Merry Switchmas
Nintendo finally held its long awaited press conference for its upcoming console/handheld hybrid, the Nintendo Switch. The company revealed the system’s $299.99 price tag and its March 3 release date. Nintendo also announced quite a few games. Here are my strongest positive and negative reactions to the Switch Presentation.
Super Mario Odyssey
Imagine a modern urban setting with your typical skyscraper, a theater, a store called “Crazy Cap,” and a street sign for Dixie St. The only indication of which game world you’re in are the words, “New Donk City.” Pan down to the streets where a taxi passes by. Suddenly, a manhole cover begins to shake and out pops… Mario? This is how the new Super Mario Odyssey trailer started, and I love it!
The game will feature an large open sandbox world akin to Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. I adore Super Mario Galaxy and its inventive worlds and mechanics. However, most levels were distinctly more linear than the rich, explorative areas of the former two. Super Mario Odyssey is a return to form, and it looks more amazing than I could have imagined based on the initial Switch video. The theme is “jumping to an unknown world,” and the world looks spectacular. I wanted to roll around in that Mexican-themed town, run across magical leaves that form in midair, ride a lion through an inverse-pyramid desert expanse, and dance with robots in a lush jungle. I’d even cook myself in that giant crystallized vegetable soup area. The world looks somewhat parallel to our own, yet it oozes with such creativity.
New Donk City, an area with realistic humans walking about, will be a fitting playground for our Brooklyn-born plumber. In the trailer, Mario triple-jumps on a cab, spins on a traffic pole, and wall-jumps up skyscrapers. Sure, it’s odd to see Mario in a city setting with regularly-proportioned people, but Sonic did it in his first 3D adventure… Actually, that’s probably not the best example. Sorry, Sonic! Regardless, it’s endearing to see Mario jump rope with two ladies in a park. Even Bowser is dressed for the occasion, looking more debonair than ever before in his white top hat and suave suit. Seriously, Peach, give him a chance!
The last major point changes up the gameplay significantly. Mario can throw his signature red cap as a boomerang. While the hat is in midair, Mario can then bounce on it, leading to what will likely be a huge platforming game-changer. Nintendo even borrowed a page from Rare’s old-school collectathons like Banjo-Kazooie and put googly eyes on the hat. Super Mario 64 is one of my favorite games of all time, and if SMO can replicate and improve upon that style, then I will have a fantastic time next holiday season. There are other great games to come to the Switch, but Super Mario Odyssey was quite easily my game of the show.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild at Launch
The latest trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is gorgeous. Watch it if you haven’t already. I fell in love with the new open-air gameplay that Nintendo showed off during their 2016 E3 presentation, and the newest trailer cements it as my most anticipated game this year. Zelda herself looks like she jumped out of a Ghibli movie, and I adore the personality she displays this time around. It’s especially powerful when she cries into Link’s arms. To that point, Nintendo is really making an effort to finally use voice acting to its finest. With what appears to be a fascinating cast of characters and an intriguing plot with 100 years of history, Breath of the Wild will hopefully be one of the finest titles to grace the Switch. And the best part? It’s a launch game, coming out on the same day as the Switch!
Fire Emblem Warriors
I spent over a hundred hours playing the content-rich Hyrule Warriors Legends, and Fire Emblem Fates was one of my favorite games of 2016. Enter Fire Emblem Warriors, a fusion of the Fire Emblem franchise and Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors gameplay. Excuse me while I salivate. The very prospect of running around the field slicing and dicing enemies as Marth, Ike, Lucina, and Corrin has me giddy inside. Unfortunately, we didn’t see much and can’t tell exactly who will be in the game. But if it’s anything like the fanservice celebrations of Hyrule Warriors and Dragon Quest Heroes (which is now coming to Switch!), we will have a star-studded cast of the series’ lords.
RPGs
Next to platfomers, one of my favorite genres is the role-playing game, particularly Japanese ones (JRPGs). The Wii U unfortunately lacked RPGs, only having a few (great ones!) near the end of its life cycle. During the presentation, Nintendo announced a handful of RPGs. If they all came out within the next year, I’d be set until their next system. I’m most hyped for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, which appears to be a truer sequel to the Wii original than Wii U’s Xenoblade Chronicles X was. The game looks great so far, with stunning visuals, a vast world, and cute anime characters. That game on its own would be meaty enough, but there were more surprises during the show. Atlus teased a new Shin Megami Tensei, a classic RPG series that has since spun off into Persona and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE. Square Enix also revealed a new “Project Octopath Traveler,” made by the same team who worked on (and named) the Bravely Default games. Though we didn’t see much, the game had a distinct Super Nintendo or early PlayStation sprite artstyle, which speaks to the 16-bit lover in me. Finally, we got announcements of Dragon Quest X and XI, though it’s up in the air whether those will make it to the West.
The Return of Bomberman and Puyo Puyo Tetris
There was a sizzle reel at the end that showed nearly every other game publicly scheduled for the Switch. I saw some good-looking games in the reel such as Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Ultra Street Fighter II, and Sonic Mania. But honestly, no other games caught my eye more than Super Bomberman R and Puyo Puyo Tetris. For Konami to actually release a new Hudson game, and for it to be Bomberman, is nothing short of amazing. I was actually moved by the Bomberman 33rd anniversary logo in the corner of the game box. Bomberman hasn’t had a proper console game in years, and yet here he is, gracing the Switch with his adorable presence. Playing eight-player local and online battles will probably be a launch highlight. I’m happy this beloved gaming mascot is back. Similarly, I’m excited for the return of Puyo Puyo Tetris and the chance to play two different puzzle games with cute anime characters. I wish these games had a bigger presence during the actual presentation rather than being relegated to bits in a sizzle reel and post-presentation YouTube uploads.
LOWS
Presentation
This brings me to my lowlights: The presentation itself wasn’t that great. Make no mistake. The games look fabulous, but perhaps the presenters could have spent more time showing them off, particularly the ones that actually had trailers. For instance, they could have easily talked about their new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update which has a revamped Battle Mode and new characters and tracks from Splatoon. They could have also shown us why we should be interested in a game called Snipperclips, which I knew nothing about until Treehouse Live did a hilarious playthrough the following day. Instead, we had a long explanation about the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers. I understand that the mini Wiimote-like devices that snap onto a bigger controller deserve explanation. However, it was unnecessary to talk about them for a fourth of the conference, especially when they began showing off the Joy-Con’s ability to read hand signals.
It didn’t help that the first game they showed off was this eccentric party game called 1-2 Switch. I was fine with Wii Sports, stuck with Wii Play, and even enjoyed Nintendo Land. I’m not sure what the appeal of 1-2 Switch is. The game revolves around a series of minigames where two players face each other and perform random motion-controlled actions, completely ignoring the screen. The first example was “Quick Draw,” a wild-west style gun duel where the first one to pull their Joy-Con out on the mark wins. Other examples include mock-eating contests, air guitar, wizard duels, swordplay, and milking a cow. I suppose it allows you to reach into your imagination, but then why would you need a $300 machine to do it? Perhaps it’s for children, but it’s primarily an older crowd playing in the trailer. I’d understand if it were a launch game, in which case, I would certainly play it and would love to be pleasantly surprised. Otherwise, I’m not sure whom this game is for. I don’t generally hate on things either. I’m genuinely confused what’s fun about 1-2 Switch.
Launch Day Lineup
On launch day, we will at least have Breath of the Wild, Super Bomberman R, and 1-2 Switch. We also have Skylanders Imaginators and Just Dance at launch, with more games to come in the year. While Breath of the Wild will hopefully be enough as a launch game, it’s also coming out on Wii U the same day. As alluring as Bomberman is, Nintendo has an uphill battle to climb if they want to attract people to their system. To be fair, most consoles have had poor launch days. Even some of my favorite systems only had a single remarkable game. Although it’s still a low point that the launch is weak, the launch year looks like it will be strong overall, with hits like Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 coming soon.
Conclusion
There were other assorted highs and lows during the presentation. I’m very excited about the system being region free, the HD rumble technology (as weird as that sounds), and the Switch’s capacitive touch screen – making it closer to a smartphone than a 3DS. I’m also glad that EA and Bethesda are supporting the Switch at this stage and hope that they stick with it. I’m not fond of the new paid online, though I hope this leads to a better online infrastructure. I’m fine with the system’s price, but don’t like the expensive costs of each additional controller and accessory. Overall, I’m still as excited as ever for the system. The excitement isn’t as mind-blowing yet, but there’s enough great games in the pipeline to have convinced me to preorder. This will be an interesting year for Nintendo, and I hope to cover my own journey with the Switch when it ships on March 3!
Mr. Panda's Video Game Reviews 
I agree with just about everything. Although, Splatoon 2 was a huge high point for me. I was expecting an enhanced port, like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, so when that “2” appeared at the end of the trailer, I was ecstatic.
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Yes! I’m also excited for Splatoon 2! I played a bunch of it when it came out, but I petered out near the end. It’s a shame because I missed out on so many Splatfests as a result. I do like the series though, and I’m glad you were ecstatic about the sequel! It’s no coincidence that it was one of the first major games to be announced. Japan loves it a lot too! Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I’m glad you agree too! Will you be getting the Switch to get Splatoon 2?
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I’ve got mine preordered!
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Great thoughts on the Switch! I’m really excited about the big titles, like the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (of course!) and Super Mario Odyssey. It was awesome to see more reveals for Breath of the Wild, especially the characters–especially Zelda! I agree with you that they should have spent more time talking about the games and less time on the hardware specs. We didn’t need an explanation of each button on the Joy-Con (we get it). Many of those games deserved more than 2 seconds of fame on the sizzle reel. They really seem to be promoting 1-2-Switch, which looks fun enough, but probably has more hype than warranted. Though I must say it is an interesting concept to play a video game without looking directly at a screen. I do wish there were more games actually releasing on launch day. At least one of them will be quite substantial. That should hopefully tide me over until the others come out in “spring 2017.” Despite an unbalanced presentation, it still sold me on the Switch, which I will surely be getting on launch day. 🙂
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Thanks as always! 🙂 I LOVE how Princess Zelda looks in the game. It seems like she will be a wonderful character, and I’m excited to see how she will impact the story. I should clarify about the hardware specs issue. It’s not that I don’t want to know about them. I just thought we knew quite a bit already thanks to the first trailer. I didn’t have to be so long, especially when parts of it amounted to “Here is right controller. Here is left controller.” It’s probably for investors and people who don’t know what it is. I’m more disappointed because I already knew coming in, hehe. I don’t even know if 1-2 Switch has hype, but I’m sure there are some people who may want to play it. I’m not convinced yet, but I don’t want to take it out of the running automatically. I just want to know more and even try it out because I’m genuinely confused. Also, I guess it’s interesting to play a video game without looking directly at a screen, but then why make it a video game, haha? We could use imagination, right? I’d be fine if this was just a packed-in extra. We’ll see. And yes, I know you’re getting it. 😛 I’m excited!
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Reblogged this on Miketendo64! The News, Reviews & Personal Views Website On All Things Nintendo and commented:
Hey everyone! Mr. Panda here, with my thoughts on the Nintendo Switch Presentation. It really was a roller coaster of highlights for me, and there was a lot to digest. Please check out what I thought! Hint: I’ve already preordered one.
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Well, my thoughts on it were pretty much all negative to be honest. Zelda, Mario, and FE Warriors look amazing, but that’s about it. I really dislike the Joy Notes and the direction that Nintendo seems to be going with this console. It feels like the Wii 3.0 as the company goes after another gimmick. The way that the console is set up seems to make it tough for local multiplayer as everyone needs to bring their own console for the big games. I was planning to get this console day 1, but now I’ll probably just wait til Christmas. I pre ordered LoZ for Wii U instead and just went back and got two big games (Pokemon XD and Mega Man X Collection) for about half of the price of the Switch and I’ll just play the waiting game til the. I hope you enjoy the Switch though and look forward to seeing your thoughts on Zelda and the other titles you get when the console comes out.
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Thanks! And I totally understand why you would find it to be negative. It wasn’t a good presentation. Their big launch game is simultaneously releasing on their previous system. Other awesome games are coming out later in the holiday. I would say that the little Joy-Con controllers are indeed gimmicky, particularly in the way they use them with 1-2 Switch. However, I think that the Switch itself and dock look like wonderful systems. Based on the games announced, especially the hardcore RPGs and franchises, they’re aiming for a different audience than the Wii or even the Wii U. Hope you get to enjoy Switch if you eventually get it, and hope you have fun with Breath of the Wild however you play it! And thank you! I look forward to playing with the Switch and sharing how it is!
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It’s wonderful to get a glimpse of what someone well-versed and diversified in many realms of gaming thinks about this. Your thoughts here are very well-organized and eloquent as always, which is very refreshing compared to a lot of what I’ve been reading on the internet the past day about this topic!
I really enjoyed the presentation. I haven’t watched many in the past and it pushed the limits of quirkiness for me at times (the Splatoon guy was super cheesy, but simultaneously adorable!), but I found it to be well-organized. I too wish that they would’ve focused more on the games rather than the hardware itself because I don’t really care much about specs/hardware – I want to hear about the games! As someone who will not likely buy the console for at least a year, I am probably alone in not being disappointed in the release date game line-up. I hold fast to the belief that as the life of the console goes on, the games will fill out as they always do. That said, I am particularly excited for SMO and the Zelda game, but I’m planning to get Breath of the Wild on the Wii U so I can get that out of my system sooner than later. I was a big wiener and found my eyes producing feelings during the trailer last night, so I don’t really want to wait indefinitely to play it. I will likely wait to get the Switch used or at least for a (hopefully!) discounted price after a time. I have never, ever bought a game system at launch and really can’t justify it with the amount of games I still need to wade through! It’ll still be there when I’m ready to jump into something new generation 🙂
I’m so glad you’re excited for it and can’t wait to read your reviews on some of those awesome titles coming out! I’m also glad you got a preorder. They’re scarce in Canada, as usual!
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Aww thank you so much for your incredibly kind words! It means a lot to me! I’m glad you enjoyed it and the presentation! The presentation could have been better, but I think it appealed to a Japanese audience. Not just the games they showed, but just how they show information with all of the cheesy magic tricks and skits. I appreciated that part a lot though regardless of content. And I loved the constant snapping. Nintendo’s employees are such characters, and I love it!
I’m glad you’ll still be able to experience Breath of the Wild on the Wii U. It looks like it will be an emotional experience, and the voice acting is going a long way to immerse us in that. I love how Zelda is portrayed this time around! Just when I thought Skyward Sword had my favorite Zelda! I can’t wait for the game, and I hope to enjoy it on my new console! Totally get what you mean when you don’t get systems at launch though. They do get better as the lineup grows over the years. For me, I usually get Nintendo systems at least on launch day, and have done so since GameCube and Game Boy Advance. We’ll see if it pays off this time, but either way. I’m ready and excited to give it a chance! Thanks again!
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Awesome post! 🙂 I really enjoyed reading your thoughts. The biggest surprise for me was Super Mario Odyssey. I haven’t been this excited for a Mario game in a while.
I’m so hyped for this console. I used my break at work today to stand in line to preorder a Switch, and the BoTW CE (my coworkers did laugh at me a bit, haha). My boss also let me use a vacation day on March 3rd. I’m so ready for this! 😀
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Thank you very much! It makes me so happy that you enjoyed reading it! Super Mario Odyssey is one of my most hyped games right now. When I first saw a glimpse of it in the first trailer, I just felt like it was going to be what I was looking for. So far, it’s surpassed my expectations with the world tour angle and the realistic people. I don’t know why, but I just love how Mario doesn’t even mesh with the other humans. Go you for getting in line to preorder! I was very close to going really early, but luckily I was able to snag the preorder online after the presentation. You’re getting the collector’s edition of BotW though so that’s awesome! And you get to play it on a vacation day on the day it comes out! Ah, I love it! Cheers to March 3rd! Let’s enjoy our new console soon!
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Agreed! Mario stands out in such a unique way against the normal humans. Thanks and I can’t wait! I hope you enjoy your Switch too 🙂
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My thought train kind of went like this:
I already knew that Breath of the Wild would be a big marketing thing for the Switch, since everybody wants it so bad. I personally am not a huge Zelda fan, but BOtW is just so cool looking, that I was thinking I would get a copy if I ever got myself a Switch.
Then Splatoon 2 came up in the presentation and I was like, aw man. Definitely would get that if I ever got a Switch.
And then Super Mario Odyssey was shown and I said, “I’m sold!” I HAVE to get a Switch now, it was my highlight of the presentation. I have Super Mario Sunshine and it is just the best, it could only be better in HD on the Switch with new levels, which is kind of what SMO is. So, I’m sold.
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Super Mario Odyssey is going to be THE game for Switch. It just has to be. I’m a huge fan of both Mario and Zelda, and both franchises are doing something really special with their new entries. Super Mario Sunshine is indeed awesome, and I admit to needing to play it again to truly appreciate it more. I love the more open hub world games, and SMO is fitting that bill! As for Zelda, it’s going to be so new that you may end up liking it. Either way, I’m also planning on getting Splatoon 2 when it comes out and hope they support it with fun splatfests just like with the first one. Hooray for Switch hype! Thanks for reading and commenting!
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For me, it’s a wait-and-see. The initial high of the system reveal has worn off, and the reality is setting in. The price isn’t bad, but the accessories and online membership weigh my enthusiasm down a lot. Combine that with the dearth of content that we know of being out at launch, and I’m content with waiting until the holidays before taking the thought of buying it seriously.
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The expensive accessories and paid online membership is disappointing. I also wish we had more games earlier. I look forward to what they’ll end up talking about at E3 and in Directs to come this year. Maybe they’ll expand their lineup or at least have more surprises to please fans. We’ll see! Thanks for reading and commenting!
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For once, I’m optimistic about Nintendo. I really hope they turn things around in the wake of the meh-saster that was the WiiU’s launch.
And no problem! I really need to read more of your stuff.
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FIRE EMBLEM WARRIORS!!!
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I know right? I am so excited about it and very much look forward to discussing it with you! 😉 Thanks so much for reading and commenting too! 😀
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Must. Pre-order. Now. I would hate to be stuck in the same situation as I was with the NES mini. Still don’t have one. Thanks for your run down of the presentation, Panda. I missed it!
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Thank you so much Well-Red! I’m glad that my run down helped you! I wish you the best of luck with nabbing a pre-order! I still don’t have an NES Classic, but I managed to preorder the Switch. Hope you can get it!
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I actually just managed to get it! Pre-ordered it from game stop and used some discounted gift cards online and ebates to save $27 plus free shipping so yeah awesome! Can’t wait! Looks like Amazon is already out of it
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Hooray! Congratulations on a successful preorder! I’m glad that there wasn’t any trouble! Excited for March to finally come!
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Me too! Thanks again, as I wouldn’t have thought to pre-order it without seeing your post via a twitter link!
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That’s awesome! I’m so glad that I was able to help you then! 😀
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Great breakdown! I’m tentatively optimistic. In a few other comments on other blogs, I’ve talked about games being the big mover and shaker for consoles, so focusing on that I’m am tentatively excited about the Switch. I wasn’t too thrilled with the presentation… While the ice-clinking thing was interesting, that wasn’t a big selling point for me. Honestly it reminded me of the promise of the 1:1 Wii motion plus that, in practice, just about made me pull my hair out when I was playing Skyward Sword.
The games look gorgeous, but again I’d like to see some more (perhaps stronger?) titles. 1 2 Switch looks fun, but it also reminds me of Wii Play, insofar as it’s a game made to teach players how to use the new technology. Don’t get me wrong, it looks like a lot of fun and I LOVE that the emphasis is on playing *with* another person and not just beside them, but for me that wasn’t exciting enough to sway me to purchase on at launch.
Fire Emblem, Zelda, Splatoon 2, and Mario (eventually) are of course heavy-hitters, but are four big titles and a few gimmicky games like Arms and 1 2 Switch enough to sell a console?
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Thank you so much for your awesome comments! I’m pretty optimistic about the games, and Mario, Zelda, Fire Emblem, Splatoon, and many of the others are certainly worth it for me. All the gimmicky games and tech demos on the other hand are mostly fluff to me. If they’re free or cheap and end up being fun, then that’s great. I wouldn’t have preordered if I didn’t also know that they had such amazing games on the horizon. Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild (even though it’s also on Wii U) are THE games that convince me that it’s worth the purchase. If they can announce even titles that are just as strong after that, I will be all the more happy with my launch buy. I do agree about the ice-clinking thing. It’s interesting, and I’m sure the HD rumble will prove fun, but that shouldn’t be a big deal especially when most of the audience can’t feel it. Regardless, we’ll see how future Directs and E3 presentations go. Perhaps it’ll get better or maybe they’ll run the course. I look forward to hearing more! Thank you again!
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As a fan of RPGs, particularly those with a J in front, I’m thrilled at the confirmed line-up (whenever we get what’s been shown, of course). On top of what you mentioned in your post, we’ll be seeing ports of Disgaea 5 and I am Setsuna, which are both great on their current platforms. I’d love to double-dip in to Setsuna if they offered a physical release. Such a bummer it was only released digitally on PS4 and PC.
I’m definitely stoked about the new Shin Megami Tensei, whatever that may turn out to be. Like you, I became obsessed with Hyrule Warriors, and found myself in a similar situation with Dragon Quest Heroes on PS4. The fact that they’re bundling DQH 1 and 2 together is a great incentive to grab its sequel on Switch instead of PS4 again. Dragon Quest X, while I highly doubt it’ll be translated for the west, is at least available due to the region free announcement. XI looks amazing. Octopath Traveler’s blend of new and old took me by surprise as well. Xenoblade 2 is a day-one purchase, for sure. Hopefully we’ll see an HD port of the Wii original?
I was really blown away by the Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild trailers, but I was confused as to why they waited to show Mario Kart 8 Deluxe until afterwards. And that it’s not a launch game is completely baffling. I went in fully expecting the Switch ports of Mario Kart, Smash, and Splatoon to be launch games. Splatoon ended up being a sequel instead, so that’s awesome (loved the game on Wii U), but with the launch line-up so barren, why are they waiting to release Wii U ports? It’s not as if the Wii U has been keeping their dev teams busy, and there are plenty of other teams out there that specialize in contracted porting.
Nintendo is a confusing bunch. The presentation aspect of the event was relatively bad, and my heart sank the moment they opened with thirty minutes of motion-controlled stuff. Then the talks about a paid online service with one virtual console NES or SNES game that is only playable during that month? A phone app being required just to play games with friends and use as a chat service? That’s a tough pill to swallow. I pay for internet. I pay for my phone bill. I paid for my Switch. I’ll be paying for the games. But now I’ll have to pay to use an app on my phone, instead of something readily integrated on to the console’s UI? That’s ridiculous. And don’t even get me started on the absurd pricing for additional Joy-Cons, docks, and the Pro controller.
It’s like they haven’t learned a thing about why the Wii U tanked.
I want them to succeed, but the presentation was very much Nintendo being Nintendo. Innovative and out of touch. The games, though, are very, very exciting. Here’s hoping we learn more about the console sooner rather than later, especially on the virtual console front.
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Thank you for your awesome well-thought-out comments! I agree that the games are the highlights of the Switch thus far. Luckily, I’m excited about what they have in store. Otherwise, I don’t think I could handle the other things they did during the presentation. I’m disappointed in the online pay structure. In general, people don’t seem to like its online as much anyway. I’m worried that people will just opt to not go online, which means there will be even less people online on Switch. And the pricing for all of the controllers and accessories is absurd.
Thank goodness for great RPGs though. I’m excited for I Am Setsuna and Disgaea 5 as well since I didn’t play them on other systems. Again, thank you for your insights, and I hope you will enjoy when you get your Switch!
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Blocking their already tiny online player base behind a pay wall is not going to bode well for Nintendo. And what about the younger teenagers that want to play with friends? Do they have smartphones? Do they have to use their parents’ smartphone?
I’m excited and woefully curious at the same time, which is how I felt with the Wii U. They don’t seem to be doing anything to entice third parties over, particularly with Ubisoft porting a game from 2013 and EA only bringing FIFA to Switch (which is rumored to build off of the 360 and PS3 version, NOT the modern PS4 and XB1 version). What is the point? Nobody wants those, and when those don’t sell, both of them are going to pack up and leave. I sadly think it’ll be a Wii U situation all over again, but hopefully region free will boost game sales worldwide.
Great post =). I enjoyed the discussion!
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The smartphone thing is really confusing for sure, though I will say that most teenagers have smartphones now, at least from my experience. It’s still an odd move on Nintendo’s part though.
It’s interesting you say that about the Wii U. I actually felt more excited about the Wii U, but had no idea how to convey that excitement because even Nintendo didn’t know. Based on the games announced at that presentation (again, huge JRPG fan), I’m content about where the Switch is going. I’m not as excited, but I feel more confident in explaining why I believe Switch will be a great system. Of course, we’ll see how it turns out!
It’s a shame that the third parties are only somewhat onboard. But that’s to be expected. It will probably be a similar situation, at least with western publishers. If Japanese developers can pick up their game and support the Switch with lots of games like the ones we’re seeing now, I’d feel a lot better. It might not do as well in the West, but Nintendo has always been a primarily Japanese-focused company. Perhaps it will lead to bigger things if it’s at least super successful in Japan. If third parties make more exclusive games with Nintendo IPs like with Koei Tecmo’s Fire Emblem Warriors, then we could still have a healthy schedule of games. Anyway, yay for region free! If those games don’t come out in the West for some reason, we can import! Thanks again for all of your insight and discussion!
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Japan’s console market is pretty sketchy right now, but my fingers are crossed that the Switch pulls a Wii and takes off like a f***ing rocket.
I can definitely see the value in Switch down the line because of its confirmed lineup of games, which is why it was an easy decision for me to pre-order and become a day-one adopter. I’m genuinely excited. Just.. cautious at the non-game specifics.
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The cost of the accessories is a concern to me too, as well as the cost of the games over here (£60 is around $90!). The system cost is pretty good for a new release to be fair. My wife likes the idea of one so we’ll likely get one sooner or later, but I’m going to wait for a price drop or a decent package deal first. I suspect it’ll be a big seller at christmas though.
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I have no clue why they decided to price the accessories so high. I mean, it’s probably because they’re expensive to make, but I can’t imagine them making as much back on those expensive things. With Super Mario Odyssey and nearly a full year of launch games at their belt, I agree that he Switch will be big this Christmas. Thank you for your insightful comments!
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I do wonder if they’re selling the physical system at a loss, as that’s often the case for consoles.
The fact they’re adding a fee for the online portion is interesting. I wonder if it’ll be more user friendly now.
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I believe Nintendo usually makes it a point to never sell at a loss unless they absolutely need to, which is usually later in the console’s life. I have no idea how much it costs to make, of course. But I’m guessing they’ll be making a profit from the systems.
Regarding online, I don’t know if it will be more user-friendly, but it will HAVE to be if they want people to pay for it. If people are satisfied with the online infrastructure and subscribe, then more people will be online. If people don’t want the online or don’t think it’s worth the money, then few people will be online, which means nobody will want to jump in. I truly hope that Nintendo gets its act together with a revamped online system!
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It’s quite possible that good quality online will make or break the system (even considering the local play capabilities). I wonder if people be a bit more ready to wait with this after the WiiU being somewhat underwhelming or if the draw of Zelda will get enough people diving in early.
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Not sure, but the Wii had a similar situation with Twilight Princess being a launch. It was also released on the previous system GameCube. The differences are that the GCN version came out a month after the Wii version. Also, the Wii had Wii Sports which was the bigger reason it did so well at the beginning. So I don’t know if the draw of Zelda will be enough for everyone. It will be for some, but Wii U owners may opt for that version instead. I agree though that good online will be big, especially if we’ll have to pay for it!
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A good pack in game would be exactly what the system needs at launch, especially if it wants to replicate the success of the Wii. Time will tell of course!
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You bring up such excellent points. I was iffy on pre-ordering the Switch only because, looking at the games, I know Kris and I won’t play most of them. We want to try them, of course, but we may not get them right away. Out of the launch titles, we’re only really interested in Zelda. Should we just get it for the Wii U and then wait on the Switch?
No, we probably won’t. But the price isn’t too thrilling, either. $300 and then if you want an extra set of joy-con controllers (which we will need) is another $80, according to Amazon. Then how much are the games going to be? $40 at the least? $60? That was a little disappointing.
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Thank you! The launch lineup is not too great, but it’s like that for most systems. At least this one has an excellent Zelda game from the getgo, like with Twilight Princess. Though also like with TP, you can pick up the new Zelda game on the previous system. If you want to play Breath of the Wild but not get a Switch early, it would be a good idea to get it on the Wii U. The game will still run excellently on the Wii U, so it’s a valid option. As for controllers, they are definitely expensive. Luckily, it seems that you only need on.e controller to play some games because each player can just use a different Joy-Con. It’s like playing with mini Wiimotes. Either way, the games do look like they will be in the $40-60 range depending on the game, which is par for the course. We’ll see how the rest of the year pans out, and hopefully Nintendo can polish up its lineup for the years to come! Thanks again for your insight!
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I posted my impressions on FB in two posts, feel free to respond to them there. 🙂
Still, great summary. What had me hyped about this system is potential, something that sadly had me hyped with Wii U. Granted there are definitely games I’m sure I’m going to love, but like you I do have some concerns (mostly similar). Biggest are the small launch lineup (5 games, in comparison Wii had 21, Wii U had 32, and 3DS had 18), the paid online (they better have a good focus on online), the lack of clear VC announcements, and the lack of a pack-in title or any backward compatibility. Also sad to see Miiverse and streetpass go. But Zelda looks beautiful and some of the revealed games are amazing. Was curious your opinion on Arms though!
Also woo Spla2n!
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Thanks a bunch JV! 🙂 I’m cautiously optimistic, but I still feel better about the Switch than about the Wii U. Maybe it’s because I already know how the Wii U turned out, but when I look at the games that are coming out on the horizon, I am actually really happy. Sure the day one lineup is rather abysmal, but at least one of them is Breath of the Wild! I hope their online is good, especially because we’ll have to pay for it. It’s always hard to tell. Wii U was a step up, but I still don’t get the sense of a focused online infrastructure. We’ll see soon! At least online will start out free. And yeah, you’re right – There was no VC! I thought at first when they were showing Street Fighter that they would show off classic games, but that turned out to be a new graphical remake. Anyway, it’s sad to see Miiverse go, but I never really associated Streetpass with consoles. I guess if this will be their dedicated handheld too, then it should have StreetPass. But I’m still not 100% clear on what they plan to do with the 3DS or their dedicated handhelds. I’m so excited about Zelda and many of the revealed games! Yes, I didn’t talk much about Arms, but in general, I’m not excited for it. I think it looks fun, but I’m not as hyped for it as most other games. I’m more interested in it than 1-2 Switch at least, haha. And yes, I’m thrilled about Splatoon 2 as well! At first, I was disappointed it wasn’t called Spla2n. But the more I look at that name, it’s hard to read, haha! Thanks for reading and for your valuable comments!
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I only bring up Arms for comic relief. That was the moment of the show I started to worry, especially after they just showed 1 2 Switch. They haven’t outright said they’re done with 3DS after a year or so but it’s seemed likely this’ll eventually replace it. I don’t wanna carry this and my 3DS around anyways, and they’ve made it clear they see this as a home console AND a handheld. As for VC, I saw them say in response to that topic that they have more info to share over the next several weeks… it’s weird how tight lipped they’ve been so close to release, hard to know what they’re planning. And while they have some good titles on the horizon, things still look pretty barren; people have all different tastes and many may only find one or two games in their preferred genre in the next 6 months. There are way less games in the launch window than even the Wii U, so I can’t help but worry for this thing taking off. Like, what has Nintendo been doing the past year while they abandoned Wii U?
But that’s enough complaining, I just want my BotW already.
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At the moment, 1-2 Switch makes Arms looks like Skyrim so I wasn’t sure, haha. I am interested in some of these smaller games like Snipperclips, but it is pretty barren. Hopefully, we hear more, but there’s no way to really know what they’re working on until they reveal it. As for whether it’ll take off, it’s hard to say, but hopefully they react to the sales either way.
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I must admit, a lot of the announced games took me by surprise, especially on the RPG front. And finally no region locks!
But unless you need to play Zelda on day one, I don’t see the need to preorder one. I can see this getting a good bundle later in the year. Even though launch titles are usually pretty small and unimpressive, the Switch’s look even more hallow than most. I honestly don’t get their whole online plan either.
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Yes, all of the RPGs are great surprises, and I’m glad that the JRPG genre will be alive and kicking on the Switch. I do wish there was more to the lineup, but I guess I’m among the type that does need to play Zelda on day one on the Switch, and thus I have it preordered haha. The Switch’s launch year looks good, but still a bit sparse compared to other system’s launch years. And we still don’t know how well online will function, yet they will charge for it. Hopefully, Nintendo can build up the Switch so that people will be more interested by the holidays.
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I’m excited to see a Mario game that takes place in the “real world” or a more realistic setting. I love the Mushroom Kingdom, but it’ll be interesting to see what they do with this! It’s not like Mario hasn’t been to other places before, so I’m looking forward to that.
Breath of the Wild is nothing short of breathtaking (I keep using that bad pun, but it fits!) and I completely agree with your assessment of the Studio Ghibli assessment. I think there are some marvelous pictures floating around the internet that show fan made images of what Zelda movie posters would look like if it were a Studio Ghibli film. That would be an amazing day, and it would utterly make up for the cringeworthy early 90s cartoon series.
I was thinking of pre-ordering, but I think I’m going to wait. New systems often have some bugs in them so I’m always a little bit wary of getting the initial batch. My birthday is the next month though so I definitely have something to ask for :p
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I’m also very excited that Mario will be treading new ground in his latest adventure! We’ve seen the Mushroom Kingdom’s familiar locales over and over, so this should be a nice change of pace. And I agree that Breath is breathtaking! You had no idea how hard it was to resist using that word in my post, haha! I love what Breath of the Wild is doing with the Ghibli-like aesthetic. I really liked how Skyward Sword looked. The worlds looked gorgeous, and the character designs were lovely. This could very well surpass it, and I look forward to seeing how my favorite characters are portrayed! Gosh, a Zelda Ghibli film sounds amazing. I admit to being a fan of the cringeworthy cartoon, but they could definitely do better with a huge budget and quality animation. Also maybe cut back on the catchphrases, haha. The Switch would definitely make an amazing birthday present! My birthday isn’t quite around that time, but maybe I can get new games for the Switch for when it does come! Thanks for reading and leaving such excellent comments!
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I’ve noticed that with so many shows I watched in my youth lol. I go back now and want to bury my head in the sand. How did I think this was cool? Haha, a few have stood the test of time, but if you ever want a major cringe, pop in He-Man and prepare yourself :p The original Transformers cartoon is actually one of the better ones. I can still stomach that. It might be because the Michael Bey films (with as many problems as they have) utilize Optimus Prime’s original voice actor, and it kind of ties the two together. I don’t know. I still like both the original series and the movie. Unicron will be forever creepy and eldritch.
Ahhhh can you imagine if Studio Ghibli actually did that! I’m weeping fangirl tears right now at the very thought. I’m also pretty hyped for the Switch itself. These emotions are overwhelming.
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I enjoyed all the old Nintendo cartoons despite themselves, haha. But I mostly grew up with comedy Warner Bros. and Disney cartoons, and later anime, so I guess I missed out, haha. I would love a Studio Ghibli Zelda game! That reminds me that I need to play through my copy of Ni no Kuni, which is actually a Ghibli-animated game, haha!
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Oh I enjoyed them too! It wasn’t until I watched them again as an adult that it was cringeworthy. As a kid they were gold. I watched Warner Bros. and Disney, too!
Ack Studio Ghibli make this happen! Oh really? I’ll have to check that out.
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I haven’t played Ni no Kuni yet, (despite owning it) but there’s already a Ni no Kuni 2 coming out soon! So Ghibli games are definitely doable! Maybe one day we can have Ghibli and Zelda together!
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Good stuff! I honestly wasn’t sure how Nintendo would ever follow-up Super Mario Galaxy, but Odyssey looks like a perfect successor. I also share your excitement for Bomberman! I’ve missed that little guy. Cough* put him in Smash, Cough*. At the very least, this should have a stronger first year than the Wii-U.
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Thank you! Super Mario Odyssey is exactly where I’d hope the Mario series was heading towards. Just based on the trailer, they nailed it. Also, I just had a feeling that you would be excited about good old Bomberman. I’ve been craving something new from the series, and a launch game should be perfect for it. Perhaps Bomberman could come to Smash if this game does well. I mean, who ever expected Konami to revive Hudson’s franchise? And yes, if every game promised for launch year comes out, I think it will be a stronger first year. Here’s to hoping! Thanks again for reading and commenting!
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The launch lineup is sparse, but it doesn’t affect me as I don’t buy consoles on day one. Fire Emblem sounds interesting. To be honest I think that universe works better as a Dynasty Warriors title than Zelda.
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Fire Emblem seems like a natural fit for the Warriors universe. I still think Hyrule Warriors is a wonderful game, but the nature of Fire Emblem’s seizing strategies and weapon-wielding characters will go well for Warriors gameplay.
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I like alot revealed about the switch so far, but i’m waiting for nintendo’s official word on backwards compatibility for digital Wii U games, that’ll win me over 100%
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A Virtual Console of any capacity, including the ability to download and play Wii U games, would definitely be nice!
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I’ll probably write up a “thoughts on” thing about this rather soon, but I’ll try to sum it up. I think it’ll have enough great games to be worth getting eventually, as is the case with nearly every Nintendo system because Nintendo makes great games. However, I think it’ll need a few years to get a solid library and perhaps some repricing here and there on games, accessories, perhaps even the system itself or the online service in order to make it worth the cost. If the new controller is supported properly to fit its potential then that would be a real interesting way to sell it. Consoles and handhelds aren’t exactly new, even if putting them together IS and helps justify the price a little, but we’ll see how well that mentality is treated in various games and their designs. I just think it’s too early and too expensive for what is assured versus what is being promised or is possible. There’s not enough there. I’m personally going to wait because I only got a Wii U in August of last year so I’ve got that to work on for now. Plus, I personally need a real system seller. The Wii U took its sweet time getting one for me because I didn’t feel the need to get another iteration of the same things again right away. Another Mario Kart, Smash Bros, 2D Mario, 3D Mario… and then flat out remakes and spinoffs while they teased a new Zelda that is now coming as a too little too late entry on the thing. Splatoon would’ve done it but the genre of online-focused shooter didn’t appeal to my tastes. So it took Super Mario Maker to finally sway me and show me there was a must-have on the system. The Switch needs that for me. It needs something I can’t get elsewhere, which I can with this new Zelda game. So that is certainly something I’m looking forward to. I’m looking for the next big “wow me” game from Nintendo that sells me on it, among other things. Just my two cents. Look at all those words. And this was me making it SHORT! I apologize.
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Nintendo definitely needs a system seller. For a good portion, it’s actually going to be Super Mario Odyssey, myself included. I am so excited for that game! And with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Fire Emblem Warriors rounding it up in the future, I’ll be a pleased Switch owner. While I don’t technically need it now since Zelda will be on Wii U, I figure that since I’ll be getting one anyway, I should enjoy the best version of Breath of the Wild!
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I’ve already preordered my Switch :). Getting Zelda, Bomberman, and Has Been Heroes in the first month. Maybe Arms, but that means I would have to buy another Joy Con controller and those things are expensive.
I thought I was following you this entire time. You have a really neat blog.
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Awesome! I hope you enjoy your Switch on launch day! I approve of your choices! I’m getting Zelda and Bomberman as well. Snipperclips and I Am Setsuna will be my next purchases that month too. I also am thinking about Arms, but I’m not crazy about it yet. If Nintendo can prove me wrong on that and 1, 2 Switch, I’d gladly pick them up too. I agree that those Joy Con controllers are too expensive though. Thanks for the kind words and follow! I really appreciate it!
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