Two Weeks With The Switch 2
After rumours, leaks, teases, semi announcements and full reveals, it is finally here!!! The Nintendo Switch 2. The past few years have been rough for Nintendo fans awaiting an inevitable successor to Nintendo Switch. With the aging hardware and games that couldn’t quite perform while other platforms were thriving, it was tough to be a Nintendo fan. With the release of the Switch 2 gamers are suitably hyped for the next generation of Nintendo.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on the desirable device day one. Which was no easy feat with the mess of pre-orders globally. In the UK plenty of stores just randomly put the pre-orders up without fanfare and before the expected date. Getting one through Nintendo required you to jump through scalper proof hoops to prove you are the gamer they want to sell to. I rate the video game giant for trying something like this, however being in a Switch Online Family and not being the organiser, I was disappointingly screened out. Anyway less on the struggles of trying to secure the Switch 2. Let me talk to you about my experience over this early adopter period.
The console itself looks very similar to the previous console but significantly bigger. Introducing magnetic JoyCon’s that I must admit I was concerned about. Those concerns were quashed the moment I connected them, they are secure, like really secure. Being a similar shape to the previous but bigger and heavier does lead to hand cramps after long play sessions. The new redesigned stand has a large range of angles of play. Making tabletop sessions a joy wherever you are. Having a new usb-c connection on the top makes charging while gaming handheld much easier. The larger screen at 7.9 inches and 1080p resolution is brilliant. The fact that its not OLED is a small disappointment, but it must be said the HDR combined with current LCD technology looks bloody fantastic.
The dock is a chunky black block in comparison to the original. It feels a little flimsy to the touch at the front but I do suspect it will be fine if not moved around frequently. Similar to the OLED dock its donning two usb-a connections on the side for charging accessories. The dock is also equipped with a fan to cool the Switch 2 down while gaming on the TV which is most assuredly needed. The HDMI allows a 4k output at 60hz or 1440p at 120hz. 4k Nintendo gaming courtesy of the dock and the consoles power is an absolute joy, for me personally the biggest selling point by a country mile.
The console experience itself is very familiar to the original switch. The user interface is almost identical to its predecessor; almost being the operative term. Game tiles now have this small rainbow glow which is a small detail but nice with the HDR adding a bit of flair to what is quite a simple UI. Notifications now appear in a slightly rounded window looking a bit cleaner while playing. The interface can also be explored using the new JoyCon mouse control. I must admit this impressed me more than I thought it would but I still can’t see myself navigating like this regularly. One of the biggest improvements is the Nintendo E-shop. While looking and feeling similar it actually works now. My biggest gripe with the first switch was how awful the experience of buying digital games was. Now the store loads swiftly rarely lags and it a significantly smoother experience. Buying or downloading multiple things at once is still not great but I will take it now the store works.
Playing handheld on this larger device is generally a great experience. Nintendo’s stylised games and this screen technology go hand in hand. It looks drop dead gorgeous. The Switch 2’s bigger form factor is more comfortable to a larger handed person like myself. However after extended gaming sessions it can feel a tad heavy. Especially when trying to get some pre-sleep bed gaming in while lying down. Despite me saying handheld extended sessions can feel uncomfortable the chances are your probably not going to get sessions that long. The battery life on the Switch 2 is a interesting conversation because it isn’t great. Playing new releases your probably going to get around two to three hours of battery out this thing. Its not too dissimilar to other products on the market like the Steamdeck. However for road trip passenger princess gaming or long haul flights it just won’t cut the mustard without a portable charging solution.
Games wise the system has had what I would consider a strong line up albeit not a particularly new line up. Cyberpunk 2077 and Street Fighter 6 for Nintendo gamers is an absolute win but people with other systems might not be that excited. Welcome Tour a paid for tech demo/instruction manual looks like stylish way to learn about the new system, but spoiler alert I did not buy or play it. Gamecube classic’s is a nice gift to online subscribers that I’m sure will develop into a special nostalgia trip for the older gamers. The Switch 2 upgrades bring the Switch era Zelda titles into beautiful upscaled 4k and 60 fps. However we all know why we are buying a Switch 2 its to dive into Mario Kart World. Without any doubt the launch title that people are clamouring to get.
In my two weeks with the Switch 2 I’ve managed to put a bit of time into a few games. I will give a brief collection of thoughts on these games. I will include a cheeky little score, so take it as a mini review if you wish.
Mario Kart World
Open world Mario Kart? That line alone sells the game to me. Actually in practise its a bit different to what I expected. I was thinking a sprawling open world where a campaign may take place, driving to grand prix’s getting collectables on the way. It not really the reality though. Mario Kart World plays basically the same as any previous Mario Kart titles. Other than racing to the next circuit and then only getting one lap around it. It’s quite sad really as the circuits in this game are fantastically designed. Yes you can set up a race to have 3 laps but it is not present in the grand prix format. The open world itself is just an option at the bottom right of the main menu which many could be forgiven for missing on first glance. Exploring the open world is great fun don’t get me wrong, the world is big and teeming with fantastic design choices that make it a joy to explore. Alas the only thing you can really do other than drive around a stunning world is find collectables and do small skill based challenges. No races actually take place in this mode. It really feels like a missed opportunity because the world they have crafted is awe inspiring in scale, cohesion and detail.
The actual races are so much fun though. 24 player races brings a level of unpredictable chaos to the loftiest of heights. The chaotic vibes are only multiplied when heading to an online race. It had me laughing, shouting and saying some certainly non-Nintendo approved words. I’ve not had this much fun on an online game in an absolute age. Pairing with the Switch 2’s Gamechat feature and a few friends the hours absolutely dissolve away.
The game is so much fun it’s hard to put into words without experiencing it. However the grey cloud of the price tag does hover over this game. With its price catching many a headline in the gaming world the question will be is this worth its asking price? I’m not sure to be honest. Bundled with the console Mario Kart World is an absolute steal which will bring hours of entertainment. If I purchased it separately at recommended retail price I might be suffering from buyers remorse.
8.5/10
Gamecube Classic’s
On launch online subscribers are treated to three games that embody the term classic in my opinion. Zelda Windwaker, Soul Calibur 2 and F-Zero GX. I’m a big fan of all of these games but my bias shines through a little. My favourite game of all time from the gamecube catalog happen to be F-Zero GX. So surprise surprise most of my time in this package was spent on that. Playing F-Zero GX on a 4k tv with its included widescreen support was not on my 2025 bingo card. It quite frankly mind blowing. F-Zero always was way ahead of its time and the fact it still feels fresh is a credit to it. As much fun as I’ve been having though I now feel like my desire for a new game in this series is at an all time high.
9/10
Zelda Upgrades
The two upgrade packs for Breathe Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom were free for online subscribers, nice little surprise. Taking already gorgeous looking games to the next level. Exploring Hyrule in 4k at 60 fps is down right magical. Most of my time has been spent in Tears Of The Kingdom as I never finished it due to the performance on the original Switch hampering my enjoyment. I really wish that I had just waited to play Tears Of The Kingdom exclusively on Switch 2. Running buttery smooth and looking good while at it. This really does feel like a generational jump if you experienced the originals in any capacity. Well worth your time and I cant wait to play more to finally triumph against Gannondorf.
9/10
Fast Fusion
Budget not F-Zero! That might come across quite mean but launching alongside one of the classic F-Zero games just makes me yearn even harder for more F-Zero. Fast Fusion itself is actually a very competent sci-fi racer. Nice track and car design, incredible sensation of speed, cool car fusion mechanic. Not to mention the game comes with a bevvy of graphical options that even a PS5 would be jealous of. One of the best looking and performing games I’ve played on launch but missing some of that Nintendo pedigree. Launching alongside some of Nintendo’s biggest racers I fear it might be neglected and forgotten to time. Shame because its pretty good … it’s just not F-Zero.
7/10
Overall I’m very impressed with the Switch 2 and the launch titles I’ve managed to put some time in to. Surprisingly powerful bit of kit for something that is so compact in comparison to its competitors. With future titles like Donkey Kong and Metroid 4 I can see a bright future for the Switch 2. With older games getting updates to take advantage of the new hardware its nice to see some older titles get a breath of fresh air while waiting for further new titles. Needless to say I have throughly enjoyed my time with the Switch 2 so far and I’m looking forward to what’s to come.