Nintendo consoles have always had sports games. But a fan has now created a concept that looks like the perfect sports game for Switch players.
This is how sports works at Nintendo: Sports games, corresponding accessories and the Nintendo consoles have already had a longer, intensive relationship. Just think of Wii Sports or Wii Sports Resort, where players had to complete small sports games in front of the TV using the remote control. Or Wii Fit, where the balance board provided some sweaty experiences.
Recently, the game Ring Fit Adventure has prevailed on the Switch. It comes with the so-called Ring Con, which allows players to exercise through a fitness fantasy adventure. You then defeat various monsters through athletic effort – and the Ring Con can demand a lot from you over time.
The fan Mike Choi has now used this controller and a lot of creativity to create a new sports device using the Switch: the Labo Fit Adventure Kart. He demonstrated what it looks like in a short version on Twitter:
Mario Kart with Pedaling and Pumping
This is how it all works: As you can see in the video, Choi has built a setup that makes it possible to control Mario Kart through pure physical movements. Steering is done with the Ring Con, and items are activated by pressing the ring. If you want to hold onto an item, you have to keep holding it until you need it – anyone who has pressed the Ring Con before will know that this can be quite challenging over time.
Choi accelerates using a connected fitness bike (or “Bike-Con,” as he calls it in his video). Choi is really pedaling hard – and at a certain point, his kart then accelerates in the game. So if you want to drive fast consistently, you have to pedal quite a lot. It looks strenuous, but also quite fun and would probably be great as a party game.
This is made possible by a small module that Choi has created: the “TAPBO” (for which Choi even designed a small amiibo) includes the Joy-Con, receives signals from the other devices, and translates them into button inputs. According to Choi, this is just a concept, but the prototype is said to work. You can see what it looks like here in a longer and humorous video:
How well does it all work? In the video, Choi shows his creation in an online duel against other Mario Kart players. The game is controllable, but don’t expect many victories: The controls are relatively inaccurate, or difficult to implement. Also, the car stops moving when you stop pedaling – so no breaks are allowed.
Choi also shows the controller in action in Smash Bros., where he can effectively only use two buttons – which is definitely not enough. He himself refers to it as a “tactical disadvantage” – but this project is also not really about winning. What is clear is: Anyone who takes a few rounds in Kart with this controller is likely to get quite fit in a few weeks.
Do you prefer to play traditionally with friends in front of the console? Then you can find the best co-op games for Nintendo Switch here.
The title image comes from the video by Mike Choi.
