The Nintendo Switch is almost here and there are opinions about it everywhere!
You can barely move your mouse on YouTube without accidentally clicking on a video offering
another hot take on the Nintendo Switch.
"The Switch is going to print money you guys!
Cry more lamestation fans and Xbox."
"You are stupid for thinking the Switch is good."
See what I mean?
Now no system's perfect, and the Switch is no exception--but there's a loooot to
be excited about here--at least for me.
And that's why I'm here today--to give you my personal Top 10 reasons why I'm excited
for the Switch.
Some of them are a bit silly, some a little more abstract, and some just for fun.
So let's SWITCH over to #10
Dat Click That stupid click might be one of the most
satisfying sounds created by man.
It's distinctive and immediately catches your attention, like the sound of a popping
open a soda.
Even the subsequent reverb almost sounds like the sigh of relief of someone's thirst being
quenched.
See?
Love it.
I better hear that damn thing every time I turn on the system.
A Confident Nintendo Confidence is attractive.
And the lack of it can be spotted from a mile away.
Just ask any of my ex-girlfriends about me *drum roll*
And right now, Nintendo seems to have it--or at least, it feels like they do.
Fake it until you make it, right?
Look at that logo--it's white on a sea of red.
It projects power AND energy.
And it's probably no coincidence that these are the same colors Nintendo used back when
they dominated the industry in the 80s and early 90, making it recognizable to anyone
who grew up with Nintendo in that era.
So between the the distinctive logo, Nintendo's on-point messaging, and the return to the
classic white and red color scheme, it feels like we're looking at a more confident Nintendo--a
Nintendo that that pulled itself up by the bootstraps and believes in itself again.
A Nintendo that's willing to shell out some big bucks for a Super Bowl commercial to ensure
people actually know what the hell the system is this time.
The Switch's red & white color scheme is Nintendo's way of saying: "We're back,
baby!"
Joy-Cons Are Joyful We've never had a controller--or should
I say controllers--that have been this versatile before, fitting almost any play style.
At times, they're physically part of the Switch itself, then at others, they function
like independently motion-controlled devices for each hand, and at others yet, they can
come together for a more conventional gaming experience--and finally, they can be split
into two completely independent controllers for some 2 Player action.
And all the while, they're adding functionality beyond your standard controller too, with
enhanced motion sensor technology, more nuanced rumble, and an IR camera that can detect shapes--for
whatever reason.
Point is, the Joy-Cons can adjust to fit almost any play-style, and that's pretty darn cool.
Oh, and I have to give a special shoutout that charging the Joy-Cons is as simple as
connecting them to a Switch.
Yep, searching for Double As batteries or charging cables is a thing of the past.
Thank god.
Zelda is a Launch Title For only the second time in Nintendo's console
history, Zelda is a system launch title.
And just as we may be looking at a very different Nintendo, we're also looking at a very different
Zelda.
One that's leaving behind the baggage accumulated over 30 years and venturing out in all-new
directions.
And because of that, I haven't been this excited for a new Zelda in a very, very long
time.
Now the crazy thing is that, at first blush, Zelda doesn't exactly seem like *that* great
of a launch title, in the sense that it barely makes use of the Switch's unique features.
It doesn't support HD Rumble, there's no touchscreen use as far as we know, 2 Player
clearly isn't an option, and it barely makes use of the motion controls.
And yet, it might be because of those reasons that Breath of the Wild may actually be the
best possible launch title.
This is a brand new open-world single-player game clearly designed for hardcore gamers--which
is to say, it's something that you'd normally only be able to play on your TV.
And yet, it isn't.
With the Switch, BotW is a game that you can literally play anywhere without seams or boundaries.
Which is kind of fitting given that's also the very idea of Breath of the Wild itself--a
world without limits.
And that brings me to my next point.
Switching is Liberating
Since the very first trailer, Nintendo's done a fantastic job communicating the idea
of the Switch--in that you can play it at home or on the go.
But one thing that can't fully be captured by an ad is the magnitude of that idea--because
the Switch is a little like the Matrix, in that you have to experience it for yourself...in
order to fully appreciate it.
Because up until now, console gaming and portable gaming have been two entirely different things.
If you play a console at home, you're tethered to the TV.
And if you play a handheld on the go, you're confined to a small screen that's not terribly
comfortable to hold.
The appeal of the Switch isn't just it's two devices in one--it's that it merges
the two to create a brand new type of system.
One where you can play the SAME games at home on your big screen as on the go, or any state
in between.
Seamlessly, and comfortably.
If you have to leave the house, just pick it up and go.
You no longer have to worry about not having enough time to start a game, because you can
just take the game with you.
The shackle's been broken--you're free!
You're unplugged!
(Matrix scene)
And even when out and about, it's not just a handheld.
Because you can prop the Switch on its kickstand as a mini TV and play it just like a console
with a standard controller--wherever you may be.
That's versatility.
Multiplayer Anywhere Okay, you get it--the Switch is liberating--but
there's even more to it.
Because the Switch isn't an isolating experience--it's an inviting one.
No matter where you are, at home, or on a bus, or a plane, you will always have two
controllers with you: the left and right Joy-Cons, which can function as independent controllers
for two players.
It's a multiplayer machine right out of the box.
And that is freaking awesome.
And not just because the Switch first Nintendo console in 25 years to come with two controllers
out of the box--but also because it's the only handheld to ever do so--or even come
with a controller at all!
Before, everyone needed their own handheld to join in, but now anyone can without needing
any additional hardware.
You can literally be playing anywhere and have a friend--or maybe even a stranger--join
you for some co-op or competitive action.
The Switch has you both covered.
Why be stuck talking to your seatmate on the plane when you can beat their ass in Mario
Kart instead?
Or maybe they can help you tackle a boss you've been having trouble with?
It's here that that the Joy-Con really lives up to its name.
You just have to ask yourself one question...will you take the Red Joy-Con.
Or the Blue One?
Voice Chat & Smart Phone App It only took Nintendo a decade, but they're
finally joining the modern era and offering voice chat on a universal basis...via a smartphone
app.
Yeah, of course they had to throw a curveball in there.
I mean, leave it to Nintendo to have your phone function like an actual phone again...
But after my initial hesitation, I think Nintendo may be onto something.
Because Nintendo has already outlined how the Switch Smart Phone app will work in Splatoon
2--and it sounds incredibly promising.
As it's not just for voice chat--instead it comes into play before you even start playing
Splatoon, allowing you to schedule matches with your friends in advance, presumably without
needing to be near the Switch.
And once in the match, the app then allows you to chat with everyone in the lobby--as
long as they're not strangers--before switching to team-only chat when the match actually
begins.
This demonstrates the app will automatically work in tandem with the games being played,
as opposed to it functioning completely separately, like Nintendo's version of Skype or something.
And the more I've thought about it, the more brilliant the idea of a companion App
is.
For one, it solves the problem of headset cables not being long enough to reach a docked
Switch.
Two, it has the potential of adjusting settings even easier while in-game--such as muting
someone without having to deal with the pause screen.
And then there's the fact that you can schedule matches in advance, presumably sans Switch.
That's awesome.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg for the potential of a dedicated Switch app.
Like being able to add friends from your phone at any time, or maybe being able to buy games
via your phone, so that's it already downloaded and waiting for you on your Switch when you
get home.
Now granted, there's still plenty of room for Nintendo to screw this up--but if it all
comes together, the promise of a dedicated app a unified voice chat experience on a Nintendo
platform is exciting...even if voice chat is something we should have had like 10 years
ago.
Retro Games Are New Again Nintendo made quite a few announcements during
last month's Switch presentation, including the fact that it would now cost to play online.
But there's one announcement in particular that's gone a little under the radar--no,
not the free NES or SNES you get once a month as part of the online plan.
But the fact that those game's multiplayer would be updated to be playable online.
This is something I've never expected, but have always wanted.
After all, it's hard enough to get together with friends these days--let alone for gaming--so
being able to play each other from the comfort of our own homes is a game changer.
While we don't know what games will be supported yet, I'm already giddy for the chance to
play Super Mario Kart's Battle Mode again with old friends who live several hundred
miles away.
Or to 100% Kirby's SuperStar with a buddy for the first time in a decade.
There are so many classic games that are have been lost to time--not just because they're
old, but also because it's harder than ever to play local multiplayer in the online era.
And this is a chance to have new life breathed into these classic games.
The 1st Year Line-Up is Donk'ing Awesome Say what you will about the Switch's third-party
line-up--god knows we have.
But from a first party perspective , the first year is looking pretty killer.
I mean, I just had an entire section on Zelda: Breath of the Wild as a launch title.
But beyond that, we have a definitive version of Mario Kart 8 with a proper battle mode
in April, a brand new IP in the form of ARMS sometime in the Spring, followed by a true
Splatoon sequel in the summer.
And it all wraps up with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and one of the most exciting looking Marios
ever at the end of the year.
All of that within a 9-10 month period, barring any delays.
That is nuts.
And that's not even to mention smaller titles like Snipperclips thats getting a lot of early
buzz, as well as some great Indie support, like Yooka-Laylee, Shovel and Knight: Spectre
of Torment, Stardew Valley, among many others.
And those are only the games we know about!
The Unknown Future Maybe it's just me, but the Switch feels
like more than merely a platform--instead, it represents a fundamental shift within Nintendo
itself--after all, the very idea of marrying a console with a handheld is a pretty dramatic
shift for Nintendo by itself.
But it goes even deeper than that.
Whether it's giving their most cherished franchises to younger developers, as seen
with Breath of the Wild, or shining the spotlight on a wider array of developers such as during
the recent Switch Presentation, or even expanding beyond their comfort zone such as with smartphone
gaming and apps--the Switch really feels like it's ushering in a new Nintendo era.
And while it's much too early to guess how things will pan out--I am damn excited for
what's next in Nintendo's future.
And not just in terms of games, but theme parks, movies, and who knows what else.
If the Switch is just the start, what else might be waiting for us around the corner.
I can't wait to find out.
So there you have it: my Top 10 reasons why I'm excited for the Switch.
But what are you excited for?
Let us know by posting in the comments below.
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