Nintendo Switch Sports left plenty of room for improvement, so returning to its island setting in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort came with understandable reservations. Wuhu Island had also been presented as a fairly plain-looking place in the trailers, while the return of the unpopular Sportsmates did little to inspire confidence.
Those concerns quickly faded. Wuhu Island is remarkably enjoyable to explore in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. It has lost some of the charm associated with its Wii-era appearances, but this may be the most satisfying version of the island so far.
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A larger, livelier Wuhu Island
The island has changed considerably during its time away. A wider archipelago now surrounds the main island, caves have been added to its mountains, and new cafés and other attractions fill out the landscape.
The sports venues have also been integrated into the environment rather than simply placed beside it. Volleyball takes place in a forest crossed by streams, while basketball sits beside a tranquil lake in an area called “Hoop Haven”. These details are especially effective in Prop Plane, Power Cruising and Skateboarding, the three activities that turn Wuhu Island into an open world.
Prop Plane is the standout
Prop Plane is the strongest of the three exploration-focused sports. It returns from Wii Sports Resort and offers the largest collection of Spocco Photos, the points of interest scattered around the island.
There are 105 Spocco Photos to discover. Finding every one over two days earned a small crown, but the collection is only part of the attraction. Prop Plane also encourages repeat visits through side activities, including shooting down white balloons and locating hibiscuses hidden in difficult-to-reach places.
The search can become absorbing enough to change how familiar landmarks look outside the game: real-world sights may start to resemble locations that deserve a Spocco Photo.
Exploring by land and water
Power Cruising and Skateboarding add ground- and sea-level perspectives to Wuhu Island, complementing the aerial view provided by Prop Plane. Skateboarding is surprisingly functional with mouse controls, making it possible to explore with friends while searching for the first handful of photos and planning future expeditions.
That variety gives the island a stronger sense of place than the rest of Nintendo Switch Sports. Some areas remain relatively sparse, but the individual landmarks feel thoughtfully designed, and the narrator provides additional lore whenever a new photo is found.
A setting with genuine character
The small touches make Wuhu Island particularly appealing. Players can learn about its floating café, encounter groups of boats gathered to watch a whale breach, and see Miis alongside Sportsmates enjoying the island sunshine.
After a disappointing first impression of Nintendo Switch Sports, Wuhu Island is an unexpected success. Its open-ended sightseeing activities, collectables and environmental details give the setting a sense of life that the earlier game struggled to create.
If this kind of interactive exploration appeals to you, RETROCADE also covers dedicated arcade machines, compact bartop arcades and virtual pinball machines.
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