Nintendo Switch

Launching on 3 Mar at AU$469.95 the upcoming Nintendo Switch looks to have a difficult launch period ahead of it. Nintendo has worked hard in the lead up to the Switch announcement to make sure people know they will be shedding the Wii branding and moving in a new direction. The hands-on event in Melbourne however felt very familiar for a company apparently reinventing itself. 

At first glance, the Nintendo Switch looks like the next logical step after the Wii U. In fact, it looks like a sleeker more compact Wii U but comes with some incredibly clever tech, like HD Rumble hidden inside, somewhat explaining the price tag. This new take on vibration sends surprisingly detailed information to the player purely through touch. Its strongest selling point however is the ability to be used as either a portable device or a home console with both options having a multitude of control options. 

The Joy-Con controllers, attached to the side of the console, can be detached to allow multiplayer functionality anywhere. This appears to be the main gimmick for the Switch but given the small size of both the screen and the Joy-Con controllers, playing with a friend's isn't always that comfortable. It really depends on the game being played though. Simple puzzle games like Snipperclips work really well and reward players for communication and planning rather than requiring complicated inputs.

Conversely, playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the same fashion is harder than it should be even though it’s a relatively simple game in terms of controls. This is a combination of the diminutive controllers and awkward button layout, which is squished together and top heavy. The Joy-Con is designed for versatility rather than precise execution in a particular set-up, making them feel just ok in a large number of different situations. 

In an industry that has largely moved away from motion controls, the Switch shows an inexplicably strong focus in this area. Motion control games like Arms are great fun and show big improvements in the tech, but do people still want to play these types of games and how long can they hold the public's attention? Only time will tell if Nintendo's commitment to this format is as foolhardy as gaming trends suggest.