Whilst we're counting down the final two weeks before the Nintendo Switch launches on March 3rd, Nintendo has been hosting special hands-on events in which the public can get their first experiences with the console and several of its games. We managed to grab ourselves some tickets for the first of the three Manchester dates in the UK, so that we could pass on all the juicy details to you lovely lot.
The games on offer were The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS, 1-2-Switch and Snipperclips, and whilst these have already been showcased at similar events such as the premiere in January, they are nevertheless worth another look. We've already shared our early impressions with these (click the links below if you're interested) so we'll move on to the event itself.
First Impressions:
Fans were eagerly lining up outside the entrance to the event before doors opened and there was an early buzz in the air. People of all ages had come to see the new console in action and the staff on hand were great at generating excitement amongst attendees. Upon arrival, players were given an allocated time slot to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (presumably to ensure that everyone could have a turn and be able to play other titles whilst they wait rather than standing in line for the entire evening) and each of the six games had their own sections of the floor dedicated to them.
Early on, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Splatoon 2 seemed to be drawing the most attention from the audience, but this eventually evened out and many people managed to get their hands on most, if not all, of the six games. Whilst not always attracting many players, 1-2-Switch seemed to be getting the most laughs and had people coming away talking about the Joy-Cons in a very positive light, perhaps what you may expect considering its potential for showing off the console's features.
Interestingly, all control methods were shown off throughout the games, allowing players to get a feel for each different combination. 1-2-Switch and ARMS had you holding the Joy-Cons in each hand of course, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was played with eight players each holding a console in handheld mode, Snipperclips was presented in tabletop mode, Splatoon 2 made use of the Joy-Con grip and finally Breath of the Wild was initially presented with the Pro Controller, although players were encouraged to try removing the console from the dock and trying it out in handheld mode too. Whilst the Pro Controller was an extremely comfortable, nicely weighted controller with superior sticks and buttons, it was great to contrast this against the feeling of the Joy-Con grip, which in this writer's opinion was actually just as comfortable.
Have you been to, or are you going to any of these hands-on events in the UK or equivalents around the world? Or are you waiting to hold your very own Nintendo Switch for the first time? Let us know in the comments!
Comments 53
At least it's not the only game not worth paying for in Manchester...amirite?
Anyway, good times for anyone heading that way.
Hi, we were there today, agree about the joy con grip preferred this to the pro grip actually, Mario Kart was cool, Zelda was excellent, Splatoon 2 excellent, but Snipperclips was the most fun, whilst the 1-2 Switch Quick Draw and Marble Game showed the HD Rumble possibilities - Excellent event and built up our hype for launch day on March 3rd
Can someone please tell me if Quick Draw is as anticlimactic as it appears. Is there a big noise from the console? Post-shot analysis? Is it tense? Can you miss altogether? Just looks a little flat is all.
Any chance Nintendo could come to Dublin? Nope! They never do.
1-2-Switch has a weird micro transaction scheme. It's completely, 100% playable without using them, but they enhance the gameplay a bit.
Also, they're pay what you want.
I went to the one in Chicago last night and it was a lot of fun. I was really impressed with the HD Rumble, and Snipperclips was a TON of fun.
@Super_Conzo
"Can someone please tell me if Quick Draw is as anticlimactic as it appears. Is there a big noise from the console? Post-shot analysis? Is it tense? Can you miss altogether? Just looks a little flat is all."
From what ive seen. the console says fire and the first person to aim (correctly) and fire wins. after both shots have been made the screen then shows the angle of the shot and the timing of the shot. a shot too high or into the dirt will miss.
As I was saying, the pro controller is the most useless piece of kit available.
I was supposed to go to the event in birmingham but didnt as i wanted to wait to have the switch myself. i will be having a 1 2 switch party at mine come midnight on launch haha
Looks too much like coerced fun.
I got to try out the Switch at the Chicago event here in the US. I still can't believe how light the Switch is, I was expecting it to be heavier than it was.
to all those that have played the switch. is the HD rumble noticable at all? its one of the aspects im looking most forward too
Still baffled by the decision to only have 3 closed door events to try out the console before launch. Not even anywhere outside England, either. One of the best things about the Wii and DS marketing was putting booths in shopping centres and letting passers by see it in action and get curious to try it themselves. I believe the 3DS had closed door events on it's pre-launch tour too, didn't it? Look how the public bought into that concept from the off...
@Mega_Yarn_Poochy i dont know of youre joking or not? Have they really included micro transactions?
Looking forward to the London event; I'm very glad to hear you get given a time for Zelda, that sounds like a much better system than an hour's queueing. (I hope they keep it for London!)
@erv Yes it is the joy cons in the grip were much better and I used the motion controls on Splatoon 2 with this with no problems whatsoever, so glad I ordered and extra pair of joy-cons rather than the Pro controller
@doctorzzim That's cool, thanks for sharing. 1-3 is still impressive. I'm not sure I could differentiate well using real marbles (except based on overall weight, but the rumble can't mimic that). If you're right about it being a learned skill that's even better.
@Franklin - "Looks too much like coerced fun."
Exactly. At the UK launch event they took our phones, photos of loved ones and house keys off us. We were herded into a room, to the sound of Isabelle ordering over the P. A. "Attention residents, you **will** have fun".
No, hold on, what actually happened was we wondered around, chatting to the smiling, enthusiastic demonstrators, having conversations and laughs and playing games.
Those demonstrators deserve medals, apart from two exceptions at the end of the day they never flagged, were genuinely into the whole thing and showing Switch off.
Noticeable also, that I didn't hear one negative comment from any of the other guests about Switch or the games. Obviously we were all Nintendo fans, but even so, the games, the pleasure in them was the important thing. And the games are good, the Switch is a really good thing.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE - "Any chance Nintendo could come to Dublin? Nope! They never do."
Maybe because they know where you live?
Aw excellent hope everyone going, or getting to go has a great time. Exciting!
I was at the Hammersmith event in January. And I've read a LOT of threads, here and elsewhere, about the Switch. I have not seen one person who has actually held a Switch and played a game on it write anything at all negative about it. Not one. Plenty of negative stuff from people who haven't, but not a single negative from anyone who has actually spent any time with an actual Switch console.
I hope Nintendo get demo Switch consoles into stores asap at, or preferably just before, launch. This thing really has to be experienced to be appreciated.
I'm going to the London event next week on Sunday. I can't wait!! And lucky for me a few days ago... I was in my local game store buying an xbox one game and behind the counter I saw a NES mini for £50 brand new, I was soo surprised and I got it instantly!
@Pinkman I was making a bad joke. Alcoholic beverages are the microtransactions.
@Mega_Yarn_Poochy
Macro in my case.
@123akis excellent! Have fun
@Mii_duck
Ah well, if employees were paid to demonstrate 'passion' and provide 'quality service' then it must be good.
"People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people Jeremy."
-Super Hans
@Franklin - That makes no sense.
Are they supposed to employ people who don't like Nintendo and make it a drab experience?
Maybe they recruited people who like Nintendo to be demonstrators, offered the job to people who are genuine fans of the games- crazy idea I know.
Still, you keep on commenting about something you have no first hand knowledge or experience of, that's what makes the Internet go round.
@AlternateButtons Sony have held many an event here.
Glad to hear the Joycon Grip works. I was worried about that.
The positive vibes are making this hype train hit new levels.
Prepare for the Switchening
-13 days remain.
Anyone who played 1-2 switch, does it use the HD rumble? And how does it feel?
@dkjc2017
Can u tell me more about that HD rumble? How it felt? Next to normal rumble
@The-Chosen-one
I've not played on the switch but I know 1,2 switch is one of the only games to actually use HD rumble. It's supposed to be very accurate for example there's a game where you hold the controller in your hand and tilt it to roll balls around in the controller ( using the HD rumble) the aim of the game is to guess how many balls are inside the joy-cons. There's also a safe cracking game where you turn a dial until it unlocks. Apparently you can feel the difference between the tiny clicks and an unlocking click
Here's ball count
https://youtu.be/JNR2aTOHLYw
Since it looks like my taxes will be back next week and I have the system and Zelda special edition already paid off I think I will grab 1-2-Switch and Snipperclips around launch as well. Need to feel the HD rumble and it will be fun with may family.
@Mega_Yarn_Poochy Well thats my kind of micro transaction.
@The-Chosen-one The HD rumble was fantastic with the marble game you could actually feel the marbles rolling around! on Quick Draw it was more typical rumble, and similar with Mario Kart. Only had 5-10 minutes on each game but can certainly see the potential for games i the future
I went to the Birmingham event last week and it was great to see the console working and to experience the different configurations.
Whilst I was very impressed with the three games I tried (Zelda, Mario Kart and Splatoon), I was a little disappointed with the HD Rumble on all 3. I know that 1 2 Switch is the showcase for the feature, but I would have expected a new experience regarding rumble in those 3 games too. The rumble was no different to my PS4 controllers, in fact it was a little less intense, even when sliding in Mario Kart.
@Talkshowhost yes the HD rumble hasnt been utilised in them 3 games.
@dkjc2017
Tnx for the reply, sounds awesome!
@Franklin I'm a big Nintendo fan and have my pre-order in, but I have to agree with this here sentiment, looks very coerced.
Seriously, what do you people want?
It was a free event, you got to choose which games you played, if any. You had to join a small queue for most games but not all.
Sometimes you'd get chatting in the queue to other guests - or to the demonstrators who were just walking around. I had a few chats with the demonstrators about old games, games they grew up with - not preaching from a crib sheet, it was sharing memories. Gamer memories.
At one point I heard one of the demonstrators talking behind me with a Nintendo employee who was touring around, about wanting to get into 'the business'.
The Nintendo woman mentioned she had worked on the translation side in various countries, so I had to say hello cos I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the translation in Bravely and Dragon's Quest.
(Plus she had amazing buttocks like two Volkswagen Beetles fighting over a parking space, but that's another story).
Bravely and DQ weren't in house translations - but my point is everyone was a gamer. There was no coercion. Just people playing games, enjoying the free chance to do so with enthusiastic demonstrators, no pressure to buy... just a really fun time.
And free burger, chips and drinks for all you freebie fans.
Seriously, where is the coercion in that? Free games and food, no hard sell or indeed any sell... Yet Nintendo still got it wrong?
@ThanosReXXX put it best on another thread when he mentioned everyone who has had hands-on experience of the Switch was really positive, the only moaning ninnies were those who had yet to experience it.
It seems the same can now be said of the launch events.
@Pazuzu666 @Franklin "coerced". You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
coerce, verb
past tense: coerced; past participle: coerced
persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats.
Nope, no coercion. Just a bunch of knowledgeable, enthusiastic people demonstrating great games on a great console.
@Franklin You go to parties? I am surprised.
I went to the Nintendo event today with my brother nephews and I have to say I'm even more hyped for the system.. it's going to be a long 2 week wait. I enjoyed all the games on show and even enjoy 1-2 Switch.. I was majorly impressed with ARMS and I can see there is depth to this game.. so will be be getting that when it lands.. Zelda was amazing and switching it in and out of the dock silky smooth..
The events sound awesome
I went to the Birmingham event. Played Zelda, Mario Kart and 1-2 Switch. Zelda ran smooth and will be as expected. Looks like a larger focus on loot and cooking, with enemies dropping ingredients and clothing items able to be mixed and matched. Mario Kart was Mario Kart, but worked well over 8 Player LAN with four additional bots.
The HD rumble was excellent. Played the marble guessing game. What sold me on it was when sliding the "marbles" to one end of the joycon, you could gently shake them to make them jump up again, as if you were holding a tube of marbles vertically. Pretty decent. Overall, no surprises. If you didn't make it to one of these, you are probably no less clued up.
Nice write-up. was tempted to go to one of these events but in the end figured that since I've got one pre-ordered, I might as well wait just a little longer until release to experience it fresh at my own pace.
And while I know Zelda is the #1 game I'm going to be playing...I'm also weirdly excited about 1-2 Switch and really can't wait to play it. Have a feeling it's going to be something I bring out when I have friends over (who are mostly non-gamers), looks like a real laugh.
I was at the Manchester event, the allotted time slots for playing Legend of Zelda was good as it gave everyone a chance to play it although you only had 10mins of play time, but after everyone had played it it was opend up and you then had 20mins to play it. The joy-cons were surprisingly comfortable, my only criticism is that the buttons were a bit to small for my thumbs, when playing Mariokart I was accidentally hitting the b button when trying to accelerate. Overall had a great time trying out all the games and it helped me to decide on a couple I wasn't sure I would like but will now get.
@DizziParadise what, are we talking semantics here? I've a Switch pre-ordered, can't wait, but these events are (obviously) PR as opposed to previews/reviews we will be seeing March 1st - 3rd.
@Pazuzu666 The event may be PR in that it is a public relations exercise, in order to get the console into the hands of fans so they can try it for themselves. I was lucky enough to be one of those fans. I am not in PR, for Nintendo or anyone else. I'm just a gamer. I loved the thing. I am not being paid to say that, or to give my opinion. So in that sense, those of us who have been to one of the events and tried the console and the games are not PR. We are not journalists. But we are, unanimously (as far as I can see) all saying the Switch is a great console.
On the other hand, the previews and reviews you will be seeing March 1st-3rd will mostly be written by people who are paid for their opinion. You decide which one is a PR opinion, and which one is the opinion of an average gamer, and which one you give more weight to.
I choose the other hand. I myself wouldn't be immune to falling into the hands of perfectly orchestrated PR and perhaps convincing myself I had a better time than genuinely took place. That's why I'll always favour independent reviewers other than sometimes gushing fan boys - myself included. Like I say, I have one pre-ordered and can't wait to give it a hands on, play some games and see why unfolds this year regarding software, yet these events (for me) reflect little.
@Franklin @Pazuzu666 That "coerced" photo you're talking about? That's of me. I'm with my best friend, surrounded by people who are passionate about the same thing I am, playing a game that's not out yet on a console I'm immensely excited for. I'm having fun. And the laughter on my best friend's face is genuine. We didn't even know a photo was being taken at that exact moment. But yeah, fine, it's all a PR stunt and I'm too stupid to realise that I've been forced into it and I'm not actually having fun(!)
@gamermole I'll agree with that for now. I ordered another set of joy-con and a grip so I have 2 full featured controllers and 4 if needed in a pinch for some party gaming.
However, I definitely see myself wanted a pro controller once the Virtual Console is up an running, especially if my library carries over (Or at the very least, they promise it carries over from this point forward) because the D-pad will be so much better than the buttons on the joy-con.
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