Nintendo Switch 2 review in progress (Image: NINTENDO)
After months of waiting since the teaser trailer in January and the Direct in April, I’ve finally received my Nintendo Switch 2 console and have started the process of transferring my games over to the new system.
I’ve also gone hands-on with the device on a couple of different occasions, and will begin to share my thoughts in this early review for fellow Nintendo fans.
Daily Express will be back with a full review later this weekend, but in the meantime, here’s what I like and dislike about the Switch 2 so far.
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First things first, the Switch 2 feels much better in the hand than the Switch OLED I’ve been using for these past couple of years.
The kickstand is much wider than the flimsy stand of old, and easily on par with the OLED version, with the ability to move it from top to bottom and back again.
The console is around 10.7-inches long with the JoyCons attached, and feels a lot bigger compared to the Switch OLED, despite only having just over an inch on its predecessor.
It’s not as wide as the Steam Deck OLED, but much more svelte, although I think I prefer the slightly bulkier Steam handheld.
Even though the device is smaller than its Steam counterpart, the 7.9-inch screen is bigger and looks really impressive.
It’s actually surprising how good the display looks considering it’s not an OLED screen. If you turn the brightness up, there’s not too much difference between the Switch 2 and OLED model, thanks in no small part to the superior resolution and HDR support.
The magnetic JoyCons are also far superior to the OG controllers, attaching instantly to the console with a satisfying snap. It’s much faster and feels more secure than the fiddly rail system used in the previous Switch.
Speaking of the JoyCons, the bigger analogue sticks and buttons are a big improvement on the older model, although I’ll still probably hunt down a version with a d-pad once a quality third-party alternative is available.
I’ve always favoured the HORI Split Pad Pro for the original Switch. It’s perfect for most genres when attached to the console, but can’t be detached and used wirelessly like the official JoyCons.
Still, for now at least, the new JoyCons are definitely an upgrade over the old ones. Hopefully the lack of Hall Effect sticks won’t lead to drift problems further down the line, but this remains to be seen.
The Switch 2 features bigger JoyCons, buttons and sticks (Image: NINTENDO)
I’m also really excited to play first-shooters, strategy and point and click adventure games using the mouse controls.
I played Metroid Prime 4 using the mouse controls during a previous hands-on event and thought they were a revelation.
You can enter mouse mode by holding a JoyCon sideways against a flat surface and sliding it like you would a mouse on PC. There’s no need to fiddle around in the menu screen, just press it against a flat surface and you’re instantly in mouse mode. In the case of Metroid Prime 4, you can use the mouse to aim, while pressing the buttons as normal to control many of Samus Aran’s abilities. The other JoyCon is used to move like normal.
Since receiving my Switch 2, I’ve only really tried mouse mode on the menu screen, where they work as expected, but aren’t really needed.
The Switch 2 JoyCons attach to the console with magnets (Image: NINTENDO)
Obviously, the other big draw of the Nintendo Switch 2 is the additional power it’s packing under the hood.
When docked, the console is capable of playing games in 4K at 60 frames-per-second, or at 120 frames-per-second with a lower resolution. 120Hz is also possible with supported games in handheld mode.
Whether many games reach these lofty heights remains to be seen, but for now at least, Switch 2 fans can hope for visuals and performance closer to the PS5 and Xbox Series.
It also means many of the bigger third-party games can now be ported to the Switch 2, something we’ve seen with titles like Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 launching with the console on June 5.
On paper, the Switch 2 is ticking all of the right boxes when it comes to visuals and performance, although it’s still far too early to give a definitive verdict on how this will come together.
Likewise for new features like GameChat, which I’ll test over the coming days with friends.
However, my early impressions of the Switch 2 have so far been positive.
I’ve spent around an hour on Mario Kart World since receiving my Switch 2, and have loved every minute of it. I can’t wait to play more of the thrilling Knockout Tour elimination mode, and discover new missions in Free Roam.
I’ve also had a quick go on Hitman Signature Edition, which seems to look and run as well as it does on Steam Deck and PS5. I was even pleasantly surprised by the loading times, which I assumed would be longer.
While the Switch 2’s £395.99 price tag might be off-putting to some, I think early adopters will be pleased with the upgrades. Likewise, if you’ve spent £429.99 on the Mario Kart World bundle, you’ll be having too much fun to care.