I am now a proud owner of a Nintendo Switch; my system arrived today. When I opened the box, I was surprised by how small the system is. For some reason, I pictured it being a bit bigger than it actually is.
Hardware
I do have some gripes about the system, starting with the size of the main (XABY) buttons. They are smaller than the already-tiny buttons on 3DS XL! That’s really not good for a system that’s supposed to be a home console. Yes, there is a Switch Pro Controller available, but it has a MSRP of $69.99. Pretty steep for a controller, if you ask me.
There are wrist straps included for games that use the joycons separately. They make it easier to use the SL and SR buttons. But just a heads-up for when you put them on: Make sure you line up the plus or minus symbols, because they will slide on even if you have them pointed the wrong way. And then it’s a bit hard to get them off. Although, they don’t come out very easily even when they are put on the right way. I don’t plan on using them much.
The Switch does not have a standard camera, and while that fact alone doesn’t bother me, it does bring up a possible problem. I don’t see how Switch games could use QR codes. Games like Animal Crossing and Tomodachi Life use QR codes to share your designs or Miis with other players. I suppose Nintendo could come up with an alternate way of sharing these things, but it would be quite disappointing to see our past designs unusable in any possible new Switch versions of these games.
One other small complaint? There’s no power button on the controllers. Nintendo’s other systems with default wireless controllers (Wii and Wii U) had a power button on the controllers themselves. Now you have to go up to the system itself each time. Update: As Tom41 informed me in the comments, you can put the system in sleep mode from the home menu. Not as convenient as a power button, but the option is there.
Software
Sadly, the Switch comes with no fun little apps to play with. The 3DS has things like Face Raiders and AR Games, but there’s no equivalent on Switch…at least, not yet. There’s not even a Youtube app or a web browser! And Switch doesn’t have Miiverse either, so there’s really not much to do if you don’t have a game yet.
I checked the (American) eShop for game demos, and only one is available: SnipperClips. It’s a puzzle game where two characters clip off parts of each other’s faces to accomplish various goals. You may have to match the shapes of outlines, figure out how to reach switches and push buttons, pop balloons, and more. It’s primarily a two-player game, but you can also play alone and just alternate control of the characters.
The demo consists of a tutorial and then three levels. It’s an interesting concept and the demo is mildly fun, but I have no intentions of purchasing the full version.
Friend Codes
Yes, friend codes have returned on Switch. Want to be friends? My friend code is 0442-0992-5516. Feel free to send me a request if you’d like. I may not be playing any online games until Splatoon 2 comes out this summer, though.
And if you already know me from somewhere, maybe contact me separately and let me know it’s you. If I know who is who, you’ll be less likely to be deleted if my roster starts to fill up. (Although the roster can reportedly hold 300 friends, so that might not happen for a while).
Even though I’ve shared quite a few of my gripes here, I am legitimately happy to have my Switch and I’m looking forward to many of the games on the way.
Last, But Not Least
Of course, there’s one really big thing I haven’t mentioned yet: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I have the game, but I haven’t really dug into it just yet. But I’ll be doing that very soon, and I’ll be back with more blog entries as I journey through the game. Stay tuned!
How are you all enjoying your Nintendo Switch? Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts! 🙂
Actually, you can turn the console on and off with the controllers. If you go to the Home menu, you can select the Standby option there to put it to sleep. Then you can wake it up again by pressing Home on the right joy-con. Maybe QR codes will be supported with the app that’s coming soon; you’ll be able to scan them with your smartphone camera. Finally, if you want a decent game you can play online, how about FAST RMX? It’s similar to F-Zero.
Okay thanks, I’ll have to keep that in mind. Still not convenient as a power button, but I’m glad the option is there. Yeah maybe the app can add QR codes, although I’m not a fan of them requiring smartphones for Switch features. As for FAST RMX, the only reason I didn’t buy it is because I have FAST Racing Neo (the previous game in the series) on Wii U and I don’t even play it. It’s not a bad game or anything, but I guess it didn’t hold my interest as much as I hoped.
I’m so happy you have the Switch! I completely understand and agree with the gripes you have, but I have to agree and say I’m happy to have the Switch too. Hopefully more apps and software will be added over time.
I’m enjoying mine so far, if only for Breath of the Wild! The menus and things are easy to find and go through, and the Joy-Cons are fun to use albeit clunky at some times. I haven’t tried handheld mode yet.
Breath of the Wild is extremely fun, and I’m looking forward to getting further into it. We don’t have 1-2 Switch yet, and I don’t think my brother will want to get it since the reviews have been bad, but I really want to try it as from the trailer it looked like a decent bit of fun. It probably won’t be the same as good ol’ Nintendo Land, though.
I’m also looking forward to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Of course it is still a port, but me and my brother are still excited for it due to Battle Mode, new items, and new characters including my brother’s returning favourite King Boo), and Splatoon 2 (admittedly I never played much of the original Splatoon, though what I did play was fun and this game looks like “more of a good thing” so to speak 😛).
Finally, I am excited for Super Mario Odyssey, even though it is coming out at a questionably late time for me 😛. I enjoyed Super Mario 64, and it enjoys a place in the Three Killer Mario Games for me alongside the two Galaxy games. Admittedly, I have always wanted Super Mario Galaxy 3 more than a Super Mario 64-style, but I’m not complaining as Super Mario 64 was a fantastic game and I’m still looking forward to having a game inspired by it.
Yeah – I honestly expected the Switch to be a Meh (rated by most people) like the Wii U. I was thinking of getting a 2Ds (to replace my 3Ds that broke) – but now I want to get a Switch to see it for myself.
My complaint that I have is that it WILL be easily breakable by children. They’ll mess around by switching everything and blah blah blah.. It’ll break.
I’m also curious to see if the 3Ds family will no longer have wifi.
Also I’m wondering if another Animal Crossing game will be on the Switch? I was on my 3Ds (top screenless) and a friend of mine said that the NX won’t have another Animal Crossing game.
I know that the NX will succeed – but really, it’s disappointing the more you think of it.
I don’t think they’ll turn off online support for 3DS or Wii U anytime soon.
We don’t know if Switch will get an Animal Crossing game, but it’s far too early to rule it out. The system hasn’t even been out for a week yet. 😛 It seems likely that an AC game will come to Switch at some point, but I thought the same thing about Wii U at one time too, so you never know. I’ll probably be nervous about it until they make an official announcement. 😛
The launch hasn’t been great (other than Zelda), but it’s still off to a better start than Wii U. Getting Mario Kart and Splatoon 2 in the next few months will really help.
The launch was why I never got a Switch in the first place. 😜
And I’ll be nervous too before they make an official announcement… (please don’t make a disappointing game like the last 2)..
That’s all I have to say really..
So I just got a Switch.. I really enjoy it. But my only real problem is the power button. I wish there was just a button on the controller instead of me going to the home menu or going to the physical console.
I sent you a friend request, if you’d like to add.
Yeah, that annoys me too. Wii and Wii U both let you turn the system off with the controller, so it seems a step backwards to not allow the same on Switch as well.
Okay, I’ll accept your request soon! 🙂
Thanks for accepting it!