Including gameplay clips/screenshots!

The Nintendo Switch 2 is here I’ve been playing it for around a week now and thought I would drop some honest and down to earth early impressions.

First of all it is sleek. It has weight, but it’s not heavy it certainly doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy. It feels much more like a proper console than a “toy” especially compared to the original Switch. It could almost be mistaken for something designed by Apple, and I mean that in a good way. The magnet system for the controllers amplifies this feeling even further, as they seamlessly click into place with that satisfying sound.

Screen and UI

The screen looks almost twice as big as the original Switch screen. It isn’t, technically, but it definitely feels that way. As soon as you turn it on in handheld mode, you can immediately notice the upgrade in resolution and image quality.

The UI is very similar to the original Switch. There are no major overhauls here. However, the Nintendo eShop is much improved. It’s far more responsive and significantly easier to navigate.

Still in handheld mode, I quickly navigate the store to redeem my code for Mario Kart World and get the download started. It takes around 20 minutes on our 1000 Mbps wireless internet. I also choose a few digital games from my existing Switch library to assign to the Switch 2, specifically Pokémon Scarlet and Zelda: Breath of the Wild, just to test out those juicy upgrades.

Mario Kart World

Jumping into Mario Kart World, it’s amazing to see this level of visual fidelity and smooth framerate on a Nintendo console. It really feels next gen. The colors on the screen are vibrant, the game runs flawlessly, and the detail is razor sharp. I blast through a quick Grand Prix as the new crab character, and it’s a joy to see all the racers and their interactions so clearly.

Pokémon Scarlet

Switching over to Pokémon Scarlet, it feels like a whole new game. You can actually see the texture of the Pokémon in far more detail from Totodile’s scales, to Houndour’s fur, and whatever Hoppip is made of (some sort of fuzzy pink peach, apparently). The game runs smoothly even in crowded open-world areas.

The number of Pokémon on screen has noticeably increased. There’s no screen tearing, and no frame drops so far. There is a slight pop-in in the distance, but it’s nowhere near as noticeable as before. Increasing the field of view slightly would be my only real complaint. And remember, this is still in handheld mode.

It’s a little frustrating that this is what the game should have been from day one. But it’s good to finally see it living up to its potential.

The issues:

The only real issue I have so far is the battery life doesn’t seem to be very long in handheld mode. I’ve read some reports of the battery swelling and overheating but I’ve not had any of that as of yet.

I guess the other issue most people would face is the like of new exclusive games to play. I forced myself through Pokemon Scarlet on the OG switch with squinted eyes. Now with the upgrade and DLC it’s a much more enjoyable experience and again like a new game. I am also in the unique position that I haven’t played the Switch Zelda games so I have them to go through. So that will tide me through until Donkey Kong Bonanza, Pokemon Legends Z-A etc.

– Update the system does seem to run very hot when docked even with the charge up to 90% setting selected.

This article is a work in progress and more will be added as it is completed! 🙂

Docked Mode

Docked mode is brilliant, it’s amazing having Nintendo games in such good quality on a big screen with a great framerate. The main issue being that it does seem to run very hot in docked mode as stated above.

Gamecube emulation

The gamecube emulator works great and some of the games even seem to look better than I Remember? The CRT filter is a cool option. I haven’t used this feature much as of yet as I am really waiting for Pokemon Colosseum or Fire Emblem to be added

Final thoughts – is it worth it right now?

Is the Switch 2 worth it right now? 

It does really depend on where you’re at with the catalog of available games. Most of us have a better way to play third party games. Nintendo consoles tend to be exclusives only for me. Where you stand currently with the catalog will most likely determine an early purchase. It’s great if you’re two or more of the following;

1. You’re happy with Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza for now 
2. You haven’t played some of the games that have had an update
3. You really want to replay games that have had an update
4. You want access to the current back catalog of Gamecube games
5. You don’t have another console to access the third party games that have been made available

2-3 of those alone will justify the purchase and should last you long until Nintendo rolls out more 1st party games. Kirby, Metroid Prime Beyond are due later this year and Pokemon Legends Z-A is due in October.