Switch system.jpg

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:


Switchevent2.jpg

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.

Switch event1.jpg

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!