The newest console, known as the Nintendo Switch, released in stores everywhere last Friday as it makes yet another attempt to have an impact on the world of gaming. Currently, many would argue that Nintendo hasn't been vastly successful since the launch of the original Wii console over a decade ago. Is it possible for Nintendo to rise to the occasion in a world where Sony and Microsoft dominate the virtual world?
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Well of course it is possible because a once successful Boston Celtic once shouted that, "anything is possible!" Honestly speaking though, those who fall always have an opportunity to pick themselves up but it's a matter of whether or not they want to put the effort in. Nintendo has a knack for being inventively unconventional and it unfortunately doesn't always help them when it comes to maintaining success.
Having said that, there seems to be much promise potentially for the newest console from a technical perspective as well as a marketing perspective. Essentially, to put it in an elevator pitch, the company wanted to make a console that you can play on the go and switch to the comfort of your home effortlessly. Depending on how Nintendo pursues their vision generally for the Nintendo Switch, the console could fail within a year or prosper for years to come. In my opinion, the consumer factor is less important because it appears as though a majority of people are willing to support Nintendo. At least based on social media and news outlets, many supporters will give them the benefit of the doubt because of everything they've done to pave the way for what gaming ultimately is today.
I've had the pleasure of owning the Nintendo Switch since launch night and I have a few things to say about it. Speaking first of the hardware, I really like the simplicity of it all even if there are several moving parts including the dock, the joy-cons, the joy-con grips, and the portable screen. The transition from television to the small portable screen is seamless and works like a charm. Battery life hasn't been an issue thus far, but I can imagine it becoming something problematic if I decided to travel with it often in the future. The lack of an initial logo screen with sound is disappointing (I grew up in a time where console boot-ups were fun to watch every time you turned them on) but the simple interface does make life easy in concern to navigating. It's straightforward when it comes to finding what you're looking for and get started with whatever game you desire to play.
In relation to actual gameplay, the experience is fairly smooth but I have experienced some frame rate issues on my television with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, that can be a reflection of the game and not the console hardware. The use of the joy-cons feels more natural than I truly expected when attached to both the portable screen and the controller provided in the box. All the accessories provided in the three hundred dollar box are more than necessary for the proper experience in my opinion, especially when all the other accessories cost a fortune at the moment.
To quickly go over the actual gaming content, there is such a severe lack of games to acquire. It's quite odd as an owner of a new console, to know there isn't much to choose from. Or Nintendo has a lot of trust in the new Zelda entry and to be real, I can see why they do if that's the case. There are additional digital titles available for download but at the moment, the only two big titles out right now are 1-2 Switch and Breath of the Wild. The former is a fun romp for friends and families but I honestly can't see this one lasting longer than a month in homes worldwide due to the shallow nature of the game. Breath of the Wild is the opposite of shallow though and it'll eat hours away from millions of lives for months to come. This Zelda game is incredibly addictive, vast, and engaging when it comes to the story, art direction, gameplay mechanics, and small intricate details. Calling back to Nintendo's faith in Zelda, fans will definitely be occupied until games like Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon 2 release later this year. If you're not a fan of Zelda though and looking to expand your horizons game wise, there's not much of a reason to shell out three hundred dollars just yet. Hopefully by the end of the summer or even the fall, there is a fun variety of titles to choose from for all the casual gamers out there.
All in all, the Nintendo Switch is a fun electronic marvel and for hardcore fans it is a must buy for Zelda alone. For casual gamers once again, I'd say it isn't worth the expense right now but it can potentially be worth the while by the holiday season. Technically, it works just fine and operates as a console should without any real bugs to report at the moment. Personally for me, life with the Nintendo Switch is a very grand life and I'm going to go back right now to being a couch potato playing Breath of the Wild for another 7 hours that'll feel more like 30 minutes. Time will tell soon enough whether this fancy hardware will be a winner or a loser and thankfully, I think this one will be a big winner.
