Topic: Any idea when first game reviews will be released?

Anyone have an idea when the first full game reviews for the Switch are likely to come out?
I have preordered the console but no games yet, not a Zelda fan so want to see how the other games review before purchasing.

When the games come out.

Thank you, I'd hoped some gaming websites like IGN might review games in advance but never mind.

I don't know for sure, but I'm assuming the bulk of the reviews will come out after. IGN and such might do them beforehand, though.

You're gonna be in for a rough ride then, I seriously can't imagine myself pre-ordering a Switch without Zelda.

Usually the game review embargo is lifted two to three days before a game's release, so my guess is by March 1 you should start seeing some Switch game reviews. (And Zelda on Wii U.)

@jump Mario Kart awaits at the end of April, but I fear you may be right and I'll be using the virtual console till then.

@Icehockeyjoe there hasn't been any confirmation of a virtual console for the Switch yet as far as I know.

@Icehockeyjoe So you are not wanting Zelda. So in other words you're buying a Nintendo paperweight or dust collector.

@Tasuki pretty much! It will look lovely next to the SNES, N64 and Wii under the telly tho

@Icehockeyjoe There are a couple of ports coming to the Switch, I am Setsuna for example, you can look up reviews for those games since they already released on other consoles. Other than that, Snipperclips looks like fun game in my opinion. I don't think there are a lot of new exclusive Switch games available at launch anyway, so your best bet is to read the reviews of those games on other systems. I doubt the Switch version will be much different.

If it helps, I can tell you that NL will give the following scores:

Zelda = 10

Arms = 9 (though this is tough to call due to the lack of gameplay variety seen so far, it's just hitting people in various different ways as far as I've seen, so unless there are some other things to do, it might score less, but if it controls really well then the score might be bumped up - either way, the game looks great visually, and they'll want to be positive for the launch and new IP)

1, 2 Switch = 7 (for actual gameplay it doesn't deserve more than a 5, but the excitement over the HD Rumble and general Switch launch positivity will push it up)

@Icehockeyjoe Yeah, but I don't know, why not just wait to get it?

@Tasuki to be honest I am undecided. Will definitely want it for end of April and Mario Kart but was initially worried about stock shortages so thought I'd rather get for launch rather than struggle to get at end of April. Other main reason I'm buying is for the online play of SNES games as the SNES is my main console of choice at the moment, so I'll wait for more announcements on VC before deciding whether to keep my preorder or cancel.

@Icehockeyjoe Yeah, definitely wait for that announcement. We still have no idea what ''online play'' means for the NES and SNES games.

I've seen reviews as early as a week before a game releases. But as others have said, 2-3 days before is the common range.

But I'll say this: IF Zelda reviews incredibly well, I think Nintendo should allow the reviews to be released about a week before. Gotta stir up that frenzy, people.

@rallydefault How would Nintendo know what the reviews say when they aren't released yet though?

Bribes.

Yea. I used to write for a gaming website, and I can say that, generally, companies can at least get a good "feel" for how the reviews are going to treat their game. I'm not going into the whole "reviewers are bought" conspiracy, I'm just saying that people in the gaming industry are surprisingly connected and really know one another more than you may think. Nintendo will have a good idea of what some of the larger sites like IGN and Gamespot and Polygon will likely give Zelda before the NDA is lifted. (And I should include the Japanese sites/magazines as well, but I have zero experience with those, so yea. But I would think much the same concept.)

@Tsurii Matter of opinion. I had alot to do with the PS4 at launch. Where as with the Switch there is nothing for me.