Topic: Nintendo Switch 2

@rallydefault
To be fair, buying a console at launch is always a dumb move. You're a beta tester for the hardware, pricing and everything else. Then in addition to that not only do the system defining games not yet exist but you're also taking a gamble on long term support. And the software and accessories that do are all at launch prices. So I would say all of who have one already aren't making the smart play

But it always gets better over time as the software comes in. Even Wii U got to the point where, if not for the imminent Switch launch, I would comfortably have recommended it. 2015 Wii U was a pretty decent platform for Nintendo exclusives. I think in the case of Switch 2, I'm fairly confident in that bet will pay off very quickly

@skywake
Id only say its a dumb move for those with misaligned expectations.

For me it was a smart move. I know for a fact, there's no scenario on this Earth where I don't end up with this system in my hands. So why would I wait. Plus with prices raising lately, it's probably more of a dumb move to hold off, because chances are it's just gonna cost more down the line.

Given the success of it's predecessor and the quality of the game library.
One can easily estimate the expected quality of the library that will amass over the coming years. Even just knowing how it runs Switch 1 games better at 60fps is enough to make it worth its price out the gate.

Now, if someone buys one on a gamble that a certain amount of games will release within a certain amount of time, or a specific game is going to be announced without knowing whether or not it actually will... yeah that's probably not the smartest play. But if you know what you're getting, there's no risk involved.

That said, there's a number of people I see with misaligned expectations and those people definitely should have just waited, and spare me from the videos whinging about how Game XYZ wasn't announced at the latest Keighly showcase.

A few hours ago I was excited for Indiana Jones since I heard good stuff about it, then I found out it's mainly first person and have no choice but to deflate (I have really bad motion sickness that even stuff like Witcher 3 or DQ 11 S activates, so first person is just fully out)

@darkfenrir
That's a shame. Some of the best games Ive played have been in 1st person perspective. Metroid Prime trilogy, Portal 1 and 2, Wolfenstein New Colossus, DOOM Eternal and, Indiana Jones.

Its not always my preference but for some games it just works. Shame you cant play certain games, that really sucks.

@JaxonH yeah me too it's not like I don't want to try them out, but you can't just... Play 10 minutes and stop for a long while. Like a big example of game I really want to try is Edith Finch and the first person just ruins it for me... Very unfortunate.

I know this vid is a few months old and they're a dime a dozen at this point, look for anyone who hasn't seen that just how well Switch 2 transforms the Switch library, skim through the games showcased here and notice how they all jump to a locked 60fps. Games that fluctuated on Switch, some 20-30fps others 25-45fps. All of them a flatline at 60fps. And this is just a small sample. The entire library is practically like this, although many are hard capped at 30fps. But even then performance is fixed, and it's a flat line.

@JaxonH
Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly happy with the improved performance of Switch titles including Switch 2 editions and free upgrades. And I've certainly enjoyed DK especially. As far as new platforms go Switch 2 was, historically speaking, a pretty good sell on day 1

But even so, new platforms are always somewhat of a gamble early on. I got mine on day 1, as you did, because I knew I was going to get one eventually with even just the confirmed games. I didn't know for certain the performance gains in Switch games would be as solid as they ended up being so that was just a bonus. But it was still somewhat of a gamble

A very confident gamble, I was far less confident when I did the same for Wii U for example, but still a gamble. I don't think I'm ahead yet but I think we know enough that I'm confident I will be by year's end

@skywake
Even with Wii U I got my money's worth. A few dozen games over 5 years time plus VC. I didnt know what I was doing when I got it at launch. I JUST got back into gaming with an impulse purchase of 3DS. I just wanted HD Mario. Which Old Navy handed out free to first 40 customers that Black Friday. NSMBU was awesome for me- my first HD Mario game and first 2D Mario since I was a kid with SMW on SNES.

Switch 2 is a long term investment that will be paying us dividends a decade from now with hundreds of games in our libraries. I just wanted Cyberpunk and Rune Factory and Hogwarts Legacy at launch. Didn't know DK would be a 10/10 or that Switch games would get boosted so much. My modded OLED can run 720p in handheld with docked image but typically has to cap at 30fps- NSW2 is stuck with max handheld res but often bumps to 60fps, and most games look good in handheld as long as dynamic resolution isn't dropping... some exceptions obviously but the list of 60fps games now is impressive. And even just the 30fps games that stay locked to butter are the next best thing.

You never really know what you're gonna get but looking at NSW1, its not hard to envision an estimate of what NSW2 will bring over the coming years. But it does take time.

@skywake
Absolutely, but in the past, that would mean after a year or so and no games you liked, you'd go and sell the console to your neighbor down the street.

But these are the internet days. If you buy a new console at launch and don't get what you want within 1.5 months, you go on the internet, whine about it, and then sell the console at a loss on Mercari lol

It really feels like handheld mode players are getting shafted. Apparently Elden Ring runs horribly in handheld mode- to a point where they denied people from capturing footage of it. I expect this to be the first of many games to not do well in handheld mode.

@VoidofLight It really must be bad if VRR isn't hiding it. Even something like Hitman which runs pretty badly is pretty darn playable in handheld thanks to VRR.

@VoidofLight
The game isn't out yet. Don't judge a cake thats still in the oven.

Obviously they dobt want footage captured because its not ready yet. Cyberpunk was reportedly rough at events but upon release was incredibly smooth.

Be patient. If the game releases and has issues then by all means, voice discontent (even though this happens on all platforms- Elden Ring notoriously had performance issues on PS4/X1 when it released). But judging it before its out or even before a release date has been announced, based off an incomplete game they know is incomplete hence the reason why they're not ready for footage yet, is premature.

Furthermore you dont know if its just handheld. Docked could be the same way. But again, it's not ready. Clearly it's not ready or they'd open it up to captured footage. Just forget about it and wait until its fully cooked. Then see what's what.

Nah, we need to freak out about something that isn’t out yet. It’s only logical.

Come on, people!

@Bigmanfan
VRR doesnt work below 40fps unless the game is running with 120hz enabled. Street Fighter 6 enables 120hz mode despite running at 60fps which allows VRR to work all the way down to 1 fps. A lot of games just run in 60hz mode so a 30fps game wont benefit.

@JaxonH Fair point.

On a brighter note, Final Fantasy VII Remake already seems to be in a playable state. Notice they allowed footage to be captured. Hopefully this one isn't too far off.

And Silksong runs at 120fps in handheld, with an option to run 120fps docked as well. Love seeing these classics like Mina the Hollower (following Shovel Knight) and Silksong (following Hollow Knight) all hitting 120fps docked and handheld. Not every game will offer high framerates but its great seeing it for the 10/10 indies.

Well not to kill someone's mood but Metroid Prime 4 just got fully rated by the ESRB, which means content and connectivity features are complete.

Brace yourselves for the meltdown I guess.

@JaxonH It was just handheld. All the articles talk about how docked runs fine, it’s just handheld that’s the issue.

If they weren’t ready to show gameplay, then I don’t really get why they would allow people to play the demo in handheld mode. Most first party events for switch 2 only showcase the games in docked.

While it could change later- I have a feeling with Fromsoft’s track record on optimization along with the state of the industry at large, I’m more pessimistic than I am optimistic.

@rallydefault I’m not freaking out. I’m showing concern given how the gaming industry is at the current and how demos like these can show glimpses into the final product.

I’m also more on the negative side at the current because I primarily play games in handheld mode, and the Switch 2 has been a pretty subpar experience in relation to that. Outside of first party titles that were made exclusively for the switch 2 in mind like DK Bananza and Mario Kart World, I’ve had visual issues with a good chunk of the games I previously owned. I wasn’t thrilled about how they’re charging for the Tears of the Kingdom Upgrade- despite the state which that upgrade was left in within handheld mode- and I’m not really a fan of how Octopath Traveler looks with no upgrade in sight. Animal Crossing New Horizons is extremely blurry and you can notice the FPS drops when walking around due to the larger screen and locked FPS.

I’m not one of these people going around saying “Ohhh Nintendo is doomed!” nor do I want a refund on my console. The experiences I’ve played that are made for it are fun- or at least, DK Bananza is fun (I didn’t really like the hodgepodge that was MK World). I just feel kinda down about how some things could be way better on the console than they actually are. Especially when I’m limited to off-TV play.

@VoidofLight
Most offer docked and handheld actually. And these demos are for journalists to give an idea of what the games will be like. Clearly performance issues dont deter them, as Cyberpunk intentionally demoed the expansion which struggled the most.

You may not see the logic in it but the proof is in the pudding. And if docked mode is good thats fantastic news- it means they're progressing in optimization. Many games start out at 10fps and as optimization progresses it gets better and better, all the way up to launch day patch.

Just relax and judge final products. If it was ready it would be on store shelves. But its not. That means they're still working on optimizing it.