Owning the Nintendo Switch, 2 Years Later: Re-Retrospective

 After I graduated in May 2019, I received a Nintendo Switch from my aunt and not long later I wrote a review of the system. My overall opinion was that it was a really good console with a great library of games, but I did have some concerns - largely regarding the system’s features and the future with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X (which I referred to as Project Scarlett) on the horizon.

But of course, since then I have spent a lot more time with the Nintendo Switch - building up my game library for the system with both Nintendo’s exclusive library and third party games that I want to bring with me on the go. In my Top 5 consoles list, I even put it in the #1 position - indicating it as my favorite console of all time.

And between having a lot more experience with the system - so much so that I’ve considered it my favorite console of all time - in addition to the game releases that have come out and that I’ve tried since I got the system and the release of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X in the past year, I wanted to do a re-retrospective of the system. See how my opinions on the system have shifted in the past 2 years and where I see the system headed in the future.

So, first of all, I want to back up a bit. In late 2016, Nintendo announced the Switch - a system that could act as both a handheld and traditional console through a “dock” hooked up to the television. I was definitely interested in the system following its announcement - it really looked unique and innovative to me, a system that mixed handheld gaming with roughly the fidelity of current-gen systems and games. But I was initially concerned, too. After the Wii U came out and turned out to be such a commercial failure, the system’s lack of power was somewhat of a red flag to me, and I was worried that with the system would ultimately be unable to keep up with current gen systems and would just be a repeat of what happened with their previous system.

Well, obviously that didn’t turn out to be true. After releasing on March 3, 2017, the system turned out to be a massive success - becoming the fastest selling console of all time, outselling the Wii U’s total sales within it’s first year and later outselling the Xbox One despite being out for a shorter amount of time. Since then, it’s become among the Top 10 best selling consoles and in the time span it’s been out, it definitely doesn’t seem like it’s sales are slowing down any time soon. 

And with all the games coming out for the console, I definitely was interested in buying one myself. My original plan was to buy one with my first paycheck or so after getting a summer job in 2018, but I put it off for a bit since Wii U systems and games were dropping significantly in price and decided to get one of those so I could experience some of the titles I missed out on, but of course in 2019 I got one from my aunt after my graduation. A couple months later I wrote my review for the system - praising it for the various things it did well, criticizing it for things I felt it didn’t do so well, and expressing some concerns for the future of the system.

But of course, it’s been two years, and I wanted to see if those concerns have held up. A lot has gone on in terms of both the Nintendo Switch itself and the game industry since - the start of the ninth generation of game consoles, new variations of the Switch like the Switch Lite and most recently the OLED model, the Steam Deck being announced, and of course all the games that have been released for the system in that time span. 

Obviously myself, I’ve gained a lot of appreciation and really do enjoy the system. I’ve amassed a pretty sizable library of games for the console (including games I’ve previously purchased for other systems so I can play them portably), and spent a ton of time both playing it at home or wherever I go. But for as much as I enjoy the console, that doesn’t necessarily mean there aren’t things I have to criticize for it, because even now there are problems and concerns that I feel ought to be addressed at some point. 

Probably the first major news that came out after I got the console was the announcement of a couple Switch revisions - the Switch Lite being the most prominent. Unveiled on July 10, 2019, this was a more affordable variation of the handheld - being $200 instead of the regular Switch’s $300 - that came in a more handheld-oriented form factor yet could not be played on a television through the Switch dock. Kind of like the 2DS but instead of being a 3DS without 3D, it’s a Switch that can’t ‘switch’. But personally I did like the idea of the system - providing a more affordable option for people just getting into the Switch but don’t plan to take much advantage of the system as a traditional console. Since I did already own the Switch and take a lot of advantage of the feature, it isn’t necessarily a console for me, but I definitely don’t take any issue with Nintendo providing more options. Although I do kind of wonder if they’re ever going to make a version of the Switch that’s just a traditional console without any handheld capability which… actually sounds pretty cursed.

But around that time, another variation of the Switch was dropped albeit without as much press - the “(-01)” model. The main and pretty much only major difference was an extended battery life though which I mean… would’ve been pretty useful if it came out a bit sooner but I’m not going to dwell on it.

Most recently though, the Switch OLED was announced on July 6, 2021 and is intended to come out in October of this year. And my reaction… eh? To be honest it kind of just comes off to me as more of an enthusiast-grade Switch than anything - having enhancements like a slightly bigger OLED screen, a wider adjustable stand, more built-in storage space and built-in ethernet port (honestly I’m not entirely sure why this wasn’t on the regular Switch but w/e). It’s probably more for someone who really wants the “best” Switch experience they can get (at least for the time being) but as someone who’s happy with their regular Switch I don’t really see myself dropping $350 for a few minor added features and enhancements.

Now, I know there were some people who were disappointed by this announcement after hearing rumors of a “Switch Pro” in the time preceding but… I gotta be honest here. A lot of those rumors weren’t really backed by a lot of evidence, and frankly I really feel like people should stop falling for these sorts of leaks so easily. The most recent Switch Pro rumors can be originated back to an article from Bloomberg that doesn’t even really talk about a Switch Pro specifically but rather an “upgraded model” with an OLED screen and supposedly graphics enhancements (which obviously didn’t turn out to be true), and you have to remember that a lot of these so-called ‘Nintendo insiders’ tend to stretch the truth, even when talking in major news sources like Bloomberg. I don’t want to come off as harsh or anything, but I feel like at this point, if you take Switch Pro rumors seriously, you’re really just setting yourself up for disappointment. There’s been Switch Pro rumors circulating for almost as long as the system has existed at this point and every time they turn out to be false, so unless Nintendo officially makes an announcement, don’t get your hopes too high.

That said, there is definitely some demand for a ‘Switch Pro’. Even when I wrote my review of the Switch in 2019, I grew concern for how the system was going to keep up with next-gen consoles as they came out, and especially now with the Steam Deck being announced and having pretty impressive hardware for it’s $400 price tag, there’s definitely been some desire for Nintendo to make an upgraded version a la the New 3DS, PS4 Pro and Xbox One X.

But I gotta say, I… don’t entirely share that same desire.

One thing I did really want to talk about in this review was my original point about the system keeping up with next-gen consoles, seeing how it can barely keep up with the PS4 and Xbox One. That said, I recently saw a Youtube video - can’t remember who it was from - but they made a comment that the Switch… really isn’t meant to be a console directly focused on having the best graphics or playing current/next-gen games. While the Switch can be used as a traditional console, one could argue that it’s still primarily intended as a handheld, and with a handheld like such, you do have to expect that it won’t share the same power as a traditional, next-gen or even current-gen console. Even from the start, everyone knew it wasn’t going to be the most powerful system ever, but the point can be made that most don’t really care about having a super powerful system - it’s usually about the kinds of experiences a system will provide them.

And the Switch on it’s own does a good enough job of that - especially when you consider it’s become so successful. While there have been ports of current-gen third party games on the Switch - Doom, Doom Eternal, Overwatch, Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy, Wolfenstein II, and so on - this is a case when most of the people buying the Switch opt for Nintendo’s major first party titles, local multiplayer experiences and most notably the feature of being able to take relatively console-quality titles on the go while still being able to play traditionally. 

Remember, historically there’s only really been a couple instances where the most powerful console sold the most - the fourth generation with the SNES, and the eighth generation with the PlayStation 4. And even in those cases, it wasn’t particularly because they were more powerful. Even when the SNES came out, the Genesis was still a very viable competitor to them, and if anything it was the Genesis’ attempts to artificially beef up their system with add-ons like the Sega CD and 32X while the SNES continued to pump out a library of great titles that led to the SNES’ triumph in the end. With the PlayStation 4, it was more of a case of both Nintendo and Microsoft stumbling out of the gate, and oddly enough the Switch, which again, is less powerful than other eighth gen consoles, has been managing to gain on the PlayStation 4.

I bring this all up because it’s very clear that Nintendo isn’t striving to make a powerful system that can run next-gen games in 4K, instead opting to deliver unique experiences you can’t really get on any other platform. So, yes, while the Nintendo Switch is definitely behind other systems in terms of power, you can’t really go into it expecting a powerful system, moreso a system that in many ways stands out from others.

Plus I gotta say I don’t entirely like the idea of a ‘Pro’ version of the Switch. Nintendo has made ‘pro’ versions of systems in the past in the case of the New 3DS and arguably DSi but I feel like in both of those cases they just ended up fracturing the market and made it so a few select games were exclusive to the ‘premium’ versions of the system while providing little benefit over the already existing library. And even in the case of the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X - as someone who owns a One X and thinks it’s a very nice system - I really feel like they would only appeal to enthusiasts who want the “definitive” way to play games on those platforms, but don’t really provide much benefit to anyone outside of that.

...just like the Switch OLED, actually.

Of course, most recently Valve has announced the Steam Deck, which some have speculated will compete with the Nintendo Switch, having advantages over the system such as more powerful hardware, a greater library of games, and overall more open platform. And to get off topic for a bit, I will say that the Steam Deck is a pretty cool looking handheld - the system’s specifications are definitely pretty impressive for a $400 handheld PC that supports not only your entire Steam library, but also (at least theoretically) any PC game that already exists. 

Some may point out that natively the Steam Deck runs SteamOS, a Linux distribution, which potentially may limit the amount of games you can play, but as someone who’s been using Linux Mint pretty extensively in recent years, I can definitely say with experience that Linux is a lot more capable for gaming in the present day than many may think, especially due to more support from gaming/software companies and enhancements to WINE including Steam’s own “Proton” firmware. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely gotten pretty far. Even then, since the Steam Deck is still inherently a PC and you could still install Windows on it if Linux game support isn’t quite enough.

On top of all that too, it definitely seems like Valve is striving to make good, premium-feeling hardware - particularly with how the Steam Deck is slated to be designed in a way to try and prevent “drift,” which admittedly is still a pretty major issue with the Switch that I will eventually get to.

But with all the said, do I think it will compete with the Swi-

No.

First of all, I do have to say that I don’t really feel that the Steam Deck is as comparable to the Nintendo Switch as some people think. Pretty much everything I said about the Nintendo Switch not being intended as a “powerful” handheld still applies here, but in addition to that, I feel like they do have separate audiences. I would definitely consider the Steam Deck to be more for tech or PC gaming enthusiasts - those that specifically want a powerful handheld that can play their games portably. The Nintendo Switch, on the other hand, has more of a universal appeal - having Nintendo’s iconic first party titles, being a system that’s easy for people to get together and play on, and overall is one that’s more accessible and easier to get going.

You have to remember that the Steam Deck is still a PC at it’s core, and as such, it does still have a lot of the caveats that PC gaming has. The Switch is still more straightforward to just “pick up and play.” Sure, you may have to wait for games to update, but when you buy a game for the Switch, it’ll most likely be able to play just fine. With the Steam Deck, you inherit the issue of PC gaming where you may run into problems like having to configure game settings to get certain games to run well (especially with Linux and Proton having potential incompatibilities), or the fact that there’s a lot of PC games that aren’t on Steam in favor of other storefronts like Epic Games, meaning you may have to go and install that. Or you may want to install Windows to ensure full compatibility. I know I’m not really explaining that sort of thing very well, but I think you understand what I’m trying to say. Obviously these aren’t necessarily issues existing PC gamers may have, who are of course the biggest target audience for the Steam Deck, but to someone who just wants to play something with as little tweaking as possible - just whip it out and play, the Switch is still going to have that greater appeal.

To get one final thing straight, I’m not necessarily saying that either the Steam Deck or Switch is better than the other, more that they have different appeals for different audiences, and ultimately it is hard to compare the two. I will say I do have other concerns about the Steam Deck but they’re not necessarily related and I don’t want to get off topic, especially since, y’know, I have more to talk about.

Outside of the Switch’s main gimmick, one of the biggest things that the Switch is definitely it’s library. Obviously, all of the major Nintendo IPs are here - Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Metroid and so on. Metroid in particular is slated for two major releases in the future - Metroid Prime 4, announced during E3 2017, which is still being worked on, but most recently, Metroid Dread - a 2D Metroid game which had been in development for the DS but was cancelled - was announced and will be releasing later this year. Admittedly I’ve never been the biggest Metroid fan out there - moreso because I haven’t really played any of the games - but I can definitely understand the hype that came out around the announcement of Metroid Dread. The fact that a game which had previously been cancelled has basically come back to life and now has an official release date definitely makes it feel more exciting and intriguing. I’m not sure I’ll get it in the near future - truth be told I still want to play games like Super Metroid and Metroid Prime Trilogy to get a taste of what the series is like, but it was cool seeing the game announced.

Which gets me to my point - of course, there’s been more games that have been released since my initial review of the Switch, and more games I’ve bought. That review came not long after I got the system and so I didn’t have quite as many games, but since I’ve actually built up a pretty sizable library of both physical and digital games.

One example being Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I mentioned this was my favorite first-party title on the Switch, my personal 2021 Game of the Year and among my Top 10 favorite games of all time in posts I’ve done within the past year. And I still stand by this - so far, it’s the game I’ve definitely played most on the Switch by quite a long shot. According to my Switch profile, I’ve put in over 200 hours in the game - for the record, that’s more than any game I’ve played on Steam (my top there being Terraria at 141 hours, followed by Sonic Generations at 118 hours), and my next most played game on the Switch being Overwatch, at over 60 hours. Granted, if you combine my hours in both the PC and Switch versions of Overwatch, that makes it over 500 hours, but out of the games I have on the Switch, New Horizons is easily my most played.

I personally got into the Animal Crossing series of games in 2016 with New Leaf on the 3DS, but while I did have fun with that game, I sort of just stopped after playing it almost every day for a month or two. New Horizons, on the other hand, I’m still going back to even after buying it not long after it launched. I know there are a lot of people who got burned out on it after a little while and felt like it was a step down from previous games, and while I can understand the disappointment of certain features from New Leaf in particular not being present in New Horizons, plus some of the annoyance with crafting tools, I really feel like the features added to New Horizons really spiced up the gameplay.

In general, I really feel like New Horizons adds a lot of customization and crafting options which, as someone who likes that sort of thing, makes New Horizons feel more replayable to me than previous games. The greater ability to personalize, not just your character, but your island in general, gives me more incentive to keep going back to it. Especially after seeing all the creations others have made on the Animal Crossing subreddit, using items like Simple Panels and related furniture to create buildings and add their own touch to the island. In general, it’s cool to see what other people create with the extra options you’re given in the game, as well as coming up with your own ideas that make your island or house feel more unique, and I think the added personalization options are what continues to draw me back into it.

Also, I like just interacting with all the villagers, and while what they say and send you is randomly generated, it really does make me feel better when I get a letter from them about how I’m a good friend and whatnot. I know that makes me sound like a loser, but still. Ultimately, I still really enjoy the game, although I do hope Nintendo continues to update it… which they just announced an update and development of future updates as of writing this review, so yay!

Anyway, Super Mario Odyssey is one of the games I bought when I first got the system, and I did touch upon it in my old Switch review. I eventually got around to beating it, and well, I would probably say my opinion of the game has largely stayed the same. I’m not sure I would consider it my favorite 3D Mario title - I still hold a nostalgia bias for Galaxy 1 and 2 and admittedly I don’t really go back to Odyssey very often, but I can’t deny that my first time playing it was a good one. The worlds were fun to explore, the whole Hat Capture mechanic made the game feel unique and added to the gameplay, and in general, I would definitely say their attempt at going back to the 64 and Sunshine formula, while expanding upon it, was a success. I do want to go back to it eventually, maybe even 100% the game, but it still really felt like a grand adventure all around.

But, there’s been other Mario games that I’ve both bought and have come out since then. Which I suppose isn’t a very big surprise considering Mario is Nintendo’s mascot and flagship series, but still.

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was another game I talked about in my review, and just recently I got around to playing through the game, and yeah, it’s definitely a good one that, for such a strange concept, turned out to be way better than it should have. While this style of gameplay isn’t necessarily my personal cup of tea, I can still say it is a solid take on that formula that manages to be unique on it’s own with all the characters, gameplay options, and abilities you have. Each character has their own unique sets of abilities and skills that you can upgrade through either the game’s skill tree or the different weapon options that you buy, and it really incentivizes changing up your character and team roster to see just what each character you unlock offers. The tactical RPG formula, overall, is well-built and integrated with the characters you play as and unlock throughout the game, and it definitely makes for a fun and challenging title.

Last year, though, was Mario’ 35th anniversary, which among other things, came with the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars - a compilation containing Super Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy, while Galaxy 2 and 3D Land get completely tossed aside. But anyway, with the announcement of this game, I was still definitely excited to have a new way to play these games, and with that and the announcement of it being a limited release, I actually went as far as to pre-order it.

But I gotta say, as someone who preordered it… my opinions of it are pretty mixed. As far as the games contained in the compilation go, they’re still definitely fun to play, especially now with the option to have them portably. The compilation really doesn’t hinder the experience, and these are still some of the finest 3D platformers you can play. But my problem is… that’s the extent of it. Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a fine way to play those games, but it doesn’t really do much to enhance the experience aside for the bare minimum. I mean, Sunshine is in widescreen now, and it is now available on a system other than the GameCube (and Wii if you count backwards compatibility), Galaxy can now be played with button controls (...for the most part), and in general the games, especially 64, look more clean… but that’s about it. For $60.

Now, look, I’m not saying Nintendo had to completely remake the games with all new graphics, but for the price you’re paying for this game, you’re basically just getting enhancements you would get with basic emulation. Maybe it would be a little better if they included some extras, like Kirby’s Dream Collection - a museum with the history of the franchise and it’s releases, some concept artwork from the original developers of the games, hell, maybe even an episode from one of the old Mario cartoons or one of the comics. But all you really get is soundtracks to the original games, and one of the most basic looking menus I’ve seen in a compilation. Hell, the game box itself doesn’t even come with anything - just the cartridge. Even as lazy of a re-release as Super Mario All-Stars was for the Wii, even that at least came with interesting stuff when it was released. This doesn’t even come with a manual. They also didn’t even bother to make Super Mario 64 widescreen despite the other games in the compilation having that enhancement.

The funny thing is that I actually wanted to review Super Mario 3D All-Stars but… I really couldn’t think of much else that hasn’t already been said. It’s hard for me to say I was too disappointed with this game because, at the very least, the games it came with were still fun to play through, but for the price they were asking for… to be honest, if I knew they were going to mass produce as much as they did, I might have waited a bit before buying it. Perhaps just asking for the game for Christmas or buying it used. I’m just saying, Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy are $20 less, come with the same amount of games, but are remade from the ground-up with newer looking graphics and fixes to the original games’ flaws.

On a higher note though, this year saw the release of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury - this being, of course, a re-release of the Wii U game with enhancements, bundled with a completely new game. To be honest, I wasn’t originally planning to get it - ultimately I don’t really like paying $60 for Wii U ports when I either already have the original versions of the Wii U games or am able to buy those original versions for substantially less on the used market - but this was one exception where, not only you got a port of the Wii U game, but also a completely new game.

Now, Super Mario 3D World, on it’s own, was a game I felt was somewhat underappreciated when it came out. I know a lot of people did just think it was more or less a retread of 3D Land on the 3DS, but at the same time, while the game used the formula, I feel like in a lot of ways it the additions it made to the gameplay - with Mario, Luigi, Peach, and (Blue) Toad all being playable with their abilities from Super Mario Bros 2/USA (plus Rosalina after beating the game), the added level gimmicks, the greater level variety and design, and the added power-ups (the Cat Suit. Just, the Cat Suit), really spiced up the gameplay and still gave 3D World more of it’s own identity.

And being on the Switch, I’m glad that more people are getting a chance to play it, and after getting the more open sandbox game that people wanted in the form of Odyssey in 2017, I have noticed there has been more appreciation for what 3D World did well, which I definitely like to see. I ended up getting the game for my birthday, and after playing it, not only is the game still just as fun to play as it ever was, but also there are some enhancements - online multiplayer, amiibo functionality, snapshots that essentially replace the Miiverse functionality, co-op in the Captain Toad levels, while also providing fixes to the controls like the characters’ speed.

And while, admittedly, the enhancements they added aren’t too big of a deal for the most part, the fact that they included a new game, Bowser’s Fury, definitely makes this game feel worth the $60. Bowser’s Fury, on it’s own, is a unique take to the Mario formula - feeling somewhat like a more “open world” take on the Odyssey style of games while incorporating 3D World’s controls and mechanics. There aren’t necessarily individual worlds, but different parts of the worlds intertwined into one big open world. I actually remember at one point, imagining a concept for a collectathon-type game that incorporates different level environments and themes into a more open world design, and this game is… kind of what I imagined that to be like.

In addition to that though, there’s also the sudden Bowser attacks that happen sporadically throughout the game which I also feel makes this game feel like a unique take on the 3D Mario formula. Every so often, a giant Bowser, who is enraged after being defeated again, will appear and try to attack you, and you have three options - collecting a Cat Shine, either avoiding his attacks or, if you have enough Cat Shines, you can unlock a Giga Bell and become giant yourself and try to fight back. It really adds to the overall suspense of the game - you never really know when Bowser’s going to attack, so you have to make sure you’re in a good place so that you can ward him off.

Overall, it’s a really interesting and unique concept for a game, and honestly, I would really love to see something like Bowser’s Fury turned into it’s own, full title. And even if you already own a Wii U and Super Mario 3D World, I would still recommend Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. Not only do you get 3D World with it’s share of enhancements, but also a completely new game that provides an interesting take on previous 3D Mario titles.

Another Mario platformer - or at least, spin off Mario platformer - I got for the Switch was Yoshi’s Crafted World, which I got for Christmas in 2019. I did notice a lot of people were disappointed with this game, feeling like it was a step down from the previous ‘Yoshi’ game, Yoshi’s Woolly World, and after playing through it, I felt it was… alright. But I do gotta agree that both the original Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Woolly World were definitely better games that in my opinion did more with the level design and mechanics that made them more fun to play and go back to. 

I wouldn’t consider Yoshi’s Crafted World a bad game, but I don’t really feel like it adds much to the formula as was established in previous titles. I did like the whole ‘craft’ theme of the game, plus the idea of moving in forward or backward within sidescroller levels, but I didn’t really feel like this game did much with the level design even with the new mechanics. While I could still enjoy this game overall, I’d still say I found Woolly World to be more interesting and having more variety, and I definitely wouldn’t consider this a game I’d pay $60 for. Also I have no idea why Nintendo has an obsession with putting shitty flute and kazoo noises in Yoshi games.

On the subject of spinoffs, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe! I did touch upon this one when talking about Wii U ports in my original review, but I ended up receiving this game as a gift from my brother for my birthday last year. Currently, it’s the latest Mario Kart game, at least aside for that one mobile game I like to pretend doesn’t exist… or that AR game that doesn’t really count as a ‘sequel’, but that’s besides the point. My biggest concern about this game prior to picking it up is that, essentially, it would just be a re-release of a Wii U game I already owned at that point for $60. 

But I will say, after getting it, it is still a fun experience all around. In general Mario Kart 8 is easily one of my favorite titles in the series, and I do like the characters and actual battle maps that have been added to the game. At it’s core, it’s Mario Kart 8 - a game with tight controls and unique track design with the ‘anti-gravity’ mechanics - but with all the DLC from the original version, plus more characters and better multiplayer. But at the same time, I still don’t like how it’s being sold at $60. I guess considering it is still the best selling game on the Switch (which isn’t a huge surprise, Mario Kart has always been a bestseller on Nintendo systems and the Switch itself is the best local multiplayer machine at the moment), it shouldn’t be too surprising that Nintendo wouldn’t cut the price of it or other games since people are willing to pay that, but I mean… just because it makes a company money doesn’t exactly mean it’s ethical or that I have to be okay with it. If anything, more often than not the opposite is true, but I won’t get into that. Either way, Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled is still superior.

And the last of the Mario games I have is Super Mario Maker 2, another game I got for my birthday last year. I do think I mentioned when talking about the Wii U in my Top 5 consoles list that I couldn’t imagine Super Mario Maker being replicated as well on the Switch, and after actually playing it… yeah, I do find myself standing by that. On it’s own, Super Mario Maker 2 is still a good, fun game - allowing you to create your own levels while trying other people’s levels, even if not everyone else’s levels are pretty good, and it does offer new features that the original version didn’t - in particular, a story mode, slopes, a 3D World playstyle, among other things.

But in general, I really can’t help but feel like Super Mario Maker, as a concept, just lended itself to the Wii U better than it did the Switch. I guess to be fair, it isn’t necessarily the game’s fault in particular - the Switch doesn’t exactly have it’s own gamepad or second screen so obviously they couldn’t really replicate the interface. But that’s the thing, Super Mario Maker was just one of those games that really took advantage of the Wii U’s gimmick, and in comparison, I definitely feel like the interface and level creation aspect takes a hit here with the Switch lacking that gimmick. For what they could do, it’s still a good sequel that adds features to the original game, and I definitely still have fun with it from time to time, but I can’t really deny that when it comes to level creation, doing so definitely felt better in this game’s predecessor. Plus for some reason Nintendo stopped updating this game, which is a shame because I really would’ve loved to see other Mario game styles added here and perhaps new features overall.

But okay, we have all those Mario games out of the way. What other Nintendo IPs are there?

Well, unfortunately as far as Zelda games go I can’t really comment because, well, I don’t own any. I did talk about Breath of the Wild a bit in my original review, but a sequel to the game was announced and I could definitely see that being of interest to Zelda fans, especially with how critically acclaimed Breath of the Wild was.

But other than that, a remake of Link’s Awakening was announced, completely reimagining the game from the ground up, and Skyward Sword was also ported to the Switch in the form of Skyward Sword HD. Unfortunately since I don’t own either of those I can’t really say anything, although it is nice to have a version of Skyward Sword that you don’t need motion controls for. Just not sure why, again, it’s being sold for $60.

Pokemon also made it’s return on the Switch, initially with ‘Let’s Go, Pikachu!’ and ‘Let’s Go Eevee!’ in 2018, and then a year later, the more traditional-styled Pokemon games, Sword and Shield releasing. There’s also Pokemon Unite, New Pokemon Snap, Pokken Tournament DX, Pokemon Legends Arceus, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, Pokemon Go to The Polls… jesus christ guys could you chill with the Pokemon games for a second? I can’t really say much about most of the Pokemon games on the system since, well, I was never really a Pokemon fan, although I still remember the endless bitching about Sword and Shield up to it’s release about the National Dex or the in-game models being reused, which… I mean I can understand but man it started to get pretty circlejerk-y after a while.

But I did decide to buy one Pokemon game for the system - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX. I remember owning the GBA game as a kid but I couldn’t figure out what I was supposed to do after the first level(?) or so, although I will say I do prefer the gameplay of the ‘Mystery Dungeon’ games over the regular Pokemon titles. In general I’d say I prefer the more rougelike gameplay over the more traditional RPG style of the regular games and also I can actually play as a Pokemon in the Mystery Dungeon games which automatically makes it more appealing. I haven’t played all the way through the game just yet, but from what I played it is a solid remake and fun game in general. I really like the painted-feeling art style and the game does provide some enhancements and new features over the originals. It’s probably not a game for everyone, but as someone who’s generally not a Pokemon fan, I did get enjoyment out of it.

Splatoon also got a sequel, titled… well, Splatoon 2, with a third game being announced recently. Of course, the original Splatoon on the Wii U was among the system’s best titles, being a completely new IP that gave Nintendo it’s own multiplayer shooter, so of course it makes sense that they would breathe new life into it with a sequel on the Switch. 

Splatoon 2, as expected, does come with a lot of new features over the original game - a new story mode, new weapons, new maps, new modes and DLC. It is still a fun game, but it doesn’t fix one major issue I had with the original on Wii U. And that is… why is ‘Regular Battle’ limited to one game mode, Turf War? There are other game modes that can be played in ‘Ranked’ or ‘League’ Battle, but as someone who generally prefers playing casually without having to worry about doing well, I don’t understand why the game’s main casual mode is limited to Turf War, even if the maps rotate on a daily basis.

And unfortunately, this is also where I gotta talk about Nintendo still struggling with online play. On top of the limitation of game modes for casual play, they also stopped supporting the game after 2019, with Splatfest events no longer occurring monthly aside for special occasions. And obviously, there’s also the problems with the game lacking voice chat, requiring players to use the Switch Online mobile app for chatting with friends. Maybe if the Switch didn’t natively support voice chat, that would be more of a criticism towards the Switch itself rather than third party games, but third party releases - particularly Fortnite and Overwatch, both support voice chat on the Switch, and I don’t really understand why Nintendo’s own first party titles can’t do that. Even if you don’t think voice chat in Splatoon 2 is necessary, that still doesn’t really explain why you have to jump through a bunch of hoops to use it, when other third party titles literally just require any 3.5mm microphone or headset to be used.

Of course, Nintendo Switch Online is something I touched upon in my original review, and unfortunately, I don’t really feel like Nintendo has improved on this front since then. I will say that I do like the benefit of the Netflix-esque catalog of NES and SNES games, even if not all the best titles are on there (pls add Earthbound and Super Mario RPG Nintendo), but at the same time, I’m still forced to pay $20 a year for online play, and while that may not seem like much considering both PlayStation and Xbox charge way more for online multiplayer, my problem is that, even despite needing to pay for online, Nintendo’s online services still feel lacking.

Hell, I would still go as far as to argue that the Switch’s online services are a step down from the Wii U’s, which offered online multiplayer for free. While the Wii U was never really the best system for online play, at least it had features like the ability to send friend requests through usernames rather than friend codes (seriously, why’d they go back to this?), messaging systems and even the Miiverse, all features the Switch is lacking. Hell, I mean, the Wii U even had Netflix, Amazon Prime, and an internet browser - and sure, the first two were discontinued, but these were still features I talked about in my 2019 Switch review that, for whatever reason, the Switch is still lacking, with the only options on the Switch for video streaming being Hulu and Funimation. Ultimately, I feel like I’m paying $20 a year, for a worse service than what Nintendo previously offered for free on the Wii U.

But okay, there are still more games I have to talk about. The last of the first party games I currently own for the Switch is Super Smash Bros Ultimate, the latest entry in the Super Smash Bros series, released in 2018. And out of the games I’ve played, I would probably consider this one my favorite of the series. Which I guess isn’t a huge surprise, seeing as how it’s the latest one, but while I did feel Smash for Wii U and 3DS were lacking in single player content (especially the former), I definitely think Ultimate has a good amount of content for both single player and multiplayer gameplay. I still have yet to play through the ‘World of Light’ story mode, but I do like the added story mode - a feature that Brawl had and I’m happy to see back.

Not only that, but I also dig the rather expansive cast - containing everyone from previous Smash games (hence, ‘everyone is here’) plus some newcomers, DLC characters and Mii costumes. I think just that aspect of seeing the new DLC characters come out is definitely pretty exciting, particularly in the cases of characters like Banjo-Kazooie, Steve from Minecraft, and Sephiroth - characters I frankly wouldn’t have expected to appear in Smash. Not to mention, some of the Mii costumes - even if Sans isn’t an actual character in Smash, the fact they added a Mii costume that replicates his look and abilities is frankly pretty amazing. Not all the character additions have been great - I think everyone has talked about all the Fire Emblem characters that exist in the game - but the character additions I liked, I really liked. Although, I still would like to see Crash Bandicoot or Doomguy get added at some point too.

Ultimately (pun intended), Super Smash Bros Ultimate is definitely my favorite out of the Smash games so far and one I do really enjoy going back to every so often. I know the competitive community still has a preference for Melee, and while I can understand that, I feel as a non-competitive player, Smash Ultimate has just about everything I’m looking for in a Smash game.

Of course, there are more first-party titles out there, but I at least wanted to go over what I personally have at the moment. One I’m definitely interested in getting at the moment is Game Builder Garage, on the basis of it just being a cool looking building/programming tool for the system, and my desire to see what both I and others can create out of it. Depending on how much my collection grows within the next year (plus when I get to all the games I still need to play), I may make another update to my Switch review.

Anywho, the next thing I wanted to cover was third-party games. I would probably say third-party support for the Switch has been the best for a home console since the SNES. Sure, it doesn’t quite have enough power to play every current/next-gen game that comes out, but I feel like more third party companies are seeing the sales and appeal of console-level hardware being able to be played portably and taking advantage of that. And when a current-gen game is ported to the Switch, it’s definitely pretty impressive to see, with games like Doom, Doom Eternal, Wolfenstein II, Fortnite, among others being made available for the Switch.

One third party port I was definitely pretty hyped for when it was announced was Overwatch - if you’ve read some of my previous posts I am a pretty big fan of the game, and at one point I was considering getting a gaming laptop to play it while I was waiting between classes on my college campus, but then the Switch version was announced which solved my problem. I remember actually wanting to review the Switch version of Overwatch, but it was another case of not having enough to say about it.

The announcement was sort of spoiled ahead of time - I believe a few days before it’s announcement an Overwatch-themed Switch case was leaked on Amazon and, sure enough, it was announced during the next Direct. Unfortunately the release was a bit soured up to it’s launch - not long before then was the whole Blizzard Blitzchung/Hong Kong controversy, which without a doubt was a bad move on Blizzard’s part but I’m such a shill that I… uh, bought it anyway. Not like it really mattered, because the whole controversy didn’t seem to hurt Blizzard in the slightest and the port actually sold pretty well after it’s release.

Unfortunately as of writing this, Blizzard is in yet another controversy over the treatment of their workers and for the time being I’ve taken a break from the game for a few days, but the Switch version of Overwatch did turn out to be one of my most played games on the system… still ultimately trounced by Animal Crossing: New Horizons. And as for the port itself? It’s alright. I definitely wouldn’t take it over any of the other console versions, or especially the PC version, but if you do like the game and want to be it while on the go, or if you haven’t played Overwatch before and only have a Switch (and a not so good PC), then it is a good option for that audience.

Either way though, it does have it’s share of downgrades over the other versions. Probably the most notorious being the frame rate - unfortunately it only plays in 30FPS whereas the other versions of the game play in 60FPS (provided you have a good enough PC, anyway). The frame rate is mostly stable, albeit less so in handheld mode, and with the Switch not being the most powerful system out there, it is about what I expected. I know some people have pointed out to Paladins being playable in 60FPS, but I don’t necessarily think that comparison entirely works here - I would definitely say Paladins has less graphical fidelity compared to Overwatch and on top of that runs on Unreal Engine 3, an older engine that was released the mid/late 2000’s, and was designed for use on the PS3, 360 and computers from that time period. On the other hand, Overwatch utilizes it’s own custom engine made by Blizzard targeting current-gen consoles and PCs with more graphical fidelity. So while 30FPS does hinder the experience a bit, it is kind of understandable considering the Switch’s hardware.

Though I will say I’m also not entirely sure why Overwatch didn’t release on a cartridge. There are technically physical copies of Overwatch on the Switch, but they come just with a plastic shell, the cover, and a download code for the game. The game download is a little over 15 GB, and Switch cartridges have the capacity of up to at least 32GB, so I’m definitely not sure why they couldn’t have put the game on a cartridge for it’s physical release instead of just the download code. It’s especially an issue when you consider the Switch’s limited storage capacity by default (only having 32GB), and it makes me wonder why have a physical release if they weren’t going to provide cartridges for the game. You could argue that updates for the game would’ve made those game cartridges obsolete or whatever, but in that case, why are there still physical copies with actual game discs being sold for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One?

I will say though, I do like the option to use gyro controls in this game. Not a huge surprise there considering this is sort of the standard for shooter games on the Switch, and while it isn’t as good as using keyboard + mouse on PC, it is a good alternative for playing shooter games on consoles, especially with how clunky using a controller tends to feel. Also it comes with three months of Switch online, which is also a good move, especially considering Overwatch is an online-only game. Admittedly I didn’t get as much advantage of it as I intended - towards the middle of the following semester the whole pandemic happened which meant I ended up staying at home a lot of the time as I took the rest of my classes, plus the classes in the following semester, and most of my classes in the previous semester, online. And of course, with me at my computer anyway… I mean, there’s not really much of a point in playing the Switch version when I’m already at my PC and, well, that version of the game is still better if I want to play it. But of course, when I was still at my college campus, it still provided a decent way to keep playing.

Outside of that, well, obviously I’m a pretty big Sonic fan, so much so that I’ve been replaying and reviewing all the games in the series, so I do have a few Sonic games on the system as well. In addition to Super Mario Odyssey, I mentioned I also bought Team Sonic Racing after getting the Switch - which had just come out that week. Compared to All-Stars Racing Transformed, I did find it somewhat lacking in content, but what was there was pretty fun. I particularly liked the concept of the ‘team’ mechanic and how it was used as part of the gameplay. It’s definitely a unique kart racer, and the Switch version is fine overall. As expected, it does have graphical downgrades compared to the PC version (which, with my luck, went on sale for $4 as I was reviewing this) and I’m assuming to the other console versions - running in a lower resolution and only 30FPS compared to 60FPS on other platforms, but once again, you still get the benefit of portability over the other systems, and it’s still a fun kart racer that fits the Switch pretty well.

And in 2017, Sonic Forces was released for the system alongside the other major platforms. I know for a lot of people, the game was disappointing and mediocre, but at the same time I can’t really deny I enjoyed it… at least enough to buy it three times - for PC, Xbox One X and of course, the Switch. As someone who likes the Sonic Boost formula quite a bit, I figured this would be at least something to fill that craving I have when I’m away from home. Once again, it does suffer similar drawbacks - lower resolution and framerate, plus low quality textures - but I can’t deny that, even as flawed as it is, it is a nice game to just shut my brain off to and play, especially when out and about.

That said, Sonic Mania, also on the Switch, is definitely a superior game and one that in my opinion fits the Switch like a glove. With a lot of other multiplatform ports on the system, usually they tend to suffer on the Switch with their graphical fidelity being a bit too much for the system’s hardware. But Sonic Mania, being a successor to the classic Genesis titles with graphics that are more or less recreated and enhanced versions of the classic game graphics, doesn’t really have this issue. And being on the Switch gives it all the more of that “retro” feeling to me in a similar fashion the Wii U did with some of the indie titles and games on that system.

On top of those, the first 2 Sonic games are available through the eShop under the ‘Sega Ages’ banner. I wish they were ports of the iOS/Android versions by Christian Whitehead, but at the same time these do come with some enhancements of their own - namely the ‘Drop Dash’ from Sonic Mania as an option, alongside the Mega Play version of Sonic 1, and a few extra modes. There’s also Mario and Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. If, y’know, anyone cares about that.

But what I’m really looking forward to, at the moment, is Sonic Colors Ultimate. Sonic Colors has always been one of my personal favorite Sonic games and one I remember sort of growing up with on the Wii, so I was definitely excited it was announced to be remastered and ported to modern platforms in the form of Sonic Colors Ultimate. And between the graphical enhancements and extra features like the Rival Rush mode, Sonic customization and Jade wisp from Team Sonic Racing, I’m definitely happy with what I’ve seen so far. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like the Switch version is going to be in 4K or 60FPS like the others, but I mean… I really didn’t expect otherwise. And considering the original game was 30FPS, I’m fine with the limitations if it means I can play this game portably now.

Also it comes with a preorder bonus in the form of a ‘Baby Sonic’ keychain from the 2020 movie which gave me enough reason to preorder it.

And I’m also still a bit of a Crash fan too. During Black Friday in 2019, I ended up getting a used copy of Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy on the Switch which, of course, were remakes of the original games from the ground up with a completely new art style and some improvements over the original gameplay. I really liked these when I played on PC, and I figured I should get them on the Switch in addition due to, again, portability. As expected, there are definitely some graphical sacrifices - particularly with the textures and ‘fur’ effects - although I don’t really feel like it’s as much of a downgrade as I would expect. It does run at 30 FPS again, but at the same time, so do the console versions while the PC version runs at 60 which is definitely… odd. But either way I think N Sane Trilogy is a surprisingly impressive port that doesn’t really take too much away from the game’s really good looking graphics.

There was also Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled which lacked a PC release and only came out on consoles… for some reason, which I bought the same day the game came out for the Switch. And I’ll be real here, I definitely feel like Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled is an example of a really well made remake - not only keeping the story mode, extra game modes and tight mechanics of the original while adding graphics, but also adding online multiplayer, new tracks, tracks from Crash Nitro Kart, new characters plus events and further updates. I was disappointed when they added microtransactions despite them saying they wouldn’t and in general feeling that they were pretty intrusive, but the game itself is a really good remake overall.

And the Switch version? While I can’t really compare this to other versions of the game since I don’t have them, I will say just judging from Youtube comparisons - like the N Sane Trilogy I don’t really feel like the graphical downgrade is as bad as I would expect. The game, once again, runs at 30 FPS across all platforms, and the Switch does, again, run at a lower resolution and has lower texture quality, but it really doesn’t take away from the graphical enhancements made for this game and it still looks and plays really well on the Switch.

...honestly better than mario kart tbh

Last year, Crash 4: It’s About Time was released and ported to the Switch earlier this year. I ended up getting the game on Xbox One and for the time being I haven’t picked up the Switch version, but I will say I really liked playing through the game on Xbox One, and although the Switch does seem to have the typical graphical downgrades, it really doesn’t take too much away from the overall experience, especially with the benefit of portability. Ditto for Spyro Reignited Trilogy, which I played on PC.

Another interesting title on the Switch I found was the Disney Classic Games pack containing the Aladdin and The Lion King games, released around the time of the remakes of the aforementioned movies. It’s not one I see brought up very often, but like Sonic Mania, it fits pretty well on the Switch being ports of classic games, but what I really like about this compilation is that despite being fairly obscure, it actually does bring with it a lot of cool features. Not only do you have the original games, but also different versions of those games - for The Lion King you have the SNES, Genesis, Game Boy and Game Boy Color versions, as well as the Japanese version, of those games, and with Aladdin you have the Genesis version, a custom built version that provides fixes and enhancements, the Game Boy and Game Boy Color versions, the Japanese version, and even an unfinished demo version from a Chicago trade show. Unfortunately the SNES version of Aladdin isn’t there, but it’s understandable considering it was technically a different game made by Capcom as opposed to Virgin Interactive. And in general I’ve heard the Genesis version of the game is superior anyway so it’s not a huge loss I guess.

On top of all that, you can listen to the soundtrack, plus look at behind the scenes footage from the game’s developers, interviews, and production materials within the game’s museum.

Mother of god, I just realized this is actually a better compilation than Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

Course, the Aladdin and Lion King games won’t be everyone’s cup of tea - especially the latter (I bought The Lion King for SNES when I was a teenager and boy it’s a pain in the ass), but this still a really well made compilation with a lot of cool features, and probably one of the best ‘official’ approaches to game preservation I’ve seen.

I could also talk about Puyo Puyo Tetris, which is a pretty fun puzzle game that not only contains both ‘Puyo Puyo’ and ‘Tetris’ (as, y’know, the title suggests) but features a sleuth of different modes that combine the two games, which is really cool and makes this feel pretty unique among other puzzle games. It also got a sequel late last year, and I would definitely recommend checking these games out if you’re a fan of puzzle games.

I also have Rayman Legends which… I haven’t played. Oops.

But one thing that I think the Switch does thrive at is indie games. I mentioned with Sonic Mania that it fits the Switch due to being essentially a successor to the classic Sonic games with similar but enhanced graphics. And of course, you have a lot of that in the indie game industry. A lot of indie games don’t strive for the best looking graphics (a lot of them opting for that retro style) and generally don’t require a lot of horsepower. That, of course, really goes for the Switch - a system that doesn’t have a lot of power but has a unique feature allowing for both portability and use as a traditional console.

Undertale, of course, is one game that’s on the Switch, alongside Chapter 1 of it’s sequel(?), Deltarune. But I’ve already talked about how much I love Undertale so check out my review of that if you want to know more.

But I also own Night in the Woods for the system - this being another one of my favorite games so, y’know, I had to. It’s a relaxing, story-heavy game with relatable characters, a setting that reminds me of where I grew up and hits home with me, and a beautiful art style. I reviewed this game in 2017 on my Tumblr page, and what I said there, pretty much still stands even now, potentially being my second favorite game of all time.

I also got my hand on a couple of Limited Run titles - at least prior to me realizing Limited Run Games was kind of a, uh… sketchy company. The first title I got was Super Meat Boy, which I got used in the same Black Friday sale as I got Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy, and early in 2020 I got Freedom Planet - another one of my favorite games. Both games, of course, are a lot of fun and fit the Switch very well.

For Christmas in 2019, I got Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair. Personally, I always felt that Yooka-Laylee was a title that got too much hate. While I did understand some of the criticisms, I still felt like it managed to be a solid successor to the Banjo-Kazooie titles and throwback to N64-era collectathons. It wasn’t perfect, but I did have my fun with it. But whereas the original Yooka-Laylee went for more of a 3D Banjo-Kazooie styled collectathon, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair goes for more of the Donkey Kong Country route.

And while I definitely liked Yooka-Laylee more than most people did (in fact, I also bought that on the Switch again), I will say Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is definitely a better game overall. The levels are challenging, the controls and movement feel hella smooth, and the game’s overall feature of changing levels by manipulating the overworld map as well as adding upgrades to the character’s movement makes this game potentially among my favorite indie titles period, and I’m really glad that this game came out and gave Yooka-Laylee as a series(?) a bit more appreciation within the gaming community. The Switch version runs at 60FPS too and the game still looks beautiful, and I would definitely consider one of those games that just fits the Switch very well, especially considering it’s inspiration from the Donkey Kong Country games.

There is also this one game that was released in 2018 but blew up last year, and has since become the source of memes and popularity within the mainstream sphere. You might have not heard of it before, after all it is pretty obscure, but it’s called ‘Among Us’ - a multiplayer game where up to 15 (originally 10) people join a lobby and perform tasks while 1-3 ‘impostors’ take out said crewmates and act… sus, am I rIGHT??? *INSERT AMONG US DRIP REMIX HERE*

...I’m sorry.

But anyway, it is a pretty fun game, especially with friends. And at the end of last year, it was ported to the Switch. I will say it doesn’t really work as well as on PC in my opinion - largely just due to the Switch’s in-game keyboard being pretty annoying to use - but it is still a good title to have on the Switch, and especially for $5, you really can’t go wrong if you haven’t already played it. Although now that I think about it, the analog stick on my left joy-con sure is starting to look like the crewmate’s helmet.

oh fuck i’m becoming infected

As far as games go though, those are pretty much what I wanted to talk about. There are actually more games I have (at least digitally) that I didn’t talk about here - either due to not playing them enough or not having enough to say about them - but I will say the Switch’s library is definitely one of the biggest appeals for the system for me. With the library of both first and third-party games, I definitely find myself having fun with the system whether playing games I’ve already played through before, or having new experiences. And what separates it from other consoles and PC is that I can play all these games portably - when I’m traveling or just out and about. And the quality of these titles definitely feel of a higher calibur compared to previous handheld systems - while the Game Boy Advance, DS and 3DS had a lot of games I liked, some being outright influential to me - it really feels like the Switch offers deeper and more console-quality titles than previous Nintendo handhelds, and it’s no surprise that the system has become so successful when putting that into consideration. I mean, frankly, it’s a system that allows me to play a bunch of my favorite games on the go among titles I’m experiencing for the first time, and ultimately, for all it’s issues, that’s definitely why I still consider this one of if not my favorite consoles of all time.

I could talk about joycon drift still being issue (which actually did happen to my original left joy-con), but I feel like that’s been done to death and I would just be beating a dead horse at that point. Plus, I did want to end this on a positive note.

Even with the new and substantially more powerful PS5 and Xbox Series X coming out, the Nintendo Switch still holds an edge just for it’s main feature, and while there is the Steam Deck coming out, which does seem like a cool handheld, it still does appeal most to a niche audience and doesn’t quite have the same ease of use, accessibility and general mainstream appeal that the Switch does. My point is that I do see the Switch continuing to succeed. Nintendo definitely has a good system still going, and while they have their issues with both the company and the Switch itself that I wish they would address, I still can’t deny that the Switch is still a system that I continue to have fun with even now, and there’s definitely future game releases I’m interested in getting. As I mentioned earlier, next year I could be doing another follow-up with games I’ve collected between now and then, because I still plan on collecting for the system for about as long as it stays in support before the next Nintendo system, whatever it is, comes out.

I like my PC, I like my Xbox One X, I like all the other consoles I’ve picked up throughout the years, and I’m interested in seeing what the Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5 have to offer, but the Nintendo Switch just has a certain appeal to it that keeps me collecting and going back to it.