It has been a month since Nintendo’s youngest has embarked on the market and it is high time to draw up a first assessment. The Switch 2 was long overdue and disembarks with heavy promises to fill, enough to explain the torrent of negativity that it continues to suffer since its revelation. The console Price has been talked about, that of Mario Kart World Also but yet the verdict is clear: the Kyoto firm has managed to win the best launch of the history console with 3.5 million copies sold in just 4 days. On the networks, the same questions remain unanswered: does Switch 2 deserve this success, or did the players be fooled?
It must be said that the console continues to take it for its rank. Between the point -of -performance pick -up analyzes that do not evoke the general public, the comparisons that are not very relevant with other living room consoles or those who judge the console without having taken it up: it is not easy to know where to give the head. And the positions of the opposite camp do not help either. Can we really cry out with the perfect console after only a month of use?
The Switch 2 test exercise is not easy. This machine is continuing the previous one but still seeks to establish itself as an innovative future for the manufacturer. Player concerns therefore do not only concern the power of the console, but also affect the user experience. After more than seven years, the Switch has imposed itself in our daily lives and the Switch 2 will have to redouble their efforts to take this place in turn. Price, performance, comfort, promises for the future and more: here Our direct and honest opinion On the new Nintendo console.
A first contact that puts the records on time
Once the Joy-Con and the screen unpacked and then assembled, it is immediately understood that Nintendo seeks to make its Switch 2 a premium game console. Whether it’s matte black coating, control of controllers thanks to the magnetic system, the fluidity of the joysticks, the size of the screen or the weight of the machine: everything has been thought of so that the first handling evokes a real evolution. At the same time, after spending € 469.99 (or € 499.99 for the pack with Mario map): We are nonetheless waiting for the box!
The shock is all the greater when you resume your original switch in hand to prepare the data transfer. The old console gives the impression of being a cheap toythat we have not ceased to praise since its launch in 2017. Since the previous console has marked a whole generation, the one that follows therefore promises to be even more striking, right?
But if this initial euphoria almost makes us want to let go of a 10/10 without looking further, we cannot be content to shout in the masterpiece when the Switch 2 is content to apply the most obvious improvements, without even daring to do small revolutions. Usually, it is Nintendo who innovates, but a failure still too fresh (which starts with Wii and ended up with U) certainly had to cool the manufacturer.
Why change a winning team?
If you were afraid of being disoriented, don’t panic! The new Nintendo console is aptly named since it is content to offer exactly the same user experience, better. Is it a defect? Not really. Are we still disappointed not to discover a new, more alive interface? Yes. If there is one thing for which the very first switch was criticized, it was for its lack of identity. Historically, the consoles of the Kyoto firm have accustomed us to atypical interfaces accompanied by memorable atmosphere, a tradition unfortunately broken at the launch of the Switch in 2017. Suddenly, Nintendo made the choice of minimalism, certainly to avoid reproducing the failure of its Wii u a little too daring.
After a successful generation but rather visually discreet, many players were waiting for the return of the Nintendo key to this Switch 2.. The manufacturer, however, preferred to respect a certain continuity, and even if it disappoints at first glance, it is certainly the most reasonable choice. Especially since it is only a facade. Indeed, if the operating system seems identical in appearance, the manufacturer took advantage of the time saved on the design side to rework the operation of the machine.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has neither the same hardware, nor the same software operation, which even pushes the console to use a few devices to run the games of the first switch (a lesson dedicated to this particularity is also present in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour). It is these efforts that allow the majority of old titles to take advantage of improvements natively, even without dedicated update.
If we have decided not to dwell on the GameChat and Gameshare features (which are the unique major novelties), it is simply because we quickly put them aside during our grip. But why? On paper, these are beautiful additions: one allows you to communicate in games with your friends without an additional intermediary, while the other allows you to share a multiplayer session, locally or online, with participants who do not have the game of the host. Unfortunately, Their imperfect execution has something to repel demanding gamers. GameChat is only a limited clone of discord integrated into the console, while Gameshare is struggling to offer gameplay in an acceptable resolution, locally as online on an excellent fiber connection. Even if we have to congratulate the Nintendo initiative, it is clear that these services have been designed for another audience, such as children and families who will not see or overcome the faults.
Ergonomics and screen is a big Wii!
No need to go through four paths: the ergonomics and the comfort offered by Switch 2 have nothing to do with the previous console. It is a bit like the first switch of the name had served as a functional beta version but a little wobbly for this new model. And this is a bit the case. At the time, Nintendo had abandoned the idea of magnetic joy-con for the switch after too many failures. But today, the limitations have been exceeded and this feat actively participates in the appreciation of the Switch 2.
First, The magnetic system facilitates the hanging and dropping out of joy-con, while offering less play between the controllers and the screen, Unlike the rail system used before. And since Nintendo managed to operate the magnet system by increasing the size of Joy-Con to include metallic SL and SR buttons, the overall handling comfort has also been improved thanks to this innovation. Unfortunately, Lhe controllers are always at risk regarding the drift phenomenon. We feel, however, that the joysticks are of much better quality than before And one can only hope that the concern will happen less regularly.
The question of the screen also worried more than one player. After proposing an OLED model on the last years of SWITCH service, Nintendo suddenly returns to an LCD slab on the Switch 2. It was here that the manufacturer found himself forced to make concessions to avoid an increase in the price (which is already very high). Fortunately, the screen of the new console has more than one trick in its bag to help pass the pill. If we still ask to see the display of games in 120 images per second outside the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tourother artifices already make it possible to facilitate the transition from OLED to LCD.
This is particularly the case with HDR display, which allows you to obtain lively images, as well as resolution, from 1280x720p to 1920x1080p. Everything seems sharper, more colorful, more beautiful, to the point of forgetting that we are playing on an LCD screen. It is only by placing the switch oled side by side that we can really start to play the game of differences, especially in the depth of blacks. By adding to this VRR (variable refresh races variable) compatibility allowing to obtain a surprising fluidity on Cyberpunk 2077as much to say that the Switch 2 offers one of the best portable experiences on the market. We will do without commenting on the dock of the console, which is just as plastic and of fragile appearance as the previous ones.
A more powerful switch… and that’s it?
On the performance side, It is still difficult to judge what the youngest is capable of. With the exception of titles like Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077 or Street Fighter 6the line-up launching the console is mainly based on remasters and improvements for old games. But one thing is clear: the gaming experience is light years from the previous machine. When we see the first switch of the name spitting your lungs on Pokémon and AAA titles of 2015, playing versions Scarlet et Violet in 60 fps and Cyberpunk 2077 At 40 fps, as much to say that the performance gain is surprising.
And even if in fact, the Switch 2 is late on the PS5 and the Xbox Series X on the hardware side, we can only applaud the prowess of fluidity and stability that the Kyoto firm offers us on a console that recall it, is portable above all. Once again, the Nintendo machine may not be the ideal platform to enjoy the latest productions in optimal conditions (and again, only time will tell us), but it already promises to be a memorable console for many players.
The Switch 2 reminds us that when we stop dwelling on performance encryption, video games become much more than simple blockbusters that play “biggest”. Video games is an art that does not always need to be the most point to be appreciated at its fair value. But it is still necessary that the titles are playable in decent conditions. And this is exactly what the Nintendo Switch 2 offers: The portable experience of the first switch of the name, with real playing comfort that responds to today’s standards.
The question of autonomy
When it came out, the Nintendo Switch 2 did not fail to frighten more than one player. For many, the console battery seemed to fly at full speed, even on the least gourmet titles. It did not take long for this defect to become one of the spearheads of the hate campaign against the console. Too expensive, not powerful enough, too little autonomy.
But ultimately, If there is one defect in the console which is not really one, it is this one. It was by putting the console battery to the test during in -depth tests that the true nature of the problem ended up jumping out. Some consoles actually suffer from a battery calibration problem. The system software then displays a percentage that tumbles while the battery itself is still loaded, which explains that the Nintendo Switch 2 could stay several hours at 0%.
Since Nintendo has put online a calibration protocol (which is impractical to set up but truly effective), the console that we have tested respects its promises in terms of autonomy, between 2 and 6.5 hours depending on the use made of it. For such a fine and light but also more powerful machine, we would even like to say that autonomy is more than satisfactory.
Price and availability
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been available since June 5 at a rate of € 469.99 for the console alone, and € 499.99 in pack with Mario Kart World.
Discover the Nintendo Switch 2
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