Nintendo switch
Nintendo ditches the Wii U and sprints full speed ahead into unknown territory
Nintendo’s latest baby hits the streets, but is this the gaming machine you’ve been looking for? Here’s the lowdown on the portable gaming console.
Following the failure of the Wii U, Nintendo has had the world’s eyes set squarely upon it in the last few years. It’s needed a win badly, and although last year’s Pokémon Go and the NES Classic Mini earned it a few feathers in Mario’s red cap, things on the home console front were seriously flagging. With overcomplexity seen as the main reason for Wii U’s poor sales, Nintendo needed to re-evaluate.
Everyone and their granny understood the Wii, with its easyto-grasp remote and Wii Sports. It was simple, and it was fun. The Wii U and its gamepad, on the other hand, presented a new level of complexity, and the touted second-screen experience failed to convince gamers or critics. Despite this, anticipation for its successor, codenamed NX, has been high. With the release of the now-named Switch, Nintendo has not disappointed.
Never to be seen sitting on its laurels, Nintendo has attempted to merge the home and handheld markets, and present a solution no-one even knew they needed. The result is a system powerful enough to play core console experiences not only on an HDTV, but also on the go. On top of that, the Switch supports two-player gaming straight out of the box, and wireless connectivity opens up a wealth of possibilities for local and global network multiplayer.
Looks-wise, the Switch has come out swinging, as it sports a stylish but playful look. The ‘Fisher Price’ appearance of the Wii U gamepad has been cast aside and the Switch is the most sophisticated console Nintendo has ever designed. It comes in two options, one with bog-standard grey controllers, the other sporting a rather funky neon red/blue colour scheme.
The Joy-Con controllers are surprisingly pleasant to pick up and hold. At first glance they resemble an amalgamation between the Wii remote and nunchuck, but feel far more solid and weighty. Both slide satisfyingly into the main unit, offering a rewarding click as they connect. A nice touch is that they can detach to become individual controllers; an inspired move by Nintendo that enables multiplayer gaming with only a single console. Sizing means that while portability is an option, you will require a case in which to ferry it around, as the console is essentially a small tablet, and the metal casing adds a decent weight to the system.
The console hosts all the usual buttons you’d come to expect from a modern controller, and most sit on
the Joy-Con, with only the power and volume buttons being housed on the tablet portion. On top sits the minuscule card slot; there’s something extremely satisfying about Nintendo going back to cartridge media for its primary system. A dedicated screenshot button sits on the left Joy-Con and offers players the ability to effortlessly capture moments that can be edited and posted to social media via the Album app on the Home menu. Plus- and minusshaped buttons adorn the upper edge of the Joy-Con and represent the more traditionally associated select and start functionality. The analogue thumb-sticks have a good deal of travel for a portable system, as Nintendo previously ultilised slider sticks and nubs on the 3DS, neither of which were durable enough. That said, the sticks don’t have the fluidity of a PS4 or Xbox One controller, and a discerning gamer will detect a distinctly ‘clicky’ feel during stick rotation. The right thumb-stick sits a little low on its Joy-Con in our opinion, but it’s only an issue for those with large digits. The main ABXY button setup is a familiar sight for Nintendo fans, taking inspiration from the classic button layout that harks back to the Super Nintendo days.
The screen offers a generous viewing angle with little fall off to either contrast and luminosity, essential when using the system’s gyroscopic sensors for precise aiming of an arrow in Zelda. But there’s a noticeable reflectiveness when held at certain angles, seemingly caused by the texture of the LCD screen coating. Blacks can become washed out when the light does catch. Move things to the dock, though, and you get to play everything on the big screen, and it couldn’t be easier. Just slide the system into the bundled dock and you’re ready to go.
The rear of the dock houses an HDMI output, a USB Type-C port for power and a USB 3 port for charging accessories or connecting external storage. With only two more USB 2 ports on the side of the unit it’s all very minimalist, with only a single power LED and Switch logo on the faceplate.
Also in the box is a Joy-Con grip, a handy ‘shell’ that allows users to continue playing from the sofa. The Joy-Cons slide effortlessly into either side and provide a more conventional control pad experience. Generally, we found ourselves reaching for the Pro controller, which is sold separately. Its
the definitive choice for those willing to pay a premium price: its buttons are larger, and it includes a set of conventional shoulder triggers. Its only downfall is a lack of a headphone jack, and Bluetooth headphone support isn’t currently an option on Switch.
Sound output from the Switch’s tablet is crisp and of a decent volume. Two small speakers are situated below the screen and sit on either side of Joy-Con; you’re unlikely to cover them up during play.
The USB Type-C connection sees Nintendo finally moving away from proprietary connections, meaning that although it still comes with a Nintendo power brick, the Switch can now draw power from a whole host of sources. If you’ve still got that portable charger you used during last summer’s
Pokémon Go craze you can now put it to good use to directly charge the Switch. The downside is that the charging port sits on the underside of the device, meaning players can’t charge while playing in table top mode via the fold-out kick stand.
Starting up or powering down the console is incredibly fast and pressing Home during a game will instantly whip players back to the Home screen. Following this with a quick press of the power button will see the Switch enter sleep mode. Waking it back up is just as simple, and makes for a slick user experience. Happily, the user interface moves away from the Mii-focused environments of the Wii systems, but does feel watered down in its current state. Third party apps are currently non-existent, so if you’re looking for a device that excels at games and offers the latest TV episodes on Netflix, then the Switch isn’t it. Hopefully we’ll see that change.
Gaming performance varies title to title, and launch games can never offer a decent representation of a console’s potential. That being said, frame-rate dips were evident when playing the more taxing areas in Zelda: Breath of
the Wild, but the system does pack in the power via Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra X1 processor. It’s quite the achievement when comparing sideby-side to either the PS4 or Xbox One. By scale, this thing is tiny, but what that means for ports of more popular titles has yet to be seen, as current popular multi-platform franchises are yet to surface on the Switch.
Battery life is anywhere between 2.5 to 6 hours of play depending on game type and system settings. Adding to this, the Joy-Con themselves will require a charge every 20 hours. The downside is that they require attaching to the main unit to charge, as the bundled Joy-Con grip isn’t of the powered variety – that model has to be bought separately.
Thanks to its modular design, it’s easy to imagine Nintendo following in Apple and Sony’s footsteps by releasing a more powerful ‘Pro’ model in a few years. One that allows users to connect their existing accessories. With half cycles now becoming the norm with the likes of PS4 Pro and Xbox Scorpio, there’s a good chance Nintendo will look to capitalise with a similar roadmap.
The Switch is a system that Nintendo wants you to enjoy any time, anywhere and with anyone. If you fancy a spot of full-fat Mario, Zelda and Mario Kart, the Switch means you can, in any circumstance. It may not be as powerful as its peers, but the best console is the one you have with you.