I’ll admit it. The first time I used the Nintendo Switch, I attached one of the Joy-Con wrist strap thingies the wrong way, got it stuck, and proceeded to pull the controller and strap apart in a panic. I’m proud to say that the Switch and I were unscathed by that altercation, and have since enjoyed a long and loving relationship full of respect and admiration, as if blessed by Animal Crossing‘s very own Tom Nook.
Unserious and playful, there was nothing particularly nostalgic about the Switch (even though that was what I sought). I must also admit that I was a sceptic when I first laid my eyes on the colourful controllers, sorry, Joy-Cons. They seemed flimsy and toy-like, and I got the sneaking suspicion that they were more of a novelty than a practical way to play games. But all of that changed as soon as I booted up my first title on the console, Ice Climber (as part of Switch Online’s Nintendo Entertainment System emulator). And off I went upwards and beyond the clouds with my trusty ice-axe, reliving my childhood.
While in no way, shape or form like the NES or SNES, the Switch triggered my muscle memory with such ease that the quirks of the actual console became secondary to the gaming experience — which I consider a positive sign. It challenged everything I thought would be tiresome about it, especially the transition from handheld to TV mode, from two players to four, to one — it was all very seamless and intuitive. But there was one limitation that persisted in my head, the Nintendo Switch was not meant for “serious” gamers.
Boy, did I feel stupid about that assessment. The Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart 8 and Metroid Dread, alongside third-party titles like Hades, Hollow Knight and Nier: Automata were games that could give any player hundreds of hours of quality playtime. Alright fine, maybe it’s not for “serious” gamers (looking at the FromSoftware crowd here), but I would say the Switch was made for “classic” gamers with memories of the ‘900-in-1’ cartridge.
I thoroughly enjoyed riding the Rainbow Road, picking ice, getting into balloon fights and even listening to the sounds of nature from Stardew Valley soundtrack while my partner played the game (little did I know that having earned the 10 hearts from a villager, he had not only proposed to and married her, but also had a child with her!).
But his Stardew Valley family very soon became history because of a game that changed everything for me — Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I could go on and on about how much I love this game and why, but why type text when I got them receipts right here:
Would you look at that water-scaping? Stunning. This game carried me through good days and rough ones, especially during COVID-19… and the five years since. I credit the console for standing by me through this obsession.
Now, onto the successor. It seemed as though the first look at the Switch 2 introduced new hardware in the form of mainly cosmetic changes. I see that the Joy-Con wrist strappy things are still around, but I frankly don’t think I’ll ever be taking that extra precaution. As for the rest, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was left a bit underwhelmed by the console.
The big screen seems like it’s just going to weigh down the handheld experience. And while the all-black Joy-Cons with the subtle colour highlights do seem sleek and sophisticated, none of that is particularly exciting to me. It may elevate the experience, but probably not in ways that I value.
From what I can see so far, it’s all mostly the same, but slightly better, I guess. Not to mention what a total letdown it would be if certain Switch games are not fully compatible with Switch 2. One in particular. Or maybe things are going so well with Switch and me, that I really don’t want anything to change.
Having said that, I am looking forward to the Switch 2 because, you see, there’s this trust in Nintendo despite their trigger-happy legal teams. With the Switch, the company proved that playing to your weaknesses can be a winning brand strategy. They took ‘cutesy’ and they owned it, becoming the highest-selling gaming console in the United States, surpassing the PS2. Sorry, no more shop talk.
Back to the Switch 2, and I am convinced that the company is hiding features behind seemingly cosmetic upgrades. Maybe new ways of using the Joy-Con might become clearer in the upcoming Nintendo Direct showcase (April 2), who knows? I would be most disappointed if the company decides to change its own identity and ape the design language of other monochromatic, minimalist tech offerings that I’ve frankly had enough of.
So, while I welcome the new model, I hope that Nintendo stays true to its core competency of creative and imaginative gaming. And if you’re looking for the short answer, here it yes: Yes, I will be buying the Switch 2.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this guest post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Story Mode.
