We went to Paris to try out the Nintendo Switch 2
We got to test Nintendo’s new console at a preview event in Paris. Here are the things we loved about the handheld hybrid, as well as the things we weren’t quite so keen on.
For English subtitles, click the gear icon, «Subtitles/CC» and «Auto-translate».Shortly after the Switch 2’s big reveal, Phil and I managed to get our hands on Nintendo’s next-gen hardware. We put the console through its paces at a preview event in Paris and tested numerous Switch 2 games.
Here’s a roundup of the biggest revelations and yet-unanswered questions.
The Switch 2 is seriously big
When I picked up the Switch 2 for the first time, I was struck by the size of it. Compared to the original Switch, the successor is ginormous. As someone with large hands, it was the perfect size for me. However, it could prove problematic for kids or folks with small hands.
Check out these photos comparing it with the original Switch, the OLED version and the Switch Lite:
The Switch OLED vs. the Switch 2"]]
The console feels like an expensive piece of kit. It’s solidly made and looks really stylish with its black cover and splashes of colour under the analogue sticks. The stand feels considerably more stable and flexible than the OLED model’s one. I don’t think the original’s puny stand even merits a comparison.
The display is impressive – even though it’s «just» LCD
Many Nintendo fans were disappointed when it was revealed at the Direct presentation that the Switch 2 would be given an LCD screen over an OLED one. But let me reassure you – the display won me over after I had tried the console in handheld mode a few times.
With popping colours and a razor-sharp picture, it makes an excellent first impression. Some games, including Mario Kart World, also make use of the display’s high refresh rate (120 hertz). Standing in some areas at the preview event, however, I found myself wishing the screen were a little brighter. Under the glare of the exhibition hall lights, a lot of reflections appeared on the display. Having said that, I don’t want to draw a definitive conclusion on the display brightness just yet. It’s possible that not all the consoles were set to the maximum brightness level.
New Joy-Con features: gimmick or sustainable innovation?
The new Joy-Con controllers aren’t just larger. They also boast new features, most notably mouse control. If you detach and turn the little controllers on their side, you can use them like a mouse.
We tested the feature while playing Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Drag X Drive, Super Mario Party Jamboree and other games. You’ll find more detail on how mouse control features in them later on. The bottom line is: it works. Astoundingly well, in fact. The mouse sensors react to input quickly and precisely.
Other gimmicks such as the rumble function and built-in motion sensor also make the Joy-Con mouse feel very different to a conventional PC mouse. Its only drawback? After playing for just a few minutes, I noticed how unnaturally my hands were positioned on the upturned controllers. The more chaotic the game, the more I tensed up. Every so often, I accidentally pressed the wrong button because I didn’t know where to put my fingers. We’ll see whether this was down to a general issue with the controllers or just my being unaccustomed to them.
The new HD Rumble 2 motors are supposedly even more precise than their predecessors. In my gaming sessions, I felt an improvement. Probably because mouse controls featured heavily in many of the demo games. Even as I was scrolling through menus, I could feel little vibrations giving me feedback. Overall, I’d say Sony’s Dualsense controller still has a bit of an edge when it comes to vibration functions.
Nintendo has also reworked the buttons on the Joy-Con. They feel much softer to press, but are just as precise. The controller’s fun to use. I like the sticks too – the mere fact that they’re significantly larger than the ones on the old Joy-Con is enough to get a thumbs-up from me. Nintendo says they’re more precise and more durable. However, it’s unclear whether they’re Hall effect sticks.
The new Pro controller is close to perfection
I fell in love with the new Switch 2 Pro controller. At first glance, the new version looks really similar to the Switch 1 Pro controller. I didn’t notice the differences until I picked it up and started using it.
The analogue sticks are particularly impressive – they move with unbelievable flow. I didn’t feel the slightest resistance as I was gaming. It was as if someone had smeared the sticks with butter. I don’t know what kind of magic Nintendo has worked here, but I love it. Again, it’s unclear whether the Pro controller has Hall effect sticks.
The buttons also feel much softer. The digital directional pad seems to have been completely revamped and appears more accurate. Given how much I hated the imprecision of the old Pro controller’s D-pad, this is a good thing. Another new addition is the two buttons on the back of the controller. They’re perfectly positioned; I easily managed to reach them with my ring fingers. I think it’s a shame that Nintendo has decided to stick with digital triggers instead of going for analogue ones. Basically, you press the triggers like buttons instead of pressing them down in stages like you can on the PS5, for example.
The games we tested
We didn’t just use the Paris preview event to check out the hardware. Naturally, we spent plenty of time gaming. Here’s our roundup of the most exciting games.
Mario Kart World is the Switch 2’s killer app
Most of the event’s gaming stations were dedicated to Mario Kart World. Nintendo’s well aware that the racing game will be the reason many fans will buy the Switch 2. Phil and I sped through several laps of the new open-world Mario Kart and adored it.
We started off with a typical Grand Prix consisting of individual races. In the character selection, I noticed you could choose between different outfits for many of the characters. However, nobody wanted to tell us how that would affect gameplay. I went for Donkey Kong, while Phil chose a new character: the cute, chubby cow from Moo Moo Farm.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t choose our own gameplay settings. We were forced to play in 100 CCM mode with a bunch of driving aids, which was a pity. Despite these constraints, Mario Kart World had me hooked from the moment the first race started. It felt surreal to see 24 drivers on the track at the same time. Pure mayhem. Awesome.
I got off to a brilliant start, but Phil managed to oust me from the top spot shortly before the finish line. «No wonder,» one of the promoters said, «He was playing as the cow, wasn’t he? The cow always wins.»
In our second gaming session, we tried out Knockout mode. Think of it as a battle royale in the Mario Kart universe. Races start off with 24 drivers. Every time you hit the home stretch, the four worst players are eliminated. This goes on until there are four left to battle it out for victory at the end. Since Mario Kart World has a large, connected open world, there are no breaks between the tracks. Once you cross the finish line on one track, you drive seamlessly onto the next. You alternate between stress, panic and euphoria within a matter of seconds. As a result, World feels fundamentally different from its predecessor despite having similar gameplay and controls.
The game’s graphics are also pretty decent, if unspectacular. Rather than putting the Switch 2’s additional power into fancy graphic effects, Nintendo has used it on the open-world design. It was cool to see so much going on away from the tracks. And nice to know you have the option of exploring the entire game world in Free Roam mode. What’s more, it’s impressive that the game runs totally smoothly in split-screen mode. When I play Mario Kart 8: Deluxe locally with friends, I really feel the drop to 30 fps.
If you want to find out more about Mario Kart World, I’d recommend the detailed analysis and summary of the gameplay clips demonstrated so far by my fellow editor Debora:
Donkey Kong Bananza
This was one of my favourite games shown at the preview event. Playing as Donkey Kong, you get to explore extensive levels and destroy everything. This game doesn’t look particularly impressive either. Similar to Mario Kart World, the power of the Switch has been used for new, impressive gameplay possibilities instead of flashy graphics. I noticed a few stutters when I tried it out, especially when the camera moved quickly. Mind you, there’s still a little time to iron out the technical issues before release.
As the angry monkey, you can basically punch your way through every wall and down into the ground. You can pull chunks of rock out of the ground and walls and throw them, causing even more destruction. However, that only works if the larger rock you’re hitting with the projectile is softer than the chunk you’ve grabbed. If you destroy too much, you can reset the level and start again from scratch.
There are chests and other secrets buried in the earth all over the place. You can occasionally throw explosive rocks for an extra hit of destruction. Plus, you get to hurtle down mountains on torn-out boulders, snowboard style.
Would I have preferred a new 3D Mario? Sure. But Donkey Kong Bananza is an outstanding substitute. With its completely destructible environment, it feels very next-gen.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Switch 2 Edition
As a big Metroid Prime fan, I’m stoked for the fourth part of the series. In Paris, I got to play a short level of it involving shooting down a bunch of space pirates and a nasty boss. And what can I say? It feels like classic Metroid Prime gameplay. Maybe even a little too classic? For some reason, I was missing that «wow» factor; the feeling that I was playing a completely new Metroid Prime. I hope Nintendo will still surprise us with a few gameplay twists.
I played the demo using the Joy-Con controllers’ new mouse feature – almost as if I were playing a shooter on the PC. With the left Joy-Con, I told bounty hunter Samus Aran which direction to run. Meanwhile, I moved the right Joy-Con over a mouse mat on the table to change her line of vision. Though the mouse controls work well, my hands cramped up after a few minutes. An upside-down Joy-Con controller is just not as ergonomic as a mouse.
In the Switch 2 edition of the game, you can choose between two graphics modes: 4K at 60 fps or 1080p at 120 fps. For the demo, I was only able to select the second option. Compared to the Switch 1 version of the game (which I’ve only ever seen in trailers), the game looks much sharper and runs pleasingly smoothly – even when there’s a lot happening on screen.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Switch 2 Edition
Tears of the Kingdom looks much nicer on the Switch 2 than on the Switch 1. When I tried it, the game ran smoothly the whole time, and had a higher resolution. I tested the new edition on both the TV and in handheld mode, and loved the end result in both scenarios. Breath of the Wild has been given the same upgrade, but we didn’t test it.
The only downer is that the upgrade is fairly expensive. If you own the original game, it’ll cost you around 20 francs or euros. Alternatively, the Switch 2 Edition is available as a standalone game at full price. It’s still unclear whether this technical overhaul will make paying for the upgrade worthwhile.
Drag X Drive
This is another game that makes uses of mouse controls. It’s basically a wheelchair basketball game involving robots. I played it with both hands on the table, a Joy-Con mouse in each one. If you push both Joy-Con mice forward at the same time, your character rolls forwards. If you move just one controller, you can turn. When you push, the controllers vibrate slightly so that you feel like you’re turning wheels with spokes.
You play in teams of three with the aim of scoring as many baskets as possible. You shoot by moving your hand in the direction of the hoop. This may sound easy, but in reality, it’s seriously tiring. My hands cramped up like they did during Metroid Prime 4. I couldn’t figure out how best to hold the Joy-Con controllers. I found myself constantly repositioning them in the heat of the moment, unable to find a grip that really suited me.
Even so, I have to admit that the two Drag X Drive matches I played were a lot of fun. Crashing into other players at full throttle, stealing the ball and then scoring a basket with a well-aimed shot is awesome. However, I doubt the game will be able to hold my interest in the long run. In many ways, it feels like the Switch 1 launch game Arms – a title designed to showcase a new feature/gimmick of the console.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Speaking of games designed to showcase a new feature, I also tested the glorified tech demo Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour at the event. In this «game», you play as a mini character running through the Switch 2 and completing quizzes and minigames along the way. All of these quizzes and minigames are connected to the features of the console.
Sometimes you have to guess how many frames per second an object is moving at, sometimes you have to survive a bullet hell minigame using the mouse controls. It’s actually a great idea. The only downer is that the game isn’t pre-installed on the Switch 2, and is only available as a paid download. This is a baffling decision on Nintendo’s part; I couldn’t imagine a better way to introduce and promote the console’s new features.
Super Mario Party Jamboree – Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV
In the Switch 2 edition of this party game, new Jamboree TV minigames make use of the Switch 2’s separately available camera and microphone.
Phil and I teamed up for four games that had us jerking around like string puppets. As contestants in the Jamboree TV game show hosted by Bowser himself, we stacked Goombas on our heads, punched «?» blocks and screamed like crazy to try to be louder than our opponents. Between the minigames, the camera meant we could see ourselves in the virtual audience of Bowser’s show.
It’s a nice addition to the main game, reminiscent of the bygone era of Eye Toy. But you shouldn’t expect much more than that.
In addition to the camera minigames, a number of games make use of the mouse function. It’s particularly cool when the mouse sensor is combined with the gyroscope in the Joy-Con controllers. The feature comes to the fore in a minigame where you drag and rotate Tetris-like building blocks to build the tallest tower possible. Granted, it’s nothing earth-shattering, but it’s a nice demo.
We also played these third-party games
In addition to trying all the Nintendo titles, we also managed to carve out some time to test third-party games.
Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut is a remake of the 2015 Yakuza prequel. As you’d expect, the graphics look unspectacular on the Switch 2, but the game runs very smoothly. Rather than spending time on improving performance or adding new graphical features, developer studio RGG has opted for new content and cutscenes. Playing a Yakuza game on a Nintendo console feels surreal. I’m looking forward to the game, which will initially be released exclusively on the Switch.
Meanwhile, Phil tried out Civilization VII. He noticed the game stuttered in some situations, but couldn’t find fault with the graphics. There’s been a big improvement compared to the Switch 1 version in that department. The cool thing? Depending on which way Phil held the Joy-Con, the game would automatically switch back and forth between mouse- and handheld controls. Whenever he put the controller down on the table, it activated mouse control. When he picked it up, the feature was deactivated.
We also briefly played Cyberpunk 2077. In the first few seconds, I was shocked at how slowly the game seemed to be running. I mused to myself that it looked like slow motion. After taking a few minutes to get used to it, I realised there was nothing wrong with the game. It’s just that I’d seen too many games running at a buttery-smooth 60 or 120 fps in the past. Cyberpunk 2077 runs at 30 fps in handheld mode and up to 40 fps in TV dock mode. The game’s graphics look impressive, but there are some trade-offs to playing on the Switch 2. Compared to the PC version or stationary consoles, the picture looks blurrier, especially in TV mode. According to CD Project Red, the demo we tried out was an early playable build. The final product will run better and look nicer.
Initial verdict: I’m looking forward to the Switch 2 release
I left the preview event feeling positive about a lot of things. With the Switch 2, Nintendo has made a huge leap forward from the Switch 1. The hardware feels future-proof in many respects – from the display, the build quality and the magnetic Joy Con controllers to the graphical power of the console.
I was most impressed by Mario Kart World with its open game world and 24 simultaneous drivers. Donkey Kong Bananza also made a strong impression with its «destroy everything» gameplay.
I’m not sure how often I’ll use the new features, even though I enjoyed using the mouse controls in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. There’s a good chance I’ll be spending most of my Switch 2 gaming time with the near-perfect Pro controller.
More photos from the event
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Domagoj Belancic
Senior Editor
Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.chMy love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.
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