Nintendo Switch Sports was not a very good game. That’s why, when I went to pick up my copy of its new Resort-ified sibling last week, I was pretty worried. I assumed Nintendo was bound to half-ass this game too, especially after trailers showed off a pretty bland-looking version of Wuhu Island complete with the return of those oft-hated Sportsmates). And, as someone who has had “Wuhu Island” set as my location in my Twitter bio for the better part of a decade, I was prepared to be a little pissed off about the game’s treatment of my favorite digital locale.
But Wuhu Island, for some reason, is ridiculously delightful to explore in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. And even though it’s missing a little bit of its Wii-era charm, this might be the best version of Wuhu Island yet.
Wuhu Island has gone through quite a few changes during its dormant years. A larger archipelago has sprung up around the central island, new caves have been carved into the island’s mountains, and new cafes and other attractions have been built up. Sports have been relocated and nestled into the island’s natural landscape, too—the island’s volleyball court is hidden inside a forest speckled with streams, while the basketball court now resides next to a peaceful lake, earning it the extremely charming name “Hoop Haven.” All of these changes really shine in Prop Plane, Power Cruising, and Skateboarding, the three sports that let you explore Wuhu Island as an open world.
Prop Plane is the clear winner here, being the sport returning from Wii Sports Resort and also the sport with the most Spocco Photos, or points of interest, to track down. Despite having been in a bit of a gaming slump recently, I spent the past two days finding all 105 of Wuhu Island’s Spocco Photos and earned a cute little crown for my efforts. And even though I’ve now explored Wuhu Island so much that I now can go outside, see a real-life landmark, and think, “Wow, there should be a Spocco Photo there,” I still find myself returning to my plane to hunt down each and every last side mission, like the island’s countless white balloons to shoot down and its hibiscuses that are tucked away in particularly tough-to-reach locations.
But the other two sightseeing sports are almost as delightful, finally letting players explore Wuhu Island from the ground and sea in addition to the sky. Last night, my friends and I loved skateboarding via the mode’s surprisingly functional mouse controls (and scraping the heck out of my coffee table in the process) as we teamed up to find our first few photos, and I’m excited to tackle the rest whenever I have the time.
My favorite part of Wuhu Island, though, is just how alive this place feels in comparison to whatever was up with Nintendo Switch Sports. The island certainly has a few sparser spots, but it’s easy to see how much care was put into creating each landmark, as well as the lore read out by the game’s narrator whenever you discover a new photo. I love learning about the island’s floating cafe, running into a gaggle of boats gathered to watch a whale jump, and seeing my Miis and (sigh) even the Sportsmates hanging out together and soaking in that island sun. I just love it all so much!!!
