First impressions of Nintendo's Switch 2

I've always been a big handheld gamer - my office is strewn with PSP's, PSP Go's, Game Boys of varying types, an Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket, Steam Deck OLED and even some emulators like the Miyoo Mini. Basically if you can play it on the go, I'm a fan.

The Nintendo Switch, when first released, was a no-brainer for me. A handheld you could dock effortlessly with a big screen was too tempting to pass up, and so it proved to be a wise choice as Nintendo released some of their best fare on the system, while other developers likewise put out some exclusive content that was right up my alley - Astral Chain in particular remains a favourite. It's also been a darling for indie developers, with thousands of titles in the library covering every genre you can think of. And probably some you couldn't.

So Switch 2 had it tough - follow up the third-best selling console of all time, one that has been accessible to families with a broad library of fun games for all ages with a new system that will, ideally, see the big N through the best part of another decade. So surely the best course would be to follow a winning formula, with affordable hardware and exclusive, addictive games that will naturally take over from the previous console.

Nope.

Nintendo decided, quite early on in fact, that this hardware would be charged at what it's worth - £395 for the vanilla console or £429 with Mario Kart World. Given that this separately retails for £80, you're likely going to be shelling out for the bundle to "save" some money. 

It's that £80 RRP for the game that's raised the most eyebrows, Nintendo's US CEO Doug Bowser claiming that they're now charging for games based on their "entertainment value".. That's a steep climb for a Nintendo game and it's set alarm bells ringing among consumers who realise that this now opens the door to other publishers following suit and raising the cost for games across the the board. 

But having bought one myself, I guess the question is: was it worth it? For me, undoubtedly, but my case isn't usual. Firstly it's a review console paid for by my company (so the VAT will come back lowering the cost) and I already have review codes for upcoming games (including the non-exclusive Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma), further mitigating cost worries. It will, however, now inform my reviews even more than usual and I will have to measure, as Bowser suggests, entertainment value against the cost of each game quite strictly, especially if the same game is cheaper on other platforms. 

Likewise the digital-only route that Switch 2 is following, with many physical games now becoming download keys for the full game, isn't going to bother me if I've been sent a game for review rather than have to pay for it. Were that not the case, my decision to buy this console may have been very different as I'm a physical collector first and foremost. The PSP Go died due to over-reliance on digital only content, Switch 2 could go the same way if they're not careful. 

Physical games are a boon on the Switch 2, saving valuable drive space

The landscape has also changed since the halcyon days of 2017 too. The biggest shark in the water is Valve's Steam Deck which has given casual gamers access to the world of PC gaming, with all the choice and scope that entails, not to mention a wider world of game mods, interface options and the ability to link to a TV just as easily as Nintendo's handheld. If you have the OLED Steam Deck, there's almost no argument as to why a Switch 2 is a necessary gaming device for you, it has all but Nintendo's own titles already available and plays them better. If you use services like CD Keys, you'll get them cheaper as well.

Switch 2 is further hampered by the fact that multi-platform titles, such as Sega's Sonic Crossworld Racing, will be releasing the Switch 2 version of the game after every other platform, putting Switch 2 owners at the back of the queue for the latest games. Ouch.

Now you're just depressing me...

Okay, okay... All that's not to say I'm not happy with what I have laid out for - the console itself is a lovely upgrade - the rubberised coating it has feels premium and grippy, the larger joy-cons make it feel more grown up (love the magnets too!), and despite my initial concerns about a non-OLED screen being a step backward, the LCD panel is bright and vibrant and doesn't feel as though you've been short-changed. 

No doubt the hardware feels good in hand, a definite improvement in almost every way.

The backward compatibility is appreciated, as is the faster access to both games and the eShop, which is now quick and snappy when being navigated, a stark contrast to the Switch 1.

From what I've played, Mario Kart World is, like the hardware, an iterative upgrade from its predecessor rather than a revolution. More racers, larger circuits and a free roaming option that allows you to drive around exploring, taking on challenges and just drifting. It's a nice chill time-sink, in much the same way as Street Fighter 6 with its World Tour map, but with less incentives - in SF6 you can buy new clothes, combine moves from different fighters on your avatar and level up. Mario Kart World just let's you find collectables and tick off challenge boxes. So far I've not been blown away by the tracks either, with a few notable exceptions - climbing and dodging giant barrels being thrown by a mecha-Kong is awesome, but the Shy Guy villages feel very bland by comparison. I've only played two Grand Prix's though so its early days. I do like the extra costumes for the characters though, that's a nice touch.

So should YOU pick up a Switch 2 if you're on the fence? Probably not unless the new Kart game has you excited. There's little else of interest that isn't already available, and arguably plays better, on other consoles. Steam Deck has taken away the Switch's portability USP, with Hogwarts Legacy and Cyberpunk 2077 both great games, but cheaper on Steam Deck. If you have the OLED Switch, you have even less reason to upgrade, as that's still a beautiful display with a huge library - just play vibrant games like Anno Mutationem or Pac Man Championship Edition 2+ and you'll find your eyeballs treated to some incredible graphics. The larger real estate of the Switch 2 is a plus, but the blacks aren't quite as deep as it's OLED forebear - not a deal-breaker as I said earlier, but nice to know if you have the Switch OLED and are actively looking for reasons not to upgrade.

The fact that I was easily able to wander in to Smyths and pick up a console (after Amazon flubbed my delivery date and promising it 3 days after launch) suggests that it wasn't quite as popular as we were led to believe. Youtube is awash with cautionary videos about the hardware when you might expect it to be shilled to high heaven. No, the Nintendo Switch 2's launch hasn't been the celebration Nintendo might have expected.

Of course, the woeful UK economy and US tariffs also play a part - the uncertainty and lack of economic growth make Switch 2 a major luxury item in the West - it plays maybe 3 games you can't find elsewhere (Kart, Bravely Default 3D Remastered and the Tour game) with the next unique launch, Donkey Kong Bonanza not due until September. Even the backward compatibility is marred by the fact that Nintendo is charging an upgrade fee for games like Zelda - that's pretty mean-spirited and possibly a deal-breaker for some at a time when Nintendo need to provide buyers with every reason they can for people to spend their money.

 So while I can say that the hardware is neat, that Mario Kart World has been lots of fun for my daughter and her friends, I've had most of my fun deciding which games I'm moving over from my OLED Switch. I buy a lot of physical games, so that 256Gb storage space should remain largely untroubled for a while yet.

So no, Switch 2 is not an essential upgrade. It's less an adrenaline rush than it is a pleasant experience, just lots of little upgrades to make you smile, but if Nintendo wanted to show off just how much more impressive and essential the Switch 2 is for consumers, it's really failed. MKW just isn't an impressive enough update to drop jaws, and with the lack of anything else to call a USP, the console launch feels a bit limp. I remember picking up the Super Nintendo on launch day, having washed what felt like a million cars to raise the funds, and being giddy at the awesomeness of Super Mario World. No such feelings here.

So if you have a Switch 2, no doubt you're happy enough but, like me, slightly puzzled that there wasn't more sizzle all round. Let's hope the system doesn't remain undercooked for long.