Nintendo Switch Review - A Portable Game System that Connects to a TV as well!
- Fariha Khan
- February 4, 2017
- 579
Nintendo is out to change its target audience in a subtle way. Well, the company is not going to ditch its family-friendly appeal, but at the same time it has to win over the older 'hardcore' gamers. Nintendo Switch basically enables you to enjoy a great gaming experience, taking the home console fun wherever you wish to play.
Design
The Nintendo Switch is not something that you have come across before. The console exists is 2 states: one, as a portable tablet device with a built-in kickstand, and second, as docked in a base which connects to your TV. You just have to plug the tablet into the dock and beam your gameplay onto the big screen. Pop out the tablet unit’s kickstand, hold the nunchuck-like controller parts and start playing. If you wish to play a game while you are on the go, simply plug the 2 controller sticks in either side of the screen and walk about while playing your favorite game. So you get a dock that sits under a home cinema setup, and cartridges that are portable.
Specs
Nvidia Tegra processor
The Nintendo Switch is a capable machine, but its internals appear far more power-efficiency focused. Under the hood you’ll find a custom Nvidia Tegra processor, broadly comparable to the Tegra X1 found in an Nvidia Shield TV. 32GB of storage space is onboard too together with 802.11.ac Wi-Fi.
The screen measures 6.2 inches, having a resolution of 720p with vibrant colors, a sharp resolution, but you may not find it too impressive compared to the high-end smartphone screens. At the same time, however, it feels radically better than the Wii U Gamepad. Supporting Wi-Fi online play, up to 8 Nintendo Switch consoles can link up for local multiplayer play.
Touchscreen
The Switch is a real, phone-style 6.2-inch 1,280x720-resolution capacitive touchscreen. While we don’t know yet how much Nintendo will adopt touch, or if it implies iPhone and Android developers are to to begin putting games on the system, but it's there for sure.
Battery life
Battery life for on-the-go play is a concern. While Nintendo claims a six-plus hours of battery life when the console is disconnected from a USB-C power supply, but it depends on the game that you play.
Docked and portable play
The Switch outputs to a TV at a resolution of 1080p, with 5.1 audio output offered. Considering the home console standard really remains at 1080p that’s viable. The most demanding of players will notice a difference between docked and portable performance. On a 1080p TV you might see more jagged edges visible on the console, but frame-rate appears un-impacted by form factor. The process of docking and undocking is smooth.
Controller
While the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers don't offer any noteworthy new input options, they are innovative as they can change depending on your present requirements. They are somewhat like Wii remote / nunchuck pairing in use. There is a left-hand element with an analogue stick and direction buttons alongside a 'minus' options button, a Capture button for recording gameplay and a top shoulder trigger. Besides, the right-hand element has a second analogue stick, the X, Y, A and B input buttons, another shoulder button, a 'Plus' start button and a Home button that helps you jump to the main interface. You can use these components together, separately or combined with a central Joy-Con grip unit.
Each Joy-Con has an accelerometer and gyroscope for motion controls. The right Joy-Con has NFC for hooking up Nintendo's amiibo figurines as well. The right controller element features an IR Motion Camera as well which can detect the distance and shape of objects in specific games.
When you remove the controllers from the tablet, they feel unlike any others we've played with before. They are amazingly light and very small. The flexibility of the controller options makes for an extremely dynamic system.
The controllers are charged through the Switch itself. That is why you have to ensure that you have juiced both as fully as you can in the dock before heading on out. you cannot charge them separately.
Online, interface and apps
The Switch introduces its own online subscription service, but those looking for something comparable to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold may be left wanting. While the company still needs to clarify some points, its subscription service's 'free' monthly game offering seems quite stingy. It appears that you'll only get access to one NES or SNES game on a monthly basis with just one month in which to play them. Besides, the online service offers lobby and voice chat. Nintendo subscribers will get digital store discounts. The Switch will release with a free trial to its subscription service.
Games
According to Nintendo, there are over 80 titles in active development. Some of them are:
• Splatoon 2
• Fire Emblem Warriors
• The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• FIFA
• Skylanders Imaginators
• Minecraft
• A new RPG from the Bravely Default team
• A new Shin Megami Tensei game
• NBA 2K18
• Super Bomberman R
• Just Dance 2017
• Disgaea 5 Complete
• Puyo Puyo Tetris
• Syberia 3
• Sonic Mania
• I Am Setsuna
• Rayman Legends Definitive Edition
• Dragon Quest X and XI