Expectations: We all thought the switch would be a perfect mix of the 3DS and
the Wii, after playing it is nice, but far from perfect. The Switch tablet is
kind of chunky and bigger than an IPhone, but smaller than the Wii U gamepad.
What is the Switch?: The Switch is a game system that can play its games connected to
your TV like a regular gaming console, or as a tablet-style handheld with its
own controls. The 6.2-inch portable screen can be propped up on its very own
kickstand, with detachable controllers that each act like their own miniature
Wii Remote motion controllers. (But they're way more sophisticated: read more
about them below.)
Controller: Now this system is still very brilliantly designed with a lot you
can do with the controllers. The controller can be on the go like a 3DS and you
can even take the sides off because it has two "Joy-Con" side pieces that
slide onto the edges of the Switch tablet, and make the controller even smaller. Each “Joy-Con”
controller acts as a Wii remote and can be held sideways or up right. They're a
bit more advanced than the Wii remotes and since you get two, you can easily
hand one to a friend for two-player mini games. There's buttons and a stick on
the front of each Joy-Con, but also a pair of hidden ones on the inside. These
new controllers even
have something called haptic feedback. Basically, Nintendo says you can shake a
controller and feel like there's
ice cubes moving around inside a glass.
Battery life: Nintendo estimates you will get between 2.5 and 6.5 hours of
battery life at a go. Compared to the Wii U gamepad this is by far a greater
battery life.
Gameplay: There are not that many games on the system just yet with how
new it is, but there are a few launch day titles. One game I explained in
another blog post, (Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Review) is Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is for sure a game you should get
if you purchase the system. Splatoon 2 was another one which looks promising as
it ran a little bit better than its predecessor. The main game you will
probably see everyone playing is the party game 1-2 Switch. Nintendo tries to
add in some sort of little mini game into each of their systems. This game has
fun puzzles and competitive multiplayer games that have that weird party game
feel we love from Nintendo. There are many titles still to come and a huge
Mario title everyone is waiting for (Mario Odyssey). The Nintendo Switch is
clearly intended to be a multiplayer experience and it ships with two
controllers in the box.
Audience: Anyone with the love of video games is welcome to play this
system. However, one thing I know is Nintendo tries to win over the young kids,
and the adults that grew up on these old Mario and Legend of Zelda titles that
they so frequently keep making. My brother who is 33 just went and bought one
of his own and I know he might play it more than his two children. Nintendo is
known for being bright and flashy and just extremely colorful which makes their
games so attractive.
Contents: It comes with the tablet, dock, two Joy-Pads, the gamepad dock, the
straps, an AC adapter, and even the HDMI cable you need to hook it up to a TV
set. You can get a different version with one red and one blue Joy-con (instead of the
grey ones) for the same price. The gamepad comes with touch screen capabilities
too. There's a cartridge slot and a micro SD card slot. It is not backward
compatible with earlier Nintendo systems, which can always make fans of the old
systems very upset. It's got Wi-Fi and three full-size USB ports in the dock.
This system even supports surround sound, when plugged into the dock, the
Switch can output 5.1 surround to your TV or home entertainment system.
Price$$$: Yes, the price, the thing we as consumers are most worried
about. The system is $499 and is sold in most retail stores. Additional
controllers aren't cheap either. If you lose one Joy-Con, it will cost $50 for
a new one. A pack of two will run for $80. The Charging Grip pad to pair the
two Joy-Cons together in the shape of a regular game controller, and charge
them will retail for $30.
Recommendation: I was scared to get a new Nintendo system because more often
than not I buy it and it sits and collects dust. This system however, makes
such a convincing argument on why you should get this new system. I would not
necessarily tell you to dive into this system just yet, but when they get all
their big titles on the system I want you all to hit the preorder button right
away. I am patiently waiting for Super Mario Odyssey and have never seen a
Mario game that can match what they are trying to do. If you are huge fans of
Zelda then I would see no problem with you buying the Switch right now, but the
system does not have many titles to offer you at the beginning of its product
life for the price as of right now (and Nintendo do this on purpose).
When you are ready
to make the move, here is the link for new sleek Nintendo Switch:
