The Nintendo Switch stirred up every gamer’s heartstrings when it was first announced in October 2016 as a “hybrid game console”, where many speculated it would be another Wii-U but unlike its predecessor, can be carried around just like the Playstation Vita from Sony. The Switch finally hit the stores on the 3rd of March 2017, and lo and behold, is en route (or already is!) the fastest selling gaming console ever by Nintendo.
Now peeps in Malaysia, if you’re wondering what in the world is this Nintendo Switch hype all about, fret not! Here are some of the breakdowns on Nintendo’s newest gaming console, and who knows? You might just want to get your hands on this gem yourself 😉
Overview of the Nintendo Switch
First glance at the Switch and you will immediately notice the detachable control sticks on either side of the screen. This feature here is the pride of the device itself, arguably the core of the whole Nintendo Switch concept of playing your games wherever, whenever you want. Nintendo officially named these the “Joy-Con” controller, and you can either use them together in a pair or give one of them to a friend for multiplayer games. They come in two variants: full grey for both pairs, and neon red and blue for each of the Joy-Cons respectively.
The next feature that I’m gonna cover is the screen of the Switch itself, which comes in a mere 17.3 x 1.4 x 10.2 cm (length x width x height). It has a metal and glass finish with touchscreen capabilities and has a resolution of 720p. Included with the Switch is the Nintendo Switch dock, which allows it to be played on TV with a resolution that goes up to 1080p. Simply remove both Joy-Cons from the main body, then snap it in the dock, and there you go, the Switch is now playable on the big screen (great for parties!) If you're wondering, the Switch is powered by the Nvidia Tegra processor, which is a powerhouse for mobile devices. As for memory, the Switch has a built in memory of 32GB, yes, it's relatively small, considering that after installing Zelda (one of the bundle games) you only have 18.6GB left. However, the Switch allows a microSD card slot up to 2TB worth of space, so storage shouldn't be a problem in the long run. The Switch runs on a built-in, non-removable lithium ion battery which accommodates for 6 hours, however, it only lasts for 3 hours when playing on handheld mode. When docked, it actually charges the battery and takes up to 3 hours till it's fully charged.
The Nintendo Switch, according to Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima, is not backward compatible; which means that games from previous Nintendo consoles such as the Wii and the Wii U cannot be played on the Switch. The Nintendo Switch is also not compatible with controllers from previous consoles. However, games will be remade from previous titles exclusively for the Switch, and might incorporate more controllers for this console in the future.
Games available for the Nintendo Switch
What's a console without the games, right? Here are some of the best games available for the Switch right now and in the future.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Released in lieu with the Switch, this classic title that most gamers started out with has been transformed into a modern, 3D open world RPG with breathtaking graphics, intuitive gameplay, and yes, not forgetting the puzzles! Quoted as the best Zelda game ever made and having earned a score of 97/100 on Metacritic, this is a must have for the Nintendo Switch. Most of the Switch console comes with a Zelda game, you can check out this whole pack here.
1-2-Switch
Remember when the Wii came out? We had a handful of games that came with it, one of them is the Wii sports bundle that include tennis, baseball, etc. 1-2-Switch is meant for multiplayer gaming on the Switch, which serves as a party game where players can take on different mini games with separate Joy-Cons.
Fast RMX
If you like action-racing games like Wipeout, this is the game to get. The only racing genre on the Switch now (Mario kart is coming very soon), this will entertain you and your friends on multiplayer if you need a break from exploring Hyrule in Breath of the Wild on single player mode.
Upcoming games for the Switch
There are quite a number of games arriving throughout 2017 and into 2018, where some of them are already blockbuster titles on other gaming platforms. So, here goes:
Mario Kart 8 deluxe
Super Mario Odyssey
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
New Fire Emblem
Sonic Mania
NBA 2K18
The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim
EA Sports FIFA
Dragon Quest X
Dragon Quest XI
Dragon Quest Heroes I & II
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
Minecraft: Story Mode, the Complete Adventure
New Shin Megami Tensei
A new “Tales of” RPG by Namco Bandai
As you can see, it is quite THE lineup. Personally, I'm extremely excited to see how some of these games are being brought to life through Nintendo's eyes unto the Switch!
Price in Malaysia
The Nintendo Switch bundle includes:
Main Switch console
Switch dock
Pair of Joy-Cons
Joy-Con wrist straps
Joy-Con grip
High speed HDMI cable
Switch AC adapter
The bundle retails between RM 2k – 2.4k depending on which store you pre-order or buy from (note that most units have to be pre-ordered, they get sold out pretty quick). Some of the retail stores you can visit are Gamers Hideout, Heavy Arm, and Truegamers. Or if you want to get it online, Lazada sells one of the cheapest in the market.
All in all, the Switch is somewhat a conceptualized gaming console which promises more great things to come, albeit the pretty expensive price tag. No, it might not have the hyper-realism that VR brings, no, it might not have the plethora of gaming titles like the PlayStation or Xbox, but it truly is a game-changing gem in the constantly evolving world of console gaming.