Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Hands-On with Nintendo Switch 2: First Impressions of the Next-Gen Console
Gaming enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the Nintendo Switch 2 finally received a wealth of information during a recent Nintendo Direct event. The company unveiled the release date, showcased exciting new features, and previewed a lineup of upcoming games for the highly anticipated new console. Set to launch on June 5th, the Switch 2 will debut with exclusive titles such as Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, alongside major third-party releases including Split Fiction, Street Fighter 6, and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition. Having had the opportunity to experience the Nintendo Switch 2 firsthand prior to its official launch, here are detailed impressions, highlighting the standout features and minor drawbacks of Nintendo’s latest offering.
First Impressions: Design and Build
Immediately noticeable is the enhanced build quality of the Switch 2. Compared to its predecessor, the console feels significantly more robust and substantial.
Improved Joy-Con Controllers
The redesigned magnetic Joy-Con controllers represent a notable improvement. They attach to the console with a secure and satisfying click, a marked upgrade from the somewhat cumbersome rail system of the original Switch. The new mechanism is both quicker and more user-friendly.
Enhanced Kickstand Design
Another welcome change is the redesigned kickstand. Significantly wider and more stable than the original’s flimsy offering, it surpasses even the OLED model in flexibility. The adjustable stand allows for a greater range of viewing angles, enhancing tabletop gaming.
Ergonomics and Portability
The Nintendo Switch 2 is slightly larger and more ergonomically contoured, resulting in a more comfortable grip for extended play sessions. This refined design makes it a more versatile system, well-suited to various gaming styles and environments.
Performance and Visual Fidelity
Under the hood, the Switch 2 boasts a considerable power upgrade. It supports 4K resolution visuals at up to 60 frames per second and can achieve 1080p at frame rates exceeding 120fps. This enhanced graphical capability is a significant leap forward, potentially shifting user preference towards docked mode for a more immersive visual experience.
Testing Metroid Prime 4: Beyond at 120fps demonstrated the console’s fluidity, though the responsiveness at such high frame rates occasionally felt almost too sensitive for the analog sticks. This observation leads to one of the most innovative features of the Nintendo Switch 2.
Revolutionary Joy-Con Mouse Functionality
While PC gamers might find it commonplace, the integrated Joy-Con mouse function is genuinely innovative for console gaming.
Intuitive Mouse Mode Activation
Activating mouse mode is seamless. By simply holding a Joy-Con sideways on a flat surface and moving it like a traditional mouse, users can instantly switch to mouse control. No menu navigation is required – just place it on a surface and mouse mode engages. In games like Metroid Prime 4, this allows for precise aiming using the mouse Joy-Con, while the other Joy-Con manages movement.
Enhanced Precision and Control
Lifting the Joy-Con from the surface immediately reverts control back to the dual analog sticks, though the precision offered by mouse aiming is compelling. The sideways button layout requires a brief adjustment, but the superior aiming accuracy quickly becomes apparent. Mastering mouse control enhances gameplay, particularly in first-person experiences.
Game Integration and Applications
This mouse functionality extends to other compatible titles, including Super Mario Party Jamboree, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and Drag X Drive.
- In Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, players use mouse cursor movements to dodge obstacles.
- Mario Party incorporates mouse controls in an engaging air hockey mini-game.
- Drag X Drive, a unique 3v3 wheelchair basketball game reminiscent of Rocket League, uniquely utilizes a dual mouse system. Each Joy-Con controls a wheelchair wheel, enabling precise movements and shots through wrist flicks and surface slides.
While mastering sharp turns in Drag X Drive takes practice, the satisfying impact of hitting opponents and securing the ball is immediately enjoyable. The competitive depth at higher skill levels remains to be seen, but the initial experience is promising.
Mario Kart World: Knockout Tour Mode
Beyond the mouse feature, a standout highlight of the Nintendo Switch 2 event was Mario Kart World, particularly its new Knockout Tour mode.
Epic Elimination Racing
Knockout Tour delivers an exhilarating elimination-style race featuring 24 players. While the item-based chaos, including the infamous blue shell, introduces an element of chance, it also contributes to the mode’s excitement and unpredictability.
Dynamic Race Structure
Starting with 24 racers, Knockout Tour eliminates players after each checkpoint, culminating in a final four vying for victory. Despite eliminations, consistently placed items and course design maintain a sense of constant engagement, ensuring players feel they have a chance to progress even when trailing.
Expansive Course Design
Both Knockout Tour and the Free Roam mode showcase the expansive scale and detail of the new maps, encouraging exploration and discovery.
Minor Drawbacks and Overall Assessment
Few aspects of the Nintendo Switch 2 were genuinely disappointing. The approach appears to be an evolution of the original Switch formula, a potentially wise strategy given the Wii U’s mixed reception. The Switch 2 refines and enhances the established identity of its predecessor, rather than drastically reinventing it.
While not revolutionary, the Nintendo Switch 2 offers substantial upgrades over the original, with enough compelling new functionalities to entice existing Switch owners to upgrade.
Display Considerations
The absence of an OLED display is a notable omission, although the Switch 2 screen is demonstrably improved over the original. Determining the precise difference between the Switch 2 and Switch OLED screens in a bright exhibition environment proved challenging, but games like Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition exhibited enhanced visual vibrancy on the new handheld compared to the original Switch.
Suggestions for Improvement
To fully showcase the Nintendo Switch 2’s capabilities, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour should ideally be offered as a complimentary download, similar to Nintendo Land on Wii U and Astro’s Playroom on PS5.
Furthermore, incorporating iconic Nintendo characters like Mario and friends into Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour could enhance its appeal and personality, potentially preventing it from being overshadowed amidst the launch day game releases.
Pricing and Game Lineup
The £395 price point represents a significant investment. However, the promise of high-caliber first-party exclusives from Nintendo, combined with premium third-party titles such as Cyberpunk, Borderlands, and The Duskbloods, arguably justifies the cost for dedicated gamers.
The absence of FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods from the preview event was a disappointment, intensifying anticipation for its expected 2026 debut. This omission, perhaps, is a minor point of frustration regarding the otherwise impressive Nintendo Switch 2.