'I got my hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 and this is what I think so far'

Irish Daily Mirror

2 days ago

The Nintendo Switch 2 officially launched today, and eager fans have been clamouring to get their hands on the highly anticipated latest console all morning. It includes a lot of the selling points that made the original so popular, albeit with shiny new innovations and upgrades, such as a larger screen, better frame-rates and the ability to use the detachable JoyCon controllers like a mouse controller on PC.
Following a short teaser trailer in January and a full reveal in April, the Nintendo Switch 2 made its debut this morning on June 5, alongside brand new games including Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.
Gaming editor Liam Martin was one of the first to get his hands on the brand-new console and share his initial thoughts with the Express. Read on to find out what he makes of it so far.
After a long wait since the teaser trailer in January and the Direct in April, I've finally got my hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 console and have begun transferring my games to the new system. I've had the opportunity to try out the device on several occasions, and I'm ready to share my initial impressions in this early review for fellow Nintendo enthusiasts.
Stay tuned for a comprehensive review later this weekend, but for now, here's what I like and dislike about the Switch 2 so far. Firstly, the Switch 2 feels much more comfortable in hand compared to the Switch OLED I've been using over the past few years.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, with the brand-new gaming console now on sale at numerous retailers. After initially showing as out of stock on the Nintendo website, supply has come back to meet demand.
€469.99
The kickstand is significantly wider than the previous flimsy stand, matching up to the OLED version, with the flexibility to adjust it from top to bottom and vice versa.
With the JoyCons attached, the console measures around 10.7-inches long, feeling considerably larger compared to the Switch OLED, despite only being just over an inch longer than its predecessor. It's not as broad as the Steam Deck OLED, but it's much sleeker, although I must admit, I have a slight preference for the slightly chunkier Steam handheld.
Despite being smaller than its Steam counterpart, the 7.9-inch screen of the device is larger and looks truly stunning. The display quality is surprisingly impressive, given that it's not an OLED screen. Cranking up the brightness reveals minimal difference between the Switch 2 and the OLED model, largely due to the superior resolution and HDR support.
The magnetic JoyCons are a significant upgrade from the original controllers, snapping onto the console instantly with a gratifying click. This is much quicker and feels more secure than the somewhat cumbersome rail system employed by the previous Switch.
In terms of the JoyCons, the larger analogue sticks and buttons mark a substantial improvement over the older model. However, I'll likely seek out a version with a d-pad once a high-quality third-party alternative hits the market.
I've always had a preference for the HORI Split Pad Pro for the original Switch. It's ideal for most genres when attached to the console, but unlike the official JoyCons, it can't be detached and used wirelessly.
For the time being, the new JoyCons are certainly a step up from the old ones. We can only hope that the absence of Hall Effect sticks won't result in drift issues down the line, but this remains to be seen.
I'm also particularly keen to play first-person shooters, strategy games, and point-and-click adventure games using the mouse controls.
Having played Metroid Prime 4 with the mouse controls at a previous hands-on event, I found them to be a game-changer.
The Nintendo Switch 2 introduces a novel 'mouse mode', which can be activated by simply holding a JoyCon sideways against a flat surface and sliding it as you would with a computer mouse. There's no need to navigate through menus - just press it against a flat surface and voila, you're in mouse mode.
In games like Metroid Prime 4, this feature allows you to aim using the mouse function, while the buttons control Samus Aran's abilities as usual. The other JoyCon is used for movement.
Since getting my hands on the Switch 2, I've only really tested the mouse mode on the menu screen where it functions as expected, though it doesn't seem particularly necessary there.
Of course, another major selling point of the Nintendo Switch 2 is the significant boost in power it boasts.
When docked, the console can handle gameplay in 4K at 60 frames-per-second, or alternatively at 120 frames-per-second at a lower resolution. Even in handheld mode, 120Hz is achievable with supported games.
Whether many games will actually reach these impressive performance levels is yet to be seen, but for now, Switch 2 enthusiasts can look forward to visuals and performance that edge closer to those of the PS5 and Xbox Series.
This also means that many of the larger third-party games can now be ported to the Switch 2, as we've seen with titles like Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 launching alongside the console on June 5.
On paper, the Switch 2 seems to tick all the right boxes in terms of visuals and performance, although it's still too early to deliver a definitive verdict on how this will pan out. The same goes for new features like GameChat, which I plan to trial over the next few days with mates.
However, my initial thoughts on the Switch 2 have been largely positive so far. I've clocked in about an hour on Mario Kart World since getting my hands on my Switch 2, and it's been a blast every step of the way. I'm eager to dive deeper into the exhilarating Knockout Tour elimination mode, and uncover fresh missions in Free Roam.
I've also had a brief stint on Hitman Signature Edition, which appears to perform just as well as it does on Steam Deck and PS5. The loading times even took me by surprise, as I was expecting them to be lengthier.
While the €469.99 price point of the Switch 2 might deter some, I reckon early birds will appreciate the enhancements. Similarly, if you've shelled out €510.72 for the Mario Kart World bundle, you'll be too engrossed in the fun to mind.