Second Opinion #27: Nintendo Switch Review
Ian is joined by Geoff Schumacher, who has had his Switch for about five months. There's a lot to unpack here, from specs to controllers to the games themselves. So settle in and enjoy!
Hardware
00:01:05 | Switch Specs
- Technical Specs – Nintendo Switch Official Site – System hardware, console specs
- Storage space
- Only 32 GB of storage space.
- From what I remember, when asked about this, Reggie Fils-Aime (CEO of Nintendo of America) noted that they wanted to keep the price <= $300, and having that 32GB of storage space was needed for that.
- Can handle microSD card slots of up to 2TB though, and that’s where the software needed to run the game will live.
- How game software and safe files are stored:
- Game cartridge (doesn’t matter if you have microSD card or not)
- Software to run game is on cartridge.
- Save files are on the Switch.
- Digital copy of game & no microSD card
- Software to run game is on Switch
- Save files are on Switch
- Digital copy of game & microSD card
- Software to run game is on microSD card (as long as there’s room)
- Save files are on Switch
- Game cartridge (doesn’t matter if you have microSD card or not)
- CANNOT BACK UP OR TRANSFER GAME SAVE FILES
- Seriously, what the fuck?
- Nintendo Technicians can supposedly transfer from one switch to another.
- Micro SD card is formatted for just your switch
- As a gamer: frustrating
- As a Nintendo fan: disappointing
- If you could back up/transfer your save files, I’d probably buy games like Yooka Laylee and Sonic Mania on the Switch.
- According to Nintendo, ~2.5-6 hours.
- Thanks for the vague answer guys!
- So intensive games, like BotW, would be much closer to the 2.5.
- BotW is ‘supposed’ to get about 3.5
- I cannot remember how much BotW playing time I got from single charge of the switch.
- From what I remember, it took ~2 hours to go from empty to full on the dock while not playing on it. Nintendo claims ~3 though. It was a while ago that I tried this though.
- Comparing to that of the DS:
- “A common complaint was the 3DS’s battery life; Engadget reported to get 3 hours of battery life from the system, while IGN reported 2 to 4.5 hours of play.”
- Nintendo 3DS – Wikipedia
- Nintendo 3DS review
- Flimsy as all hell.
- Feel like I’m going to break it everytime I use it.
- Should have had the entire back plate as one large kickstand.
- Not many people are saying this, but I have heard a couple of reviews praising Nintendo for the kickstand’s placement over the microSD slot.
- Bro, chill. They literally could have placed it ANYWHERE.
- Anywhere not over the microSD slot would have been dumb.
- Can’t connect a wireless headset to it.
- But it has bluetooth. Seriously, look at the specs. It has bluetooth because the JoyCons wirelessly connect to the switch via Bluetooth.
- There are third-party controllers that connect via bluetooth
- Speakers get very loud, despite being on the back.
- Is there a microphone?
- HD Rumble is Geoff’s most underrated feature about the Switch.
- 1-2 Switch demoes it really well
- Geoff thinks it can be a great ‘little thing’ that could improve many games, so he hopes more developers will utilize it nicely.
- 720p when not docked.
- 1080p when docked.
- Plenty of people weren’t super happy about resolution at announcement. In my personal, biased opinion, people seriously need to chill when it comes to screen resolution in gaming.
- Makes me think of Yahtzee’s review of The Order 1886, when he complains about pointless, but very detailed room.
- Up to 8 switches can connect wirelessly
- Nintendo’s bringing back the LAN party!
- JoyCon Controllers
- JoyCon Grip
- Putting the two in the JoyCon grip works just fine. It is different though.
- The buttons are smaller, and the layout is different from your “standard” controller.
- Someone with large hands might not have a fun time with this.
- “Double fisting” (one JoyCon in each hand)
- I personally like to use one in each hand, as opposed to using the JoyCon grip or the pro controller.
- I honestly don’t know if anybody else does this.
- It honestly does create some quirks while playing games like BotW.
- I have personally chosen to adjust to this, and it works.
- For games like BotW, I think it’s actually recommended by Nintendo that you use the grip if not in handheld mode.
- I think if you take them off in game, a little prompt comes up.
- It works, but even if you have ‘average’ size hands, you’ll need to adjust how you hold them.
- Instead of having pointer finger over bumper and middle finger over trigger, use just point finger for both bumper and trigger.
- Someone with large hands probably won’t have a fun time with this.
- Using each JoyCon individually as a controller:
- A little awkward at first, since ‘off centered’/’asymmetrical’, but they work.
- JoyCon Grip
- Joycons expensive if you want to buy more.
- $80 for a pair.
- $50 for a single JoyCon.
- Pro Controller
- Overpriced at $70
- It your standard, regular, “normal” controller.
- Do Wii U pro controllers work on it? No, according to Nintendo Support Forums.
Wii U Pro Controller on Switch | Nintendo Support Forums
- At launch, there were some connectivity issues with left JoyCon.
- That was fixed in a patch in the first two weeks after release.
- At launch, there were some frame rate issues with BotW in situations with a lot going on on the screen.
- Also fixed in a patch in the first two weeks after release.
- Nintendo Switch Online – Nintendo Switch Official site – Online gaming, multiplayer, voice chat
- Nintendo’s first attempt at this kind of stuff.
- Still not a lot known about Nintendo is going to implement this.
- Supposedly will feature “free game of the month”.
- Only available for that particular month. What to keep it? Then you have to buy it.
- By comparison, Xbox Live Gold subscription outright gives you the game for free.
- At moment, only online multiplayer games are Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Arms, and Splatoon 2.
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a port from WiiU, and they just left the online aspects of that game as was.
- Arms doesn’t use mobile app, but has different/interesting implementation for lobby and setting up matches.
- How do you add friends?
- Do you have a public profile?
- Splatoon 2 is the first and only game that uses this
- I don’t do the online multiplayer bit, but people don’t seem to like it.
- Previous issue with WiiU was the lack of good games…and the lack of games in general.
- Take a look at the online store for the Switch:
- Switch Games – Nintendo Game Store
- Wide range of games for a wide range of prices.
- See full list here:
- Game Guide – Nintendo Game Store
- Nindy games
- Nintendo Switch Nindies Showcase Announced – IGN
- Take a look at the online store for the Switch:
- Related to previous point, WiiU also had a lack of 3rd party developers
- When switch was announced, many 3rd party developers hopped on board, some big names included like EA and Bethesda.
- Full list here:
- Nintendo Switch Will Have Full Third Party Support
- Mobile games are being ported to the Switch
5 Nintendo Switch Games You Can’t Play on Your TV – Up At Noon Live! – YouTube
- VR on the switch?
- Matpat on Game Theory went farther to suggest AR on Switch
- Via Matpat, Nintendo did file for a patent on a headset that appears to be made for the switch.
- Game Theory: Nintendo’s SECRET PLAN for the SWITCH! – YouTube
- VR onf Switch buzz seems to be kicking up lately (see recent SwitchForce video)
- Somebody apparently found code for a ‘VR mode’
- Switch VR Uncovered and Voice Chat Built In?! – YouTube
- Matpat on Game Theory went farther to suggest AR on Switch
- Is this the beginning of the end of the DS?
- [Puts on tin foil hat] Dead man walking! Illuminati confirmed!
- Free Music Archive: Beat Doctor – Organic (electric edit)
This episode of Second Opinion has a Fringe episode. You should really listen to The Fringe #441: SO #27 — Switchwich!
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