I’m Actually Enjoying My Time With the Switch 2
I've only played two games, but I'm a happy camper albeit with a few concerns.
I purchased the original Switch from someone on Facebook Marketplace for $300 sometime around 2017/2018. I couldn’ttell you when exactly, which is indicative of my time with the original Switch.
I played it on/off, booting up Mario Kart 8 (racing games aren’t exactly my favorite), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (for full price, mind you), and of course, Pokémon: Let's Go Eevee. I sunk sporadic hours into said titles, but the first iteration of the Switch didn’t hold me whatsoever.
Yet, that doesn’t stop the FOMO (fear of missing out) train from rolling, and somehow, someway, I’ve found myself with a Switch 2 after a Best Buy restock, and funnily enough…
I’m actually having a blast with the console’s sequel.
I’ve found myself putting more playtime during my first week compared to my “launch window” with the Switch 1, a rather proud moment for me since I'm beating "shiny toy" syndrome.
Conquering my Switch 1 Backlog with Switch 2 Updates
I purchased the Mario Kart World bundle because I feel like you’d be crazy if you didn't unless you can’t, which is fair. Let me tell you, Mario Kart World runs smooth as a whistle on the Switch 2.
As you’re butting heads with 24 other racers, colors pop at you, and the game handles all the frantic action very well. I’m actually starting to warm up to racing games now.
What’s happening to me.
My next investment was Super Mario Odyssey, my first full Mario game since the Game Boy Advance. This game’s got a hook on me like no other, probably because I’ve been drowning in Yakuza/Like a Dragon for a year straight. Running around, collecting coins, tossing your hat to take control of enemies, and biome hopping never felt so good in my first adult Mario experience.
I want to say Odyssey received a next-gen update to coincide with the upgraded console, which helps massively here since the game runs smooth as butter. It also looks fabulous, as each biome is so chock-full of beautiful colors and details that make them feel unique, although the gameplay loop gets pretty familiar.
I plan on replaying Breath of the Wild and then jumping into Tears of the Kingdom, although both of these titles raise concerns since Nintendo is charging full price for the Switch 2 version if it’s a first-time purchase. I know Sony does that with PlayStation games, but $70 for titles that came out years ago and an $80 Mario racing game, if you didn’t get the bundle, isn’t exactly family-friendly.
That said, Nintendo’s first-party games are rock solid on the Switch 2, and with GameCube classics to dive into later on, there’s a lot here for a new guy like myself.
The Future is Bananas (Meant in Multiple Ways)
July ushers in the release of Donkey Kong Bananza, or as the streets call it, Red Faction Gorilla, a game I’m actually really excited about. Previews have been bananas so far, with the team behind Mario Odyssey at the helm of this banana boat.
Okay enough banana peels.
That said, my biggest concern is what comes next for the Switch 2?
As someone who has a PS5 and a PC, I didn’t buy a Switch 2 to play Cyberpunk 2077 and Hitman World of Assassination, both of which are full-priced titles of games that came out years ago. I bought it for the unique first-party space Nintendo occupies with Mario, Donkey Kong, and Metroid.
Along with that, I do wonder how much developers will get out of the Switch 2’s hardware to entice players to play on Nintendo’s platform.
With reports indicating that third-party games aren’t selling like hotcakes on Nintendo’s new hardware, does Nintendo have an ace (not the attorney) up its sleeve? The console’s flying off the shelves, having a better start than Sony’s PS4, but spare first-party titles and full-priced third-party rereleases only drive so much traffic.
Don’t even mention Pokémon to me, the franchise has needed a Breath of the Wild-esque reboot for years now.
Let’s be fair; I’m the new guy on the block so understand my POV is from an outsider who’s now stepping into the house of Nintendo. It’ll be interesting to learn the ins and outs of Nintendo’s strategy as time moves forward.
If we’re talking about right now, I’m impressed with Nintendo 2, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.