For a long time it didn't look like there was much hope that Wii Sports would find a place on the Switch, but with a little rebranding it seems Nintendo has found a way to reinvent the IP. Nintendo Switch Sports only just got announced, and it's already very close to release. Wii Sports fans can look forward to playing some classic games like Tennis and Bowling, as well as new games including Volleyball and Badminton. What's more, Golf will join the game in a free update later in the year, which suggests that Nintendo plans to support Nintendo Switch Sports over the long-term.
If that's the case, Nintendo should consider lifting the Air Sports category from Wii Sports Resort. This category covered a broad variety of activities, from casual propeller plane flights to skydiving, but it quickly became a defining characteristic of Wii Sports Resort. Its Island Flyover mode which even go on to inspire Pilotwings Resort. Nintendo Switch Sports' roster of traditional games looks good so far, but Nintendo ought to push the boundaries by introducing Air Sports. It would be a great opportunity to reinvent some classic Wii Sports content while drawing the attention of fans through nostalgia.
Reviving Wii Sports Resort's Air Sports
Air Sports is a great candidate for Nintendo Switch Sports partially because there's room for improvement. The Skydiving section of Wii Sports Resort's Air Sports category aimed for simplicity, but could stand to add a little more depth. Players linked up with other skydiving Miis, then turned and face the camera to earn points. The Skydiving concept worked well, but it could get repetitive pretty fast. It would be great to see Nintendo Switch Sports innovate on the Skydiving system, whether players can try to perform certain aerial maneuvers for bonus points or there are special collectibles to be found while falling.
Air Sports' Island Flyover mode could also be ported to Nintendo Switch Sports wholesale and it would probably still be warmly received. While Skydiving had a very strict gameplay loop, Island Flyover simply allowed players to explore Wuhu Island at their own pace, collecting iPoints that hovered above notable landmarks. Getting every iPoint was no easy task, so Island Flyover had plenty of replay value. It would be a great addition to Nintendo Switch Sports, whether players get to fly around Spocco Square or revisit Wuhu Island in high definition.
Building on Wii Sports' Nostalgia
Of all the sports that Nintendo Switch Sports could add in future updates, Air Sports seems particularly valuable because it would be a unique callback. Nintendo Switch Sports is already billing itself in large part on Wii Sports nostalgia, so Nintendo would be wise to add exclusive sports and features from previous games to Switch Sports in order to give fans more of what they already love. Air Sports is a particularly beloved part of Wii Sports Resort with a strong enough reputation to motivate a Pilotwings revival, so it seems like a shoo-in for future updates.
The odds of Air Sports returning in Nintendo Switch Sports are hard to predict because Nintendo hasn't been clear on how much additional content it wants to release. The upcoming Golf update could be an exclusive addition, or it could be the first of many sports to join the game across 2022 and 2023. Even if Nintendo doesn't update the game regularly, Nintendo Switch Sports DLC seems likely. Air Sports would be a strong DLC for the game, especially if it plays on fan nostalgia by taking players back to Wuhu Island. Switch Sports may be moving away from Miis, but it could still revisit the famous Mii resort island to celebrate the games that came before.
Nintendo Switch Sports releases April 29, 2022 for Nintendo Switch.