when it first came out, and Wii Sports Resort built on that foundation to become an even bigger favourite of mine. Wuhu Island was such a fun place to visit, and I've always wanted Nintendo to give us a return trip.
Well, that day has finally arrived! Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is now available on Nintendo Switch 2, developed by Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo. Following 2022's Nintendo Switch Sports, this sequel brings back the familiar island setting with a much bigger collection of activities to enjoy. I've been looking forward to this one, especially with Nintendo bringing back so many of my favourites from the Wii era. So, does Wuhu Island still have what it takes to be Nintendo's ultimate sporting getaway? Let's find out!
Bowling was one of the first sports I jumped into, and it's every bit as enjoyable as I remember. You use a Joy-Con 2 to aim and roll the ball, and I still get a kick out of watching a well-placed shot knock down every pin. Special Bowling adds obstacles to the lanes, while the 100-Pin Game gives you a ridiculous number of pins to knock over. This mode event has a perfect score of 3,000 to chase, which should keep Bowling fans occupied for quite a while.
Tennis is another old favourite that I had plenty of fun revisiting. Swinging the Joy-Con 2 works much like it did in previous games, with your timing helping determine where the ball travels. You can play regular six- or eleven-point matches across three courts, or try Laid-Back Match with an enormous tennis ball. I especially enjoyed the longer rallies, although I'd welcome a little finer control over where my shots end up.
Table Tennis offers a different challenge, with more precise shot placement and the ability to add spin to your returns. I found it particularly satisfying when I managed to keep a difficult rally going. Archery is another excellent returning sport, with twelve ranges where you aim and fire at targets. Its Special mode adds an entertaining twist by dividing targets into four coloured sections, where hitting an opponent's colour awards them points instead.
Golf is still a personal favourite of mine, particularly because of how much goes into landing that perfect shot. You choose a club, check the wind and swing your Joy-Con 2 to send the ball flying. With 27 holes available, there's a lot of green to keep you busy.
Boxing makes good use of two Joy-Con 2 controllers, letting you throw punches, dodge incoming attacks and block your opponent. Matches last up to three rounds unless someone scores a knockout. I found the back-and-forth action entertaining, especially when I managed to land a clean counterattack after avoiding a punch.
Volleyball also makes a welcome return, with familiar bumping and spiking controls. I particularly liked Bump to the Beat, which turns returning the ball into a rhythm challenge. Basketball offers even more variety, including two-on-two matches and several three-point shooting competitions. Five-Streak Battle became a personal favourite, challenging me to sink five consecutive three-pointers in sixty seconds. One miss sends your streak back to zero, and believe me, that last shot can be nerve-racking.
Then there's Thumb Wrestling, easily one of the funniest additions. You tilt the controller to wrestle your opponent's thumb, trying to hold it down for three seconds in a best-of-three contest. You can also power up your thumb to make pinning easier, although doing so gives your opponent an opportunity to attack. I had way more fun with this than I expected, especially once I started figuring out when to charge up and when to go for the pin.
The three leisure sports were another huge hit with my family. Power Cruising lets you race across the water by twisting and tilting your controllers to accelerate and steer. Prop Plane puts you in control of an aircraft, with controller movements that mimic steering a toy plane. Both bring back the familiar enjoyment of exploring Wuhu Island, and each has competitive activities to try as well.
Skateboarding is the brand-new leisure sports addition that makes the most interesting use of Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. You use a Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode, sliding it across a surface to gain speed and tilting it to turn. You can also grind rails and perform tricks by moving the controller. It took me a little practice to get comfortable with the mouse controls, though I had a great time once the movements became familiar.
What I enjoyed most about these three sports was using them in Sightseeing Tour, which gives you five minutes to explore Wuhu Island across land (skateboarding), sea (Power Cruising) and air (Prop Plane), while completing missions and finding collectibles. You can collect Spocco Photos by finding camera markers scattered around the island, which reveal information about different landmarks. There are also Island Missions, which challenge you to complete tasks such as popping balloons or collecting particular items.
Between the competitive events and all these sightseeing activities, Nintendo has given us a superb selection of sports that are a joy to play and switch between.
I had a particularly good time working through these rankings because they encouraged me to improve at sports I already enjoyed. The early matches give you a chance to practise, while the tougher opponents demand more accurate shots and better timing. Reaching the top of a ranking actually feels like something you've earned, especially after struggling against an opponent who's particularly good at returning everything you throw at them.
There's also a good number of achievements to chase, with five available for each of the twelve sports. Some involve winning matches under specific conditions, while others challenge you to perform particular actions. As someone who loves 100% completing my games, I enjoyed having these goals as they always gave me something to work toward.
As you complete activities, you earn Spocco Points that can be spent at the Item Center on character customization items. There are outfits, accessories, sports equipment and other cosmetic rewards available through rotating collections. The items are randomized, so you don't always get exactly what you're hoping for, although I enjoyed gradually expanding my character's wardrobe and like that there were seasonal items. Best of all, you can earn these rewards through solo activities instead of relying entirely on online matches.
Of course, Nintendo's sports games have always been fantastic for playing with other people, and Resort absolutely delivers on that front. Up to four people can compete locally on one Nintendo Switch 2, with favourites like Bowling and Tennis making for some seriously entertaining competitions. I also appreciated how quickly everyone could get into the action, since the sports are all intuitive and only require a few controller movements to grasp the basics.
Online multiplayer gives you even more options. Casual Play offers unranked competition across nine sports, while Pro League features ranked matches against opponents of similar skill. Friend Lobbies support up to eight people, with a maximum of two sharing one console. Survival Bowling is another great addition, featuring elimination rounds with up to sixteen competitors.
I particularly loved how well the single-player and multiplayer sides complement each other. Island Crown gives you plenty to tackle alone, while local and online competitions provide a completely different experience when you're in the mood for some friendly rivalry. It's easily one of the strongest aspects of this sequel.
I also enjoyed seeing the scenery from different perspectives. Flying above Wuhu Island in Prop Plane gives you a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape, while Power Cruising lets you admire the coastline from the water. Skateboarding brings you much closer to the various paths and structures scattered around the island to check out all the finer details. I thought having these different ways to explore made the resort a much more interesting place to visit.
The character designs also fit Nintendo's playful approach to the series. You can choose to be a Sportsmate that has a cartoon-like appearance, or you can use a traditional Mii if you prefer the older Nintendo style. I liked having both options, especially with all the available hairstyles, outfits and accessories to really customize and personalize your character. It's also fun seeing seeing your character's style evolve after you've collected a decent selection of items.
Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
By Paul Hunter
Nintendo revolutionized gaming with Wii Sports when it first came out, and Wii Sports Resort built on that foundation to become an even bigger favourite of mine. Wuhu Island was such a fun place to visit, and I've always wanted Nintendo to give us a return trip.
Well, that day has finally arrived! Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is now available on Nintendo Switch 2, developed by Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo. Following 2022's Nintendo Switch Sports, this sequel brings back the familiar island setting with a much bigger collection of activities to enjoy. I've been looking forward to this one, especially with Nintendo bringing back so many of my favourites from the Wii era. So, does Wuhu Island still have what it takes to be Nintendo's ultimate sporting getaway? Let's find out!
The 12 Sports
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort gives you a whole lot of activities to play around with. There are twelve sports in total, divided between nine competitive events and three leisure sports that let you explore Wuhu Island. Most are returning favourites from earlier Nintendo sports games, while Thumb Wrestling and Skateboarding make their franchise debuts. Better yet, several sports now have extra modes that give you different ways to enjoy them.Bowling was one of the first sports I jumped into, and it's every bit as enjoyable as I remember. You use a Joy-Con 2 to aim and roll the ball, and I still get a kick out of watching a well-placed shot knock down every pin. Special Bowling adds obstacles to the lanes, while the 100-Pin Game gives you a ridiculous number of pins to knock over. This mode event has a perfect score of 3,000 to chase, which should keep Bowling fans occupied for quite a while.
Tennis is another old favourite that I had plenty of fun revisiting. Swinging the Joy-Con 2 works much like it did in previous games, with your timing helping determine where the ball travels. You can play regular six- or eleven-point matches across three courts, or try Laid-Back Match with an enormous tennis ball. I especially enjoyed the longer rallies, although I'd welcome a little finer control over where my shots end up.
Table Tennis offers a different challenge, with more precise shot placement and the ability to add spin to your returns. I found it particularly satisfying when I managed to keep a difficult rally going. Archery is another excellent returning sport, with twelve ranges where you aim and fire at targets. Its Special mode adds an entertaining twist by dividing targets into four coloured sections, where hitting an opponent's colour awards them points instead.
Golf is still a personal favourite of mine, particularly because of how much goes into landing that perfect shot. You choose a club, check the wind and swing your Joy-Con 2 to send the ball flying. With 27 holes available, there's a lot of green to keep you busy.
Boxing makes good use of two Joy-Con 2 controllers, letting you throw punches, dodge incoming attacks and block your opponent. Matches last up to three rounds unless someone scores a knockout. I found the back-and-forth action entertaining, especially when I managed to land a clean counterattack after avoiding a punch.
Volleyball also makes a welcome return, with familiar bumping and spiking controls. I particularly liked Bump to the Beat, which turns returning the ball into a rhythm challenge. Basketball offers even more variety, including two-on-two matches and several three-point shooting competitions. Five-Streak Battle became a personal favourite, challenging me to sink five consecutive three-pointers in sixty seconds. One miss sends your streak back to zero, and believe me, that last shot can be nerve-racking.
Then there's Thumb Wrestling, easily one of the funniest additions. You tilt the controller to wrestle your opponent's thumb, trying to hold it down for three seconds in a best-of-three contest. You can also power up your thumb to make pinning easier, although doing so gives your opponent an opportunity to attack. I had way more fun with this than I expected, especially once I started figuring out when to charge up and when to go for the pin.
The three leisure sports were another huge hit with my family. Power Cruising lets you race across the water by twisting and tilting your controllers to accelerate and steer. Prop Plane puts you in control of an aircraft, with controller movements that mimic steering a toy plane. Both bring back the familiar enjoyment of exploring Wuhu Island, and each has competitive activities to try as well.
Skateboarding is the brand-new leisure sports addition that makes the most interesting use of Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. You use a Joy-Con 2 in mouse mode, sliding it across a surface to gain speed and tilting it to turn. You can also grind rails and perform tricks by moving the controller. It took me a little practice to get comfortable with the mouse controls, though I had a great time once the movements became familiar.
What I enjoyed most about these three sports was using them in Sightseeing Tour, which gives you five minutes to explore Wuhu Island across land (skateboarding), sea (Power Cruising) and air (Prop Plane), while completing missions and finding collectibles. You can collect Spocco Photos by finding camera markers scattered around the island, which reveal information about different landmarks. There are also Island Missions, which challenge you to complete tasks such as popping balloons or collecting particular items.
Between the competitive events and all these sightseeing activities, Nintendo has given us a superb selection of sports that are a joy to play and switch between.
Island Crown & Multiplayer
I was really happy to see Nintendo put more effort into the single-player experience this time around. Island Crown is a new mode available across nine competitive sports, where you start at twentieth place and work your way up a ranking of CPU opponents. Each victory brings you closer to facing that sport's Island Champion, and the competition gets noticeably tougher as you move higher.I had a particularly good time working through these rankings because they encouraged me to improve at sports I already enjoyed. The early matches give you a chance to practise, while the tougher opponents demand more accurate shots and better timing. Reaching the top of a ranking actually feels like something you've earned, especially after struggling against an opponent who's particularly good at returning everything you throw at them.
There's also a good number of achievements to chase, with five available for each of the twelve sports. Some involve winning matches under specific conditions, while others challenge you to perform particular actions. As someone who loves 100% completing my games, I enjoyed having these goals as they always gave me something to work toward.
As you complete activities, you earn Spocco Points that can be spent at the Item Center on character customization items. There are outfits, accessories, sports equipment and other cosmetic rewards available through rotating collections. The items are randomized, so you don't always get exactly what you're hoping for, although I enjoyed gradually expanding my character's wardrobe and like that there were seasonal items. Best of all, you can earn these rewards through solo activities instead of relying entirely on online matches.
Of course, Nintendo's sports games have always been fantastic for playing with other people, and Resort absolutely delivers on that front. Up to four people can compete locally on one Nintendo Switch 2, with favourites like Bowling and Tennis making for some seriously entertaining competitions. I also appreciated how quickly everyone could get into the action, since the sports are all intuitive and only require a few controller movements to grasp the basics.
Online multiplayer gives you even more options. Casual Play offers unranked competition across nine sports, while Pro League features ranked matches against opponents of similar skill. Friend Lobbies support up to eight people, with a maximum of two sharing one console. Survival Bowling is another great addition, featuring elimination rounds with up to sixteen competitors.
I particularly loved how well the single-player and multiplayer sides complement each other. Island Crown gives you plenty to tackle alone, while local and online competitions provide a completely different experience when you're in the mood for some friendly rivalry. It's easily one of the strongest aspects of this sequel.
Presentation and Audio
Visually, I was really happy with how Nintendo brought Wuhu Island back to Nintendo Switch 2. The familiar tropical setting immediately made me nostalgic of Wii Sports Resort, especially with the mountain overlooking the coastline and all the surrounding water. There are additional landmarks and smaller islands to discover this time, giving the resort a larger area to explore. And, of course, using the extra power of Nintendo Switch 2 the entire resort has never looked better.I also enjoyed seeing the scenery from different perspectives. Flying above Wuhu Island in Prop Plane gives you a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape, while Power Cruising lets you admire the coastline from the water. Skateboarding brings you much closer to the various paths and structures scattered around the island to check out all the finer details. I thought having these different ways to explore made the resort a much more interesting place to visit.
The character designs also fit Nintendo's playful approach to the series. You can choose to be a Sportsmate that has a cartoon-like appearance, or you can use a traditional Mii if you prefer the older Nintendo style. I liked having both options, especially with all the available hairstyles, outfits and accessories to really customize and personalize your character. It's also fun seeing seeing your character's style evolve after you've collected a decent selection of items.
The Verdict
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is an excellent addition to Nintendo's sports franchise, and I had an absolute blast playing it with my family and friends. The twelve sports offer plenty of variety, while the expanded Leisure Sports activities make exploring Wuhu Island a genuine pleasure. Island Crown is another welcome addition, giving solo gamers something worthwhile to work toward. With pick-up-and-play controls, plenty of unlockables and fantastic multiplayer options, there's a lot here to keep you and your friends entertained. Whether I'm competing for a better ranking or simply enjoying another trip around Wuhu Island, this is a Nintendo Switch 2 game I'll happily keep coming back to.Final Score: 8/10 - Great
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort details
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer