Cubed3 Staff Nintendo Switch Thoughts Page 1

Cubed3 Staff Nintendo Switch Thoughts

24.02.2017

The release of the Nintendo Switch is almost upon us. Whilst some lucky members of the Cubed3 team have spent hands-on time with the machine and are beavering away through its killer app, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as we speak, what are other staff's thoughts on Nintendo's upcoming home console-portable hybrid? A few of the team share their views.

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Jamie - Editor, Reviewer

Every day, more and more details about Nintendo's latest home console, the Nintendo Switch, emerge, and with every passing day, the more I'm certain I will be picking one up at launch. I'd completely missed the last gen of Nintendo games, drawing a line at the disappointing Wii line-up and instead finishing a backlog of DS games that had been filling my collection. The Wii U did little to allay my fears that Nintendo had become a one-trick pony, and the almost complete lack of third party support smacked of the GameCube days, and with first party titles not as appealing as they once were - save for a couple of games - the desire had gone. But now we have the Switch.

Firstly, is it fair to even compare the Switch to the Wii U, or even to the Wii before it? With its portability and physical media type, it feels more akin to the 3DS (which also passed me by, as I delved into PC gaming...). Clearly, Nintendo is aiming to capture some of that handheld marketing and create something that meets both needs. The Switch has the ability to hook up to a TV where gamers can enjoy 1080p gaming, but if required they can also attach the Joy-Con controllers to the console (how satisfying does that click sound?), yank it out of the dock and play on the go on a 6.2" screen in 720p. Yes, performance will drop compared to playing on your TV, but what other console offers you the ability to do this?

The more info we get, the more cautious - but excited - I become. I mean, the portability is great, but the battery life of such a multi-purpose device leaves a lot to be desired, with an estimated 2.5 - 6 hours expected, depending on which game you are playing. Breath of the Wild, for example, is expected to last just three hours before the USB-C charger needs to be summoned from the depths of your bag.

The Joy-Con controllers look extremely teeny and, while I expect the bundled grip monstrosity will help in single-player, getting two players to use a single Joy-Con each for something such as Mario Kart 8 is going to induce a lot of hand cramps. I certainly don't envy whoever gets stuck with the right Joy-Con either, with the awkward thumbstick placement sure to be an issue for many. With accessory prices so typically Nintendo (£75 for an additional Joy-Con and £65 for a wireless Pro Controller), many gamers could be priced out from another option.

While The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild looks to be a fantastic day one purchase, after that you have a bit of wait until Mario Kart 8 sees release, and even further until Super Mario Odyssey. I worry that the third party releases will all be old hat; realistically, how many people who haven't played Skyrim yet are looking forward to it on the Switch? FIFA and NBA are all well and good, but we all know a Nintendo console is only as good as the original IP titles released on it, and while I'm looking forward immeasurably to playing Breath of the Wild, I can't help but think the Switch will end up sitting alongside my TV like the Wii has. I hope Nintendo and the third party developers on board can prove me wrong.

David - Editor, Reviewer

The Nintendo Switch reveals blew my mind. It was a lot of what I had hoped for based on rumours, but also things I didn't think would happen - the detachable controllers, region-free gaming, fully handheld, etc. The launch games are both promising and concerning; we've seen a lot of announcements from companies like EA and even Bethesda, who has traditionally skipped Nintendo if their console wasn't comparable to the other big companies, but at the same time, I'm seeing a lot of ports of often very old games. I'm worried about how far third party support will go in the future. Skyrim is great, but will it get The Elder Scrolls VI? One thing is clear: Nintendo's first party support will be top notch, as always. I wasn't expecting a new Splatoon or main series Mario so quickly. And, of course, the thing launches with Breath of the Wild, which looks to be enough to keep me occupied until more games start rolling out.

Andrew - Reviewer

I was quite optimistic upon first seeing the console, but I'm starting to have reservations. Nintendo has staked a lot on this console, and the effective combining of a portable and home console means that they have not got another device to prop up their profits (and credibility) if it all goes south. My main concern is that they still don't appear to have sufficient third party support relative to the competition. It's been a near constant issue for the company, and perhaps one that cannot be properly fixed due to their insistence (rightly or wrongly) to try to break the mould. They need to get more developers to share in their vision, but, of course, that's easier said than done. When compared to all other gaming options (PS4, XBO, PC, mobile), many people will correctly see that the Switch is lacking in content, and probably won't be able to bridge that gap. This is despite the fact that Nintendo will effectively only have one main console to work on instead of two.

Frankly, there haven't been enough games announced from Nintendo, either. I'm expecting a dry patch post launch, and I'm hoping it won't kill the console off. Putting that aside, Zelda looks absolutely amazing, and it was 100% the correct decision to put it on the Switch. A few other games have captured my imagination too, and I am sure it will be a must-own console for Nintendo fans. Despite my concerns, I'm convinced the console will be at least a moderate success. A Zelda launch game is a big deal after all, and even if it starts to flag, a main series Pokémon game (assuming they don't bottle it and place it on the 3DS) will be a must-own for millions.

Thomas - Reviewer

With the original Wii, I always felt one underappreciated aspect was being able to play with your left and right hand freely positioned. For me, the Wiimote and Nunchuck were the most comfortable controllers ever made, with the only real downside being wires between them and a lack of a second analogue. Imagine my joy, then, on seeing the Switch deliver exactly that - wireless separate left and right controllers with all the bells and whistles. My hands can have freedom again! Some of those bells and whistles also seem pretty great.

To start with, we are getting rumble back again - in an improved form that's already getting praise in plenty of hands-on impressions. Then there's the still-mysterious IR depth sensor - only demoed so far in a mini-game to tell if someone's mouth is open or closed. What will this be used for? What's the limit of its abilities? There are still many open questions about the Switch, but from the controller potentially alone I am already very pleased. Oh, and I suppose a detachable screen is kind of nice. *shrug*

William - Reviewer

Similar to the Wii, Nintendo aims to raise the stakes once again with how we play games, and I'm impressed by the system's concept. What concerns me most, however, is the support it will receive in the long run. After the Wii U disappointed with its staunch lack of third party titles, I hope the console receives plenty of quality games from companies besides Nintendo itself. With that said, there are quite a few titles already announced that have piqued my interest, including Super Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but the one I'm looking forward to the most is Suda51's game, which will star Travis Touchdown of No More Heroes fame.

Carrick - Reviewer

The Switch, eh? I'm hesitantly optimistic about this one. The launch line-up is full of quality titles from a variety of genres, with more to come in the following months, and the price is good.

Will I get one? Yes. Will I get one at launch? Probably not. My Wii U still has plenty of life left in it, and at present the only title I really want to get is Breath of the Wild, and that comes out on the Wii U, as well.

Shane - Reviewer

Though it rarely happens, I shared the general consensus as most of the internet did on the Nintendo Switch presentation last month. The system had promise, and the initial three-minute reveal trailer sent expectations into overdrive, so it was natural to feel somewhat let down by a number of issues. The price, while not as astronomical as I feared, was still higher than I wanted to see, with external factors likely playing a part (exchange rates, Brexit possibly), and the launch line-up at first glance was quite a let-down.

After securing a pre-order out of necessity, however, and given time to ponder on said shortcomings, I've actually grown quite hyped for the release day on 3rd March. HD Rumble has gotten a lot of positive press and I'm dying to try it out with well-supported software. The return of split-controller gaming has me very happy, and the portable element of the Switch is absolutely perfect for my lifestyle, so much so that any multiformat software, no matter the sacrifices made to get them running on the machine, will have serious purchase consideration over the other versions.

We have an amazing Zelda and what looks to be a strong eShop line-up at launch to get our hands on, and an amazing-looking Mario game later on in the year. Though I would've liked to see more software revealed at the presentation, like the rumoured mystery "Mario & Rabbids" game and "Pokémon Stars," E3 is but a few months away and I realise stuff has to be kept for that. Switch has the appeal factor, and prices can come down in time, so I hope it can succeed where Wii U failed.

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RufDogRacing 24.02.2017#1

Have to agree with Andrew's position on third parties. I feel uncertain. Nintendo obviously have talked up how much easier it is to develop for their platform, a handful of developers have been very complementary so the buzz seems to be positive regarding the third party issue- but what will that talk become once the hype has died down and the system is out? It's normal for developers to talk up a new system, and the very glowing indications some gave didn't exactly seem to be echoed unanimously. There was nothing to the contrary, but with Nintendo's track record I think it's only fair to take it all with a pinch of salt. There are very good signs, but it's a company who have always done things their own way. Sometimes all too stubbornly I would say.

Yes, being friendly, offering more help, getting on-board with Unreal Engine, making it efficient and scalable for developers, all makes ports and cross-platform much easier and enticing. And I honestly think that the final developer count for Switch will very good but probably a 'slow-burn' success story. I think they're better off going for smaller popular games and developers who consider Steam their home. With so many non-demanding (technically), little games out there now, often things that you'd play for half an hour every few days but no more. It's not exactly core gaming that, more casual and leisure-focused type of content often enough- but it will help the Switch grow in its first couple years. It seems to me that's an important aspect of this since those games help grow user-bases so heavily, and console developers who want to 'see how it goes'- which I think has led to this evident lacking support already- will see a healthy, booming platform to make sales on.

Rather than that though, there's just been a lot of that 'buzz' and not that many new games actually being announced - 'it's so much easier to develop for the Switch!' Okay then. Where are all the games? As soon as it was evident the Switch wouldn't get a bulky share of the iterative games like the annual sports series, CoD, all the staples- I changed my expectations.

I said to myself, I am only buying this because I love Nintendo games anyway. Honestly if third parties dried up that would be no issue to me since I have so many other platforms, I certainly don't want to see that though.

As well as iterative current cross platform games in abundance, I assumed we'd get a massive chunk of launch games that are fairly old established indie and small games- things like Goat Simulator and Limbo. I assumed it'd be very easy to have those things ready for the launch window. Why there's no signs of any of that stuff really taking off yet, I'm not sure. And honestly, it worries me, but if the Switch really is as friendly for developers as they say- the slow-burn approach could work.

But yeah, having tempered my expectations, accepting that it's going to be a while before we really see the lay of the land- I'm now just really excited to have a Nintendo system again. I wouldn't be buying it if it was just another box to sit under the TV, the intrigue, the ambition, the risk, the innovation- I'm happy to be part of the ride day one.

But yeah.. it is hard to predict. I feel it could be a huge success, but certain patterns must be amended otherwise sadly I feel it'll become a first-party only platform, ultimately. Unlike with the Wii U. At least, from the start, there's much more positivity and potential for this to be big like the Game Boy, the NES, the N64. My heart is only really set on a new generation of Nintendo franchise games anyway- I'll survive with that, hope it doesn't come to that though! Smilie

( Edited 24.02.2017 21:11 by The Strat Man )

Edit this post:

Have to agree with Andrew's position on third parties. I feel uncertain. Nintendo obviously have talked up how much easier it is to develop for their platform, a handful of developers have been very complementary so the buzz seems to be positive regarding the third party issue- but what will that talk become once the hype has died down and the system is out? It's normal for developers to talk up a new system, and the very glowing indications some gave didn't exactly seem to be echoed unanimously. There was nothing to the contrary, but with Nintendo's track record I think it's only fair to take it all with a pinch of salt. There are very good signs, but it's a company who have always done things their own way. Sometimes all too stubbornly I would say.
 
Yes, being friendly, offering more help, getting on-board with Unreal Engine, making it efficient and scalable for developers, all makes ports and cross-platform much easier and enticing. And I honestly think that the final developer count for Switch will very good but probably a 'slow-burn' success story. I think they're better off going for smaller popular games and developers who consider Steam their home. With so many non-demanding (technically), little games out there now, often things that you'd play for half an hour every few days but no more. It's not exactly core gaming that, more casual and leisure-focused type of content often enough- but it will help the Switch grow in its first couple years. It seems to me that's an important aspect of this since those games help grow user-bases so heavily, and console developers who want to 'see how it goes'- which I think has led to this evident lacking support already- will see a healthy, booming platform to make sales on.
 
Rather than that though, there's just been a lot of that 'buzz' and not that many new games actually being announced - 'it's so much easier to develop for the Switch!' Okay then. Where are all the games? As soon as it was evident the Switch wouldn't get a bulky share of the iterative games like the annual sports series, CoD, all the staples- I changed my expectations.
 
I said to myself, I am only buying this because I love Nintendo games anyway. Honestly if third parties dried up that would be no issue to me since I have so many other platforms, I certainly don't want to see that though.
 
As well as iterative current cross platform games in abundance, I assumed we'd get a massive chunk of launch games that are fairly old established indie and small games- things like Goat Simulator and Limbo. I assumed it'd be very easy to have those things ready for the launch window. Why there's no signs of any of that stuff really taking off yet, I'm not sure. And honestly, it worries me, but if the Switch really is as friendly for developers as they say- the slow-burn approach could work.
 
But yeah, having tempered my expectations, accepting that it's going to be a while before we really see the lay of the land- I'm now just really excited to have a Nintendo system again. I wouldn't be buying it if it was just another box to sit under the TV, the intrigue, the ambition, the risk, the innovation- I'm happy to be part of the ride day one.
 
But yeah.. it is hard to predict. I feel it could be a huge success, but certain patterns must be amended otherwise sadly I feel it'll become a first-party only platform, ultimately. Unlike with the Wii U. At least, from the start, there's much more positivity and potential for this to be big like the Game Boy, the NES, the N64. My heart is only really set on a new generation of Nintendo franchise games anyway- I'll survive with that, hope it doesn't come to that though! :P

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Tom Barry [ Reviewer - Editor - Resident Sim-Racer @ Cubed3.com ]

Azuardo 24.02.2017#2

There's always the hopes from Nintendo fans when a new Nintendo console rolls around, myself included, that this might be different and that third parties will be on board from the get-go. But every time, it is never the case.

Okay, things are actually a bit better looking this time when compared to the Wii U. Even though the Wii U did have more games at time of release, even if they were old ports (which is still the case with Switch), it does feel like TP support is going to be better for this console, perhaps given the type of system it is.

But I am not optimistic about the level of support it will get from Western TPs - the major publishers, that is. I believe Western indies will be all over it, and I actually believe Japanese pubs/devs will be quite on board with it - at least, I hope so.

With the likes of NIS looking to Switch as the next PS Vita to put their popular JRPGs on, Switch has the potential to be a homebase for JP games, including visual novels, JRPGs and much more. This is where Switch can prove to be popular.

What I've been disappointed in is the lack of Western TPs willing to bring their major games to it. Whilst I'm not 100% saying I would buy a hypothetical Switch version of Mass Effect over the PS4 version (I would have to weigh up the differences, trophies, etc), the very fact that I would have portable Mass Effect in my hands is a massive dealbreaker, and might indeed be the thing that gets me to buy the Switch version of games over the other. Hell, I might even go so far as to say some fans might be willing to buy two copies of the same game, just so that they have a portable version of COD, or FIFA, or Tomb Raider, or whatever.

Sure, the majority of buyers are buying the Switch for the Nintendo games. Whatever the console turned out to be, even if it wasn't portable at all, that wouldn't have changed. But it is the fact that it is portable that changes everything. That publishers can resist putting out Switch versions of current major games is a huge shame and something I really hope changes in the near future.

Of course, I don't expect pubs to just take all the risks and whack all of their games onto it day one, but to think how so many games are being actively dismissed, it doesn't bode well. Many current gen games may require some downgrading, sure, but running in portable mode would make this less of a problem, and I'm sure many would be willing to take the hit if it mean having portable versions of Resi 7, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Nier, Doom, Mass Effect, FF15, Tales of Berseria, Yakuza 0, Deus Ex, SF5, Watch Dogs 2, and so on and so forth...

(seriously, they had Nagoshi of Yakuza fame on stage in the Switch reveal, NOT announcing a Yakuza game, wtf!)

It kinda says it all about the risks Ubisoft is willing to take when it ports the 2013 game Rayman Legends, instead of Watch Dogs 2.

It's mentioned above somewhere, but I agree with the point about lack of nindies and other games at launch. Just why have so few indies had dev kits? Think of all the potential games that could have been there day one, or near after. Things like Lara Croft Go (which would have been perfect for the touch screen), Pac-Man Championship Edition (1+2 bundle!), Hotline Miami 1+2... Hell, why couldn't Square port FF7 over?

Alright, I'm asking for a lot now, but I feel like too few devs had actual dev kits. If they had, we could have had plenty more indie games at launch or on their way. It's not as if the big gimmick of the Switch was a major secret - they didn't need to keep it out of people's hands for so long.

I also don't get the impression Nintendo is doing everything it can to get certain games on board. I don't like the rubbish devs come out with (same thing happened with Wii U), where they try to think of unique games to fit the console instead of bringing traditional games to it. Tabata of FF15 said something like that recently, and Nagoshi (Yakuza) literally said so on the damn stage last month. Dude, no one cares - we literally want FF and Yakuza on the Switch, so bring them! This is the point of the console - it means we can play your games portably! Without the games, there is a severe lack of point for the console, except for the Nintendo experiences.

I'm realistic too - I don't expect Switch to really get games like FF15, but you get the point I'm making here.

I'm not majorly excited for the console because there's literally only one game I'm looking forward to - Zelda. After that, there is nothing until maybe Mario Odyssey, which I am reserving judgement on for now. I'm sure it'll be good, but wow, that's two games in 9 months to look forward to, and none of them third party. Nintendo needs to deliver in its E3 Direct.

Like everyone else, I hope the best for this console, but if ever there was a Nintendo console for third parties to get on board with, it's this one. But the severe lack of major titles for it doesn't paint a good early sign. I can only hope things take off and TPs are willing to downport some of their upcoming major titles, because the idea of portable FF, Mass Effect and dare I say it, Shenmue 3, is too good to ignore.

Edit this post:

What I've been disappointed in is the lack of Western TPs willing to bring their major games to it. Whilst I'm not 100% saying I would buy a hypothetical Switch version of Mass Effect over the PS4 version (I would have to weigh up the differences, trophies, etc), the very fact that I would have portable Mass Effect in my hands is a [i]massive[/i] dealbreaker, and might indeed be the thing that gets me to buy the Switch version of games over the other. Hell, I might even go so far as to say some fans might be willing to buy two copies of the same game, just so that they have a portable version of COD, or FIFA, or Tomb Raider, or whatever.

Sure, the majority of buyers are buying the Switch for the Nintendo games. Whatever the console turned out to be, even if it wasn't portable at all, that wouldn't have changed. But it is the fact that it [i]is[/i] portable that changes everything. That publishers can resist putting out Switch versions of current major games is a huge shame and something I really hope changes in the near future.

(seriously, they had Nagoshi of Yakuza fame on stage in the Switch reveal, NOT announcing a Yakuza game, wtf!)

It kinda says it all about the risks Ubisoft is willing to take when it ports the 2013 game Rayman Legends, instead of Watch Dogs 2.

It's mentioned above somewhere, but I agree with the point about lack of nindies and other games at launch. Just why have so few indies had dev kits? Think of all the potential games that could have been there day one, or near after. Things like Lara Croft Go (which would have been [i]perfect[/i] for the touch screen), Pac-Man Championship Edition (1+2 bundle!), Hotline Miami 1+2... Hell, why couldn't Square port FF7 over?

I'm realistic too - I don't expect Switch to really get games like FF15, but you get the point I'm making here.

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