A Significant Upgrade Lacking Essential Games

Alright, so picture this: Eight whole years after the first Switch hit the scene, Nintendo finally drops the Switch 2. I mean, was anyone else waiting this long? No? Just me? Well, anyway, the original was on its way to being the top dog of all consoles ever. So, naturally, everyone’s eyeing the Switch 2 to see if it’ll take the baton and sprint. Who knows, right?

Now, they’ve thrown us two versions to chew on. For $449.99, you get the console, and if you have an extra fifty bucks lying around, you grab it with a Mario Kart World download — apparently, it’s a steal since the game’s like, seventy-nine bucks on its own. So, if you’re not into Mario Kart just yet, maybe keep that money warm in your pocket.

Okay, jumping into the real deal: The Switch 2’s leaps and bounds beyond the OG. Does that even need saying? Bigger screen, although yeah, I’ll miss the OLED’s vibes. It just makes everything pop more. You kind of get pulled in. That enough to make you snatch one up?

Docking this beast is as easy as before — plug and play. The dock itself swells a little more than its older cousin, but swapping from handheld to TV is smoother than my attempts at cooking pasta. Just, be warned: A beefier HDMI cord might not get you love with the dock’s back panel. Small hiccup, but worth a nod.

Oh! Almost forgot to mention the heat. Long game nights? Yeah, the Switch 2 warms up a bit. Nothing crazy, but something to keep under your hat.

When setting this bad boy up, pretty breezy, really. Transferring saves from your Switch 1? Snap. Well, maybe after a quick update. And boom, you’re off racing.

Let’s chat games. Here, the hardware is golden, but where’s the software? The Switch 2 is like, crickets when it comes to compelling exclusives right now. A chunk of the launch lineup you can grab from other platforms, often looking and running better. At launch, just five games call it exclusive turf.

Let’s gush over games, shall we? Mario Kart World steals the show, hands down. Others? Meh. They’re there but aren’t forcing my wallet open.

Now, backward compatibility is the real MVP feature — bring those old Switch faves to the new gen. Some games got little face-lifts to run better here. Pokemon Scarlet was a mess on the first Switch but here? Slick, smooth, almost like it had a makeover. I think it’s blushing.

Plus, don’t forget those sneaky Switch Online perks. GameCube throwbacks make an entrance, and I’m here for it. Zelda: Wind Waker, anyone? I didn’t spot any hiccups yet. Fingers crossed if they keep expanding.

We’ve gotta ask: are these upgrades enough to make a Switch 2 a gotta-have-it now? Maybe. Maybe not yet. Diehard fans and Mario Kart groupies, sure. But for those riding the fence, maybe let it simmer a bit. Let more games brew and release, and it’ll probably be a no-brainer down the line.

In essence, this new shuffle forward by Nintendo is promising. It’s a shiny, fun toy for anyone who wants in on the action right here, right now. But hey, if waiting isn’t your style, no one’s judging either.