Switching To A New Generation
After 8 years, the Nintendo Switch has finally gone up to the console heaven in the sky. On June 5th, I went to my local store and picked up a Nintendo Switch 2 at midnight and rushed home to set it up!
First things first, this thing is hefty. It’s definitely bigger than the previous Nintendo Switch, I’ve attached a photo comparison below to compare them. What I noticed immediately is it definitely feels more premium than the original Switch, but at the same time, this should be the case bearing the price in mind.
The Switch OLED meets it’s younger, but taller and wider brother. Gotta say, I really do love those pink Joy-Con.
The setup process was about as I expected, with a day one patch needed to boot. Thankfully, picking the console up at midnight UK time, the servers were not too overloaded and I was able to download and transfer my data over in around 30 minutes.
Start Your Engines
Now, the big launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 is Mario Kart World. The original Nintendo Switch didn’t receive a unique, new Mario Kart during its life, the only entry was a port of Mario Kart 8, albeit with some new tracks. Mario Kart World had some lofty expectations on its shoulders, being the killer app at launch and being the first title since 2014.
Nintendo also decided to use Mario Kart World as their first title to use the price of 80$. For such a popular franchise, there is a lot riding on this release in my personal opinion. The main question is, does it deliver?
Mario Kart World shows off the power of the new console, we’ve gone from 12 racers to 24, across luscious new environments. The frames don’t miss a beat, staying locked at 60fps throughout all 32 tracks, both in handheld and docked mode. Docked mode displays the game at around 1440p native resolution, upscaled to 4k. Handheld is 1080p, putting the new screen to the test. It does look very pretty, and certain parts of Rainbow Road are stunning.
Rainbow Road really is a spectacle in this game, and it comes with a fantastic soundtrack also!
The gameplay is as you’d expect from Mario Kart, chaotic drifts around tight corners with items flying everywhere, whilst playing as some of your favourite Nintendo characters. The big new addition is the Free Roam mode, and to be honest, this is where the game falls short. There’s just not much to do, and after around 10-20 minutes, the novelty wears off, and it’s back to the more standard modes. I like that the mode has been included, but I’m not sure if it deserves the marketing push it has received. If you are getting the game purely for the free roam, I’d have to advise against it. However, after beating all 8 cups in Grand Prix mode, this mode still holds up, and would be my main suggestion if you are playing this as a solo player such as myself.
The main sticking point I have with Mario Kart World is that price tag. Thankfully, I didn’t pay the full amount, as I picked up the console bundle that came with a digital code, making the game a lot cheaper, at around £35 instead of the £74.99 that Nintendo are asking for a physical copy. I can’t recommend the game at that price if you’re a solo player, I’ll be honest. If you’ve got a huge group of friends and you all love Mario Kart, I could see it being worth it, but I’m not in that camp. I hope this doesn’t stick around with Nintendo Switch 2 games, as it may well hurt the console more than help it in the long run.
Gaming, In Cube Form
A big feature for myself on the Nintendo Switch 2 is the addition of Nintendo GameCube games to the Nintendo Switch Online service. So far, the games list is pretty barren, with just F-Zero GX, Zelda: Wind Waker and SoulCalibur 2 at launch. However, more games have been confirmed, and I hope that as time goes on, this service does get the love and care it deserves, as the GameCube has some hidden gems that would benefit from the spotlight.
Just the 3 titles so far, no Smash Melee or Mario Sunshine feels like a crime. Twilight Princess and Metroid Prime 2 would also be welcome additions, as well as the first Animal Crossing.
Hyrule, Revisited
Nintendo’s other “main” titles for the Switch 2 launch are the upgrade packs of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Now, these two games were huge standouts for me on the original Switch. Breath of the Wild is a long game, and I’ve completed it three times since release. I don’t really do long games, but it is incredible.
I’m pleased to report that from my small amounts of testing; the ports are stellar. Both games are running at a lovely 60 frames per second, with the resolution looking sharper, and the new Zelda Notes feature.
Zelda has never looked so good. Wait a minute, that’s Link, never mind.
As lovely as these ports are, there is a downside, and again, it’s the cost. Why are these upgrades not free? Admittedly, the cost isn’t as high as other publishers, and the packs are free if you have Nintendo Switch Online Expansion, but that’s not the point. If you own the original game, these should be free upgrades in my personal opinion, and not behind a paywall. Nintendo seems to have different “tiers” of upgrades, the Zelda siblings fit under the “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” tree, which Metroid Prime 4 and Pokemon Legends Z-A will also be under. However, certain other games such as The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Pokemon Scarlet/Violet now run at 60fps on Switch 2 at no extra cost, so there is confusing messaging, and I hope Nintendo resolves this as the generation goes on.
£7.99 isn’t exactly breaking the bank, but it’s more the principle I have an issue with. If you don’t own either game, it is £66.99 for each of these. BoTW is 8 years old, just remember that.
New Play Control!
The new Joy-Con controllers, aptly named Joy-Con 2, are a definite upgrade on the original Joy-Con that launched with Nintendo Switch. They now connect to the console with magnets, instead of the rail system that the first console used. They are once again bigger than before, and the thumbsticks are greatly improved. I am going to have a little moan again though, as they only come in black so far. Each controller has a little splash of red or blue, but I feel like it takes some personality out of the console personally. I had the Pastel Pink Joy-Cons for my OLED model Switch, and it really made the console stand out and it truly felt like my console. Everyone’s Switch 2 looks the same, and I know that’s petty, but it’s my ramblings you clicked on!
The new gimmick with the Joy-Con 2 is being able to use them as mice, and use this to point around the screen. It’s a neat idea, but there isn’t really anything to use this just yet, other than moving the cursor around the HOME menu, and playing around with it there. I’m still yet to be convinced if this will be a useful feature, or a marketing gimmick, but the jury is still out.
Look, Mum! I’ve got a cursor on my Switch Home Screen! (This screenshot was difficult to take using two mice.)
A very welcome feature for me is being able to use the Switch 1 controllers seamlessly on Switch 2. I have a Pro Controller for my Switch 1 that still functions perfectly fine, and with the Switch 2 Pro Controllers being £75 here, I saw no reason to upgrade. I have been using my Switch 1 Pro Controller with no issues on the new system, and I am very happy that I’ve managed to save some money this way. Sure, I won’t have the new GL/GR back paddles, but do I really need those for Nintendo exclusives? No.
Super Charged
As far as battery life is concerned, so far, I’m getting around the same as my Switch OLED which is around 2.5 to 3 hours. Now, this isn’t exactly amazing for a portable games console, but it just about beats the Steam Deck for me, which gets around 2 hours on a full charge (depending on what game I am playing). In my case, I don’t tend to take my handhelds many places without power, so this isn’t a huge issue for me, but it’s definitely something to bare in mind if you’re in the market for the console.
New Horizons Ahead
So, with launch now behind us, what’s next for the Nintendo Switch 2? We have a new Donkey Kong game launching in July, made by the same team behind Super Mario Odyssey. There are also some Switch 2 Editions of Switch 1 releases, with Pokemon Legends Z-A out in October, and Metroid Prime 4 due to be released at some point this year. Kirby Air Riders and Hyrule Warriors are also due before the year is out, and that’s pretty much it as far as first party support goes. I must say, it is disappointing to have a new Nintendo console out in the wild, with no indication of when 3D Mario, Smash Bros, Animal Crossing, Zelda are going to get their first true outings on the new hardware.
Whereas with the Switch 1 lineup in 2017, we were treated to such spectacles as Super Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, with ports of Mario Kart 8 and Fire Emblem Warriors to boot. Mario Kart World just isn’t going to cut it unfortunately. In my personal opinion, Nintendo need to at least talk about their plans before the end of the year, and hopefully 2026 can be a fantastic year for this little device.
Grand Finale Galaxy
With all that being said, am I personally happy with my purchase of a Nintendo Switch 2? I wouldn’t say I’m in love with it just yet, but I’m also not disappointed. If I had to score my experience so far, it is around a 7/10. There is so many neat upgrades, but at the same time, there’s not a lot of places to use them. If you haven’t ever had a Switch before, then this console would be perfect. The Switch 2 is the best place to play Switch 1 games, as expected, they run like a dream. However, if you’re more like me, and had a Switch 1 for a while, I’m not sure there’s a lot here for you just yet. The quality-of-life features are lovely, but is that worth £430? I guess that depends on your own personal preference. Now that I have finished with Mario Kart World, my Switch 2 experience is going to be going back and playing all the games I didn’t get round to on my original Switch, and playing them in the best way possible. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as I’ve been very cosy playing Pikmin 1 for the first time. If you are a Switch 1 owner that’s played all the big hitters, I’d personally recommend waiting until we get that big killer app, such as the new 3D Mario game or Zelda. Unless you happen to really love Mario Kart, in which case, World is a blast and you’d probably get your moneys’ worth just through that one.
The Wrap-Up
Here’s my overall thoughts, in table form and easy to read! Don’t say I don’t ever do anything for you. Thanks for reading this, I know it’s been a long one, and it’s been very messy, but I just type sometimes. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m off to play Pikmin 1. A game from 2001. Funny how the world works sometimes.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| A very clear upgrade from the Switch 1, much needed power boost | Lacking launch lineup, if you don’t like Mario Kart, there’s not much here |
| Fantastic build quality, really feels like a premium product | Premium product means premium prices; this baby isn’t cheap in the slightest. |
| Fully backwards compatible with the Switch 1 ecosystem | Not powerful enough to really test modern games, they are still going to struggle |