The Accolade Sports Collection brings together five sports games from the early ’90s, and let’s just say, time has definitely taken its toll on them. These games might not scream “classic” or “epic” in today’s gaming world, but having owned three of them in cartridge form, they do hold a certain nostalgia for me. So, is this collection a must-have for the Nintendo Switch?
Let’s dive into the two games from the collection I hadn’t owned before: Hardball and its sequel. I have a certain appreciation for the original Hardball because of what it brought to the table back in the day – it not only kicked off a series but also made a cameo in the intro of The Princess Bride. Yet, by 1991, the game already seemed a bit old-fashioned compared to others around that time, and now, its age really shows. In my attempt to relive the ’91 vibe by playing as the Atlanta Braves, the only option was to choose city names. This felt like a letdown, albeit an expected one. On the brighter side, the visuals hold up fairly well, although the repetitive in-game music could drive you bonkers after a while (thankfully, you can mute it).
Moving on to the sequel, it switches up the perspective, ditches the in-game tunes, offers more stadium choices, and features a demo mode, which was quite a staple for sports games back then. It boasts a lot of depth, as shown by its extensive manual that rivals the length of the Olympic-themed carts in this set. However, this depth leads to a lack of immediacy, plus the sluggish speed of its animations doesn’t help. It’s not exactly a “pick-up-and-play” game, though the save feature is handy. Unless you’ve got fond memories of the Hardball games from their PC days, they don’t hold up well on a console today.
Next are Summer and Winter Challenge, packing in 16 events between the two. I won’t go into detail about each one, but it does feel a bit like a quantity-over-quality situation. Yet, I find most events enjoyable, no doubt thanks to my nostalgia-tinted glasses.
Would others find them fun, especially if they have a soft spot for retro games? Probably. The impressive polygons and animation show an earnest effort, not just a quick cash grab, bringing a cool TV-style presentation to life in 16-bit form. Some events are tricky due to the view (good luck with not getting disqualified during the pole vault), but if you have friends who enjoy retro gaming, you’ll have a blast.
Finally, there’s Hoops Shut Up and Jam, which many remember as Barkley Shut Up and Jam. This was Charles Barkley’s venture into video gaming at a time when NBA stars loved starring in their own games. Unlike Jordan’s platformer or Shaq’s fighter, this is a real basketball game. Barkley’s name is no longer licensed, but it still delivers the same NBA Jam-like excitement.
It’s arguably the easiest game in the collection to jump into. Even if you’re new to retro gaming, the Accolade Sports Collection has you covered. If you’re not keen on consulting digital manuals or dealing with steep learning curves, then Hoops Shut Up and Jam will likely become your favorite.
Overall, the Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics) meets expectations, though $19.99 is a steep asking price in 2025, even for someone who’s nostalgic like me. You might want to add it to your wishlist and wait for a discount.
