Nintendo Switch review roundup

Still not sure whether or not to commit to buying the Nintendo Switch? See what all the reviews from around the internet has to say about the new console.

The time has finally come for the public to have access to Nintendo’s new console, the Switch. It goes on sale on Fri. March 3, and while available consoles may be scarce at first to those who did not pre-order, this will of course only be temporary.

Soon enough, the Switch will be here to stay and may very well change the face of the gaming industry depending on how successful its unique features truly are. So should you get one?

If you don’t know the answer to that yet, this review roundup may help you decide. We’ve gathered what all of the major gaming outlets have to say about the Nintendo Switch to make it easier for you to be informed.

App Trigger

We found that many gaming news outlets found the same joys and faults in the Nintendo Switch. Chief among the joys is the great design of the Switch. Essentially, Nintendo’s promise to make a console that shifts effortlessly between the TV and handheld has been achieved. App Trigger and others note how quickly the game switches from the TV to handheld mode as soon as it is taken out of the dock.

Another joy that App Trigger mentions is the HD Rumble feature of the Joy-Cons. According to App Trigger’s review, “you can’t wrap your head around the accuracy of the feeling of marbles rolling in a box or the tiny variations in clicks to open a safe until you’ve felt the tech” yourself. App Trigger also did not report any issues with Joy-Con connectivity.

However, App Trigger states that the console feels unfinished as online capabilities have not been added yet. Due to so many of the Switch’s supposed capabilities still being up the in air, App Trigger’s final verdict is that while the console delivers on a lot of what it was supposed to, “you’re not missing out on anything by waiting.”

Kotaku

Kotaku’s sentiments about the Switch are very similar to App Trigger’s. Essentially, they feel a lot remains unknown at launch, but the potential of the Switch is bright.

Kotaku did experience connectivity issues with the Joy-Cons. They also report that the Joy-Cons can feel awkward and be very uncomfortable. Kotaku points out that the Joy-Cons and even Nintendo’s pro controller does not have a headphone port, which means audio from the TV cannot be funneled directly into your ears. Additionally, with no Bluetooth support for headsets, this may put a crick in Nintendo’s future online multiplayer plans.

“What I can tell you, without need for guesswork, is that the Switch is a beguiling, flawed piece of hardware that isn’t like any other gaming system I’ve owned,” says Kotaku.

Ultimately, they recommend to wait to purchase the Switch until more questions have been answered around what is to come.

The Verge

Reviewers at The Verge had very similar things to say about the Switch.

Their unique notes include the fact that when playing in handheld mode, the Switch’s screen gives off an intense glare when in the sun. This means playing outside on sunny days may be a challenge. However, they do also note the Switch is a much more powerful console than both the Wii U and any other handheld gaming system that currently exists. It’s still less powerful than PS4 or Xbox One.

The Verge does say that the battery life of handheld mode does fall into the range that Nintendo promised. When they played Breath of the Wild in handheld, they did not have to charge it until after around three hours. They also note that even with the console in the docking station, it’s thinner than any other current console out there.

However, they also agree that questions remain.

Mashable

“Brimming with potential” is how Mashable describes the Nintendo Switch. But they also make sure to mention that the console feels very unfinished.

Similar to other reviews, Mashable felt very comfortable playing the Switch as a handheld. Despite the Joy-Cons’ smallness, they felt that it never got in the way of effective gameplay. They also felt that the Switch motion control is “incredibly accurate.”

Overall, Mashable states, “The Nintendo Switch is a functional piece of hardware that — despite some minor-yet-notable shortcomings — only stands to improve when the day one patch arrives.” They, however, also recommend you to wait on purchasing the console unless you are one of those who cannot wait to get their hands on the new Zelda title.

They also make sure to point out that if you are not actually a fan of Nintendo games “there’s not nearly as much to love.” They pointed to some stuttering frame rates when playing Zelda on the TV causing a question about whether the Switch will be able to deliver stable performance when it comes to future blockbuster games. If you are only interested in big-budget studio games, the Switch may not be able to fulfill your gaming needs.

IGN

IGN’s biggest thought lies in this: “Overall, the Switch is an attractive and powerful but oversized portable gaming system that struggles to be a convincing or reliable home console.”

They report that the Switch’s controllers are not as good as PlayStation’s Dual Shock 4, but surprisingly comfortable. However, they also report Joy-Con connectivity issues and just as with Kotaku, IGN’s reviewer had to move closer to the console to prevent connectivity issues from occurring again and again.

IGN also touched on the fact that incorporating the Switch into an existing entertainment system in your home may be a challenge, as the only way to position the dock is straight up. It cannot be laid on its side. Many of the little impracticalities of the Switch’s design has caused IGN to cite it as an excellent handheld gaming device, but a poor console.

WIRED

WIRED was much more blunt when it came to the Switch’s faults. “Nintendo says we can publish a review of it right now, though I have no idea why Nintendo would want us to,” the review says in the very first paragraph. “The company’s new toy isn’t finished yet.”

Despite this scathing start, similar to other reviews, this one does hit on many of the things that the Switch has done well. They dub Joy-Cons as “quite simply the most versatile and clever controllers that it has ever shipped with a machine.” However, they too suffered from connectivity issues.

Next: Where to find the Nintendo Switch without a pre-order

They also reported on one scary instance when a WIRED editor pulled the Switch in handheld mode out of his backpack to play on his commute, only to find that refused to turn on. A hard reboot had to occur in order for it to work again.

Again, they continue on with the same theme: the Switch has so much potential but it’s just lacking some basic features.