The Nintendo Switch 2 is ‘Switchin’ things up’

By Paul Harrington Staff Writer If you know me, then you know I LOVE Nintendo. If you also know me, then you know that I am always seen with a Nintendo Switch on me as my trusty time-killer. To me, the concept of a hybrid console is perfect for at home when you want to spend time in bed with it hooked up to your television, and perfect for when you're on the subway or have some downtime on your hands. Nintendo’s successor to the Nintendo Switch had been talked about for years. Countless YouTube videos rumored a “Switch Pro” would hit the shelves in times before the holiday seasons - the usual video game rumor rhetoric. During the April 2 “Nintendo Direct,” the curtain was unveiled and a successor had been named. The Nintendo Switch 2 was given a June 5 launch date, which was followed by a two-month period of chaos with trying to secure orders. On June 5, the console hit the shelves, and my hunt to find the console began. Although I did not find the console in any stores during my ventures in Massachusetts, I was fine with waiting. But after a summer of not being able to find it in stores, I waited until fall so it could “fall” into my hands. The launch included two versions of the console: One with no copy of “Mario Kart World,” and a bundle version with “Mario Kart World.” The bundle (which is the version I treated myself to) is about $500 including tax. The Switch 2 feels like and is a sizable upgrade to its older brother model. It measures in at about 4.5 inches tall and 10.7 inches wide. My OLED switch measures about 4 inches high, and 9.5 inches long. Surely this is just a few inches bigger, but I suppose size does really matter when you’re gaming. One thing that the Switch 2 does better than previous generations is the inclusion of magnetic Joy-Con controllers. In the past, you would slide on the Joy-Cons to their respective sides and use them with the console. But the problem is that they would begin to deteriorate over time, and be infected with what we gamers call “Joy-Con drift.” This is when the analog sticks start to move on their own. It became clear to myself and others that the design of Joy-Cons could easily be improved upon. Now that the Switch 2 uses magnetic Joy-Cons, they are less likely to fall out over the course of long gaming sessions. The Switch 2 has also been given another USB-C charging port that is right where you put your cartridges in. In the past, the cord sometimes lies at an uncomfortable angle when using the switch in handheld mode. Now that there are two locations, gamers have the comfort of using either one when charging their companion. With over 256 gigabytes of storage and video output that make games old or new pop out, this console does an exceptional job of standing on its own. For pre-existing users, I can happily assure you that the data transfer process is as smooth as a stick of butter. The cloud has been nesting all of your data, so you really just need to make sure you have your old console next to you the whole time. I timed my transfer, and my Switch 2 was up and running in exactly 15 minutes. Now that is what I call a worthwhile wait! All the spec talk aside, this console is a blast and I am more than happy that I made the upgrade. I understand that the pricepoints are more than surely to turn people away. There's no shame in waiting for a discount or a sale. I also understand for newcomers, that only having two launch titles to start with is underwhelming, one of the main factors in my A rating. But if it’s something that makes you happy and you can afford it, then you should get a Switch too! Rating: A Nin-ten-tastic.