Review: Nintendo Switch 2

I’ve always wanted to attend a console launch. I’ve experienced two midnight launches for other high-profile media: the premiere screening of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book launch. But never for my favourite medium, so when I got the invite to attend the Nintendo Switch 2 launch at Sandton City, I was a little giddy.

Joined by my friend Chiraag and his friend Hylton, we made our way to the Nintendo store around 11pm, not knowing what to expect. What a thrill to see hundreds of passionate fans sharing war stories of epic Mario Kart moments and bonding over the traumatic experience of navigating The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time’s water temple in the nineties. Wonderful to see industry colleagues from Glitched and Nexus who were equally excited to participate in this historic moment.

Nintendo has always had a way of blending innovation with nostalgia, and this latest iteration is no exception.

Hardware & Design: Familiar Yet Refined

The Switch 2 boasts a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen with HDR10 support and a 120Hz variable refresh rate. This upgrade provides a noticeable improvement in visual clarity and smoothness compared to its predecessor.

I’ve only ever owned the original Nintendo Switch, so I cannot compare this to the OLED model. The console’s build feels sturdier, with a more robust kickstand and improved ergonomics, making handheld gaming more comfortable for extended sessions and table-top gaming a more viable option than before.

I used to hesitate to use the previous Switch’s kickstand, except for a very memorable bus trip in 2017 where a colleague and I spent most of the 2-hour journey playing Street Fighter. The Switch 2 feels very premium and less toy-like. In many ways, it feels like a grown-up Switch. There are reminisces of colour, less of a homage and more of a recognition of what was, with a very intentional desire to appeal to an older crowd.

Joy-Con 2 Controllers

The redesigned Joy-Con 2 controllers feature enhanced ergonomics, magnetic rails for a more secure attachment, and a new “C” button for quick access to the GameChat feature. While they still lack Hall-effect sensors to fully address drift issues, the overall feel and responsiveness has been improved.

I really wish they added Hall-effect as I struggled with drift issues a number of times over the years, replacing 5 joysticks in that time. Even now, I hesitate to use the Joy-Con 2 to its maximum for fear of drift. It’s too early to tell if this will be a problem that defines the Joy-Con 2 so I try to remain somewhat optimistic.

The new joy-cons also have a mouse mode which I’m sure a lot of users will appreciate. I never played PC games growing up so the idea of a mouse feels a bit foreign but I’m interested to see how its implemented in inventive ways. I would love if Nintendo did a free Switch 2 Upgrade to Mario Maker 2 and implemented mouse controls in a meaningful way. I’ve read that the mouse controls in CyberPunk 2077 are good but I don’t have a Switch 2 version so couldn’t test.

Luckily my original Switch 1 pro-controller works fine and is my preferred way to play except annoyingly, I cannot wake up the system from sleep mode with it. I wonder if Nintendo did this to ‘encourage’ upgrading to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller but given its high price tag, I won’t be making the jump anytime soon and I wait in hope they eventually add an update to allow the Pro Controller to switch on the machine.

Power & Graphics

Powered by a custom NVIDIA Tegra T239 processor with an Ampere-based GPU, the Switch 2 delivers up to 4K resolution at 60Hz when docked and 1080p at 120Hz in handheld mode. This performance boost is evident in smoother gameplay and faster load times across various titles.

Some reviewers have balked that it took Nintendo this long to embrace this new standard of resolution, but I always felt that Nintendo runs its own race and as such, doesn’t define itself by being a foil to its peers.

The landscape has changed drastically since the first Nintendo Switch, which was groundbreaking at the time as a hybrid console, but since then we’ve seen the rise of handheld PC’s like the SteamDeck and the ASUS Rog Ally X which I recently reviewed for Recharged, as well as Cloud streaming handhelds like the Abxylute One, which I also had the pleasure of reviewing so the Nintendo Switch 2 has to work much harder for market share this time around.

Luckily Nintendo has a deep catalogue of critically acclaimed franchises to set them apart and this is where the Switch 2 shines brightest.

Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World is the flagship title for the Switch 2, showcasing the console’s capabilities with expansive tracks, dynamic weather effects, and a robust online multiplayer mode. The game’s visuals are vibrant, and the gameplay is as addictive as ever. I was surprised that Nintendo led with this compared to a strong single-player game like Legend of Zelda or Super Mario but given how well the Switch 2 sold from launch it’s a moot point. More on this below as I want to extol more about the joy that is Mario Kart World.

Let’s address the price concern – this game is expensive. Expensive in a way that I need to psychologically hype myself for. Sure, you can save a lot of money by buying it in a bundle with the Switch and this is what most of my friends have done but jeez does the standalone price sting, especially in this age of cheap indie games, massively popular free to play games like Fortnite and the various subscription services like Xbox Gamepass and PS Plus Premium which also skews my sense of value for games.

The one way I justify the high price tag is by reflecting on the utter joy this game has brought my family over the past few weeks. My wife Kareema and six-year-old son Sami have played more than 60 hours of Mario Kart World this month. They have so much fun playing the Grand Prix and the new knockout mode. There are outfits, characters and new vehicles to unlock which make each play session fun.

There are now 24 drivers on the track so races are a lot more chaotic and unpredictable. I love the new tracks and how they blend into each other and hope Nintendo release more tracks post launch. We were really spoilt with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when the booster course pack released, bringing the total tracks up to 96 so while I enjoy Mario Kart World’s selection, I do feel a little greedy. I recognise that I have unfair expectations of instant gratification, probably driven by the ubiquity of content that’s available and vying for my attention, 8-year-old me would have lost his mind if he had Netflix in 1990, so here’s crossing fingers Nintendo.

The other standout in Mario Kart World is the Free Roam section. It’s such a great way to destress, driving through the world, doing mini challenges, slowing down to appreciate the details. Didn’t think Mario Kart could be classified as cozy gaming but here we are.

I’ve been a Mario Kart fan since getting my Nintendo 64 in 1998 and I share so many meaningful shared relationship memories of playing the various iterations with family members and friends, from Mario Kart DS with my older niblings to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the younger crowd and in spite almost 15 years of convincing, I only managed to get my wife to start playing it now and she’s hooked!

Other launch titles

The other Switch 2 games I’ve played was the upgrade to Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Switch Welcome Tour. My wife and I have a combined 350 hours on Tears of the Kingdom having recently played it two months ago so while I can appreciate the crispness of the graphics, the slick framerate and shorter loading times it’s much too fresh to jump back in. We are however planning to replay Breath of the Wild as I last played that in 2018.

Switch Welcome Tour (which I keep incorrectly calling virtual tour) is a bittersweet experience. Similar to 1-2 Switch on the previous console this would have worked so well as a pack-in game and even though it’s R180 feels a bit ‘grudgy’, like having to pay for a bag after buying an expensive piece of clothing. This, along with the Mario Kart price, dominated some of the negative chatter around the Switch 2, and like Mario Kart’s price, it didn’t seem to dissuade early adopters. I need to put a bit more time into Welcome Tour to get more medals but I don’t think I’ll replay it after.

I found often when I chatted to some Switch users they don’t realise how many great games they can buy for reasonable prices on the eShop (Nintendo’s digital storefront) so hoping to create more awareness and education around this. R180 will get you some gems on the eShop.

Speaking of the eShop, I love how fast it loads on the Nintendo Switch 2. I can jump in quickly and browse the specials and it’s become a bit of a daily routine.

I play a lot of Fortnite and have amassed well over 1400 hours in the 7 or so years I’ve been playing it. Very rarely would I ever play it on the original Switch as the experience was just too poor for me to enjoy. I’m so glad it plays well on the Nintendo Switch 2 as now I can log in and do my dailies in handheld mode sitting on the couch while my family watch whatever title is next in their Miyazaki marathon.

One of the best features of the Nintendo Switch 2 is how well my older Nintendo Switch 1 games run on it, and I have quite the backlog so there’s lots to play while I wait for more Switch 2 games to arrive, like the gorgeous looking Donkey Kong Bananza in a few weeks. I documented the Switch 1’s performance issues in recent reviews like Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Mario and Luigi Brothership and Nintendo have rolled out a slew free upgrades, with the hope of more to come soon. That for me is one of the most exciting reasons to own a Nintendo Switch 2 as there are new announcements and updates weekly. As I’m typing this, I’m watching a trailer for Mario Smash Football which is coming to the GameCube catalogue in a few days.

The GameCube catalogue is another great reason to buy a Nintendo Switch 2, whether you’re reliving the nostalgia or like me, did not own a GameCube back in the day and now have an opportunity to play some classics. You’ll need the Switch Online plus Expansion pack (it costs R629 a year) but doing so gives you access to about 300 classic games across console generations. It’s a great way to replay Super Mario Brothers 3 for the 15th time. An added bonus is that Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom’s paid upgrades are ‘free’ if you have the expansion pack.

GameChat and Camera

Nintendo has introduced GameChat, allowing players to communicate via voice and video during gameplay. I didn’t get a chance to test this out as we mostly play single-player or couch co-op in my house. We did play a bit with the Nintendo Switch 2 camera functionality on Mario Kart World and it was a blast seeing my family’s faces in real time as they overtook me or even better, when my green and red shells hit them but that’s simply not enough to justify the camera right now. I see a lot of potential with it in Mario Party Jamboree after the Switch 2 upgrade releases so like GameChat I will revisit the camera later so I can share more detailed reflections.

The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal storage, which can be expanded using microSD Express cards. I was initially a bit bummed as I just bought a large microSD earlier this year for my Switch 1 and was hoping I could use it for the new machine. It’s a fair trade-off considering the loading times on Switch 2 are much better. a microSD Express might be a priority investment as games get bigger. I’ve read that the Split Fiction (another game I’ve reviewed on Recharged) file size is around 70gb so that internal memory might fill up quickly.

Battery Life

Despite the performance enhancements, battery life has seen a decline. Switch 2’s battery life feels shorter than my original Switch, especially when playing graphically intensive games so I expect I’ll have to augment my entertainment when traveling with other devices. I typically travel with a tablet and a retro console as well, so this doesn’t phase me too much.

Priced at R12 499 for the standalone console and R13 499 bundled with Mario Kart World, the Switch 2 positions itself as a premium offering in the gaming market. I was hoping it would be a little less and having Switch Welcome Tour bundled in would have sweetened the deal a bit but with perhaps the exception of TV’s, everything else seems to be getting more expensive and Nintendo have enough of a value proposition to convince people to spend the asking price.

So, do I recommend the Nintendo Switch 2? For myself, easily for three reasons – I love Nintendo franchises and grew up on and continue to play Mario Kart, Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong, Pikmin, Smash Brothers and so much more. Mario Kart World is an absolute joy to play and even though I have to return the Switch 2 unit Nintendo South Africa graciously loaned me my wife and I already looked at the budget and decided we are going to buy our own immediately so that we can continue our evening gaming sessions with my kid. Counting down the days till I see my niblings so that they can play too.

The second reason why I recommend the Nintendo Switch 2 is because of the past – I have an extensive backlog and I’m excited to play some of the games with enhanced performance. Given that it is backwards compatible if you missed out on the original Switch it’s easy to play all the classic titles in the best possible way on the Nintendo Switch 2. From Mario Odyssey to Astral Chain, there are so many timeless gems to enjoy for returning or new Nintendo fans.

The third reason is the promise of the future. The Nintendo Switch 2 is just going to get better and better and there’s already a large list of games announced for the rest of the year. I am also excited to see how the GameCube is supported and crossing fingers we also get a Wii catalogue in future.

People often ask me when they should upgrade their console, and my answer has been pretty consistent for the last 15 years – invest in a new console when either you have the means without incurring regret because you’ve had to sacrifice something else or if there’s a must-play game you dream about playing. It was very easy recommending the original Switch because I wanted everyone to experience The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, however, as much as I love Mario Kart World I don’t know whether it is enough so for those on the fence, know that if you invest now, you will be getting an amazing console with lots of features and a great catalogue of games, but if you wait till that killer game comes out, you might appreciate the Nintendo Switch 2 even more. Regardless of when you jump in, I hope you do, and I hope more of the world gets to experience the Nintendo magic I’ve been lucky enough to grow up with.

Final Verdict

The Nintendo Switch 2 is not just a console upgrade, it’s an invitation to discover joy. For long-time fans like myself, it ticks a lot of boxes: a premium build that respects the past while embracing modern expectations, a standout launch title in Mario Kart World that brings families together, and backward compatibility that breathes new life into a vast backlog of beloved games.

Is it perfect? No. Battery life has dipped, the price stings, and Nintendo still hasn’t convinced me that Joy-Con drift has been addressed, but most of these are minor trade-offs in the context of everything the Switch 2 gets right.

If you’re already a Nintendo fan or have a strong library of Switch titles, the upgrade feels meaningful. If you’re new to Nintendo or hesitant to jump in, you won’t regret waiting for the game that excites you.