Nintendo Switch has chosen to return to its roots when it comes to the storage of games: the cartridge. A staple of the Nintendo console since the Nintendo Entertainment System until the 64, the Switch has eschewed the discs of the GameCube, Wii and Wii U eras to return to their iconic cartridges, which are far smaller and more convenient for travel, something that Nintendo clearly decided would make for easier portability. The cartridges also come coated with denatonium benzoate, a bitterant that deters people, specifically small children, from attempting to turn a fun game into a quick snack.
The User Interface of the Nintendo Switch is simple and easy to use, with each game appearing in a box, with a symbol above for games that are inserted into the system to indicate whether the game cartridge is present or absent. Through the interface, one can access the Nintendo E-Shop, which is full of games that can be purchased and downloaded directly onto the system. Unlike Nintendo E-Shops of the past, purchases are now tied to an account, rather than a system, although the purchased game can only be present on one Nintendo Switch console at a time. This is an improvement over the original systems, which would require the same game to purchased multiple times to be able to play it across more than one console or handheld device.
While I personally experienced no problems with my Nintendo Switch system on release, there have been reports of Joy-Con suddenly disconnecting and dead pixels on the screen. Although such news is more likely to draw an audience, specifically those who actually, somewhat maliciously, want Nintendo to fail, this failed to kill sales that eventually rose to 2.74 million sales of the Nintendo Switch in March, with a high demand for the Switch still outweighing the supply. Others like to blame this supply/demand problem on Nintendo purposely holding back on production numbers, although one can’t blame their caution after the Wii U’s failure, even with the success of the NES Mini Classic, despite the same supply/demand problems.
One big question that is on the minds of fans is: when are we getting Virtual Console? The Virtual Console is an emulation program that enables the newer consoles to plays games from older consoles, such as the NES, SNES, 64 and other handheld devices. However, with the announcement of the upcoming online subscription service, which is a modest $20 US ($30 AUD), there is the mention of a monthly NES or SNES game for subscribers, although you only get to play it for the month. To many consumers, the game should be a permanent addition to your library, but these older games can be beaten in a short period of time, so fans may tire of them faster than a newer game anyway.
I’m not going to delve into technical specifications or hardware manufacture, because that is certainly not my area of expertise, but more importantly, it doesn’t affect how I choose what console I should buy. Nintendo has come under fire for its lack of 3rd party support with the Wii U, and Nintendo has gone a long way to assure consumers that they have reached out to as many developers as they can to achieve better support this time around. However, many gamers don’t approach the Nintendo console to play 3rd party games, but instead play for the 1st party titles, such as The Legend of Zelda series, the Mario series, Arms, Splatoon, Donkey Kong, Kirby and many other exciting, challenging and, best of all, fun games. For Nintendo, to play with power doesn’t mean to have the most overpowered graphics engine, it means to have fun, to interact physically with others and to be engaged with what is on the screen. Sony and Microsoft may be fighting over which of their console is more powerful and a better seller, but Nintendo prefers to innovate, such as with the hybrid nature of the Nintendo Switch, and develop their own intellectual properties. I can’t remember the last time Sony or Microsoft had a mascot like Mario.
Overall, the Nintendo Switch has made me more excited about gaming than any console has since I unwrapped my Nintendo GameCube on Christmas Day in 2003, and it managed to sustain me on day 1 for several hours before I finally decided I needed some sleep. With new games being released almost weekly, there is always something new to keep me coming back daily to play with the Switch, whether it be to defeat another Divine Beast in Breath of the Wild or to knock out an opponent in Arms. Once again, Nintendo has proven once again that when it comes to video games, gameplay trumps graphics any day of the week.
Rating:
Fandom Factory 