Topic: What are your "non biased" views about the Switch?

What I mean with non biased is views from someone that isn't a major Nintendo fan who will think that everything that Nintendo does is amazing which is a lot of people on here which does slightly obscure how good the Switch really is. Also, I am not interested in those who will just say everything that Nintendo does is bad.

Well, I'm not sure what category I fall into as Nintendo have always, and will always be my favourite brand, and my go to brand before anyone else.

I'm not oblivious to daft mistakes like the marketing of the Wii U, but I'm not someone who will still rag on them continuously for making decisions such as using cartridges for the N64 when everyone said they should have moved onto discs (the N64 is subsequently my favourite console of all time bar none, and I think using cartridges is what made it special, and what made 90% of its game library pure classic, even by today's standards).

I realise I have digressed slightly lol, so, the Switch I think is an incredible console.......that seems like it is about 80-90% finished as I think it just needs to be fleshed out a little bit with all the things that will inevitably come through updates over the next year. I do however agree with the March release for it, as it as good to go as what a games console was originally buit for.....to play games.

I also think it is the perfect console for those whom never owned a Wii U and want to play the latest Zelda, or for those whom are Zelda fanatics and want to play it on the best available platform.

If you're not one of those, then I reckon you could easily wait until all the little problems are ironed out, and there are games that genuinely interest you.

The only negative thing I have picked up on so far is how it's tricky to disconnect the joycon straps without mashing up the keys... they've been a bit fiddly so far, but hoping that's just down to them being new and me not having 'the knack' down just yet.

You are on a Nintendo site . . . I would call most people around here biased toward Nintendo, even those who profess they are not, including myself.

My review of the Switch so far:

-If you own and love your 3DS, you're going to love the Joycon controllers. Each Joycon pretty much feels like half of a 3DS. The buttons feel very similar, right down to the click they have. The analog sticks are different, though, and most people aren't mentioning how small of a range the sticks have. It's not like a "normal" controller - they are much smaller and have a much smaller travel range. It's a little weird, but I am getting used to it. The L and R shoulder buttons (not the triggers ZL/ZR, mind you) are not good, in my opinion - VERY small. I HAVE had the left Joycon issue happen to me maybe twice so far, once in a very frustrating action-packed moment in Zelda.

• The grip that you can put the Joycons in is not, in my opinion, a great long-term gaming controller for a game like Zelda. I'm probably about 5 or so hours into Zelda since yesterday, maybe 2 of those hours in handheld mode, the other 3 with the grip, and I'm VERY ready to get myself a Pro Controller, let's put it that way.

-The UI is clean and snappy. Lots of potential for Nintendo to release themes and stuff in the future. Menus load quickly, eShop loads quickly. It's a pleasure after the Wii U's turtle speeds.

-Online is up and running for games and friends lists, but aside from that . . . yea. Nothin' much doing. This is a gaming console ONLY right now. If you buy the Switch now, you're buying it to play games, not to run media extensions or browse the internet or anything else, really.

Overall, the system is pretty barebones currently, which does give it both a weird and nice feel in my opinion. The "nice" element kind of takes me back to older systems like the PS1/PS2, N64, SNES, NES - you bought those systems to play games, and that was it. 'Twas a simpler time lol. The "weird" part is that, in the modern world, a gaming system feels EMPTY if all it can do is play games, you know?

Just looking at it objectively, as someone who owns all consoles and handhelds and PC...

It's definitely the coolest, most intriguing console I've ever owned. Masterclass handheld, serviceable console. No Joycon issues for me, even despite trying my hardest to replicate behind the back, across the room, covered in a fist and pointed the opposite direction. And the Joycons are different, odd to use at first, but really nice once you adjust. I prefer using them separated over the Pro Controller or grip controller. The versatility of using slid into the handheld, pulled out separately, slid into grip or turned sideways is a marvel.

The little straps you slide into the Joycons to make them fatter are hard to pull out, and the SL/SR buttons suck to use. But, it works in a pinch for on the fly MP. My only real, actual complaint is how easy it is to scratch the screen, apparently just from using the dock for a week. So a tempered glass screen protector is a necessity, even for people like me who never use screen protectors. Will apply using the shower method to ensure no air bubbles (google it if you're curious)

@JaxonH
That's interesting - no Joycon issues on your end? I really hope Nintendo addresses this beyond "don't put stuff in front of it/next to it." My issues are occurring when the Joycon are in the grip and I'm sitting roughly 10-12 feet away from the Switch console, pointing directly at the console with nothing in front of me. Could be the distance.

@JaxonH okay i searched "shower method" and i cant find anything besides a stupid video that was supposed to be funny. so can you give me a link?

@rallydefault
Ya, no issues at all. I felt fortunate because I have heard reports from others saying otherwise.

Just for comparisons sake, I'm using the grey Joycons that came with my Switch, and I made sure to attach them to the Switch when it updated and rebooted.

I also tried a pair of blue/red Joycons I bought separately, and those seem to work fine as well although at the far end of the room, behind the back, I couldn't tell if it was skipping ever so slightly in the calibration screen. I dismissed it because after all I was standing at the far end of the room purposely blocking it with my entire body, which is never going to happen in real life gaming situation. And it was so slight I couldn't even really tell if it was real or my imagination

What you're describing doesn't seem normal. Although 12 feet is kind of starting to get out there if it's pointed directly at it there should be no issues. I mean, I couldn't even get it to show issues at the end of the room and purposely blocking it. Makes me wonder if it's a hardware issue after all.

Suggestion : rather them for your couch closer maybe just change where you set the switch so that it sitting next to you. I don't only with this keep it well within range it would also make it easier to grab out of the dock when you want to go, easier to put in when you get back and sit down

Bring
Device
scotch tape
lint-free glasses cleaning cloth (recommend brand new un-opened)
credit/debit card
scissors
alcholol wipe (screen is plastic, don't use alchohol)

Go to bathroom, close all windows and turn off the fan (if there is one).
Place the stuff in a drawer.
Take off clothes for a shower and move clothing + all towels on the ground.
Take a shower, run the water hot.
Wait for room to steam up a bit. Doing so prevents dust from flying around the room.
Turn off shower, don't completely dry your hair, if the room is too steamy, wait for the steam to settle a bit.
Take out items, make certain the Switch's screen is cleaned of all dust/lint. Keep cleaning it trying until it is.
Put on screen protector. Should be on perfectly with no dust/lint.

@JaxonH
Hrm... now I'm wondering if I had the Joycons attached when it did the update/reboot. I may have had them in the grip at that point because I remember doing the update screen when I had it up on the TV. Is there some way I can go back and correct that?

@rallydefault
I think if you just connect them to Switch and then reboot it might apply the update to them?

I'm not even sure thats it but many reports saying that fixed issues for them. I'd connect to Switch and reboot

The lack of analogue triggers will always be a deficiency of the Switch (assuming they don't correct that, which I doubt, though I'd love for them to explain their choice), and it maybe doesn't sit in my hands as well as the Wii U gamepad, but neither of those issues actually bothers me.

The thing is slick. It looks slick, and it plays slick. It's the best portable gaming device out there, and it's going to get Nintendo's full support for a few years.

Right now I'd be happy if they ported the entire Nintendo back catalogue to the thing. I'm a hand-held man from now on.

Positively mixed.
Live the concept, the device itself is solid and feels surprisingly robust (No wobbly JoyCons, my biggest fear)

The OS on the other hand....
Some call it "modern and sleek", i'd call it featureless and barren.
Thanks to the exclusion of a browser, software manuals are gone for good. Not even cartridges seem to have them, unless i missed something.
Overall, it really makes you appreciate the WiiU's much more lively and friendly interface.
Here's hoping that this will be beefed up in the future. I'd certainly welcome an overhaul on that end.
The UI has a "Beta" feel to it. Functional, but barren and boring.

Also, no JoyCon connectivity issues on my end.
Had some trouble getting WiFi to work initially. It found my hotspot, but refused to connect to it since it had no signal. Standby on, standby off, problem solved.

Other than that, no issues what so ever.
Bottom Line: Very cool system, but there is room for further improvements.

enjoy the online while it's still free

I'm obviously not unbiased but here are my thoughts so far:

Positives:
I liked the Wii U concept, this is the same thing minus the visual downgrade and wireless tether in portable mode. It's nice to be able to play Zelda away from the TV without having to sacrifice anything. It's also pretty refreshing to be able to play a game on a machine that's basically silent. No optical drive clicking away or fans ramping up like a jet engine. And even better load times are super fast.

Negatives
The Joycon straps are super fiddly. The triggers on the Joycon are very small, I understand why but even so. Also while they can connect the console to My Nintendo there's no evidence that it knows my previous purchases yet. Shovel Knight and Fast Racing RMX are games I already have on the Wii U, no discounts at all. Worse still if you're set to the Australian region you aren't able transfer your funds from your NNID. Which is kinda brutal. And lastly, the included cables are annoyingly small making setup a pain if you don't have power/HDMI on the same side of your TV.

Neutral
The Joycon Grip? It works well enough that I probably won't buy a Pro Controller for a while. It's not perfect but it's good enough. I like the fact that the console is now region free even though it's unlikely I'll ever take advantage of it. The fact that physical copies of games give you My Nintendo coins is good. It's just a shame that there's nothing on My Nintendo yet.

I got a screen protector in a "starter kit" with a case and screen cleaning cloth and such. I'm guessing it's probably plastic, but all it said was "screen protector". Would that be good enough? If not, would a Hori Premium screen protector be as good as a tempered glass one?

I own a PS4, Xbox One, 2DS and now the Switch. I have to say I have been pretty lost with gaming for the last few years, nothing has really gripped me. I only bought a PS4 for Uncharted 4 and yea that was a cool game but once i completed it i had no desire to play through it again. As for Xbox One i haven't played anything that I have been hooked on since Fallout 4. I dont have as much time for gaming anymore as i have a busy job and the weekends seem to fly by but i think the Switch has and will change that. I absolutely love the fact I can sit and play Zelda, a proper console Zelda, sat on the sofa while the Mrs watches trash on the telly. I have to travel now and then with work too so its gonna be great when im sat alone in a hotel somewhere.

Overall i am loving this console so far. Connected to the TV or in handheld mode its such fun and just feels great. I often battle with myself that gaming is just a waste of time but BOTW has been a truly epic experience so far and i feel a love for gaming again.

My non-biased opinion on it is that it's pretty much an empty shell with a lot of promise. I love the build quality, and it's a farcry from the bullpoop Fisher Price build of the Wii U. Without Zelda, I would have nothing to do with it. Not having at the very least a web browser (like Wii U's awesome one) is a big negative for me. That one thing would take the Switch from being basically useless (outside of Zelda), to having unlimited content (via the internet). The frustrating thing is that it does have a web browser built in, you just can't access it! You can clearly see your Facebook homepage when you link your accounts...