If there’s something that Nintendo has excelled on in recent years it’s in the unique hardware that it has released. In a way, it’s almost as if Nintendo has turned into the old Sega that used to experiment with its own hardware releases. It’s certainly no longer surprising for a company that released such revolutionising hardware as the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS to have announced the Nintendo Switch.
With the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo seems to be attempting to cater for a generation that has grown overly attached to handheld devices. Yet, it’s the versatility of the Nintendo Switch hardware that makes it such an interesting concept. The Switch itself is a tablet like console that can either be attached to a base to be played on a TV screen or played using the console’s high resolution screen. Either way both options come with a variety of controller schemes that can be used to play a variety of titles.
The controllers that most players will use are the Joy-Con controllers, a pair of controllers that can be used in different ways. Albeit small in size, they are comfortable to use in most positions and contain a bunch of sturdy buttons that make it possible to play all kinds of games. Although it might be the case that people with larger hands may find it difficult to play games that require the use of traditional buttons and analog stick when using just one Joy-Con. Fortunately, the versatility of these controllers means that it seemed possible to play most games both Joy-Con controllers using either an accessory called a Joy-Grip or by simply attaching them to the Switch console.
Regardless of the combinations used, the Joy-Con controllers are really easy to use. However, it takes some time to adapt to using them with some games where it’s necessary to hold one or both on the side, like a Nintendo Wii Nunchuck. This may stem from the fact that it didn’t feel quite as natural and in all honesty, it was a similar experience when first trying to use a Nintendo Wii remote for the first time. Regardless, using the less tradition Joy-Con controller schemes became far more natural after a few attempts.
Some of the Joy-Con controller’s unique abilities, such as the popular HD rumble work really well. In fact, it’s impressive to experience just how precise the vibrations that the small controller can provide when playing titles such as the Ball Count mini-game included in 1-2-Switch. It definitely feels like there is potential for developers to make some very unique experiences with the use of these controllers.
The weight of the Nintendo Switch console also takes some getting used to, since it feels heavier than the Nintendo Wii U GamePad. This was noticed mostly on titles such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where it would be handy to use the screen with the Joy-Con controllers when not using a TV screen. It makes sense given that it contains all the hardware parts and it’s impressive since the console is rather thin. A side effect of using the Joy-Con controllers to hold the Switch console is that it may feel like the corners of the Joy-Con controllers are digging in the palms of the player. Hopefully it will not feel quite as heavy once getting used to it after holding it for a prolonged amount of time.
As with previous Nintendo hardware, the switch also makes use of a Pro controller. This version of the Pro controller comes with some fancy features, such as motion controls and HD rumble. Using this controller with titles such as the upcoming Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers made it easier to perform advanced moves. But it did seem rather easy to get the controller all sweaty which made it somewhat difficult to use different buttons in quick succession. At least the buttons are very responsive and it made the Pro Controller far more suitable for those who want to play titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, that require the use of more traditional controls. As a side note, it was a pleasure to play the new Zelda title when using this controller.
The screen on the Nintendo Switch console makes games look great and its slightly bigger size makes it more suitable for playing complex games, when compared to the Nintendo Wii U’s GamePad. It also seems like the screen can output up to 720p in terms of resolution. None of the titles played using this screen seemed to suffer from any lag issues either, which is always a good sign.
As a whole, the Nintendo Switch seems like Nintendo’s attempt at appealing to a wider group of users. Whereas some of its more experimental control schemes may take some time to get used to, it still doesn’t negate the fact that it’s genuinely enjoyable to make use of the hardware. Hopefully with more support from third party developers, Nintendo will be able to not only continue creating unique experiences, but also appeal to traditional gamers who still wish to experience the same blockbuster titles that the other hardware companies can offer.
The Nintendo Switch is scheduled to be released on the 3rd of March 2017.
