Accolade Sports Collection offers a nostalgic trip back to the early ’90s, packaging five sports games that have certainly seen better days. Now, calling these titles “classic” might be a stretch, but for someone like me—who happened to grab three of them as cartridges—there’s a certain sentimental value attached. So, does this collection earn a spot on your Nintendo Switch library?
Let’s start with a couple of titles I hadn’t previously owned: the original Hardball and its sequel. I’ve always appreciated the original Hardball for its contribution to the gaming scene of its time, its role in kicking off a series, and of course, its cameo in that memorable scene from The Princess Bride. However, by the time 1991 rolled around, it was starting to lose its allure compared to its peers, and that’s even more apparent now. I was hoping to relive the glory days of the 1991 NL champion Atlanta Braves, but alas, you’re restricted to choosing city names. The game isn’t half bad visually, but the music can get irritating fast—thankfully, there’s an option to switch it off.
The sequel shifts the gameplay perspective, ditches the in-game tunes, broadens your stadium options, and includes a demo mode—a staple for sports games back then. It certainly delves deep, as evidenced by an elaborate in-game manual filled with numerous pages. However, this depth comes at the cost of immediacy and speed. The animations, while impressive in their era, do drag things down a bit. As a pick-up-and-play title, Hardball struggles, though the save features are handy. If nostalgia linked to the PC versions tugs at your heartstrings, these might appeal, but otherwise, they haven’t aged gracefully on consoles.
Then we have Summer and Winter Challenge. With a total of 16 events, evenly split between them, it’s a feat to dissect them individually. It seems like a classic case of quantity over quality, though many of these events offer a good time, especially when you’re viewing them through nostalgia-tinted glasses.
Would retro aficionados find joy in these events today? I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. The ambitious polygonal visuals are quite the spectacle, given the Genesis’ capabilities, and the animations suggest genuine effort went into these games. The “Behind the Athlete” perspective delivers a unique 16-bit TV-esque presentation. Sure, the views in some events can be tricky (good luck avoiding that foot fault in pole vault), but throw in some friends with a penchant for retro, and it’s button-mashing fun all around.
Finally, there’s Hoops Shut Up and Jam, better remembered as Barkley Shut Up and Jam, featuring none other than Charles Barkley himself. While other basketball icons of the ’90s ventured into different genres—MJ with a platformer and Shaq in a fighting game—Barkley delivered an actual basketball experience. To sidestep licensing issues, his in-game likeness has been tweaked, yet it retains that same NBA Jam-style excitement.
Crucially, it’s the most user-friendly game among the five. While I’m no stranger to these classics, the collection is also aimed at those diving into retro gaming for the first time. If you’re not keen on sifting through digital manuals or dealing with sluggish learning curves, Hoops Shut Up and Jam stands out as the winner, even without its title star.
The Accolade Sports Collection (QUByte Classics) presents exactly what I was expecting, without any surprises. But at $19.99, it’s a steep ask for a compilation like this in 2025, even if you’re someone with a penchant for nostalgia. Keep an eye out for a sale and maybe consider adding this to your wishlist for a price drop in the future.
