The Nintendo Switch came out recently, and though it is in short supply, the people who have got their hands on it are surely enjoying it. It’s “Switching” feature that allows the device to be played at home on your TV or on the go works as intended, and is novel. Though the Switch may be neat, is it worth buying now, waiting for a price drop, or maybe a pass? You may not know yet, but here’s a comprehensive review of Nintendo’s new console to maybe make up your mind.
The Nintendo Switch released March 3, 2017, only a few weeks ago, and released alongside a few new games to go with it. The most prominent of these games was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a massive open-world game that had many people on board with the Switch from day one. Other than that you have 1, 2, Switch!, a gimmicky party game, and Super Bomberman R, a poorly received reboot for a beloved franchise. As you can see, there aren’t many good games out for the console yet. Splatoon 2 will be coming this summer, and few other promising games like Super Mario Odyssey will be out by the holiday season.
As for the device itself, the console looks similar to a tablet, only you can attach two controller accessories called “Joy-cons” on to the sides to play. Alternatively, you can remove the Joy-cons to play with them wirele
ssly when the console is docked to the TV or stood up on its kickstand that comes out on the back. Regarding the Joy-cons themselves, the tiny two controllers fit much more snug and comfortably in your hands than images might have you believe, and being able to move your arms freely while playing feels great. The Switch’s screen is a touchscreen, but so far, has only utilized that for the device’s menu screen, so count on needing to have your Joy-cons on you to actually play anything. The dock that connects the screens display to the TV is conveniently small, but be gentle with it, as it can scratch the system if you’re not careful. Adding to this, the screen is made of plastic, not glass, so a screen protector is highly recommended.
Overall, the Nintendo Switch has a lot of potential, and playing Zelda on the go is still mind-boggling, but you may want to wait on it. Unless you’re a hardcore Zelda fan, there’s no reason to run out and get one, but give it a few months, and it might just be a handheld-console hybrid with some great games worth investing your money and time in.