The Hardware: The Nintendo Switch is smaller than you may expect. For comparison, bigger than a vita, but less bulky than a Wii-U gamepad. It felt solid and comfortable, with a good weight to it. And the screen makes the games look crisp and sharp. Overall, the hardware left me impressed for a slick device that can be played at home or on the go.
The Controllers: Many people have commented on how small the joy cons look, and well, yes, they are small. They will certainly take some getting used to as there was always a slight hesitation as to how they should be held. Holding the joy con sideways as a NES remote style felt awkward with the stick / buttons in the middle of the remote, and it definitely had an impact in my performance of Mario Kart 8. That said, holding the joy cons up-right, either in handheld mode or as wiimote / nunchuck style, felt better and my performance was much improved. The buttons on the joy con are still quite small, but it works well for a handheld. Before we end our discussion on the joy cons, HD Rumble: The only game in which I got to experience such was "Count" in 1 2 Switch, where you count balls supposedly rolling around a box that is your remote. The technology does indeed capture that feeling, so I'm hopeful other games will use it in more interesting ways (see below later for game impressions).
Last but not least for controllers, the Pro controller. This controller felt the most familiar and had the best gameplay experiences for me. The buttons were bigger and laid out in a more accessible fashion, with the with the sticks and buttons offset left and right of each other. Sorry I wasn't able to try the Grip controller, but I imagine it would still have the same general pros / cons with the joy cons' small buttons and stick / button layout.
And so you can better have an idea where I stand on controllers compared to yourself, my favorite controller of all time is the GameCube controller. I also like the PS4 dualshock and Wii remote/nunchuck controls. Where do the Switch controllers compare in all this? More time will be needed, but I was impressed at the quick grasp I felt for the Switch Pro controller.
The Games: So the event started with something familiar: Mario Kart 8. Not too much to say on this game if you've already played Mario Kart 8. Battle mode is a welcome (overdue) improvement. And this is a perfect game to be playing in both TV and handheld mode.
Moving onto Zelda, I had 20 minutes to play, which ends up being more along the lines of 15 minutes with cut scenes and such. However, 15 minutes was still enough to get my excitement for this game higher than before. The art style is stunning and the world is so captivating to explore. There are so many things to explore and collect: bugs, mushrooms, apples. Oh look, there's an axe in a stump over there. And there's an odd structure over there. But wait, some bokoblins. Discovery after discovery, this game is a pure joy to play. Speaking of bokoblins: Perhaps I was rushing because of the demo, or perhaps I was over-confident because, you know, bokoblins, am I right? The game is surprisingly difficult and the AI is quite crafty. They will take their clubs and light them on fire to attack you, and even when they don't have weapons, they will just pick up rocks and throw them at you for 1-heart damage, which at the start of the game is 1/3 of your health. Zelda being difficult, feels new and exciting, and I cannot wait!
Next up: Arms, Nintendo's new fighting game. It was surprisingly fun, learning to counter your opponent's moves and unleash counter-attacks. Throwing punches felt natural and the delay of the arm extending was quite fun being able to twist and redirect the arm. It certainly adds a unique layer of tactics and mind games. Moving with only motion takes a little getting used to, but quickly feels natural after a round or two. I will certainly keep an eye on this game to see what other content this game will feature, but for fans of fighting games, I anticipate this being a fun new addition. My personal investment in fighting games typically require more content for my interest though, such as Super Smash Bros. or Soul Caliber II as two examples, so I may not be the best judge for this genre.
Next, I was warming up to the idea of 1 2 Switch. I still find the idea fascinating: a game where you can play more directly with each other, with less focus on the screen. It's unique and interesting. However, my play time with this game was ultimately less than impressed. I tried Count Balls, Quick Fire, Copy Pose, and Samurai Training. All these games were over in a matter of seconds if you ignore the tutorial videos and just seemed to lack any depth to them. Compared to games like Wii Sports and Nintendo Land, this game left more to be desired. The idea is still intriguing, but will likely wait for this to get marked down.
Splatoon 2. Pretty much more Splatoon, which is a good thing. Playing with the Pro controller, the game felt very natural and was a lot of fun. Only got to play one match as they were having problems match-making.
Lastly, a shout out to Bomberman R. If you've played Bomberman before, the same gameplay is at hand here. Although it has a lot of charm with all the distinct personalities of characters to choose from, and 8-player multiplayer is a blast! (no pun intended)
Final Thoughts: So the Nintendo Switch will be here in less than 3 weeks now. It may not be offering new gameplay experiences like Wii motion controls or Wii-U asymmetric gameplay, but it is offering something pretty exciting. I feel this system's biggest draws are social gaming and freedom of play. The ability to easily setup and play games with others on the Switch, be it local or online (to be seen), are fantastic. The system is even built for two players right out the gate with the joy cons (though I recommend the joy cons for casual play). Second, the Switch offers the freedom to play when and where, how you want. If these ideas excite you, then I encourage you to jump on board and show your support. Because your support will bring more support from developers and therefore more games.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. May these impressions help facilitate further discussions and decisions. And I hope to post more content to this blog real soon. Cheers!
nice post!
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