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[TheMink]

This is coming from someone who brings a gaming laptop with a mouse or a controller on planes to play games. Peoples complaints about the Switches portability seem so minor to me after the amount of hoops I jump through to play Half Life or MGSV or Elder Scrolls on the go.

I would like to first say that I would say it was worth it in a lot of cases. Getting a long layover in an airport is an ideal place to play PC games with tons of space and easily accessible charging ports. And playing a game like MGSV on the go is absolutely surreal. I feel like I'm not compromising input method at all to do so.

On the plane however the battery life (in addition to the main issue of it being just generally cumbersome) leaves a lot to be desired. I usually get maybe 1 hour and 45 minutes with brightness turned down very low and specs turned down to lowest settings. As it turns out, and this is my main issue, even if planes that have full AC ports I am still unable to charge because the required Amps is too high and it literally will not function. This issue extends to portable batteries.

Enter Switch.

The JoyCons offer a completely un-compromised input method in my opinion. (D-Pad notwithstanding D-Pad JoyCon when.) Taking it off and using the grips, completely feasible on a plane, is even more comfortable for me.

2.5 hours battery despite being lower that hoped by some is a considerable improvement for me and solves a lot of issues. But more importantly I can actually charge the thing using portable batteries or the planes AC/USB outputs.

Finally BOTW gave that same surreal "I'm playing a console game on a portable" feeling and it's incredible.

I really could not be happier with the consoles main draw.

 

[zMiiChy-]

Hopefully the 3DS can finally be put to rest.

 

[Frumix]

Games on it aren't games that I'd like to play on the go which is why it doesn't feel portable to me personally. I get that there might be certain appeal in taking big games with you, but for me I just always ended up playing systems like DS and PSP at home, and if I wanted something on the road, I'd whip out some simple game on the phone. Might be more poignant for Japan where free space to put stuff in is not a commodity, I don't know.

 

[Shrennin]

Yup, Nintendo needs to just make the Switch the start of their home console and handheld consoles merging. I think the strategy of being a more "casual" friendly console as well as THE complimentary console for people with a PC, Xbox, or PlayStation will work out if they stick with it and cater to indie developers as well as try to go for smaller third party exclusive titles (and of course their own quality games). The portability is a huge benefit for them.

 

[Jacobson]

If people can manage to bring their tablets anywhere, the switch is as portable as can be

 

[SoldierOfLight]

I've been playing Zelda on portable mode more than on dock. It looks and sounds awesome on my TV with speakers but the ability to lay in bed and play or when I'm a passenger in the car is really great. Although the car kind of sucks since trying to aim an arrow or lens becomes difficult with the whole movement of the console.
Only thing I'm not so impressed with is the sound with earphones.
I still haven't used the kick stand on it yet but look forward to the day when I can play with the joy cons detached and party up against someone.

 

[Jarmel]

Battery life is too bad for me. If it was even an hour longer I would be fine with it.

 

[Garrett Hawke]

Same. It is not that big.

As stated above, if you can bring around an iPad, you can bring around a Switch.

 

[Ultima_5]

Games on it aren't games that I'd like to play on the go which is why it doesn't feel portable to me personally. I get that there might be certain appeal in taking big games with you, but for me I just always ended up playing systems like DS and PSP at home, and if I wanted something on the road, I'd whip out some simple game on the phone. Might be more poignant for Japan where free space to put stuff in is not a commodity, I don't know.

it's been out for like a week and has 5 games on it. those will come out

 

[Mega]

Games on it aren't games that I'd like to play on the go which is why it doesn't feel portable to me personally. I get that there might be certain appeal in taking big games with you, but for me I just always ended up playing systems like DS and PSP at home, and if I wanted something on the road, I'd whip out some simple game on the phone. Might be more poignant for Japan where free space to put stuff in is not a commodity, I don't know.

There are pick up and go games on the system. Fast RMX for example. Three race cup can be played quickly. Blaster Master is out today and there's already Shovel Knight.

 

[Elaugaufein]

Its to big for me practically unless I'm also taking my main Laptop or a travel bag, it's to large to even slot in the carry Case for my mini laptop.

Its neat around the house though.

 

[wazoo]

Games on it aren't games that I'd like to play on the go which is why it doesn't feel portable to me personally.

Games released in the 1st week. Diversity will come. Hopefully it will merge WiiU and 3DS library.

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

I resisted playing Zelda in handheld mode because I wanted to experience it on the big screen. I beat it yesterday and started over a new game and decided to be okay with playing portable in bed. You know what? It's actually pretty darn portable and great as a handheld console. I like it a whole lot.

 

[Fularu]

Since the launch I've seen a few people play their switch on the bus.

I almost never saw a 3DS, Psp or Vita.

 

[Kilau]

It is a handheld after all, but 2.5 hours battery life is rough.

 

[teaveee]

The battery life isn't much worse than the original 3ds so I'm not entirely disappointed. Plus I bought a portable power bank that can keep the switch going for over 12 hours. The switch using USB-C is a major win.

 

[spekkeh]

No OP, it's way too bulky to carry around, your screen is already dead, so is your battery, switch haz no gaems, better dump it in an aquarium to make your left joycon more useful, ridiculously overpriced, you're just a sad fanboy of the nintendo defense force and look past all the obvious mistakes.

Now that we had all those remarks, can I say this thing actually works and Nintendo did something really remarkable creating a full fat console experience on the go.

 

[Kitsune Sama]

Hopefully the 3DS can finally be put to rest.

I really hope it is the successor of both WiiU and 3DS. I want Nintendo to focus all their games in just one console.

 

[Easy_D]

It's just kinda mindblowing to me that we kind of have a portable system that I feel doesn't have to make "sacrifices" to have the games be portable, you know? Such a ginormous step up from the 3DS, it's ridiculous.

 

[Booker Dewitt]

Since the launch I've seen a few people play their switch on the bus.

I almost never saw a 3DS, Psp or Vita.

Well, the OG 3DS sucked on the bus, that hinge isn't tight enough so the top screen will wriggle around just as much as necessary to make the experience unpleasant.

Switch has one screen going for it at least for me.

 

[lyrick]

Since the console is only slightly larger than my Nexus 6 I'm going to agree.

 

[phanphare]

of course it is. people complaining about the portability are just grasping at straws imo. it's as portable as my 3DS XL.

 

[_SAKY_]

The battery life isn't much worse than the original 3ds so I'm not entirely disappointed. Plus I bought a portable power bank that can keep the switch going for over 12 hours. The switch using USB-C is a major win.

12 hours? What battery pack are you using? Have you actually tested the switch for 12 hours?

 

[King_Moc]

It fits in my coats inside pocket. That makes it portable enough as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Crayon]

I go mine on friday and used it as a console all weekend. On monday, I took it to work which i had never considered doing. Lo and behold I'm playing zelda during downtime at work it's so relaxing.

 

[Herb Alpert]

Of course it is. the "it doesn't fit in my pocket thus it isn't portable" stance is ludicrous.

 

[JoeNut]

Agreed, i play in my car on lunchtimes and it fits in the glovebox fine.

 

[Fireblend]

Games on it aren't games that I'd like to play on the go which is why it doesn't feel portable to me personally. I get that there might be certain appeal in taking big games with you, but for me I just always ended up playing systems like DS and PSP at home, and if I wanted something on the road, I'd whip out some simple game on the phone. Might be more poignant for Japan where free space to put stuff in is not a commodity, I don't know.

I beat Xenoblade Chronicles, OoT, Majora's Mask, SMT IV and SMT IV: Apocalypse which I'd all consider console-type games on my 3DS, as well as countless games on Vita that were console re-releases/ports like Persona 4 or FFIX, so I couldn't disagree more with the "game I'd play at home vs. game I'd play on the go" distinction.

It's more about "games I'd play in long sessions vs. games I'd play in short bursts" for me, which has little implication on which console I play it on. I guess some people happen to have more tolerance for playing on a handheld during long sessions?

 

[zMiiChy-]

Well, the OG 3DS sucked on the bus, that hinge isn't tight enough so the top screen will wriggle around just as much as necessary to make the experience unpleasant.

Switch has one screen going for it at least for me.

I don't know if you were implying that it was, but the NEW 3DS isn't much better.

Even if doesn't wobble, the top half of the 3DS being heavier makes it a pain to use in public without a shell.

 

[1st Course]

That because it is.

 

[teaveee]

12 hours? What battery pack are you using? Have you actually tested the switch for 12 hours?

Anker Powercore 20100. Played for twelve hours on Saturday at auto brightness and the power bank still had some life left in it at the end of the day. It was on sale for $30 but worth every penny.

 

[Crazyorloco]

It's very portable. I carry a bookbag and put it in a case. I've been getting about 3-4 hours of battery life, but it's because i've been playing snipperclips as well as BotW. BotW does drain it. I think if I play a less graphically intensive game it could reach 6 hours easily. I carry a 6000mah external battery just in case. I don't think there will be many situations where i'm playing and away from a charger for more than 3 hours. I tend to play a half hour to an hour here and there while i'm not home.

But yeah, when the games start coming (mario kart, fire emblem, nba2k18, a good FPS, etc..), i think the switch will be my favorite portable.

Anker Powercore 20100. Played for twelve hours on Saturday at auto brightness and the power bank still had some life left in it at the end of the day. It was on sale for $30 but worth every penny.

Damn. ok i might look into this. lol

 

[N30RYU]

It's amazing playing it in portable mode... with home console graphics quality...

 

[Aggie CMD]

The problem with portability is the fact that the 3DS exists. The 3DS is more compact, has the feeling of being more durable (clam-shell design), has a longer battery life, and, obviously, a much larger library. I got a Switch at launch but it has not left the house. I still use my 3DS during my daily commute because of the reasons listed above.

It's like the fight between the Game Boy (inferior tech) with the Game Gear (superior tech), except it's internal.

The joy cons kind of push the size of the system into "too large" territory. It will probably just take an adjustment period. People, after all, seem to be getting comfortable with phones that have 6" screens.

 

[Stone Ocean]

Portability doesn't mean fitting inside pockets. It never did.

 

[Akoi]

I hope we see a switch 2 after the this model is successful.

 

[Kyzer]

Sure its portable, but "highly" might be stretching it

 

[NinjaMouse]

Maybe it's the unit itself or Zelda, but I enjoy playing the Switch on my commute far more than anything I've played on my 3DS.

 

[jluedtke]

I think the entire console is pretty damned portable, including the dock. Moving it from room to room, or even bringing it to someone's house, is just a matter of yanking out the HDMI and unplugging it from the wall. No sensor bar, no power brick. Just unhook it and toss it into a bag. I love that.

 

[SoldierOfLight]

It fits in my coats inside pocket. That makes it portable enough as far as I'm concerned.

It may be portable but I don't think it's as durable to be in a coat pocket. I'd be scared to have it bump and crack against something.

Someone mentioned seeing people playing on the bus, I would do it if I didn't live in L.A. I'm afraid someone will snatch and run. I barely use my phone on the bus home since there are some shady weird people who look like they just left the two towers.

 

[Briarios]

The problem with portability is the fact that the 3DS exists. The 3DS is more compact, has the feeling of being more durable (clam-shell design), has a longer battery life, and, obviously, a much larger library. I got a Switch at launch but it has not left the house. I still use my 3DS during my daily commute because of the reasons listed above.

It's like the fight between the Game Boy (inferior tech) with the Game Gear (superior tech), except it's internal.

The joy cons kind of push the size of the system into "too large" territory. It will probably just take an adjustment period. People, after all, seem to be getting comfortable with phones that have 6" screens.

I completely agree. I see no need to move to a switch, when the 3DS fits in my pocket and I don't have to worry about scratching the screen. The 3DS is a brilliant design for a portable. The Switch it a tablet with controllers. That's not a bad thing, but it's leagues away from being as portable as the DS series.

 

[wazoo]

The problem with portability is the fact that the 3DS exists. The 3DS is more compact, has the feeling of being more durable (clam-shell design), has a longer battery life, and, obviously, a much larger library. I got a Switch at launch but it has not left the house. I still use my 3DS during my daily commute because of the reasons listed above.

It seems the same argument between GBA/DS and DS/3DS. They day the old guy is not supported, it is over.

 

[killatopak]

highly?

IMO it's not that portable. Highly portable is GB micro and GBA SP.

 

[LoNe_eXiLe]

I've had my Switch since Sunday and have yet to play it in "TV mode." It's not that I haven't had the opportunity, I just don't want to because the Switch works so well as a handheld.

 

[Ogawa-san]

There's "I can carry this around" portable, and there's "I can put this in my bag/pocket and go" portable.

Switch is more like a laptop as the former. Nintendo portables up to it were the latter.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

This is coming from someone who brings a gaming laptop with a mouse or a controller on planes to play games.

Well, if this is your litmus test for portability then I understand why you consider the switch to be very portable.

Personally it's too large for me to consider bringing with me on my daily commute (4 hours/day). But that's just me.

And that's not why I purchased it. It's my 'around-the-house' portable device.

 

[shandy706]

Maybe it's the unit itself of Zelda, but I enjoy playing the Switch on my commute far more than anything I've played on my 3DS.

Probably both.

The DS and it's games felt like crap compared to my Vita. I would carry both with me, but barely touched the DS after the Vita came out. I'm sure the Switch feels much better in your hands and the games feel like a full experience from consoles.

I loved having MLB: The Show, Madden, Fifa, Uncharted, Killzone, etc... on the go. They felt like full fledged games, and they looked good too. The system was so much more comfortable to play on too ergonomics wise. The switch falls into that same category.

 

[Crazyorloco]

The problem with portability is the fact that the 3DS exists. The 3DS is more compact, has the feeling of being more durable (clam-shell design), has a longer battery life, and, obviously, a much larger library. I got a Switch at launch but it has not left the house. I still use my 3DS during my daily commute because of the reasons listed above.

It's like the fight between the Game Boy (inferior tech) with the Game Gear (superior tech), except it's internal.

The joy cons kind of push the size of the system into "too large" territory. It will probably just take an adjustment period. People, after all, seem to be getting comfortable with phones that have 6" screens.

Yeah and people do travel with huge tablets. I see those all the time on NYC trains. I feel comfortable traveling with my switch. It's definitely larger than my other portables, but It's not that bad.

Well, if this is your litmus test for portability then I understand why you consider the switch to be very portable.

Personally it's too large for me to consider bringing with me on my daily commute (4 hours/day). But that's just me.

And that's not why I purchased it. It's my 'around-the-house' portable device.

That's the beauty of the system. You can leave it home and just use it there around the house.

 

[Sgtpepper89]

It will be portable as soon the shipping of carrying cases to the stores starts. Right now mine doesnt get further from the tv than the bedroom aka equal to the Wii U.

 

[Okami Haundo]

I wasn't quite sure how portable Switch would feel for me, but I now find myself bringing it just about everywhere. Tabletop mode feels like a dream and the way Switch handles sleep mode allows me to play Zelda without worrying.

Hell, I haven't even worried about the battery thanks to the Switch putting itself into sleep mode upon almost dying. I tested that out the other day and I was able to immediately resume gameplay upon getting it back to a charger. I honestly can't think of any improvements I'd want besides a smaller bezel.