I finally did it, I went and got a Nintendo Switch 2. Not because of any exclusives, or FOMO or anything, but because of inflation. Over the past few months, there has been a trend with gaming consoles of prices going up instead of decreasing over time. Some argue that it’s because of the RAM chip shortage, while others say inflation and tariffs. I believe it’s a combination of all those factors, and much more that we, the public, aren’t privy to.
Regardless of the current inflation, I made a somewhat impulsive decision and finally bought a Nintendo Switch 2 from a local retailer on a random weekday. The decision was based on a lot of factors, but the biggest was the fear of a price increase. This has recently come to fruition with Nintendo announcing a price increase starting next month.
After having the console for over a month and documenting my thoughts on the upgraded Switch, I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings with anyone considering purchasing the hybrid console. I will do this in a QA format, so it’ll be a bit easier to understand.
Was the upgrade worth it?
A. Yes, the Switch 2 is a major upgrade and a step in the right direction for Nintendo. It’s everything a Switch user could ever want. A bigger, vibrant screen, amazing graphics, better sound, more intuitive controls with enhanced joycons, and most importantly, exclusives.
What games did you purchase for the console?
A. I haven’t purchased any new games yet, but I moved my original Switch gaming collection over to the new system. So far, I have been enjoying the upgrades to existing games I own, such as No Man’s Sky and Hollow Knight, and I purchased the upgrade for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Most games I want come out later this year or next year. I have tried the demos of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Donkey Kong Bananza. Both demos were really great, but they aren’t my favorite genres of gaming. I am more of an RPG MMO, turn-based gamer, so those are the current exclusives on the Switch 2 that aren’t my cup of tea.
What do you like most about the Switch 2?
A. I like the quality of the system physically and visually; you can see that everything is different. The handheld feels more expensive and powerful. The OS and menu look the same as the OG Switch, but with a few alterations and new sounds when opening things like the settings and other menus. The Nintendo eShop has experienced one of the biggest upgrades, going from one of the slowest applications on the original Switch to now being about 5 times faster on the Nintendo Switch 2. Everything is so much faster and sleeker, it’s a night-and-day difference from what we’ve had with the original Switch.
What about the joycons?
A. The joycons are bigger and have a lot of new, crazy tech built into them. When I played Stardew Valley Switch 2 edition, I was able to use mouse controls, which was a game-changer because it felt like I was on the PC version of Stardew, utilizing a mouse, but it was instead my Joy-Con. ACNH also utilizes the Joy-Con mouse controls when decorating homes, and it was pretty nifty but a little gimmicky. The mouse controls are really fun, but I have yet to really see them utilized more often in other games. Taking the joycons off the switch and connecting them is such a fun experience because the Switch 2 uses a new magnetic system to attach and detach the joycons. Every time I take them off or put them on I get reminded of just how technically advanced this system is compared to the original Switch Joy-Con rail system.
How is the battery life?
A. The battery life obviously depends on the types of games you play, but for me, during my Overwatch gaming session on a full battery, the system typically lasts around 2 hours. Which is perfect for me as a working adult who rarely has the time to commit to gaming long term throughout my days, but for hardcore gamers, it could be an issue. Once again, it all depends on what games you play. You could easily get more playtime by lowering your brightness and toggling with other settings.
Overall, I am excited to see what games come in the future, such as Pokémon Winds and Waves, and Final Fantasy XIV. Until then, I am going to enjoy exploring my island on Animal Crossing, and blasting away on Overwatch 2, which looks amazing btw. It’s unbelievable that Overwatch runs at 60 fps in handheld mode on a system this small and compact. I will do an update on how I feel over time with my Switch 2, and which accessories to purchase.
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