Nintendo has always been experimental. Sometimes the company's gambles pay off in big ways (Wii), and sometimes they stumble in the market (Wii U). Ether way, consumers are always eager to see the company's next big step forward in the gaming space. The Switch is Nintendo's latest experiment, and it is full of fun ideas. We love the system's clean user interface and overall design, and moving between televisions and traveling with it is incredibly easy. On the other hand, the controller that makes all of this possible is a bit of a mixed bag. We put the Switch through its paces to find out how well the final product stacks up to its promise.
|
Specs
|
Everything In The Box
|
The Hardware
For the last several console generations, Nintendo has come up short on horsepower, relying more on unique mechanics and system features to sell its consoles. The Switch is no exception. A custom Nvidia Tegra processor makes the Switch more powerful than the Wii U, but still underpowered compared to the PS4 and Xbox One - even though those consoles are more than three years old.
However, processing power isn't everything. Clever art direction can make a game look gorgeous without being realistic, as Nintendo's stable of colorful and iconic characters have illustrated over the years. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a perfect example; despite also running on the Wii U, the Switch's flagship launch title doesn't look out of place in today's market thanks to Nintendo's stunning visual style. However, given Nintendo's difficulty courting third-party developers in the past, the company is going to have to work especially hard to distinguish itself graphically and attract developmental support when its competitors are pushing 4K.
The Switch's outer shell doesn't seem outdated. The tablet features a sturdy construction and simple design, and is only slightly heavier than tablets of similar size. The unit's volume buttons produce a satisfying click, and the power button is recessed, which helps prevent the system from turning on and off accidentally.
The only weak aspect of the tablet's design is a flimsy kickstand used to prop the system up in tabletop mode, which snapped off the second time we used it. Fortunately, we snapped the kickstand back into place and haven't had a problem since, but we wonder how well this object holds up after repeated use. The kickstand also doubles as the cover for the system's microSD slot, which seems like a risky move, and we hope it doesn't result in too many lost SD cards.
Popping the Switch tablet in and out of its TV dock is easy. As promised, games transfer almost immediately between the tablet's screen and your television. The dock itself is mostly a shell for the tablet, but it needs to be plugged in for the Switch to display on a TV, and there is no way to connect to a television without a dock. However, we tested multiple docks, and they all immediately recognized our Switch, so you can easily move the unit between locations with Switch docks. We aren't big fans of the dock's back cover, which is meant to conceal the system's cords; this rear compartment feels flimsy, and we couldn't close it while using a few third-party HDMI cords because they were too thick.
When taking the system on the go, Nintendo says you can expect between three and six hours of battery life. We squeezed 2 hours and 50 minutes out of the system while playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in handheld mode.
While technically a handheld system, the Switch is only portable in the way devices like the iPad are portable. It's large, and though it can technically fit in a back pocket, that isn't exactly comfortable or convenient. We recommend a carrying case (or similar form of protection) if you plan on traveling with the unit.
Games look great even when you're away from the TV thanks to the Switch's built-in 6.2-inch LCD touch screen, which is crisp and scratch-resistant. However, given the system's portability, you'll likely want some kind of screen guard. The touchscreen is very responsive, but we have yet to see how well games use it. Games run at a lower resolution of 720p on this screen to help conserve battery life. While the lower resolution is barely noticeable, we encountered situations where text was too small to read clearly. This has the potential to be a serious problem if developers don't actively optimize their games for both displays.
The built-in speakers are on the back of the unit. They produce mid-level sound that is easily drowned out in loud environments, so keep a pair of headphones handy to plug into the system's standard 3.5 mm headphone jack at the top of the tablet.
One of our biggest hardware concerns is the meager 32GB of onboard memory. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe takes up 7GB of space, while The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild eats up 13.4GB, and the upcoming Dragon Quest Heroes I & II clocks in at 32GB. Game sizes aren't likely to start shrinking, so buying a separate microSD card is practically required to store games and DLC - a hidden expense buyers need to consider if they plan on using the digital marketplace in addition to physical media.
Up Next: We take a closer look at the Switch's controller.
from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/03/01/flipping-the-switch-sizing-up-nintendos-newest-console.aspx
No comments:
Post a Comment