I figured a thousand-post thread about buying the original Switch probably wasn't a good starting point for a new console.
First impressions time!
This thing is large. I was worried the Switch OLED would have dimmed the 'generational leap' feeling, but it hasn't at all. The 2 dwarfs the OLED, and more importantly feels much more grown up. It feels like more of a PC handheld.
The screen is beautiful. I don't have any experience with premium PC handhelds, but this thing is drop-dead gorgeous.
The inbuilt speakers are noticeably better. Not mindblowing, they're still tiny after all, but there's a little bass and a lot more depth that wasn't there with the Switch 1.
The joycon magnetic snap is SO much nicer than the old console.
The system transfer was, in true Nintendo style, completely ridiculous. After ten minutes of being stuck on a screen saying 'You must have your console connected to an AC adapter', despite having done exactly that, Reddit told me that the Switch 1 has to be connected using the plug that came in the box. This is just the charger, into a wall socket, for a console that was already at 100 percent and plugged into a perfectly good 65w charger. With zero indication that it needed the official charger. Anyway, once I hunted down a 3 year old charger from the attic, all went smoothly.
And the games? They're downloading, hence the reason I'm typing this. I'll get back to you…
Ooof, Mario Kart World is pretty boring. Or rather, the offline Grand Prix mode is pretty boring; it'll probably come alive in online eliminator sessions.
I remember when the first trailer was shown, before the open world was announced. I said that either the game was going to be open world, or they'd simply made the dullest Mario Kart track of all time. Turns out both were true. In Grand Prix, you now have to drive to the next track, to show off this lovely interconnected world. Which sounds great on paper, but what actually happens is Race 1 ends, black screen, Race 2 begins and the first two 'laps' of this race are driving down a straight, barren road. You then approach the proper track for Race 2, do one lap of it, and the race ends. Then the process repeats for Race 3.
Brand-new console that I'd just unboxed, brand-new Mario game, and I was looking around the room bored, waiting for the straight-line racing to end. It's almost impressive how much needs to go wrong for that to happen.
But as I said, maybe this is just a problem with Grand Prix mode. Perhaps the other modes let you race the tracks properly, without the weird no-man's land connecting the dots. And the free-roam, which I haven't tried yet, might be alive with secrets and fun.
In more positive news, Pokemon Scarlet is 60fps now. Time to finally play it!
Mario Kart World is definitely a bit weird; the open world isn't all that interesting (and the activities within it vary wildly in difficulty, with no indication of the challenge beforehand) and after a couple of Grand Prixes the novelty has begun to wear off on the "drive between courses".
Though my impression of the open world isn't helped by the hour or so I spent with Burnout Paradise this morning (I picked up the Switch version for £4 a couple of days ago). Its crash gates, super jumps and billboards aren't as varied or involved as the P-Switch challenges, but there are so many of them to draw your eye—you always feel like you're doing something. MKW in Open Roam is pretty aimless in comparison. Maybe if the races were more integrated into the open world mode? In Paradise, you've got to drive to an event to start it, and having that primary goal is what gets you to drive past all the distracting, discoverable stuff. I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing in Mario Kart World, other than "look for stuff".
Not entirely convinced by the rail-riding and wall-driving stuff either; it's pretty frustrating to pull off consistently—there should either be a dedicated button for, or a much faster charge on, the super-hop needed to start them. It adds friction to traversing the open world, when getting access to out-of-the-way goodies requires planning ahead instead of letting me just follow the shiny.
But also: it's early days. I've played maybe four, five hours of it. Eventually I might get the hang of the super-hop; it could just be that this is the first Mario Kart that's required me to master its mechanics like this.
I will say, on a positive note: the visuals are gorgeous, the music is brilliant, and the actual handling on the karts I've unlocked so far has been great. I've also not tried the knockout mode yet, which by most accounts seems to be the headline act. I expect we'll be doing some multiplayer with the kid this evening as well.
Other thoughts about Switch 2 more generally:
The new Pro Controller is excellent. Not totally convinced by the GL/GR buttons, but haven't played anything that really needs 'em yet.
Wind Waker! On my modern TV!! With a Gamecube controller!!!
The whole thing just feels really nice in the hands. The joycons are weightier, the magnets are super satisfying, the screen is beautiful.
The mobile app's QR codes make adding new friends so much easier.
One side effect of 'race to the race' is that I couldn't tell you what any of the courses look like. Usually after a couple of hours on Mario Kart, I can tell you instantly which courses I'll still be playing in 5 years' time. But now… I'm not sure which bits of the game are courses and which aren't. I don't even know what the tracks are called (or if they even have names?). Which I suppose was the point, but for that to make sense the no-man's land needed to be a LOT more fun to drive on.
Am I just being thick, is there a mode where you don't have to do the no-man's land drive? Where you do 3 laps each of 4 classic, tightly designed tracks?
The framerate and graphical updates to Pokemon Scarlet are transformational. It's still artistically crap, but I'll take what I can get. And I just bought Fantasy Life i, which seems fun. It's just nice having decent resolutions again.
I got mine! I literally became that annoying guy that asks workers shutting up shop if I can buy something, I didn't have a choice but, oops. As tempting as it is to open it now my express SD arrives tomorrow so I'll set it all up then I think.
It's as if they've made the tracks longer and wider to accomodate the extra racers, but massively overestimated how bunched together everyone would be. I actually can't believe how bad these tracks are.
I reckon there are some pretty unkind reviews incoming next week.
I got mine! I literally became that annoying guy that asks workers shutting up shop if I can buy something, I didn't have a choice but, oops. As tempting as it is to open it now my express SD arrives tomorrow so I'll set it all up then I think.
If that is what happens, I think for sure some previews have been holding out on us a bit, right? As for me, I am hoping online is just fun, I've been having so much fun online in MK8 these last two days I literally feel robbed of at least two years of fun I never got because I ignored it.
Also I'm confused but, what is the difference between the System Transfer and just signing in on your account on the S2 and redownloading from there and from the cloud?
For me, it added extra faff, and I had to individually delete about 30 games from the new console. All the 'archived' games from the Switch 1 started redownloading on the 2, with no bulk delete option.
Although maybe it transfers your Animal Crossing island and any other licenses over, in a way that logging in doesn't?
Mario Kart might be a dud but I am really impressed with the oomph this thing has got. I'm not very techy, do we know if it's more/less powerful than a Steam Deck for example? I know it's not cutting edge (it's a lot weaker than the 5 year old PS5), but considering the magic Nintendo worked with the original console I think we're in for a good 7 or 8 years.
Although maybe it transfers your Animal Crossing island and any other licenses over, in a way that logging in doesn't?
I think this is exactly it, some of the locked saves like Animal Crossing and Pokemon only go across if you do a proper system transfer.
Mario Kart might be a dud
A friend of mine has been excitedly texting me this morning saying how great MK is online and how much fun he had playing it last night. I can't comment either way but clearly "it's a dud" isn't a universal opinion.
but I am really impressed with the oomph this thing has got. I'm not very techy, do we know if it's more/less powerful than a Steam Deck for example?
I think technically the Switch 2 has a slight edge but then again it's newer technology so you'd expect that. They're aiming at different markets anyway, the Steam Deck is great if you want to tinker with stuff whereas the Switch 2 is an out-of-the-box experience. I don't think there's much overlap in what they're trying to do, outside of them both being handhelds obviously.
Isn't this just the age old thing that whenever there's a flickering moment in the sea of games where you manage to get a few people together to play the same one, it's fun. MK is just having a Fall Guys moment.
It's like if someone re-released Blur these days and you could get a big player lobby going.
I have had a quick go on one. I think it has merit as a Switch replacement (a sort of Switch plus) and I could see myself picking one up to play exclusives at a better frame rate. Not now though.
Mario Kart might be a dud but I am really impressed with the oomph this thing has got. I'm not very techy, do we know if it's more/less powerful than a Steam Deck for example? I know it's not cutting edge (it's a lot weaker than the 5 year old PS5), but considering the magic Nintendo worked with the original console I think we're in for a good 7 or 8 years.
As for relative, raw performance, it's hard to say as there's a huge number of factors. But it's roughly:
ASUS ROG Ally (original) 100%
Steam Deck OLED 75%
Nintendo Switch 2 60% (handheld)
In practical terms I think you'll see a SD OLED and Switch 2 roughly perform the same (in handheld mode). In handheld mode it should be fine for a while, especially as a lot of game manufacturers are very aware they need to have decent Steam Deck performance so have good scaleability options. Cyberpunk being a good example.
The Steam Deck doesn't get a power boost when docked so that'll be a big difference right there.
If I do get a Switch 2, it's likely to spend 90% of its time docked (like the first one did for me), so that's more of a consideration than the handheld performance.
Switch 2 is roughly a PS4 in the hand and roughly a PS4 Pro plugged in, which even in today's terms is perfectly capable. I'd be hard pushed to think of a PS5 game that the PS4 Pro couldn't have a shot at running.
SteamDeck excels at low power performance, outstripping almost anything at low wattages. The Ally only beats it out as it can be hammered at 30 Watts.
I mean, it's all immaterial at the end of the day. It will come down to games, and I suspect most of us will get one when there's a chunk on Nintendo IP/exclusives on it that warrant it.
I heard Cyberpunk on Switch 2 is better than on Steam Deck, if that's the ballpark we're in I'm impressed. Not gonna' lie, if it really IS that good on the console, it's not a bad excuse for me to finally try it after the big patch it got that made the RPG part/Skill Trees actually interesting, not to mention the dlc actually sounding really good. (I think after the prologue the main Cyberpunk quest is a hard mid if that)
Was knackered yesterday so other than a quick go I didn't get on mine much. I played about an hour of wind waker with the new GC controller though and loved that.
We are loving Mario Kart though. My kid is obsessed with free roam mode.
Due to this being new and shared between us it's only been played in docked mode currently too.
Also didn't do the transfer as we have multiple Switches and I didn't know what the transfer did, and my kid is never off Animal Crossing so didn't want that on this one whilst it's new as would mean it's always in her room.
VERY brief Mario Kart World impressions from one Grand Prix and 10 mins of free roam: so far I like it, but I can see how it's flawed. Although I hated the intermission leading up to the single lap the first time, the second time it was kinda' more interesting and that single lap of that extended Mario Arcade track at the end was quite spectacular. I was lucky enough to find two missions (that were fun) in close proximity when driving around as my boy Shy Guy, and I found a truck with a ramp that gave the wee man two white stripes down his costume. Not sure how much of that I would do in my free time but I can't really speak for point of interest density yet.
Could well be both a fun game and still the worst modern Mario Kart game, something they could alleviate heavily with a seamless track to track GP option. And I think MK8 had a steady increase of updates and DLC to get the Deluxe package we have now (which I still think is fucking bonkers) and worst comes to worst, I'll just go back to that when I'm done.
Also Rainbow Road is superb, probably one of my favourite RRs ever. The only way I've found to reliably race 3-lap tracks is in VS Mode, so I'm just sticking with that now that I've unlocked all the tracks (I think?). It means I won't unlock any more vehicles with coins, which is a bit annoying, but I assume they'll patch proper tracks in eventually.
What screen protector has anyone used? Having a pain getting my ivoler ones to stay on nicely, and usually have no issue with that brand on other devices.
Yeah Knockout Tour online is definitely where the fun is at. As long as you're zen about the blue shells.
Has anyone had any system-level crashes so far? Mine is crashing maybe twice per day, or hanging for 30 seconds at a time, when I wake from sleep or try to swap games.
Not yet but someone I follow on Twitter bought a second console because his first was so bad with it. Hopefully I do okay today when doing non MKW related stuff. The BC performance increase is so exciting lol, I feel like I just got a whole bunch of new games, already tried Bayonetta 3 and it's locked at 60fps now. 👍
Also very surprised to learn I owned BOTW on Switch after all, I know I had it on WiiU but until I saw it in my games list I totally forgot I double dipped, now I remember doing all shrines on that version.
Only dabbled with N64 so far but this is really good, thank you very much!
Also decided to try more games, and decided I'd kill two birds with one stone and try handheld mode unplugged to see if the battery is as horrible as everyone says. I went nearly 4 hours before I called it and charged it back on the dock so I could eat dinner and the charge was low but wasn't red or giving me any warnings so I guess it could go higher. I know it's not MKW or whatever but that's pretty good imo, especially considering I watch Retro Games Corp compare battery lives of various devices and it's always like 'Elden Ring, 1:30 hours if that' and have no issues.
Also Valkyria Chronicles 4 is hybrid strategy/real time time game and it's basically static if you don't move anyone so as far as upgrades on Switch 2 goes I don't think the Switch 1 had any issues with it but atl east it runs at all I guess.
Also, what a cool game. If the series is mega disconted again on Steam I'm so there.
So ran into my first issue and it's Virtual Game Card related
We have an original Switch
A Switch OLED that only I have ever used
The Switch 2.
We had to pair the original to the S2 to get the 'family games' moved to the S2.
Now I have come to play Kotor2 on my Oled and it's preventing me from playing anything digital. Saying I need to load the virtual Card, but that this is going to unpair the original. Meaning it's going to then prevent my kid from playing some of her digital games? As that will then be unpaired.
That feels like absolute horsepiss to me if I have gotten this right, as it's now preventing me from playing games I paid for, on a console I paid for.
If I remember correctly, Switch games can be played by anyone on the primary console of the person who bought the game, or by the person who bought the game on any console. Not sure if that helps though…
God damn I accidentally played Sin and Punishment for an hour, oops. Now I really want the N64 pad for Switch this kicks ass actually. Goldeneye too, considering I played Timesplitters a few months ago it still felt fun.
Them having both Golden Sun games on there is actually cracked too.
If I remember correctly, Switch games can be played by anyone on the primary console of the person who bought the game, or by the person who bought the game on any console. Not sure if that helps though…
I think I have resolved or got a work around. There is an option in profile to turn on Online check, so as long as your on WiFi it will load any game you own, but that is still a bit annoying if you aren't using the console somewhere you can get WiFi.
Fantasy Life i didn't click with me for hours, largely because I couldn't tell what the gameplay loop was. Now that I've figured it out, I may need an intervention. This thing is crack. I'm a crafting, gathering, fighting machine. It's also so nice playing 60fps stuff on a Switch, the old hardware really was ancient wasn't it.
I'm also playing Wind Waker, which I remember not being fond of back in the day. Partly because it doesn't respect your time, and partly because it had the dreadful bad luck of being the follow-up to Majora's Mask. Imagine trying to top that.
But with those original expectations from 23 years ago (jesus) forgotten, it's actually fairly enjoyable. And being able to dip in and out helps its more arduous sections. Plus it's still one of the most beautiful games ever made, especially on the handheld screen. No need for the CRT filter here.
I prefer the GC version graphics, alas. You can get romhacks of GC WW with WW HD enhancements but we're not bringing that up right now I think, this isn't perfect but when I saw Fire Emblem for the GC was coming I was like 'this is how you make emulation less of a necessity, by making this shit available'
Do wish we could jazz up the borders with game related art or smth, but at least F-Zero HX widescreen eliminates it altogether
Did anyone watch the Donkey Kong Direct? Looks like an absolute must have and I seriously wish it was a launch game (for the sake of a better launch lineup too) but I guess if it needed the polish than it is what it is, was only a month or so out anyway. I would have been sold on just the world destruction but the other stuff they showed looks cool too, like the special forms DK can take.
