Playing Wii Bowling Remains a Family Affair Years Later
I still get taken aback by how much my mum loves playing Wii Bowling. To me, she was a formidable opponent back in the day – unbeatable, to be honest. Her prowess with a Wii remote was unmatched, and I'm now facing off against her on the updated Nintendo Switch Sports version of our family's beloved game.
The truth is, bowling has been an enduring staple of gaming for us Diamond family members. My mum acquired a fondness for it during a Christmas in Canada back in 2006, and over time, we've grown to appreciate its simplicity – an art form that requires precision, timing, and a bit of luck.
Switch Sports still has a lot going for it, especially when you factor in the bowling aspect. But other sports like tennis, golf, volleyball, badminton, basketball, football, and fencing are hit or miss with me, largely due to their complexity and lack of appeal. In contrast, bowling is where my mum finds solace – an activity that allows her to let loose.
Even so, there were a few caveats she had with the new version. First off, the updated Mii characters seem too realistic to her liking; she much prefers the more stylized look of Wii Sports' Mii characters. Moreover, she misses the traditional "NICE SPARE!" phrase in place of the more muted "spare" message.
On another note, it's amusing how my mum still can't get over the Joy-Con controllers being smaller compared to the original Wii remote. She jokingly claims that they're too small and prefer a bigger grip when playing games.
When we sat down to play together for the first time after her visit – sans distractions from other family members – the dynamic of our gaming session was completely different. We chatted more, reminisced about old times, and talked about how my mum introduced me to video games in the first place. I'd love it if my kids and their future generations followed suit and challenged me in a game or two.
Playing games with her is a cherished experience for me. It's something we've enjoyed throughout our years together as a family – from playing Manic Mining on our ZX Spectrum to now taking part in bowling sessions. At 76, she may be slowing down in some areas of life but has still managed to keep an active interest in gaming.
As much as I hope my kids beat me at Street Fighter II one day when my thumb mobility becomes a problem, it's the memories and time spent playing Wii Bowling that we share together which truly matters.
I still get taken aback by how much my mum loves playing Wii Bowling. To me, she was a formidable opponent back in the day – unbeatable, to be honest. Her prowess with a Wii remote was unmatched, and I'm now facing off against her on the updated Nintendo Switch Sports version of our family's beloved game.
The truth is, bowling has been an enduring staple of gaming for us Diamond family members. My mum acquired a fondness for it during a Christmas in Canada back in 2006, and over time, we've grown to appreciate its simplicity – an art form that requires precision, timing, and a bit of luck.
Switch Sports still has a lot going for it, especially when you factor in the bowling aspect. But other sports like tennis, golf, volleyball, badminton, basketball, football, and fencing are hit or miss with me, largely due to their complexity and lack of appeal. In contrast, bowling is where my mum finds solace – an activity that allows her to let loose.
Even so, there were a few caveats she had with the new version. First off, the updated Mii characters seem too realistic to her liking; she much prefers the more stylized look of Wii Sports' Mii characters. Moreover, she misses the traditional "NICE SPARE!" phrase in place of the more muted "spare" message.
On another note, it's amusing how my mum still can't get over the Joy-Con controllers being smaller compared to the original Wii remote. She jokingly claims that they're too small and prefer a bigger grip when playing games.
When we sat down to play together for the first time after her visit – sans distractions from other family members – the dynamic of our gaming session was completely different. We chatted more, reminisced about old times, and talked about how my mum introduced me to video games in the first place. I'd love it if my kids and their future generations followed suit and challenged me in a game or two.
Playing games with her is a cherished experience for me. It's something we've enjoyed throughout our years together as a family – from playing Manic Mining on our ZX Spectrum to now taking part in bowling sessions. At 76, she may be slowing down in some areas of life but has still managed to keep an active interest in gaming.
As much as I hope my kids beat me at Street Fighter II one day when my thumb mobility becomes a problem, it's the memories and time spent playing Wii Bowling that we share together which truly matters.