Switch 2 Go

The Switch 2 had it rough initially. First shown off without any fanfare, it had to overcome its price and justify that it wasn’t an extension of the Switch. To make matters worse, none of its new titles could be owned, instead using licenses. And then there was the Donkey Kong redesign controversy. Yeah. The odds were basically stacked against the Switch 2. But the original Switch’s reveal didn’t set expectations high either, and that’s Nintendo’s best-selling console right now. How bad could the Switch 2 be? Ignoring how hard it was to find, I managed to get my hands on one this week. And I have thoughts. Mostly positive ones, but thoughts.

Let’s start with the console. Saying, “It’s a Switch…but bigger!” both does it justice, and doesn’t do it justice. Yes, it’s a bigger console than the Switch. Whether it’s the wider screen, or the bulkier controller, Nintendo’s takeaway design-wise was to go the WiiU route and make a bigger console. It feels that way too, as I’m more concerned about dropping and breaking it than I was with the Switch.

Nevertheless, that’s my only issue with the design of the console. While larger than the Switch, it’s also much more interesting. The Switch 2’s kickstand is far superior, and the joycon controllers attach and detach far more easily. They also have mouse controls, which take getting used to, but are actually pretty intuitive. Speaking as someone who recently purchased a wireless keyboard and mouse, as I was experiencing back problems prior, for when I’m at my desk, this feels like second-nature. Let’s not forget the HD resolution of the Switch 2’s screen in portable mode, something the Switch couldn’t do.

The interface of the Switch 2 isn’t much different from the Switch. It’s basic, but it has noises that play when you access the apps. The Switch 2 is also backwards-compatible with most of the Switch’s library, even letting you transfer save data. I didn’t overwhelm my Switch library anyway, but it’s nice knowing I could port over everything without it getting corrupted or lost. That I can play Switch games on my Switch 2 is a bonus.

New to the Switch 2 interface is voice chat. Simply set it up in the menu, make sure you have friends with a Switch 2, and you’re good to go. It reminds me a lot of Discord, in that it’s accessible for anyone with little-to-no knowledge of voice chat features. I’m a little worried about Nintendo’s strict guidelines, however. I don’t mind racial slurs being a no-no, but even dropping an f-bomb accidentally is a red flag. Considering how conversations can get heated during gameplay, that’ll be a difficult sell for me. Not even Twitch is that restrictive!

Another advantage the Switch 2 has is having classic GameCube titles in its NSO library. Perhaps it was a hardware limitation, but the original Switch couldn’t go beyond N64 titles, and even then they had lag issues. The Switch 2, however, can play GameCube games, even displaying them in HD. I love the GameCube, but its best games are impossible to find for a reasonable price nowadays. Them being on NSO removes that barrier.

Speaking of games, the Switch 2’s launch catalogue isn’t too impressive, but it has a gem in Mario Kart World, which is included as an optional bundle. I had to enter a code to download it, which took several tries, but I was blown away. Mario Kart Wii, while not a bad game, turned me off of the franchise because it reminded me that I can’t drive, so saying that about an open-world kart racer, something I never thought I’d be interested in, is impressive. And it’s great. I love how intuitive the overworld is, with challenges and collectibles that keep it lively and not boring. That’s something I wish more 3D Zelda games understood.

Also, the racing in the game is fun. The tracks have a lived-in feeling that previous entries couldn’t achieve due to technical limitations, and they’re quite expansive. They even have areas with branching paths, as well as rails and boosts for practicing parkour. I still don’t understand what purpose the coins serve, or why you can only hold up to 20 at once, but they’re a neat little novelty. They’re fun to collect, at least.

Other than that, this is a Mario Kart game, except with achievements and challenges that unlock characters and karts. Whether it’s the chaos of Battle Mode with 24 players, or hopping online and challenging friends, Mario Kart World has the potential to be another classic. And with the inevitable DLC, I can’t wait to see what the game has in store. I can’t get enough as is.

But that’s the Switch 2 in nutshell. Like the Switch, the Switch 2 has many cool features that make turning it on for even a few minutes, if only to check for updates, worthwhile. I’m only hoping the next few months make it more worth my time, as my one complaint is that it’s basically another Switch. A bigger, shinier and technically-superior Switch, but another Switch. And that’s not necessarily bad.