Improvements abound in a new console that feels like you’re playing on its predecessor.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here.
Launching June. 5, the successor to Nintendo’s highly successful Switch seems to have shaken off the complaints levied by those who were upset at the higher prices. It has even managed to break a few sales records.
Of course, the millions of consoles sold doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth the price. Afterall, one could just enjoy buying things.
Yes, the system is bigger and faster; the Joy Cons are now magnetically attached and have a mouse mode, alongside other things which do put this Switch ahead of the last. But is a $629.99 starting cost – not to mention the future of console gaming becoming more expensive – really worth it?
Honestly, only sorta.
Let’s get this part out of the way first: the fact that Nintendo chose to raise the price of this console drastically over the last – along with raising the price of games – does set a bad standard for the industry.
This generation’s Xbox and PlayStation consoles already underwent price increases before the Switch 2 release; the cost of the Xbox went up again a month after preorders opened for the new Nintendo system. Generally, we see price decreases when consoles are this close to the end of their lifecycles, but it looks as if that’s a thing of the past.
So, not only do we have to look forward to consoles never seemingly dropping their prices, but the next generation of Xbox and PlayStation users should expect to see starting prices north of $1,000.
That’s not even counting the now $100 starting cost for the base version of games. Now this isn’t even all games, just some. The new Mario Kart World starts at $110, meanwhile the Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 manages to come in at the lower amount.
We’re not going to talk about the new Mario driving game today, but unless you’re really obsessed with these types of games, it’s not worth the $110.
If you own one of the previous generation Switch consoles, you’ll know how it feels to be able to take a console on the go. The familiarity you feel when playing on the new one is definitely something you’ll notice early on.
Whether you’re playing handheld, with the Joy Cons or even Pro Controller the similarities between this and last generation’s hardware are everywhere. Now, it looks like they went with the “if it ain’t broke” mantra, however, most gamers know that this didn’t exactly work out the last time they tried this for their console follow-up.
Anyone remember the Wii-U?
For those who were hoping for improvements that went leaps and bounds ahead of the last, well there’s disappointment ahead.
This console is certainly more powerful than its predecessor, but it is by no means on par with the other major players. In fact, the Switch 2 can more accurately be compared to the PlayStation 4 (PS4) rather than the newer consoles.
This is quite a letdown for those who were hoping that they’d finally be able to play the latest and greatest games alongside the rest – but in a way only a Switch can offer. Sure, the base version of Cyberpunk 2077 plays well, but the DLC does look like it stresses on the system – it’s also worth reminding gamers that the Phantom Liberty DLC only released on newer consoles, foregoing the PS4 and Xbox One.
Now, one might point out that a final downfall to this console is that there weren’t a ton of launch titles. That person would be right – especially since one of the major launch titles, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, is more than eight years old. This was a launch title for the previous console and those who have never played it before can spend even more money for a game that’s had a few enhancements.
It should be pointed out that there weren’t a ton of launch titles for the first generation either, so this is more of a Nintendo being silly situation – rather than console specific issue.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about some of the highlights of this Switch.
Firstly, games that hardly ran on the first-generation console are finally playable here. Hogwarts Legacy for instance, was one title that struggled greatly and pushed the first Switch to ungodly levels that made you think the fan would stop working.
Here, it actually plays. Yes, there are still drawbacks to playing a port meant for the other consoles, but the fact that it actually plays is a miracle for those who spent full price on a game that ran as well as Halo would on a microwave.
The mouse mode for the Joy Cons was probably one of the more interesting additions that came out of the console’s announcement. Turning the Joy Cons on the side, you can play games almost like a PC gamer would – with the precision of a mouse.
While not a control scheme available in all games, if you’re jumping into a title like Cyberpunk 2077 you can choose to use this format for play. It is certainly a unique way to play a console game, and it works quite well – though it’s not going to be as precise as a high-end gaming mouse.
There are no games currently released that were built around this type of control scheme, however, there are some titles on the horizon – like Drag x Drive or Mouse Work – which look to fill the gap. The former game for instance, looks to be a game where wheelchair basketball meets Rocket League, while the latter looks to be a party game that focuses solely on mouse mode.
It’ll be interesting to see what developers release over the lifecycle of the Switch 2 with this control scheme in mind.
While we’re still talking about the Joy Cons let’s finish off by talking about the way they connect.
Those with knowledge of the last Switch know that you could slide the controllers on and off – once you pushed the release button; this time, the controllers magnetically attach themselves to the screen.
This method is certainly easier and makes switching between handheld and docked mode even easier.
However, the release button seems to push the top portion of the Joy Cons away from the console – and allows you to pull it away. It seems extremely flimsy and runs the risk of breaking.
Considering one controller cost $70 and a pair costs $124, it’s very likely that a lot of money is waiting to be made once controllers start failing.
At the current price there’s a lot to consider when trying to decide if buying a Switch 2 is right for you.
There’s certainly much to look forward to once developers start releasing games for the system – and if Xbox is serious about bringing their exclusive games to Nintendo then there’s every reason to rejoice over playing Gears of War or Halo on the go.
But looking at the current slate of games and you really need to be mindful of whether or not you can pull $790.99 after tax – if you buy the bundle with Mario Kart World – worth of entertainment out of it.
A few words of advice though: think on whether it’s vitally necessary that you go out and grab one of these right away.
