Review: Switch Sports is transformed by its online modes

videogameschronicle.com:

Last week we published a ‘review in progress’ of Nintendo Switch Sports, saying it was impossible to give a definitive verdict on it at that point.

At the time of writing that review, Nintendo had still yet to turn on the online servers for Switch Sports, meaning our time with the game was offline-only.

Our concern was that because the offline component of Switch Sports is probably the least feature-packed of any game in the series, the online really needed to deliver longevity in order to make it a worthwhile purchase, especially for those who don’t have people to play nearby.

Thankfully, now we’ve spent some extensive time with the game’s online multiplayer, we can happily state that Switch Sports does indeed offer an entertaining package.

Before we look at the offline mode, however, let’s break down the six sports on offer.

The first is volleyball, which can be played by 1-4 players and is a strictly doubles affair. The aim here is to get the timing right when performing the pass, set and spike moves, all of which are done by flicking the Joy-Con. If you can time two or three of them well, it’ll increase the power of the spike.

Of the three net-based sports in the game, this is the only one where you have some degree of control over your character. If you’re defending at the net you can move left and right before jumping up to try and block a spike.

Volleyball is one of the weaker sports in the game. Once you get the timing down right there isn’t really much more to it, and you don’t really feel like you have much control over your spike.

Badminton fares better, if only because there’s a more obvious feeling that you have a degree of control over your strokes. You have no control over your player in these 1v1 matches, and the