Nintendo Switch

What is it?

Nintendo’s latest foray into the gaming hardware world. Back in the golden age of games consoles Sega and Nintendo stood above everyone else until complacency allowed them to be usurped by Microsoft and Sony.

Despite the fall from grace Nintendo has continued to conjure new and unconventional ways of entertaining through the Wii console and handheld devices such as the Game Boy and 3DS.

The Switch is the company’s newest innovation and aims to combine the power of a dedicated console with the flexibility of a handheld to create a hybrid that can be played anywhere.

Good points?

The design lets you play games either plugged into the dedicated console at home or away from the station with the handheld. This means you can continue playing where you left off, when travelling (or bored at work) for example.

The components are robust and will hold up against frustration-induced rage.

Bad points?

There is a very oddly placed joystick on the right side of the controller which doesn’t feel comfortable or allow fluid movement to the action buttons.

The catalogue of games will grow, but at the moment appears limited to about a dozen with most of them unlikely to appeal to anyone over the age of 15.

Best for …

Those who can’t bear to be away from their favourite games for too long and who like the simplistic nature of Nintendo gameplay.

Avoid if …

You prefer power in your gaming devices and realism in games. If kidults with disposable income are its target audience, the Switch is likely to fall short.

Score

7/10.