Nintendo’s Updates on Old Games: A Review of the Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Choices of Wisdom for Switch 2
Since its founding in 2011, the reviewer is a senior reviewer at The Verge. His coverage areas include audio (Sonos, Apple, Bose, Sony, etc.), home theater, smartphones, photography, and more.
During the Direct today, Nintendo gave a few details about the updates for older titles. The selection of games getting updates — which includes Arms, Super Mario Odyssey, and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker — is relatively small, and it sounds like Nintendo is taking steps to make them compatible with the Switch 2’s new GameChat feature. Nintendo stated that the updates may improve performance, which is significant for some titles like The Legend of Zelda:Echoes of Wisdom.
The company divides games with startup issues, as well as games that are usable but have some compatibility issues, into separate lists. The company notes on the site that Nintendo is working with partners and publishing to improve compatibility. That work will continue until June when the console will be released.
The Nintendo Switch 2: a joy-switch, a mouse, or a stick drifting? (Verge staffers react to the Nintendo Switch 2)
Look, I love black. My entire wardrobe is black. But the Switch 2’s mostly-black design looks off to me. The original Switch had a gray option but the neon red and blue controllers that were launched on the first day became famous. The Switch 2 has just splashes of colors and they are mostly hidden.
It is not an electronic device. Nintendo will probably repeat their strategy of launching a Switch 2 with that display technology in the future. But even right now, there’s a lot to like about the Switch 2’s new 1080p screen.
Its much larger 7.9-inch size is a blessing for the eyesight of a generation that grew up with Nintendo consoles — myself included. The company used a 120Hz panel with variable refresh rate, and widerHDR color, and it was pleasantly surprised to me.
The new Joy-Con can be used as a mouse, with magnets, do look more comfortable, and can even be used like that. Will the sticks drift?
Source: Verge staffers react to the Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 Revisited: Donkey Kong Bananza’s Fourth-Dimensional Platformer, aka Wave Bird, Betrayed
Imagine how much joy you’ll experience in being able to play with zoom meetings. Voice chat and video streaming are the worst parts about gaming to me. I will not be using these features to scare my friends away by yelling at them.
I play a lot of my Switch games with a licensed PowerA replica GameCube controller. The ZL button lets me play most of my switch games, even though it uses AA batteries. While Nintendo’s official wireless GameCube controller for the Switch 2 brings rechargeable batteries, Nintendo opted to give it a little nub of a ZL button instead of a full button. I was hoping for a WaveBird successor but didn’t get it.
$449.99 is higher than I was expecting for the Switch 2. I was looking for more than a hundred dollars. But still I’ll be doing everything I can to snag the $499.99 bundle with Mario Kart World, a game that costs an eye-watering $79.99 on its own.
I am sure that I will play many Mario Kart World, but I am not a huge fan of Nintendo’s first-party killer app. I wouldn’t bet on Donkey Kong Bananza leading the charge.
He may be as old as Mario, but this is only Donkey Kong’s second-ever 3D platformer, his first since 1999’s Donkey Kong 64, and his first solo game since Tropical Freeze in 2014. He’s an unlikely candidate for a system seller. That is probably what Mario Kart is for.
Source: Verge staffers react to the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour App: an Update for Digital Game Management on the Nintendo Switch During the 1997-2001 Super Smash Bros. Anniversary
Nintendo is charged for the NintendoSwitch 2 Welcome Tour app because it’s a bundle with a free game. Although it does appear to include a small selection of mini-games, the app seems to be more of a highly-polished interactive tutorial than a game.
Wii Sports not only helped make that console a huge hit for Nintendo, it also cleverly introduced gamers to the Wiimote and Nunchuck’s unique capabilities and motion-controlled gaming. The Welcome Tour app feels like a similar idea, but with much less replay value.
Throughout the Switch 2 Direct, I was waiting for the iconic Super Smash Bros. logo to flash across my screen. The Kirby Air Riders trailer was almost like an introduction to a new game, with me almost jumping out of my seat.
It wasn’t, unfortunately, though SSB creator Masahiro Sakurai, who also directed the original Air Ride, is directing Riders. Here’s hoping he’ll be up for another SSB.
Several GameCube games, like F-Zero GX, are coming to the new console as a Nintendo Switch Online feature, nearly two decades after Nintendo released the anti-gravity racer. When it comes to the Nintendo console, I can’t wait to play games in higher resolution without having to use a emulators.
After my decision to stick with digital game downloads for the original Nintendo Switch led to frustrations with playing those games on the Switch OLED, I was planning a return to physical cartridges for the Switch 2.
The Nintendo reveal of its new virtual game cards has changed my mind. Being able to more easily move games between several versions of the Switch without the consoles needing a constant internet connection is exactly the upgrade Nintendo needed to introduce to streamline digital game management with the Switch 2 enroute.