Well, it’s finally here. After 8 years the successor to the Nintendo Switch has launched. And it’s….pretty neat. This might be the first time in almost forever where a new Nintendo console is basically the previous console but more. It’s bigger, more powerful and it certainly looks a lot nicer, but apart from one or two new features this really is just a bog-standard Switch but better. I’m not saying this to be negative at all, by the way. The Switch is a generation-defining console that dared to try something new and bold that only Nintendo would ever think of. This thing certainly has pedigree but I’m feeling, maybe, a little disappointed that there isn’t more to it than meets the eye. At least not yet anyway.
The Good
Look, let’s get this out of the way right now, the Nintendo Switch 2 is shockingly powerful. I mean, it’s not that powerful relative to its competition (at least it’s actually outputting 4K and 60fps for a lot of games now) but for its size it beggars belief how Nintendo got those kinds of numbers out of it. It’s a little bigger than the original, boasting a 7.9-inch screen as opposed to the Switch’s 6.2, but it still shouldn’t be able to put up “modern” game numbers with its svelte profile in my opinion. I am also aware that I said that it can output 4K graphics and 60 frames per second smoothness, but did I forget to mention that it, apparently, will also be capable of playing some games (Metroid Prime 4 most notably) at 120 frames per second? Not that this is any good to me of course because my phone is the only screen I actually own that can put out that kind of a refresh rate but it’s big if true nonetheless! Mario Kart World looks fantastic in every frame and seeing games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom live up to their true potential is something incredibly special in my eyes.
Quite aside from the technical improvements and how much nicer the screen looks, the larger size makes the Switch 2 a lot more comfortable to hold for those of us who first started playing on the Gameboy or the SNES. I find that, when I’m playing in handheld mode, I don’t have to contort my hands into all kinds of claw shapes just to tap the triggers or shoulder buttons. The extra weight is nice too, though that’s just my personal preference. I like to feel like I’m holding something substantial when I’m gaming, not something flimsy that feels like it’ll break if I look at it the wrong way. *Cough* PS3 controller *cough*.
A feature that is new is the fact that now each joycon now works as an individual mouse. This turns the gaming experience on the Switch 2 into something much more like what you’d get from a PC. One hand can be used for movement and a few commands, with the other used for aiming and shooting, or for moving the camera. There aren’t many games out at the moment that take full advantage of this new functionality (no I didn’t pay €10 for the glorified tech demo “Switch 2 Welcome Tour”) but with games like Metroid on the horizon it’s only a matter of time before we see what this new gimmick is really capable of.
The not so good
I’m gonna say this straight out. The Switch 2 is expensive. Smyths have them for €470 standalone or €510 for the bundle that includes Mario Kart World. While it’s not any more expensive than its counterparts from Sony and Microsoft, it does give pause for thought and would make anyone consider how much use they’re actually going to get out of it. For me it was always a no-brainer. I’m a Nintendo fanboy until I die and I’ll be there day-1 for every first-party release. But if you’re the kind of person who only wants a Nintendo console to play the latest version of Mario Kart or Smash Bros. you may want to think about whether your money may be better spent elsewhere.
Thankfully, if you already have a lot of Switch accessories or games they’re all fully compatible with the Switch 2 (notable exceptions being any SD cards or not being able to charge older joycons directly from the console) so you don’t have to shell out for a rake of new peripherals. But this is cold comfort for someone who just can’t even justify the price of entry to themselves at the moment.
Secondly, and this is certainly only a temporary problem, there isn’t really much of a draw to the newer device in terms of software. Mario Kart is always a day-one pick up but apart from Donkey Kong next month the rest of the year seems pretty empty in terms of releases. Metroid Prime 4 still doesn’t have a firm release date and Pokémon Legends Z-A isn’t coming until October. When the Switch launched with Breath of the Wild many people were more than happy to tip away at that for months on end, Mario Kart, sadly, doesn’t have that longevity. I hope they announce a rake of new games soon, otherwise the Switch 2 may be another let down in the cursed Nintendo cycle.
The Controversial
Ever since the reveal of the Switch 2 there have been some controversies and misinformation floating around online so I’m going to see if I can lay the facts out and bust a couple of myths.
Games are all going to be €80. This is partly true, but also not 100% legit. Some bigger games like Mario Kart of Donkey Kong will be €80 if you choose to purchase a physical version (my preferred format, for what it’s worth). However, the digital versions will be cheaper (usually about €10 cheaper). This does suck, I’m not gonna lie. However, what we’ve seen since this was announced were myriad other studios and publishers also putting their prices up. Some of whom did so with far less tact than others. Lookin’ at you Randy Pitchford. Someone was going to be the first to charge €80 for games and it’s a bummer that Nintendo were the ones to do it, but such is life under capitalism. I’m not defending it; I’m just trying to reason it out. Also, let’s be honest here, GTA VI is going to be €100 or more and that’s not going to impact sales figures at all.
The games aren’t even on the cartidges. This one is bogus. It’s also been happening for years and nobody cared. Most, if not all first party titles will use Nintendo’s higher-capacity cartridges. That means that if you buy the physical edition of Donkey Kong Banaza you will get the whole game on the cartridge and won’t need to download anything. Bigger third-party games like Star Wars: Outlaws will come on “Game Key” cartridges, meaning some of the data will be on the smaller, cheaper cartridge, leaving the remainder of the data to be downloaded by the user. This is already common practice on the Xbox family of systems, as well as on the original Switch! Yep, Nintendo released these kinds of carts for some games years ago and nobody batted an eyelid. Don’t get caught up in the ragebait, my friends!
In conclusion
Look, I’m not gonna lie, I love this thing. It’s just the Switch, that I already adore, but bigger, more powerful, and brimming with even more potential. The price is eye-watering. Of course it is. But if what you want is the finest piece of gaming tech on the market, it’s worth every cent. I spend hundreds of hours gaming every year (thanks to each company’s own version of “Wrapped” for that depressing insight) and the Switch was always my number one most played console. I have no doubt the Switch 2 will be the same. Not to mention that any console that lets me play Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker gets a big thumbs up from me.
For me, nothing comes close to the feeling of Nintendo magic when you open up a new console and connect it to your TV for the first time. It’s a phenomenon I’m lucky enough to have experienced over and over again, and it’s not one I get from Playstation or Xbox. Nintendo change the gaming landscape again and again and if the Switch 2 gives them time to think up something truly crazy next time around then I’m happy to let them cook.
