One Week With The Nintendo Switch

Nintendo sure does know how to make a great box

As a kid, I cut my gaming teeth on Nintendo systems. My cousins had a NES, so every holiday gathering was punctuated by intense matches of Double Dribble and endless rounds of Duck Hunt. I got a Game Boy Pocket when I was about six years old, followed by a Nintendo 64 a few years later. In those early console war years, I was firmly on Nintendo’s side.

Despite such hearty nostalgia for the gaming giant, my interest in the Switch was somewhat muted. You can blame that in part on the Wii U, a system I picked up about a week after it launched in 2013, only to have it collecting dust next to my TV three years later. The Wii U was, in my opinion, a system that was void of a true purpose. The Gamepad was a cool idea, but Nintendo (or any other developer for that matter) never seemed to know what to do with it. Add to that the lack of any compelling software outside of first-party releases and the system was doomed to fail.

Even though my interest for Nintendo had waned in recent years, I was still very much interested to see what they would offer next in terms of hardware. On the surface, the Switch seems like a home run. A system that doubles as a home console and a handheld is a pretty novel and practical concept. And unlike the Wii U, it would appear that Nintendo learned from past mistakes and has a very clear vision for the Switch.

I still had my reservations, but that deep love for all things Nintendo was boiling up inside me to maximum levels. I had every intention of pre-ordering a Switch but was too late to procure myself one.  I figured, much like with the Wii back in 2006, I was going to have to wait to get my hands on one. And to be honest, that was perfectly fine with me.

Until I stumbled upon one in my local Target on launch day, that is.

The combination of nostalgia and a rather unhealthy obsession of being an early adopter of just about every new tech device drove me to walk out of the store that day with a shiny new Nintendo Switch and Breath of the Wild in tow.

So now that I’ve had a week to analyze every inch of Nintendo’s new machine, what do I think?

That’s… kind of a complicated answer.

The core concept of the Switch is executed very well. Being able to play a game on a television and then immediately continue playing on the go works to perfection. For me, not having to be locked to one location to play a console-quality game is quite freeing. Switching from playing on the TV to handheld is fast and easy, and there isn’t any real noticeable dip in quality between the two modes, outside of a slight downgrade in resolution.

The joy-con controllers, while small and a tad bit uncomfortable to hold after a while, work well and offer multiple play styles. Being able to hold one in each hand allows me to be completely relaxed while playing, especially when I’m sprawled out on my couch. Even when docked with the included joy-con grip, they make a solid controller, though I’m sure many would prefer the (rather expensive) pro controller.

As much as I enjoy playing on my television, I’ve mostly used my Switch in handheld mode. With the joy-cons attached to the sides of the console, the Switch becomes a pretty comfortable (if a little oversized) handheld device.  I’ve spent many nights this past week bundled up playing Breath of the Wild before I go to sleep. Everything works just as smoothly away from my television as it does docked to it. 

Playing like this on my desk has caused productivity to cease completely

The Switch also has a little kickstand on the back, which allows you to prop it up on your desk or table. It’s there so that you can play local multiplayer games by just using the console and joy-cons, but I’ve found myself setting it up on my desk or on my bedside table to play on my own. Suffice to say, I really love the multiple ways the Switch allows me to play video games while being a lazy bum.

As a piece of gaming hardware, the Switch is well designed. It feels sturdy and has a good weight to it. The UI leaves a bit to be desired, as it’s somewhat bare bones at the moment, but hopefully Nintendo jazzes it up a little in the future. Friend codes are still here, which is unfortunate. And to the disappointment of myself and millions of other Nintendo faithful, the eShop has no music.

Right now, the Switch has laid a pretty sturdy framework for the future. But there’s still so much that’s unknown about it at this early stage. What will the online service be like? Will there be a more robust social element? When will we get streaming services like Netflix and Hulu? Will third party support show up in force? When will the virtual console make its way over?

As it is right now, the Switch feels unfinished. But there’s a lot of potential here. If Nintendo continues to add features and there’s a steady stream of software (from first- and third-party, as well as indie games) they could be onto something big here.

Deciding whether or not to take the plunge on the Switch is entirely up to you. Zelda’s the only true reason to buy it right now, though if there was ever a single game worthy of justifying a new console purchase, this is it (but more on that later).

Personally, I feel like my purchase has been justified. Zelda is huge enough to keep me busy for months if not years, and big games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, and Super Mario Odyssey aren’t that far off. Nintendo’s also taken a huge step forward in terms of indie games, as there are numerous titles on the way for the system, many of which will make their debut on the Switch.

Nintendo still has quite a bit to do to fully regain my confidence in them, but I’d say they’re off to a good start. Unlike with the Wii U, I truly feel there’s a reason for the Switch to exist. It’s a new idea that doesn’t feel gimmicky and serves a real purpose. Nintendo has said they’ve always been about games, and for the first time in years they’ve produced hardware that’s worthy of playing them on.