Is this more than just a Switch Pro?

I loved the original Switch. I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing its great games from the Zelda’s, Mario’s, Yoshi’s, Kirby’s and Smash Bros to name a few. But the time has come for a new generation…but does the Switch 2 provide a big enough leap?

The Switch 2 itself is bigger than the original Switch and while it doesn’t have an OLED screen, its image quality is very impressive. I have no doubt an OLED model will arrive at some point, but this is still very impressive and top quality. The Joy-Cons are bigger and bolder, plus they are a lot easier to connect/disconnect from the Switch 2 than with the original.

So far I’ve only tested out Mario Kart World but will get round to the Welcome Tour soon. I want to thank Nintendo for their generosity and support in providing me with the system and code for Mario Kart World. They were also kind enough to supply me with a Pro Controller and the Camera Accessory, which I will mention in a bit.

The GameChat feature isn’t going to be for everyone, but it’s a nice one all the same. The C button on the Joy-Con/Pro controller acts as a short cut for this and I had a blast using it during Mario Kart World. The camera itself is of decent quality and the microphone quality is impressive too.

The Pro Controller is the most comfortable controller that Nintendo have ever made. It has 2 programmable back buttons that are seamlessly integrated into the controller, while incorporating an audio jack for the first time as well. The quality is outstanding and while it is very expensive, it’s worth every penny.

I was able to have a quick go at the GameCube Classics and the Switch 2 versions of Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom. All of which were very impressive to say the least. Framerate and resolution is vastly improved for the latter,  while the GC classics such as Soul Calibur 2, F-Zero GX and Zelda: Wind Waker looked crisp and handled well. I hope they add games like Eternal Darkness and Luigi’s Mansion…

The Verdict

The Nintendo Switch 2 feels like a natural evolution from the original. Bigger and better in every conceivable way. Its main launch title Mario Kart World is a hit and there’s tons of potential for the system with the likes of Donkey Kong Bananza to come. The future is certainly looking bright for Nintendo’s new system.

Score: 9.5