Topic: Is The Switch 2 Worth It???

@JaxonH
Very true, sadly.

To play devil's advocate: it is possible to have a reasonable opinion about a game you haven't played. After all, the alternative would be to suggest that the only way to know whether a game would be a waste of your money, is to first waste your money. "You didn't play it, why should we listen to you" is a valid response only to actual bad faith actors ( where there are plenty of more specific reasons to distrust and discount their words ), it doesn't actually work as a valid counterargument to a specific factual or logical claim. Is someone says Other M is bad because of the Hell Run, the fact that they haven't played it does not make the Hell Run cease to exist.

However, for that opinion to be worth respecting, it must be both accurate ( based on factual information about the game acquired with due diligence proportional to how certain you wish your opinion to be ), and clearly declared ( no directly or indirectly claiming to have more first hand knowledge than you actually do ). One should have a little caution in judging a thing they haven't played, precisely because you never can know things as thoroughly or as certainly as if you did play it. Sloppy fact-finding before deciding upon an opinion is bad, and deliberate concealment is much worse.

@metaphysician
To counter: simply because it sucks having to waste your money to find out you don’t enjoy a game doesn’t mean you don’t need to play a game before having a worthwhile opinion of it.

If it’s a genre or something you pretty much never enjoy then ok, whatever, you already know you’re not gonna buy it, but even then, if you don’t play it you can’t really speak to its quality. I don’t buy Madden games because I don’t like Madden games, but that doesn’t mean a particular Madden game isn’t good.

As a kid in the 80s and 90s, we just rented games and/or wasted our parents’ money to find out whether we liked a game or not lol

We all make opinions about whether we might like a game before we play it; it's part of how we decide whether to buy a particular game. However that opinion is generally/ideally based on:

1) personal preferences and personal history with similar games.
2) trustworthy second-hand information — watching game footage or reading reviews from people who played the game and are either people you know personally or are people known to be good at reviewing games such as (many) game journalists.

What is far less useful is third hand information — e.g. reading a 'meta' review based on someone else's opinion of what other reviewers wrote in other reviews; that's kind of like looking at metacritic scores but even less helpful since it is filtered through one person's personal biases.

I read about all types of games that I have never played, and probably will never play as long as they are not available on a Nintendo system. I might have an idea that a game is good or bad, based on my preferences and reviews that I read, but I wouldn't pretend to know about a game that I haven't played. Case-in-point - I read a lot about Undertale. Everything that I read about it screamed that it would be a game that I would adore. It really checks about every box that I am looking for in a game - it's unique, cool art style, funny, choices matter, a fun take on the RPG genre...the list could go on. Before playing, I would have probably claimed that it was one of the best RPGs in years and an excellent game.

Well, I own the game now - bought it a few years ago. I have tried, many many times to get into it. And I just can't. I end up dropping the game after a few hours, I just really do not like it. And it makes me so sad that it's not jiving with me... but it is not my game. Hopefully some day it clicks for me, because I would love to play it all the way through, and also get into Deltarune. I had a similar experience with Cave Story and Spelunky - 2 other highly regarded games that seemed perfect for me...and I just don't like them despite really trying to.

Why bring this up? Because sure, we can make opinions on games that we haven't played - but the personal experience matters. We can also become jaded by reading constant negativity (or positivity) about a game, even when playing it. Unless we actually experience the game ourselves, we are just sharing other's experiences...almost like an AI recapping a game based on what others have said.

With Metroid Prime 4 - I would have been pretty down on the game based on opinions I read and listened to. But having played it (at the end, almost beat it) - I can confidently say that it's in my top 5 2025 games. The things others have said that they don't like - I actually enjoy in the game. And there are so many other things about the game that I haven't read in people's reviews that I really love. The game is pretty linear in each region (that would be a huge negative for me - I love the complex interconnected levels and secrets) - the secrets are pretty basic...but none of that matters when the game comes together in such an incredible package (incredible to me, I understand if others do not like it).

I believe in researching games that you want to buy, read reviews, make decisions based on what you think you will like. But be careful making comments about things that you haven't experienced - or make it clear that you haven't actually played a game when giving an opinion, because I believe that personal experience matters a lot more than anything else.

Still waiting for an NSO Wii Remote Plus, Wireless Nunchuck(Both housing HD Rumble 2) and a wired USB Sensor Bar(Reference) to be used outside the NSO Wii service and to be made comaptible for titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Super Mario Galaxy 1+2, a future Pikmin 3 Port(Also running at 60fps + 1080p), LOZ: Zelda Skyward Sword HD, future Light gun titles, or stuff like Sin & Punishemnt: SS etc.

If not, I want Joy-Con 2 'Pro' controllers, with the same premium smooth gliding analog sticks, larger quality sized buttons(including shoulder) & comfort found with the Pro 2 Controller, including the right stick being placed diagonal to the B,A,X,Y buttons instead of being placed directly beneath them. Again, to replace the Wii remote & Nunchuck.

Other than that, I've got little to complain about. NS2 truly feels like a NextGen 'sequel' to NS1. And I'm fine with that this time around. PS4 Pro+ power(docked), Up to 4K, 120fps, HDR, HD Rumble 2, A Better Pro Controller, NS2 Editions & Updates, & Dual-Gyro-HD Rumble 2-Mouses...As long as you have quality mouse grip slot shells, even though they'll still never feel as ergonomic as an actual mouse with the JCN2's pointy slim pertruding shoulder buttons. Plus, i couldn't care less about having access to the buttons or stick that are planted on the side in mouse mode. Doesn't get any more awkward than that. All that matters are the top two buttons, and a 3rd placed on the left if it were actually comfortable to use.

All that's missing, aside from an A-tier Wii Remote plus & Nunchuck alternative/replacement, if you're a VR-goober head like me, is an optional Steam Frame-like VR headset using a 6GHZ wireless dongle connected to NS2, but with zero no stand alone tech-junk inside of it. Which would make it less expensive, and possibly smaller and Lighter. AS an optional side accessory, for those that want to play certain titles in VR be it Metroid Prime 4, Pokemon Snap!, or even '3rd' person VR modes for Kirby Air Riders, DK Bananza and the like.

I'm just repeating myself, but it would transform NS2 into a super hybrid > TV, Handheld, Table Top, VR & MR. Nobody has the right to complain because we get to play whatever said game the way we want to.

I also will say that playing a game sometimes make things made sense when from outside they seem... disparate? Like even on games where you can just watch the whole playthrough and everything, because when you are playing... it's just different.

Like for example (maybe this is a bad example), but like, watching Pokemon ZA didn't really look fun to me, but playing it was superb personally. Moving around, commanding the pokemon and so on. It feels harder than it looks... XD overall, you can only talk about impressions when watching and looking. Only after you play can you really cement your feelings one way or another

@Lazz
Yea, it’s pretty simple: you just gotta play a game if you’re really gonna know what it’s like.

Kind of in the same vein as what you said: I recently took a chance on Grand Bazaar even though it looked a little lackluster, and boom: I loved the heck out of it and did like 50 hours lol

With these types of questions it always comes down to the games.
For me there aren't any games I want on it currently.

But the moment a xenoblade, smash, SMT, or monster hunter (that actually runs well) drops on it I'm probalby going to get a Switch 2.

Just another thought for those on the edge: Really do consider Donkey Kong Bananza, especially now that the launch lineup has run its course and the holidays are here. I think Bananza has emerged as THE game on the system (though I expect MK World to grow in 2026). But for whatever reason, I think people are just saying "meh" to it and not giving it the respect they gave Odyssey. And I was sort of one of those people even after playing through it at first.

Weirdly it's another one of those games that I played through at launch and didn't think I really loved all that much, but now that I'm playing back through it and taking my time... it's so good and pretty ingenious in its gameplay loop. When I've slowed down, I've realized how the game gives you lots of options to vary the loop at the right moments so it doesn't devolve into just smash-smash-smash like you might do if you're just going head-down to beat the game. Mine kart rides, 2D sections, barrel sections, rambi riding, etc. Doing more than the bare minimum in this one brings more variety, for sure.

It must be something with me and this particular dev team because I did the same thing with Odyssey. I played it at launch, just got the necessary moons and thought it was fine, but went back months later to get everything and found myself adoring it, mostly because you see a lot more and get a lot more gameplay variety when you expand your path.

But yea, Bananza is a special game. In my opinion, it's a system seller if you're any kind of platform or action/adventure fan. We all clamor for the awesome single-player experiences, but then we get one like this and say... it's not Mario.

You can play Switch1 games on Switch2 for boost and performance as they are patching and updating games for Switch2. Not sure what this really address besides I don't want to buy a Switch2 itself.

huh....all games regardless of platform will experience drops or lag.. This is Strawman debate...

@rallydefault,

"Just another thought for those on the edge: Really do consider Donkey Kong Bananza"

I have heard good things about Bananza. And I was considering eventually getting it for a while. But unfortunately I will have to pass because of lack of money and time (I'm still saving up for a Switch 2 itself as of right now), and not wanting to give Nintendo of America a ton of money still for... reasons. I'm most likely even skipping the next 3D Mario because of that. Right now, the only Switch 2 games I'm planning on getting throughout the Switch 2's lifespan are any mainline Pokémon games, any mainline Zelda games, the inevitable next Super Smash Bros., and Kirby Air Riders.

Though I'm not ruling out maybe buying a cheap used physical copy of Bananza 10+ years in the future, especially if the Switch 2 ends up being my last Nintendo console. And since I will just skip the DLC for it, all of the game content that my copy of the game will have will be completely on the cartridge, so I will gladly buy it physical.

@Nep-Nep-Freak
Those are certainly some long-term plans.

I would suggest being a bit more flexible, but I’m just a random person on the internet.

For what it’s worth, it’s one of the top games of all time in the genre, in my opinion.

I think had DK Bananza come out last year and gone head-to-head with Astro Bot it might’ve been in more “game of the year” discussions.

Defo one of the best 3D platformers of the generation and IMO a consideration in best 3D platformers of all time.

I’m almost tempted to rank it above Odyssey. DK just controls like a dream…although I do think Odyssey has overall better level design.

Hardware exists to sell software, it's common sense. The performance patches and backwards compatability is great but new games are going to be selling console sales. Good for you I guess? But you don't speak for everyone so I don't want the point of that statement was, this thread isn't catering to you, everyone is just sharing their thoughts on the topic.

Yeah this reply wasn't as smart as you thought it was. Ports on certain consoles are going to perform better than others and it isn't uncommon for a port to be botched.
Are you just arguing for the sake of it?

@iLikeUrAttitude
That's a perfectly normal stance many besides just you share, but personally I have a unique perspective.

Unless I genuinely question whether I will ever want to own a system, I buy day one. Reason being, I know for a fact I'm going to need one for multiple top-shelf games, be it today or tomorrow or some future day. So why wait. Unless waiting will save some significant amount of money, which is almost never the case. At best I might save an extra $50 waiting half a decade. And to me, gaining 4-5 extra years of use is worth far more than $50 to me.

So I say to myself ok, you're 100% for sure going to buy one at some point, so... what do I gain by waiting? Nothing, really. Now, what do I lose by waiting? Well, years of extra use for my money. If I wait 5 years and then buy anyways, I just lost 5 full years of fun and enjoyment for nothing. Why not get it right away and benefit from that extra 4-5 years of fun, since I'm buying it regardless anyways.

Plus there are several games already I really wanted to play (Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bonanza, Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave, Metroid Prime 4 in 4k 60fps) and actually getting games like Zelda BotW, Zelda TotK, Zelda Link's Awakening, Zelda Echoes of Wisdom in playable 60fps frame rates with UHD resolution, not to mention my entire Switch library running without frame drops or dynamic resolution drops, like Monster Hunter Stories 2 finally running locked 1080p 60fps in hybrid format, and Trials Rising finally running without frame drops since it doesn't run at all on Steam Deck, Ni No Kuni 2 and DQ Builders 2 and Bayonetta 3 all running locked 60fps, etc.

I just figure there's no possible future where I don't end up buying this system. So why cheat myself out of years of enjoyment for nothing? Get it asap to squeeze as much bang for buck out of that purchase as possible.

I don’t have a Switch 2 yet don’t know if I will ever have one. Right now I have a OLED and I love it. So in my opinion the switch 2 is not really anything important at this time.

Valve just discontinued the cheapest model of the Steam Deck, so that puts the Switch 2 a hundred bucks below what now becomes the entry level model. Granted, it's an OLED with more storage, but the Switch 2 now enjoys a considerable price advantage over handhelds of comparable power. There are some cheaper Android-based ones that have much weaker GPUs, but that's about it.

It's only $50 more than the only cheaper mainstream home console - the Series S - after Microsoft's price rises too. All PS5 models now have higher list prices too, although Sony are more likely to offer short-term discounts.

Given the current market conditions, a price rise from Nintendo wouldn't be out of the question, of course. Still, while it might not have seemed a particularly competitive price at launch, it's looking more like it now.

@Matt_Barber
In retrospect, they played the price thing fairly well. All of these companies knew what was coming.

While a perfectly reasonable and defensible position, I would suggest a couple flipside-of-the-coins:

1. 'What do you gain from delaying a console purchase'? The big one is flexibility- you keep the money you would have spent on it in your pocket. This extra marginal cash means more options when faced with unexpected expenses both bad ( medical bills ) and good ( surprise live shows ). This isn't an infinite value ( at least if you are properly budgeting ), but it does mean you should be comparing the entertainment value of a new console vs the non-zero value of the cash.

2. 'What do you lose for delaying the purchase of a console'? Hypothetically speaking, you lose the opportunity to play whatever games said console requires. . . but. This should not be viewed as the total "value" of each such game you are forgoing. . . because unless that new console is your only source of games? You would instead be playing different games on the current platform you already own.

Basically, your fundamental logic isn't wrong, but when doing the cost-benefit analysis I recommend that people be careful to not accidentally measure vs a competing value of "zero" that isn't actually zero.