Gamebro.biz.id - At one point, the people who made the Switch 2 thought about naming it the Super Nintendo Switch. They opted against it, though, because it could play original Switch games, while the Super NES from 1990 couldn't play games from the NES from 1983. I played with it all weekend and think the Switch Pro is a better moniker. It's more like a modernized and improved version of the original system than a whole new generation. The bigger screen and faster processor are the most visible improvements, but every part of the system is better. The larger Joy-Cons seem stronger and are easier to operate. I like how they magnetically clip onto the console. The user interface is a graceful but somewhat monotonous version of the Switch's, with mild haptic feedback and nice little sounds that make it feel like you're playing. Some people might be upset that the Switch OLED model goes back to a regular LCD screen, but the quality is good and the extra screen spac...
Gamebro.biz.id - At one point, the people who made the Switch 2 thought about naming it the Super Nintendo Switch. They opted against it, though, because it could play original Switch games, while the Super NES from 1990 couldn't play games from the NES from 1983. I played with it all weekend and think the Switch Pro is a better moniker. It's more like a modernized and improved version of the original system than a whole new generation.
The bigger screen and faster processor are the most visible improvements, but every part of the system is better. The larger Joy-Cons seem stronger and are easier to operate. I like how they magnetically clip onto the console. The user interface is a graceful but somewhat monotonous version of the Switch's, with mild haptic feedback and nice little sounds that make it feel like you're playing.
Some people might be upset that the Switch OLED model goes back to a regular LCD screen, but the quality is good and the extra screen space makes a big difference. It's not quite as good as the best handheld PCs, but it's a lot cheaper than a top-of-the-line Steam Deck or something similar. I tried it out with the most cinematic launch games I had: IO Interactive's Hitman World of Assassination: Signature Edition, which is a great deal, and Yakuza 0 Director's Cut. Both games gave me a surprisingly epic experience in handheld mode, thanks to the console's great virtual surround sound (you can also get full 5.1-ch Linear PCM surround sound if you use compatible headphones or a TV). Don't anticipate 4K graphics at 60 frames per second all the time.
When you play games on your phone, they will be between 720p and 1080p. When you dock your phone, they will be in 4K, but just a few games support full 4K resolutions for now. For instance, Cyberpunk 2077 only goes up to 1080p and runs at 30 frames per second on Performance mode. In summary, don't expect PS5 Pro or PC graphics that are cutting edge. We're looking at something between PS4 and PS5.
It's easy to set up: just turn it on, connect to the internet (by wifi or the dock's ethernet connector), and download an update. If you have a Switch, it will ask you to put it nearby and then copy over your account information and any games you own. The whole thing took around an hour and was completely painless. But be careful: if you skip the transfer process, you won't be able to move your stuff from your original Switch later. GameShare is also very easy. It lets you share games that work with Switch or Switch 2 owners who don't have their own copy. I played Sega's great multiplayer puzzle game Puyo Puyo Tetris with a friend in the same room. To connect your Switch to your buddy's Switch, you just have to choose the GameShare option from the main menu of the game. Your friend does the same thing from the Switch home screen. Then the two of you can start playing together.
I'm curious to see how the functionality works with harder games or with more people. For instance, Survival Kids lets you GameShare with two additional consoles. This will put more strain on the Switch 2 that is streaming, which could make it run slower. For now, I'm impressed, and it will go great with the upcoming party game Super Mario Party Jamboree.
Nintendo's GameChat, which is a little late to the party for in-game video chat, requires you to authenticate and validate your identity using your smartphone before you can use it. You can get a Switch 2 Camera for £50, but any old USB webcam will work. I think this could be a wonderful extra for families or close friends who want to play together even when they're not together. We'll have to wait and see whether any new games make good use of it.
You should think about some extra expenditures. You could need another set of Joy-Cons or a Pro Controller, which costs £75, if you want to play with more than two players. I used the legally approved PowerA Advantage pad, which doesn't have rumble and only works when it's docked. It's a great alternative for Mario Kart sessions and only costs £30. For one account, a year of Nintendo Switch Online (which is needed for online play and GameChat after the promotional deal ends) costs £17.99. For your whole family, it costs £31.49 a year. The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack costs £34.99 a year or £59.99 a year. It gives you access to a lot of old Nintendo games from all eras plus any new content for present games. Compared to other game subscriptions, it's a good price, but it's still another bill to pay. You might need a microSD Express card if you start to run out of capacity on the built-in 256GB for new games. A 256GB card will cost about £50. Everything adds up.
Nintendo says the battery will last between two and six and a half hours. I ran a mixed test where I played Mario Kart World, downloaded and played Hitman, and used GameShare and GameChat. I got approximately 3.5 hours, which isn't awful.
Should you get one? If you somehow missed the original Switch, yes, yes, yes! It's the best Nintendo has done so far in making a hybrid handheld/home console, with a lot of launch games (though right now, Mario Kart World is the only real exclusive must-have) and the promise of many more great exclusives to come. If you too-own a Switchake, it's worth the money to upgrade. The bigger screen, better controllers, and social apps all make it worth the money. It's brought back lounge multiplayer to our house. My sons quickly left their rooms to play Mario Kart together. This desire will certainly come and go, but it's good to have it back.
The only thing that is certain is that you can't play Nintendo games anywhere else. You can't get the entire Mario, Animal Crossing, Pokémon, or Zelda games on your phone, PC, Xbox, or PlayStation. It's amazing to think of how those experiences will be brought to a new, beautifully made system with a few additional features. Maybe the Nintendo design team was smart not to call it Super Switch, but for the next few years, a Switch Pro counterpart is more than good enough.
You can get the Nintendo Switch 2 right now. It costs £395.99 in the UK, $699.95 in Australia, and $449.95 in the US.
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