Fans weren't exactly begging for a new Nintendo sports game to be revealed at last month's Direct, but the announcement of Nintendo Switch Sports was nonetheless met with a warm reception. The sequel to Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, Switch Sports promises players the same experiences as its predecessors, but on the Switch. Despite its similarities, though, early looks at the new sports title show that the developers are working to establish Switch Sports as its own game. A good example of these efforts is the inclusion of soccer, volleyball, and badminton this time around.
In addition to these new sports, however, other visible changes raised a lot of questions from fans. In the gameplay shown, there was no sight of Wuhu island, baseball and boxing weren't mentioned, and barely any Miis were seen. As discussions continued online, fans kept returning to the subject of one Mii avatar in particular: Matt from Wii Sports. The name will be instantly recognizable to some players familiar with the original sports titles. For others, though, some explanation of these obscure CPU Mii is warranted.
Matt's Explosive Debut in Wii Sports
Like most of the other characters in Wii Sports, the exact origin of Matt's design is unknown. Most likely, he's a Mii created by the game's developers to act as CPU opponents in competitive sports and background characters in casual sports. Other familiar faces appear throughout Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, such as Abby, Elisa, and Tommy.
Matt sticks out in the minds of players, however, because he served as the champion boxer in Wii Sports. Near impossible to beat, Matt lived up to his title and gave more than a few players reason to put down the Wiimote in a rage. He then returned in Wii Sports Resort as the champion of swordplay to continue his reign as hardest Mii CPU.
Memes of Wii Sports Matt
For the most part, Matt didn't garner a lot of attention during the Wii's lifecycle. Players recognized him and the difficulty of beating him in boxing and swordplay, but his reputation didn't really take off until later. Around 2018, the internet did what it does best and began circulating Wii-era memes of Matt. Different images of Matt depicted as a supernaturally powerful being were posted to various forums. One, for instance, depicted him as the cover image for an article listing "15 Characters Who Could Defeat Thanos." For many, it was surprising to learn just how common of an experience it was to have been demolished in a Wii Sports boxing match against Matt.
Matt in Switch Sports
Sadly, it's unknown whether Matt's notoriety as Nintendo's strongest will be enough to earn him a spot in Nintendo's new sports title. The most striking change noticed in its trailers is that Switch Sports includes Mii avatars, but only for the company's executives. Bearing cutesy, round eyes and realistic body proportions, the only CPU characters shown in the Switch Sports volleyball demo were named "Leo" and "Naomi."
While it isn't confirmed if familiar faces from Wii Sports will be excluded from Switch Sports, it certainly seems unlikely. Fans therefore flocked to Twitter following the Direct to express their disappointment at Matt's apparent absence. It's sad to imagine Matt and his legacy as reigning champ being left behind.
It makes sense that Switch Sports wants to establish its own identity given the popularity of Wii Sports. As one of the biggest games on one of the best-selling platforms of all time, Switch Sports has a big legacy to live up to. Regardless, it would be nice to see familiar faces like Matt and the other Wii Sports CPUs make an appearance. Memes can be a demonstration of fans' love for a game. Many other video game developers have, at the very least, acknowledged and made small nods to their audience, so it would be nice to see the same from a Nintendo Switch title. No matter what, Matt's legacy as an indomitable force of nature will live on.
Nintendo Switch Sports releases on April 29, 2022, for the Nintendo Switch.