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TheMisterManGuy on 14 October 2023
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In addition to its console-on-the-go nature, one of the Nintendo Switch's key features is its Joy-Con controllers. Not only do they make the hybrid premise of the platform possible, but Nintendo has marketed them as defacto successors to the Wii Remote when the Switch was being revealed with improved motion senors and the HD Rumble feature. Unlike the Wii though, where the Remote's limited button layout necessitated motion for many of its games, for better and worse. The Joy-Con have all the inputs of a standard game controller as well, so developers can more easily ignore motion controls entirely if they so chose.

That said, there are plenty of Switch games that incorporate motion based features into their games, either in subtle or big ways. Motion Controls on Switch come in many flavors

  • Gyro aim/steering for shooters or games with Shooting elements (BotW/TotK, Splatoon, Fortnite, etc.) or racers (Mario Kart), perhaps the most used and subtle implementation, most accessible for handheld mode and the Pro Controller.
  • Gyro-based pointing meant to adapt touch-screen focused games to the TV (World of Goo, Shadow Bug)
  • Games with gesture based motion controls as an alternative control scheme to the default button-based controls (Neir Autonoma, Skyrim, Mario Tennis/Golf) best played with the detached Joy-Con.
  • Games with alternate game modes specifically designed for motion controls separate from the main game (Clubhouse Games, Project DIVA MegaMix)
  • Games designed with detached Joy-Con motion controls as the default, but also support button alternatives (ARMS, Mario Odyssey, NMH III, Skyward Sword HD)
  • Games that exclusively use Motion Controls, no button controls supported (Nintendo Switch Sports, Ring-Fit Adventure, WarioWare Move It!)
Seeing as the Switch is supposed to be in its twilight phase, what has been your favorite implementation of Motion Controls on the system? Assuming you're playing with its intended detached Joy-Con method, Mario Odyssey has some of the best implementation of motion controls on the Switch IMO. Flicking the controller to throw Cappy feels very satisfying and the degree of control you have over your throws feels really intuitive and entertaining.

I also think Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze on Switch is the definitive version if you use motion controls. The Hand-slap feels far more satisfying with waggle and unlike DKC Returns on Wii, you're not forced to use it for rolling as a basic roll is still mapped to the Y button.
 
Last edited by TheMisterManGuy - on 14 October 2023