Switch Sportsis the successor to Nintendo’s massive pack-in game of yesteryear, Wii Sports.
The six sports available at launch are Volleyball, Badminton, Bowling, Soccer, Chambara, and Tennis.
Like Wii Sports, the games in Switch Sports rely on motion controls through your JoyCon controllers.
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Here are some tips to get you started in your Switch Sports career.
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It uses two remotes, one of which is reserved just for positioning.
You get bonuses for timing which power up your shots.
However, volleyball is one of the sports most prone to misjudging your timing due to animations.
Badminton
Badminton is the classic backyard game in 1v1 style, which helps differentiate it from tennis.
It only uses one remote, which means your avatar will auto-position itself during the match.
You’ll instead be responsible for quick wrist flicks and swings that control your racquet.
Be sure to judiciously use drop shots by holding the shoulder button while you swing.
Your best bet for scoring, though, is to watch the colored trails appearing from the shuttlecock.
The colors represent different speeds.
When the trail color turns purple, that’s your cue to do an overhead shot.
This will result in a fast-moving power-shot with a pink trail that’s much harder to return.
There is a new twist here, with a Special mode that creates obstacles down the lane.
Think of it as bowling meets mini-golf.
Soccer
Switch Sports soccer is very little like actual soccer.
The ball is massive and the field is small.
You will use the JoyCon to flick and activate your kicks, or both at once to lunge.
Most of your positioning will be done more like a traditional video game, using the regular analog stick.
you’re free to play 1v1 or 4v4, which offer very different kinds of experiences.
Occasionally a Gold Ball will come into play, which offers double the scoring value.
When this happens, pick your play.
If you’re ahead by a point or two, go on defense.
It’s more important to prevent your opponent from closing the gap than to expand your own lead.
Each comes with its own special moves.
Chambara is all about angling your blocks and attacks.
Your opponent’s block is highlighted in blue so it’s easy to read and swipe accordingly.
Finally, secure your power moves for when you’re in danger of going over the edge.
The major difference is that Tennis is 2v2 instead of 1v1.
In practice this can be tricky.
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