With the latest Nintendo Direct showcasingNintendo Switch Sports,many players who cut their teeth on 2006’sWii Sportswere reminded of the fun that format can bring. By presenting multiple sports as simple, effective mini-games that imitate the movements of the sport they’re representing, the content that such titles offer feels substantial, making it a good inclusion for theFebruary 2022 Nintendo Direct.
WhileNintendo Switch Sportsshares similarities with the Wii’s sports title, it’s not the first leisure activity game that has released on Switch.Wii Sportswas a launch title for Nintendo’s new system, codenamed “Revolution,” but the arrival of its spiritual successorNintendo Switch Sportsis set to release over five years after the console hit shelves. In that time a plethora of sports games have released, with many coming from first-party developers under theSuper Mariobanner. Though each can offer polished presentations and enjoyable gameplay, theMarioSports games often leave a lot to be desired.Nintendo Switch Sportsis in a prime position to correct Mario’s missteps, and when it releases in April players will know if it succeeds in such a feat.
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Mario’s Many Athletic Talents
Mario is a man of many talents. From Grand Prix driver, to doctor, Mario’s resume is as decorated as he is charming, and many of his proficiencies lie in the realm of sports. There are multiple Nintendo sports games including Baseball, Tennis, Soccer, and even a range of Olympic events. Most offer tight controls and a gameplay loop that is innovative yet natural, with somenotable exceptions such as the reviledMario Tennis: Ultra Smash, but often fun mechanics come at the cost of content. Rarely doMariosports games come packed with modes, side activities, or optional extras.
By providing just a single sport, the respective development teams ofMariosports games can focus on perfecting the feel of that activity, but once a few rounds ofMario Golf: Super Rushor a few sets ofMario Tennis Aceshave been completed, the incentive to return is greatly diminished. WithMario Sports Superstarsin 2017, Nintendo looked to correct the issue and offered five distinct sports that featured many inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom, but with the relative simplicity of its sports the offerings felt lackluster.
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Nintendo Switch Sports' Opportunity to Leap Over Mario
Nintendo Switch Sportshas the luxury of not having the ever-expanding weight of Mario’s name tied to the project.Comparisons will more likely be drawn toWii Sports, but whereMario Sports Superstarsfailed,Nintendo Switch Sportscan reaffirm that first-party sports games don’t need Mario to succeed. Nintendo is shaping up to have an impressive 2022, and withNintendo Switch Sportsarriving in the spring andMario Strikers: Battle Leaguein the summer, each of the games' approaches to the sports genre are sure to stand out.
Instead ofMario’s sports format of creating, polishing, and perfecting the way a single event feels,Nintendo Switch Sportsis placing emphasis on six distinct activities, with more like Golf coming down the line, making the quantity of events its main source of content. Instead of returning to the same gameplay loop and shooting even further under par,Nintendo Switch Sports’philosophy allows it the opportunity to stay in gamers' rotation for weeks, or even months. A title featuring many sports alsohas potential for more DLC, which could serve to heighten the game’s longevity.
Nintendo Switch Sportswill have to forge a place in acrowded market of Nintendo sports games, but by offering something unique to Mario’s single-sport titles it stands a good chance of succeeding. Not only this, there’s a chanceNintendo Switch Sportscan correct the content-sparse formula ofMariosports games, and keep players coming back in the months after its release.
