Switchmas, the 2nd
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been out for just over a month now, and we figured adequate time has passed to share our thoughts on the console, games and what the future could hold for everyone’s favourite souped-up handheld Nintendo device.
Out of the box, Nintendo Switch 2 is familiar, yet clearly an upgrade in nearly every sense. It feels premium, sleek and more refined. The first port of call was obviously to see how the new locking mechanism for Joy-Con feels. Personally, it took me a while to get used to (eight years of muscle memory I guess), but once it clicked – pun very much intended – the old sliding mechanism seemed totally barbaric in comparison. The whole unit also feels so much more secure in your hands now, showing far less movement between Nintendo Switch 2 and Joy-Con 2.
As with a shiny new branded phone, Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t reinventing the wheel, instead catching up with the times, modernising the tech and hopefully future proofing it too. Everything from the dock to the UI has had some work done, whilst still retaining the identity and ethos of Nintendo Switch. If the video game industry doesn’t crash and burn beforehand, Switch can become to Nintendo what PlayStation is to Sony.
The console itself is a clear step up from the eight-year-old OG model. Menus are snappier – no more so in the eshop and Nintendo Online menus, which no longer lag and stutter but instead load seamlessly. Again, everything is familiar, but because Nintendo Switch 2 behaves like a modern device, it feels fresh, exciting and new.
The Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t just a bejazzled Switch, though. New and exclusive to the console is Gamechat. Game Chat, along with a web cam accessory, brings personal Twitch streams to your console – a way to connect with your friends and family, regardless of what games you are playing. While the quality drops considerably when viewing multiple gaming events, it’s still a jocund time. Had this dropped during COVID alongside Animal Crossing…
In the here and now, however, upcoming titles such as Mario Party Jamboree X TV will utilise the camera to create immersive and accessible gameplay experiences. Joy-Con 2 are also stuffed full of miniature marvels, magical magnets aside. The Nintendo Switch 2 brings on-the-fly mouse controls, which, although have yet to be fully utilised in-game, are seamless. Simply by holding either Joy-Con sideways, you have a fully functioning point-and-click device. It works well for navigating menus and upcoming titles such as Drag x Drive and Metroid Prime 4, will showcase their aptness more, um, aptly.
Are mouse controls fit for in-game purposes or simply a quaint way of perusing menus? Time will tell, but if it’s the former, Nintendo will have some exciting potential for FPS, RTS & life simulation titles on the system. I’d be remiss to mention that I feel the lack of an update to Mario Maker 2 to accommodate them feels like a real missed opportunity, though if a third entry (blocky 3D-64-esque mode, please) is around the corner, I’ll forgive the higher-ups at Nintendo.
Zelda 2: Electric Boogaloo
When the Nintendo Switch 1 (do we have to refer to it as that now?) launched almost a decade ago, it did so with the quintessential title to usher in Nintendo’s latest hardware. Of course, I’m referring to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The equivocal nature of Link’s latest jaunt through Hyrule perfectly paralleled the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch was remarkable, shifting over 100 million units, placing it in the upper echelons of best-selling consoles of all time (no matter how much Sony continues to move the goalposts), selling a metric bucket ton of software along the way.
The aforementioned title was single-handedly the most important piece of software on the console. It showcased the Switch perfectly, 8 years ago. The pick-up and play approach mirrored the OG Switch’s USP. Got a few hours to spare? Dock your Switch and grab your Pro controller. Half an hour lunch break or a quick jaunt on the bus? Handheld and Joy-Con for the win! The lack of pre-defined conventions and gaming norms made it such a compelling option. The Nintendo Switch didn’t reinvent the wheel; it smashed it!
Mario Kart World is a Tour de force – and while its intention to revolutionise the franchise in the same way as Breath of the Wild did the Zelda series is admirable, it doesn’t quite pack a punch in the same way as Link’s lofty Legend. Don’t get me wrong, Mario Kart World is a system seller and will shift an absurd amount of Nintendo Switch 2s, but for me, the console’s MVP is without doubt the game formerly known as The Sequel to Breath of the Wild.
While the Nintendo Switch 2 didn’t launch with a traditional big hitter – an all-encompassing single player experience – it compensated for this in the most spectacular manner, with 4K remasters of 2017’s GOTY & its oft underappreciated sequel.
To those far less nerdy than myself, I am of course referring to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. When it launched on Nintendo Switch: The First, it was exciting but too familiar – a flawed marvel that left me impressed but frustrated. Conflicted. On Nintendo Switch 2 it shines (not just because of the implementation of HDR, and possibly Ray Tracing) and simply begs the question, why wasn’t this held off as a launch title? They could have released HD Wind Waker, and nobody would have minded waiting for Tears…
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom looks, runs and responds infinitely more gloriously on Nintendo Switch 2. I’ve never been a bitter man, but I’m genuinely jealous of everyone who gets to experience it for the first time on Nintendo Switch 2. While the same can be said for Breath of the Wild, I personally feel it held its own on the Switch (remember, it was originally developed for the Wii U). Tears of the Kingdom sometimes felt a little forced, and while still incredibly impressive, the improved draw distances, framerates and lighting improve the experience exponentially. It truly feels like a next-gen experience on Nintendo Switch 2. I also really appreciate that the console in my hand doesn’t sound like it’s about to explode/implode/take off (delete as applicable) when playing.
With Donkey Kong Bananza imminent, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on the horizon, a Splatoon spin-off nonchalantly announced through the Nintendo Today app and Pokémon ZA due towards the end of the year, Nintendo are clearly keeping up their Switch 1 era mantra of games, games, games (Xbox, take note). A steady rollout of GameCube games can also keep momentum moving. Give me Eternal Darkness, Nintendo, and I’ll give you my darkness, eternally. By which I mean I’ll pull an all-nighter and play Eternal Darkness…
Row, row, row your boat, backwards capability
Another thing to consider is that if you owned an OG NS, you’ll likely have a few games kicking about. With backwards compatibility, both physically and digitally, as well as performance and content upgrades a-plenty, the Nintendo Switch 2 library is bustling, right from the bat. Titles that laboured on Nintendo Switch are given a new lease of life. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening & Echoes of Wisdom now run smoother than Bachelor Kieran in his prime, offering solid framerates that actually make the games really enjoyable to experience.
But the stars of the show, from titles that I have tested, are the Hyrule Warriors games, through absolutely no extra effort from Koei Tecmo. The developers appear to have left the frame rate range completely open-ended, allowing them to run on the original Switch hardware. What this appears to have done is left the sky the limit on Nintendo Switch 2, meaning they run flawlessly now. Experiencing these archaic experiences without all the stuttering is a joyous affair. The difference is night and day. Like listening to Adele sing for the first time, having only heard her speak in interviews prior.
Not everything about Nintendo Switch 2 smells of roses
The Switch 2 is a class act; however, there are some teething issues. Straight out of the box, the screen seemed poor. Fine folks far more learned than I have since confirmed what I feared – the Nintendo Switch 2 screen just isn’t very good. Which is a shame. Surely the inevitable OLED model will rectify this…
Whilst only £7.99, I couldn’t justify purchasing Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, simply because you need all the accessories to fully enjoy it, and again, I couldn’t bring myself to buy a Pro Controller 2 as I already have a full set of OG Switch Pro Controllers. A minor gripe, I know, but one that genuinely stopped me from dropping bare dollar!
Another thing that irked me somewhat (though not this time through fault of Nintendo), was game key cards. If I buy a physical copy of a game, I want to be able to pop that bad boy in my console and go. Having to download a digital copy, yet still keep the cartridge in the Switch, is mind-boggling. A real head scratcher!
Surprisingly, Warner Bros. handled it well, and if you already own Hogwarts Legacy on Nintendo Switch (1), you can upgrade for £8.49 and actually receive a full digital version of the Nintendo Switch 2 version – regardless of whether your original copy was physical or digital.
Overall, though, nearly everything about the Nintendo Switch 2 is incredibly positive. Iteration over innovation. Consolidation rather than experimentation. Of course, I say this as if I know anything at all about Nintendo’s plans. The chances are, they’ll announce a second screen that connects via the USB-C port at the top, along with 3/DS Classics library, at which point, it’ll be good night from me.
Rainbow Blossom Sunshine’s Nintendo Switch 2 view
I think the Nintendo Switch 2 is great! I really like the bigger screen, and it feels nicer holding in my hands. The magnetic Joy-Con feel safer, too, as they’re stuck on really strongly now. I like how it makes the graphics better on older games. Super Mario Odyssey is probably my favourite Switch game, and it looks so clean. I’ve never really played Breath of the Wild before either, so it’s nice to play the new version. It looks incredible.
The game I’m most excited for is the Switch 2 version of Super Mario Party. I said in my review that I didn’t want Nintendo to make a new Mario Party, as Jamboree was perfect. So, more content is perfect. Donkey Kong Bananza looks like SO MUCH FUN too! I actually told Harvey from Nintendo that they needed to make a more friendly DK game (DKCRHD is HARDDDD), so I’m really glad that he listened to my advice.
Hopefully, they make a Switch 2 Lite soon, as I love my coral one, but it does feel pretty old now. Until then, I’ll just keep maining the Nintendo Switch 2 we have.