Go Vacation: Reliving The Kawawii Island Dream Soon

A V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N might ring a bell for some of those who loved the Nintendo Wii era from late 2006 to late 2013 [1] [7] [14]. An adventurous alternative to Wii Sports Resort by the name of Go Vacation made its way to the Wii library back in late 2011 [4] [14]. While many casual players were cool with earning stamps by doing activities and arranging furniture in their villas [14], some even questioned a few examples of bizarre physics that killed a fraction of the game’s realism [7]. Surprisingly, a port of the adventures in Kawawii Island is yet to come to the ambitious Nintendo Switch next month in order to bring back memories of four different resorts and a variety of activities [8] [14]. If the developers from Bandai Namco Entertainment have put enough effort in what made the original Go Vacation a passable experience, it could be worth having another relaxing and ambitious vacation on the island of anime-like people who communicate by making squeaky horn noises this year, despite the original version’s fairly mixed reception.

The Go Vacation logo in the official announcement trailer for the Nintendo Switch port of Go Vacation. [8]

Even though Go Vacation was not really part of the mainstream crowd during the early 2010s, it would have been memorable enough for plenty of casual gamers for allowing one to four players to explore four beautiful resorts [7] [14]. And not to mention that the power of artificial intelligence could make a buddy and a dog follow the player and copy their actions [14]. There were six marvellous locations in the original game, including the small neighbourhood of villas and an island beyond the Marine Resort [3] [5]. Global warming did not stand a chance in the Snow Resort. Perhaps there could be a new exclusive activity in each resort of Coconore Island for the Switch version of the game so that the island will finally be remembered for more than just surfing [3]. Those who return to Kawawii Island can once again explore each resort and possibly perform creative acts of roleplaying, such as hilariously re-enacting Grand Theft Auto with off-road cars in the Mountain Resort and witnessing a beautiful wedding between two players in the City Resort.

There is always a first time. [1]

Posing for the camera back in the good old days. [1]

According to the announcement trailer, the graphics of the environments from the original version seem to have increased definition for the upcoming port in order to give it a remarkable “HD” vibe [8] [11]. The graphics in the upcoming port’s trailer look sharper, compared to the graphics from the original version’s trailer [2] [8]. This should not really be a surprise since we are currently in a generation of very high expectations of realistic and vibrant graphics, especially in video games and animated films. It would be wonderful to take a calming gaze at the beautiful ocean in the Marine Resort again but in a darker shade of blue [8] [11]. It was sometimes a little tiring, having to roam around each resort to get a host of an activity during the days of playing the original Wii version of Go Vacation, but the way how the graphics have received a small upgrade for the current era of Nintendo would add some more irresistibility to looking at them while controlling a Mii or avatar.

A comparison between the graphics from the two ports of Go Vacation. [2] [8] [11] 

It would be important to ensure that the controls for the Switch version of the game will be as player-friendly as the controls in the original Wii version. Steadily moving the Wii Remote and Nunchuck left and right to steer an ATV and flicking your forearms upwards while holding them to jump were examples of the simple methods that made the original version’s controls practical for exploring each resort [7] [10]. Taking each control routine for every type of gear from the original version and adapting them to the power of motion control within the joy-cons would be the key to a fully playable port. Since the Nintendo Switch is an ambitious hybrid or a home console and a handheld console, it would be also ideal if there could be ideal control methods for when a player wants to play the upcoming port on the go or when a player chooses to play with the joy-con grip [9]. The Switch’s controllers may be small, but sticking to the same control methods, as well as some new ones for the upcoming port can make the next vacation big.

Two female Miis on roller skates in a copy of the original Go Vacation back in 2012. [12]

As the vacation progressed in the original version for the Wii, players got to dress their Miis and avatars in a variety of different outfits. Does anyone else remember starting off in the Marine Resort in a red swimsuit or pair of dark green trunks [7] [10]? Any female gamer who loves feeling the princess would admire the princess dress from the Mountain Resort [7]. I would not recommend roller skating or skateboarding while wearing a long formal dress because it looks quite ridiculous and impractical [12]. Perhaps some new clothing items can be unlocked exclusively for the Switch so that the port can introduce something at least completely new. In addition to this, there could be an option to put hats and other accessories onto a Mii’s head since Miis could not have head accessories in the original version [7]. Despite this, simply having the same variety of clothing styles and colours with enough experience from playing the port can still increase the player’s ability to portray themselves in the vacation. Be sure to keep cool in the Marine Resort and warm in the Snow Resort when the time to visit Kawawii Island again comes.

Two female Miis wearing lovely princess dresses back in 2012. [13]

There could be another kind of new feature or aspect exclusively for the upcoming port for the Switch. For those who remember trying to find all of the treasure chests hidden in each area of each resort, there could be a few extra treasure chests to make the challenge of finding them all extra adventurous [12] [13] [14]. There could also be some extra challenge stars in each resort so that the upcoming port can be more refreshingly familiar with some new dares and tasks. As for the loading screen, perhaps the programmers will not forget to include the option to print more than just adorable dog faces all over it. Some very small exclusive extras can make the Switch version of Go Vacation sweetly surprising for those who still hold onto those lovely memories of playing the original version of Go Vacation on the Wii. But ultimately, anyone who is willing to play the new port of Go Vacation in the current generation of gaming can still enjoy the memorable moments, even without any new aspects added to it.

Two female Miis heading towards a treasure chest back in 2012. [13]

Perhaps foxes can be invited as furry friends under the influence of AI in the Snow Resort for the upcoming port? [8]

Aside from placing completely new titles on the competitive market, it is nice to have a little rehash of radical and casual memories of some games from the previous generations of gaming. We may not be in the days of early 2010s gaming anymore, but there is always time to look back on lovely and drastic memories, including being greeted by the sweet and friendly Lily [6] [10] and the somewhat unnerving first-person view of a bungee jumping event [7]. For those who miss being younger and carefree in the Nintendo Wii era, the new version of Go Vacation that will make its way to the Switch library could be an example of how to have a rehash of those carefree days. If you remember playing the original Go Vacation and are looking forward to visiting Kawawii Island for the second time, be sure to help your avatars and Miis pack their suitcases for their next big break in the late 2010s.

Kawawii Island, we cannot wait to see you again. [8]

References:

1. AZ5TYLEJP. (2012). GO VACATION Opening Movie. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS4TWHIkq4E. Last accessed 2nd June 2018.
2. CoinOpTV. (2011). Go Vacation Official Trailer. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7caOHkL2Q. Last accessed 7th June 2018.
3. Go Vacation Wiki. (2012). Coconore Island. Available: http://govacation.wikia.com/wiki/Coconore_Island. Last accessed 29th May 2018.
4. Go Vacation Wiki. (2012). Go Vacation. Available: http://govacation.wikia.com/wiki/Go_Vacation. Last accessed 7th June 2018.
5. Go Vacation Wiki. (2012). Kawawii Island. Available: http://govacation.wikia.com/wiki/Kawawii_Island. Last accessed 18th May 2018.
6. Go Vacation Wiki. (2012). Lily. Available: http://govacation.wikia.com/wiki/Lily. Last accessed 1st June 2018.
7. Namco. (2011). Go Vacation. Nintendo Wii. Tokyo, Japan.
8. Nintendo. (2018). GO VACATION Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDG_siAbPQE. Last accessed 17th May 2018.
9. Nintendo. (2017). Meet Nintendo Switch. Available: https://www.nintendo.com/switch/features/. Last accessed 9th Jun 2018.
10. NintendoNWRExclusive. (2011). Go Vacation First Hour (Wii). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-_SUesnhnI. Last accessed 6th June 2018.
11. PNF404. (2018). Go Vacation Switch (2018) vs Wii (2011) | Nintendo Switch Graphics Comparison ゴーバケーション. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEBcgPBB4iw. Last accessed 6th June 2018.
12. TotallyLisaCartoons. (2012). Go Vacation City Resort Treasure Chests. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-xeXrBCJG8. Last accessed 9th Jun 2018.
13. TotallyLisaCartoons. (2012). Go Vacation Mountain Resort Treasure Chests. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn1bLgwglCE&t=66s. Last accessed 7th June 2018.
14. TV Tropes. (2011). Video Game / Go Vacation. Available: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/GoVacation. Last accessed 2nd Jun 2018.