Nintendo Switch 2 - 1 Year Later

A little over a year ago, I put the Switch 2 on credit and jumped on it faster than I probably should have, mostly due to my fears of an eventual price hike (which proved to be right). So, I wanted to look back as a Nintendo fan and figure out how I feel about the new system a year later. I can safely say that the Switch 2 is headed toward being my most used Nintendo system since the GameCube, and I’m more excited about its future than with the other guys.

The Hardware

I am generally happy with the specs of the Switch 2, considering the recent history of Nintendo hardware. The system, to me, comes off as a PS4 Pro on steroids, which in an era of diminishing returns graphically, is just enough. This has led to some already beautiful games, as well as solid major AAA third-party ports. Considering people seem to be happy overall with modern graphics and aren’t clamoring for more power outside of the graphics obsessed niche, I think this puts the Switch 2 in a solid place, although it will always come down to good optimization.

The screen for the system is solid enough, and I like that it seems closer to the quality of iPad screens and is a noticeable upgrade from the original Switch. It’s also still surprising just how big it is (insert adult joke here). I’m happy with Nintendo adding 3D audio and HDR, which I did not expect and is a nice touch from a company that is known to skimp on that kind of stuff. As for my screen, it did take a ding in a small area, mostly due to my fault for not putting a screen protector on it. The system itself feels premium, but that means you have to be more careful with it than past Nintendo handhelds. I do think a Switch 2 Lite with cheaper materials is needed for kids.

Overall, I have no complaints about the hardware, and I think future projects are just going to make it shine more. The software is fairly simple, but it’s much quicker and snappier than the Switch, so I’m happy on all fronts there as well. If I had to summarize the system, from a hardware side, it’s a PS4, maybe even PS4 Pro, in optional handheld form, which is great for a Nintendo system, and on the software side, it’s Switch but faster and better. I’m happy with it.

The Games

When it comes to Nintendo, I’m admittedly someone who mostly buys the big titles of the brand, such as mainline Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and so on. I do mix in spinoffs and Kirby, but that’s mostly my main taste of Nintendo. However, with the Switch 2, this is heading toward being my most used Nintendo system in a long time. I already own six games in one year, including two third-party titles, and that’s not including Switch 2 edition upgrades of previous games. I’m not done either, as I plan to pick up Splatoon Raiders, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Ocarina of Time. That’s a lot for a Nintendo system - it’s the most I’ve focused on buying a batch of games since GameCube. I’m even more open to buying specific third-party titles as long as the performance is tolerable.

There are many reasons for this, but the main one is that the handheld option is becoming a better use for me in my life. As someone with a typical 9-to-5 job, a family that includes a daughter with ADHD, and other factors, the handheld option is becoming more of a pro. I still mostly game in dock mode, but I’ve used it more than I did with the original Switch. It also comes down to the diminishing returns of graphical jumps. Now, I’ve never been annoyed with Nintendo’s graphics being lesser than the competition, but it helps when it comes to specific choices. The Switch 2 looks great. I thought Switch 1 games looked good for the most part, but you could see the sacrifices. With Switch 2, I don’t see as many sacrifices.

As for the games I’ve played on the system so far, we have a few standouts. I know many weren’t crazy about Mario Kart World, but I had some awesome moments playing it with my daughter that are going to stick with me. With Donkey Kong Bananza, I’m closer to the critics than I am to my mutuals on it. I had a lot of fun with it, and the final act is one of the best final acts in pure fun I’ve experienced since the end of Super Mario Odyssey. Star Fox is a solid remake, which shows Nintendo unafraid to go more realistic in art style and tone (more on that in the next section). Moss: The Forgotten Relic is one of my third-party buys, and I fell in love with its charm. Currently, I am playing Dragon Quest VII Reimagined and have a few games on the system planned to play before the year ends.

We also have the Switch 2 editions, which turn the system into essentially a Switch Pro. You get to see some games really pop with sharper colors and better clarity. Both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom look better on the system, and if I had more free time, I would absolutely replay them. Kirby and the Forgotten Land looks beautiful, with its colors and art direction as well. Last but not least, I got the Switch 2 edition of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. While I do understand the areas where the game fell short, I still maintain it’s another solid Metroid entry in my favorite franchise, and it has some gorgeous areas, reflections, and particle effects that showcase some of what the system is capable of.

The Future

Now we look to the future, and I think the future is so bright you have to put a Captain Falcon visor on (you see what I did there). We still have good third-party ports coming, including Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Lies of P. We’ve got rumored and confirmed titles on the way such as Diablo IV, Expedition 33, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. On the first-party front, we have the highly anticipated remake of Ocarina of Time, which I never thought would happen. It’s going to be interesting to see how the game I’ve nicknamed the “Citizen Kane” of gaming is going to be received by a new generation. There are also numerous franchises and titles we are still waiting on, including mainline 3D Mario, a new Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and more.

There are two other points I’ve noticed regarding Switch 2 and its future that get lost in the noise of the present. I think Switch 2 is headed toward being the best remake console Nintendo has put out. Now, Nintendo has a history of re-releasing and, at times, doing full remakes of past titles. However, it feels like it’s going to really take off with this one. We already have the Star Fox and Ocarina of Time remakes, and we have rumors of Super Metroid as well. I think we are going to see consistent releases of remakes. This doesn’t mean we won’t get original and new stuff, just that, in a day and age when games take longer to make, filling in the gaps with nostalgic remakes is a good PR and financial choice. We saw a peak of this in the first Switch with the Super Mario RPG.

The second point is more of a personal theory, but seeing the direction Nintendo has taken with Star Fox and Ocarina of Time, leaning towards a more realistic art direction, I think Nintendo is going to aim for more realistic art styles for franchises they feel it makes sense for. We’ve seen them do this back with the N64 and GameCube, but Nintendo tended to move away from it in the blue ocean era. It doesn’t mean we won’t see a focus on art style and timeless looks, but I would not be shocked if we see them experiment with more realistic graphics, especially since the Switch 2 has the graphical capabilities.

Overall, I am pretty happy with my first year with the Nintendo Switch 2. Considering all the issues the Xbox and PlayStation platforms are going through, at least with the Switch 2 there’s a stable environment there. Don’t get me wrong, there are always things to point out and be critical of, but I’m in a net positive territory with the system. Here’s hoping for a better second year.

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