​Super Beat Sports Review

By Kevin Mitchell  |  Posted: November 8, 2017

Harmonix has traded their plastic instruments and licensed music tracks for cute and cuddly aliens challenging players to five musical sporting events. Hailing from the Muzicalian galaxy, these rhythm-obsessed creatures star in this Nintendo Switch exclusive that aims to appeal to gamers of all ages through both single-player and multiplayer modes.

Whacky Ball features multiple lanes where you must time your swings to the beat while hitting baseballs back at alien pitchers. The standard mode offers three lanes, while pro mode expands to five, similar to Rock Band's difficulty scaling. Each song culminates in a boss battle against a supersized pitcher throwing increasingly bizarre pitches. Visual tracking becomes nearly impossible, making rhythm your essential guide. With 27 different songs and levels - the most of any included mini-game - the content feels substantial. Two-player mode adds color-coding, requiring players to hit only their designated balls.

Super Beat Sports features over 50 unlockable customization items. Beyond the initial selection of skin tones, players earn new equipment and costumes. Swingable items range from traditional sporting gear like cricket bats and tennis rackets to whimsical choices such as electric guitars and garden gnomes (my personal favorite), each with unique sound effects. Experience points are limited to cooperative two-player games (Whacky Bat, Net Ball, and Gobble Golf), though ironically, the competitive modes prove more entertaining. The game also supports local wireless play.

Net Ball offers a more accessible experience, mimicking doubles beach volleyball. Whether playing with an AI partner or another player, success depends purely on timing your hits. The game shows considerable leniency with timing windows. Pro mode increases note density but remains manageable without movement requirements. Occasional spike opportunities add variety through quick-time events. There's something inherently delightful about playing beach volleyball with aliens while dressed as a hockey player wielding a garden gnome.

Buddy Ball tests reflexes as players bounce balls between three platform-mounted targets and their opponent. This indirect racquetball variant introduces power-ups that dramatically alter rhythm or add hazardous bomb targets. Supporting up to four players, the game requires sharp reflexes and strategic targeting. With three lives per player, matches continue until one player remains. Despite being one of the better events, it features only four songs. During intense moments, button-mashing often supersedes musical timing.

Rhythm Racket, the second competitive game, blends Pong and air hockey for up to four players. Defending your three-lane goal, you can bunt incoming balls or aim powerful smash shots. Dynamic arenas introduce breakable bricks and direction-changing aliens, though music plays a lesser role compared to positioning and timing. While engaging in one-on-one matches, the game truly shines in chaotic four-player competitions. Even solo players will find the AI provides adequate challenge across difficulty levels.

The final event, Gobble Golf, proves the most frustrating. Players must anticipate when aliens open their mouths across nine rounds, typically requiring preemptive shots. Higher scores reward feeding more aliens, with multiple attempts permitted per round. However, the experience feels less engaging than other mini-games, becoming repetitive and tedious. Issues with jumping alien targeting mechanics, specifically unreliable button-hold controls, further diminish the experience. The 12 stages and pro challenges failed to maintain interest.

Simply Put

True to Harmonix's expertise, Super Beat Sports includes audio-visual calibration options for optimal timing. This fresh direction from annual Rock Band releases demonstrates their continued innovation in rhythm gaming, wrapped in a charming, colorful package. The visual presentation impresses in both portable and docked modes, maintaining consistently sharp graphics throughout.