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Our hands-on impressions of the Switch
- Thread starter Moz La Punk
- Start date
Moz La Punk
Member
Nope
Thanks. I hope it's as good as the GameCube one!
Admiral Snackbar
Member
Thank you so much for the honest impressions! I've found it difficult to have a frank discussion about the system on the forum as of late, but it sounds like it's really a Nintendo system. Holding it makes all the difference.
I'm very excited about the console and you've only affirmed that!
I'm very excited about the console and you've only affirmed that!
Seems like the negatives floating around Neogaf are focused on the (a) price point, (b) lack of compelling software announcements around launch and for the next 6 months after that, and (c) the lack of detailed information about system features like the UI, virtual console, and online services.
By all accounts, the hardware itself sounds fantastic and more advanced than anyone would think Nintendo capable of. When you actually get hands-on time with the system and the games available, people seem to be blown away.
Price is a legitimate concern right now. If Nintendo can get the price down to sub $200 and bring on the wave of game franchises that we saw on the 3DS (and not just the WiiU), then they can be successful.
By all accounts, the hardware itself sounds fantastic and more advanced than anyone would think Nintendo capable of. When you actually get hands-on time with the system and the games available, people seem to be blown away.
Price is a legitimate concern right now. If Nintendo can get the price down to sub $200 and bring on the wave of game franchises that we saw on the 3DS (and not just the WiiU), then they can be successful.
Moz La Punk
Member
Those three points though, GAF is fully justified in slamming Nintendo for it. It felt one sided yesterday because it held back the discussions about the quality of the system and the games that are there, but they are valid points, as I also point out in my impressions. Meh you know this as well, but just wanted to make that clear that I'm not 100 percent rosy on the subject.
Got to play ARMS today, I was pretty excited about it from the preview stuff and it was better than I expected to play, as the movement controls worked well, including curving the shots.
I saw people mention that the HD rumble felt like something coming out of your hands when you punched, but I actually didn't notice any rumble at all.
It has very good graphics for a handheld, the game reminded me of overwatch. They were asking people for feedback so possibly it isn't finished yet. There were only the 5 characters available and I think the levels were just two that were automatically chosen.
The joy-cons with the wrist straps on feel great to hold, and the coloured ones are REALLY bright.
Incase anyone else is going to the London event tomorrow this might be useful - inside it was absolutely packed, not at all like the photos I saw from other events yesterday. We were in the Zelda queue pretty soon after getting in and were told the queue at its current length would be about an hour and a half before we got to play, and we'd be better off coming back later. Then they just completely closed the queue later. The rest of the games I think it would be relatively easy to get to play. Oddly I think Street Fighter 2 and Sonic had pretty big queues, no idea why.
I saw people mention that the HD rumble felt like something coming out of your hands when you punched, but I actually didn't notice any rumble at all.
It has very good graphics for a handheld, the game reminded me of overwatch. They were asking people for feedback so possibly it isn't finished yet. There were only the 5 characters available and I think the levels were just two that were automatically chosen.
The joy-cons with the wrist straps on feel great to hold, and the coloured ones are REALLY bright.
Incase anyone else is going to the London event tomorrow this might be useful - inside it was absolutely packed, not at all like the photos I saw from other events yesterday. We were in the Zelda queue pretty soon after getting in and were told the queue at its current length would be about an hour and a half before we got to play, and we'd be better off coming back later. Then they just completely closed the queue later. The rest of the games I think it would be relatively easy to get to play. Oddly I think Street Fighter 2 and Sonic had pretty big queues, no idea why.
I have never owned a console in my life
But im extremely tempted to get a Switch
My fiance isn't a gamer, so if this can get her interested i will be there day 1
D
Deleted member 284
Unconfirmed Member
Just played FAST RMX with Martin Sauter of Shin'en explaining the controls to me (this dude is awesome, just sitting on the couch playing with people) and holy cockroach, FAST is great. An evolution of FAST with 30 tracks, 1080p60, 4player split, 8 player online and they are working hard to get this ready for the third.
Joycons are pretty cool, better with the grip, but Pro controller is a necessity for me.
Currently in line for Zelda, so I'll report later.
Joycons are pretty cool, better with the grip, but Pro controller is a necessity for me.
Currently in line for Zelda, so I'll report later.
Thanks for the impressions! They mostly confirmed what I had thought and hoped: the system seems well-made, the switching mechanic is robust and fast, and the screen is of high quality. I personally worry about the viability of the lineup for the first few months, though for me there is enough to get, since I haven't bought a WiiU and can lavish on the remasters (MK8, Fast RMX) that come up pretty quickly.
Moz La Punk
Member
So sad I didn't had the chance to play this yesterday, I liked the Wii U-game but it felt a liiiittle low on content, but this seems awesome! Do you know if its a retail release as well? Would love to get an F-Zero type racer on launch.
Yeah your impressions were fantastic and renewed my hope in the system -- sorry if I didn't make that clear. Reading through your experience (as well as others) made me realize where the disconnect is coming from with Gaf.
For me, I feel better today about Switch than I did directly after the reveal. And even though the hardware and games like Arms sound great, I'm going to wait until the price is much lower before jumping in. When I do jump in though, I know I'll be getting very cool tech. Thanks for your impressions!
Jonneh3003
Banned
Dr. Kitty Muffins
Member
They need some games that look like they would be more at home on a portable device and sell them for 40. It's clear they want a home console experience software wise.
Spiral Insanity
Banned
Great impressions, thanks!
Admiral Woofington
Member
goddddddddddddd
I'll wait for reviews of Arms, but I'm really interested.
I'll wait for reviews of Arms, but I'm really interested.
D
Deleted member 284
Unconfirmed Member
I will ask Martin, if he is still here. I had to stop playing Zelda. Got as far as Link waking up when I realized oh shit!!! Ono-San is on stage!
Chû Totoro
Member
Will have the chance to try it tomorrow in Paris. I'll post my impressions here but if you want me to look at specific things or take photos of games or anything just tell me and I'll do my best 
Great thread idea OP.
Great thread idea OP.
plagiarize
Banned
I *hope* that they're just pushing the home console style of games to sell people on the idea that this is a home console you can take with you, but that the mobile style games you can also play on the TV are coming too.
I hope they still make games that fully utilize the touch screen, despite it not being an option when the thing is docked. I'm presuming the inventory etc will be touchscreen best in Zelda, because that's been designed for the Wii U...
but give me stuff like Elite Beat Agents again.
BronzeWolf
Banned
Chû Totoro;228348927 said:Will have the chance to try it tomorrow in Paris. I'll post my impressions here but if you want me to look at specific things or take photos of games or anything just tell me and I'll do my best
Great thread idea OP.
Please ask if it can be charged while on the kickstand
Sword Of Doom
Member
The hardware itself is fine, but Nintendo is crazy with their pricing. That's where most of the negativity for this console comes from. I know "casuals" who won't go near it with the $80 joycons and paying for online.
plagiarize
Banned
I've got zero confidence about b and c right now, given Nintendo's track records in these things. I'm a big Nintendo fan, obviously, but they haven't earned any benefit of doubt when it comes to either releasing enough software themselves to hold up the system, or getting good third party support on a home console (which they're clearly positioning this as at least right now). They certainly haven't ever made an online service worth paying for, and the lacking feature set they've got here (just use existing social networks and your smart phone for voice chat / arranging to play games, etc) combined with the insulting (compared to what Sony and Microsoft offer) value add of loaning out at a 20 to 30 year old game for a month... again... they get zero benefit of the doubt on that stuff.
That was what they needed to convey to us yesterday. That the places they've stumbled before were squared away this time... and they absolutely haven't yet.
Price, it's nothing to write home about, but I think it's okay. That people have to go to absurd lengths to argue you *need* to buy four extra pairs of joycons and grips or that horribly overpriced pro controller to make out that it's super expensive shows that it's really not. And I'm not exaggerating. People were saying you had to buy 4 pairs of joycons to play Mario Kart 8. Which, no you fucking don't.
You didn't need to go 'once you add in a this and a that the PS3 is expensive'. Because unlike the Switch it was expensive. It's just not aggressively priced like I think a lot of people hoped or presumed.
And those people thinking it was going to $200 were delusional as all hell. I thought $250 or $300. I hoped for $250, but $300 wasn't a surprise. The hardware is worth it. There just isn't the software lineup to back that up. Not yet. If ever.
Thanks for this. I hope it'll get a physical release as well!
My one concern on launch is that it didn't have a new Waverace, ExciteTruck or F-Zero.
FAST hasn't really clicked with me on a level of either of those games, but it seems like this new version has quite a bit more content.
Just watched this video and it looks very appealing visually.
I think this might hold me over till Mario Kart comes out.
Since the local stores over here are messing up big time with preorders, one even going as far as telling me the system was going to cost quite a bit over 350 with them today (yeah....), I finally was able to order a day one neon console with a pro controller, screen protector and the special edition of Breath of the Wild.
They had the Hori arcade stick up as well, but I'll hold off a bit till I got a couple of games that I can actually use it on.
The Main Event
Member
Looking at the real-life pics of the neon Joy-Cons, they're growing on me. Maybe I should've went with that instead.
TheGreatMightyPoo
Banned
Has the rumor that Platinum Games is behind ARMS been debunked yet???
plagiarize
Banned
I like how when you buy a pair of neon joy cons, you get the opposite ones to the ones that come with the system. That'll be handy for games like ARMS where you can still make sure that player one is the red controllers and player two is the blue controllers, or what have you.
It'll also let you sort of mix and match the style of the system.
I love how the system looks in portable mode with the neons on it though. I know asymmetry is going to drive some people crazy.
Yes, developed by members of the Mario Kart team.
When has a system load up screen been as good as the GameCube one, systems now just boot up to the menu.
Why couldn't it ? If I remember correctly the USB port is in a little dent, so it wouldn't be obstructed by whatever you put it on.
Stone Ocean
Member
ARMS is being developed by the Mario Kart 8 guys, no?
I hear ya'. Your first paragraph is exactly how I felt after watching the presentation. For me personally, the hardware sounds great and I will almost entirely use it as a portable console. Zelda looks absolutely amazing as well. But like you said, Nintendo's approach to this system and their history are not inspiring. It's almost insulting that they act as if the WiiU didn't happen and we're supposed to take them at their word that *this* time will be different in regards to online services and a consistent release schedule of first and third-party games.
All that said, as much as what the majority of what you wrote is absolutely on point, I do see myself jumping in *if* the price is much lower and a wide variety of games that I'm interested become available. I'm waiting for Animal Crossing, Professor Layton, Ace Attorney, Shin Megami Tensei, Pokemon, JRPGs of any kind really, etc. (Not even gonna get started on Metroid.) I won't even touch the online services if Nintendo doesn't prove the value of what they provide and it's at least comparable to what we're used to with PlayStation and Xbox.
So right now, I'm sold on the system itself but I'd probably wait until Fall 2018 or 2019 assuming price, services, and games are addressed by then. PS4 has wayyyy too many games coming out this year for me to take a break in that schedule to pay the entrance fee for the Switch for what it's providing.
semiconscious
Member
thanks! still in 'maybe sometime, down the road, once there's a half-dozen games i'm interested in' mode ...
...I thought that was pretty clear from the beginning. Their idea that this is a home console first with the added ability of taking games with you if you wanted to. I agree that having some more 3DS style games would be good, but I have a feeling that may not be for a long while. I also don't think the price is gonna change much...if at all.
Joelstinton14
Member
Thanks for the impressions chaps. I'm really eager to experience the rumble stuff myself, sounds really interesting.
Nice to have a bit of perspective and discussion about the system.
Nice to have a bit of perspective and discussion about the system.
Inline right stick and buttons like thought, can make you touch it without caution.
But it also keep the same time jump and aim for splatoon, so...
Nothing else particular to say except it doesn't have the really smooth face and LR buttons of the wiiu gamepad. With pro dpad, playing street fighter I did some bad stuff with Chun li charge moves but not sure if it's the skill lowering in those crowded environments lol
But it also keep the same time jump and aim for splatoon, so...
Nothing else particular to say except it doesn't have the really smooth face and LR buttons of the wiiu gamepad. With pro dpad, playing street fighter I did some bad stuff with Chun li charge moves but not sure if it's the skill lowering in those crowded environments lol
That sounds amazing. Not sure how this would be implementaed in games I'd likely want to play but the tech seems really cool.
Otakumegane
Member
...Have you played the cow milking game? How does it feel?
foxuzamaki
Doesn't read OPs, especially not his own
Don't know him from his antics but I do know him from his YouTube channelNo problem! Glad so many people liked it, I was afraid it would come off as advertising or something. It's a curtesy for me to mention the websites that made it able for me to go to the event, but I made this topic so that I could share impressions between gaffers!
Btw, I went to the event in a train from the Netherlands to Frankfurt and the one and only NintenDaan was with us as well. You Nintendo-fans probably know him from his Twitter-antics and what not. If you're reading this, hi Daan! Share your impressions here as well
OrbitalBeard
Member
Thanks for all the hands-on impressions everyone.
I'm really, really excited to get my system in March. The HD rumble sounds awesome!
I'm really, really excited to get my system in March. The HD rumble sounds awesome!
It'll almost certainly be the snap animation and sound that we've seen in every trailer.
forknknife
Banned
Thanks for the impressions op!
I think I'm slowly getting convinced about getting a switch but pretty sure I'll wait for Christmas hoping then there will be packed in games to go with it. Then i think the investment is quite justified. I also want to wait because i fear there will be issues with the first batches due to how rushed all this seems and probably there will be a revision down the line with better battery or what have you.
Anyway, did you happen to ask when the switch will be available to be demoed in the Netherlands?
Agent Gibbs
Member
Like holding a bigger Vita? that right there is something to hope for! as games stop coming to Vita that used to be (Trails and Digimon being the most notable for me) it would be nice to have a console that would be their home and assuming typically vita gems migrate to the Switch, giving devs a home console/portable continuation for their games sounds perfect to me
FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
those HD Rumble impressions sound great. Can't wait to try for myself
The HD rumble sounds like a truly mind-blowing tech. Like others though, I wonder how often it will actually be deployed in games aside from mini-games.
One of the Wii U's major problems was that the second screen was a feature in search of an application, and HD rumble strikes me as the same kind of deal. Like, if you're a third party porting a game to Switch, this is something that will add more development time to your port in order to implement, and so it seems more likely that you'd simply ignore it.
And on the first party side, it strikes me as something Nintendo thought was awesome and figured out several concepts they could implement it in for 1-2-Switch, but didn't think beyond to whether it would actually be employed enough to include in their console and increase the expense to do so.
And how do you market it to the public as a value-add? "Well, it's rumble, like everything else has, but it's really good rumble." It's something you'd really have to hope enough people demo to get the word out.
I hope I'm wrong about that, though. It sounds genuinely impressive and I can't wait to try it out (though I won't be buying 1-2-Switch to do so).
One of the Wii U's major problems was that the second screen was a feature in search of an application, and HD rumble strikes me as the same kind of deal. Like, if you're a third party porting a game to Switch, this is something that will add more development time to your port in order to implement, and so it seems more likely that you'd simply ignore it.
And on the first party side, it strikes me as something Nintendo thought was awesome and figured out several concepts they could implement it in for 1-2-Switch, but didn't think beyond to whether it would actually be employed enough to include in their console and increase the expense to do so.
And how do you market it to the public as a value-add? "Well, it's rumble, like everything else has, but it's really good rumble." It's something you'd really have to hope enough people demo to get the word out.
I hope I'm wrong about that, though. It sounds genuinely impressive and I can't wait to try it out (though I won't be buying 1-2-Switch to do so).