Hands-On with the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience: It Was Everything We Could Dream Of...
This past Friday, I was absolutely stoked to attend the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience at Toronto's Enercare Centre. It was every bit as hype as you'd expect for the only Canadian stop before launch! Even from the jump, the staff at the event cheered and welcomed us like we had just won the Mario Kart World Cup in an epic wave of clapping and excitement. It was a great way to start the day.
After seeing all the leaks, rumors, and trailers for months, it was refreshing and wonderful to get my hands on the Nintendo Switch 2. The console itself is stunning. The 7.9-inch LCD display of the console is a vast improvement—it's larger, crisper, and remains much lighter than its predecessor. Everything felt great and comfortable whether I played by hand or with the new Pro Controller. The new Joy-Con 2 controllers are a significant upgrade: they're a joy to hold, easy to use, and accommodate adult hands. Getting to test out the Joy-Con 2 magnetic connection also gave us a very gratifying click and seemed very secure - which was a worry for me initially.
Nintendo has unveiled some truly fantastic games for this console, and we enjoyed playing several of them. The new Knockout Tour mode in Mario Kart World stood out for me. The thrill of racing against 23 players, with fewer competitors on each lap, and aiming for a top score at the end of the round was truly exhilarating. Playing live with 23 other players in the same room added an extra layer of enjoyment and hype. The tension during this phase of the experience was palpable. This is the kind of game that will keep you and your friends glued to the screen all summer long.
Donkey Kong Bananza also made a significant impact on me during the experience. As a big Donkey Kong 64 fan, I was looking forward to the return of 3D platforming, treasure collection, and smashing things. The visuals and effects demonstrate what the Switch 2 is capable of and were a big step forward for the series. While there were a few minor visual issues or general camera wonkiness, I also understand that the game still has some development left before it launches later this summer.
In the last part of the experience, the free-to-play area, I also looked at a couple of games from other studios. Cyberpunk 2077 ran beautifully on the Switch 2; it was fast and smooth. Hogwarts Legacy was a bit more challenging to get going, with some visual tearing and texture mesh issues. However, the new Nvidia hardware enables larger games to be played. Drag x Drive got to show off the new Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, which I found to be pretty impressive, but my favorite surprise was the all-new shake attack functionality in Street Fighter Six. This feature, which allows players to execute powerful moves by physically shaking the Joy-Con, evened out the playing field between me, a fighting game noob, and Marcel, fellow AGN co-founder and fighting game veteran.
Their new Pro Controller for the Switch 2 felt really good to hold and use. It includes USB-C charging, HD Rumble 2, motion controls, and even a headphone jack! I also noticed that the new GL and GR buttons on the rear of the controller are fantastic for toggling settings on the fly, particularly in action games. These buttons, located on the back of the controller where your fingers naturally rest, allow quick and easy access to in-game functions without taking your thumbs off the joysticks.
The best part? The entire crew here at A Gaming Podcast was able to attend this event, and it was a blast to laugh and experiment with the new hardware together. We also recorded our initial thoughts on video, which you can find on YouTube.
I want to thank Nintendo Canada and Craft PR for the invitation. The Nintendo Switch 2 I experienced was everything I had hoped for and more. It's clear that Nintendo is not trying to reinvent the wheel but rather refine and improve upon its successful formula. The advancements in functionality, the ability to iron out the kinks, the addition of a mouse function, and the evolution of game development are all evident. Luckily for me, I was able to snag a pre-order, and I am now eagerly counting down the days until June 5th, eager to bring this fantastic device home.
The Switch 2 is the upgrade we've all been dreaming of.
