Ahh, 2006. A time when Nintendo launched a brand new console where the controller looked like a TV remote. But, with its pack-in freebie the Nintendo Wii took the world by storm thanks to a little experience known as Wii Sports. And now, some 15 years later it's back, in Pog form in Switch form.

A snippet from our Nintendo Switch Sports review.

The best way to view Nintendo Switch Sports is as an indirect sequel to the original Wii Sports. Indirect in the sense that the original Wii Sports got an actual sequel after its 2006 debut; with the arrival of Wii Sports Resort in 2009. Here you’ve got a similar setup, more motion-controlled recreations of real-world sports, some returning favourites thrown in, online and local multiplayer, but very little in the way of robust features.

A blessing and a curse, simplicity and accessibility was always Wii Sports’ charm, though it's hard to overlook some of the glaring omissions that come with that in the year 2022. The setup or framework is that you're a visitor or citizen of Spocco Square and it’s supposed to be this vibrant locale home to many sports. An original Nintendo creation, except that outside of the admittedly visually appealing stadiums, it’s a glorified menu where you select what sport to play.

Inadvertently calling Nintendo Switch Sports lifeless is somewhat harsh, especially for an admittedly lively party gae. The clinical lack of personality does fade once you get an actual room full of people taking turns duking it out in 1v1 Badminton or 2v2 Tennis. Nintendo Switch Sports lives up to its namesake in that the sports are both the star of the show, and the entirety of the experience.

Our Full Nintendo Switch Sports Review

Here's the thing, enough time has passed that you could call the original Wii Sports a retro game, and the Wii itself a retro console. First hitting the scene back in 2006 it became the benchmark for the new world of motion-controlled gaming. After going hands on with all six sports of Nintendo Switch Sports it's safe to say that it's a great day for tennis.

A snippet (covering Volleyball and Bowling).

The days of motion being how you go about controlling every Nintendo game are gone, but each and every Joy-Con comes packed with an accelerometer and gyroscope to track motion. So right off the bat, Nintendo Switch Sports takes advantage of the hardware that slots into either side of the console. And even though we’re also beyond the time when elaborate physical movement was the thing you did when playing Wii Sports, it’s the sort of habit that’s hard to shake when the results are immediate and fun.

As a new sport for the series, Volleyball is all about multiplayer action with up to four players serving, setting up the ball, spiking and blocking. Simple hand gestures that mimic the real-world sport, plus jumping, becoming a stand-in for the real deal. Coloured trails and on-screen notifications let you know if your timing was too early or too late, and building up combos ensures that skill and teamwork are rewarded in kind. Accessibility has always been at the forefront of Wii Sports as a unique experience, and volleyball keeps that in check with the complexity coming from the sport itself.

On the flip side to this is Bowling, which elevates the original’s ten-pin setup thanks to being able to bowl simultaneously with other players - significantly improving the pick-up-and-play quality of the excellent mode. Setting up angles, adding a spin, its motion control at its simplest and more intuitive - and with the original now falling under the “retro game” category in terms of age, a necessary and very welcome addition.

Our Full Nintendo Switch Sports Hands-On