The reveal for the Nintendo Switch 2 has been wild, to say the least. Many have expressed concern over the pricing, alongside eager interest in the launch and launch window line-up. Nintendo answers one of those questions with a hands-on event!
Going to the event, I have much to say about the console and its line-up.
Entering the Warp-Pipe – Beginning the Switch 2 Experience
My experience started with curiosity for the hardware itself, with Nintendo having all of us in a lobby area for a few minutes. During this, I could see various accessories and more behind glass displays.
What caught my attention was the Switch 2 Dock. It looked like a significant step up from the original Switch Dock, sporting a curved and distinctly console-like appearance.
The Switch 2 – Hands-On
Holding a ‘display’ unit in my hands, it felt premium. The original Switch was unstable at points, with the Joy Cons not ‘fully’ connected. Due to Switch 2’s magnetic connection, ditching the rail set-up, they were firm as I held the system.
In addition, I tested out the new stand, which has more dimensions, similar to the Switch OLED model. Something that I instantly noticed when playing Mario Kart World was the beautiful 1080p LED display. The colors popped off the HDR and VRR-supported display, making the game look stunning in portable mode.
A Global Race – Mario Kart World Impressions
Speaking of Nintendo’s flagship racing series, Mario Kart World was the first game I was given access to, playing two different modes.
Starting out racing with a partner in Docked Mode, the game put us on a heavily modified Dino Jungle from Mario Kart: Double Dash. The track felt radically transformed, contrasting with how Mario Kart usually handles returning tracks.
The overall gameplaying experience was typical Mario Kart, though some differences were noticeable. The item balance was fairer, likely due to the larger player count (going from 12 to 24), and the new mechanics with Wall and Rail Grinding looked cool, though I didn’t have a chance to mess with either.
After finishing the race with my partner, I was given access to the game in portable mode. Racing through DK Space Port, a new course for the game, I was genuinely impressed with the visuals. Playing in portable mode, the game’s bright colors and impressive frame rate were more noticeable than in Docked Mode.
The Battle Royale – MK World’s Knockout Tour Mode
While the standard racing experience didn’t impress me, the Knockout Tour mode did, to a degree. It started in a limited ‘Free Roam’ mode while everyone was getting ready. Racing around as Waliugi and getting a feel for my kart was fun, and that taste of open-world Mario Kart had me curious.
How does progression work? Will finding tracks in the open world lead to on-the-spot missions or races like in Forza Horizon? And will there be moments where more dynamic events happen between racing and casual driving, ala Kirby Air Ride’s City Trial Mode?
I didn’t have long to ponder those questions, with the race starting in earnest. The races had 24 players enter an elimination mode, where they had to remain in a specific place during that lap, or otherwise they were kicked from the race.
To say things got chaotic would be an understatement; rival racers were aggressive with items, and I even noticed some using the new Grinding mechanics. I approached the race as if I was playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, holding my own for most of the race until right near the end, when I was booted out.
Pumping the Breaks – Closing Thoughts on MK World
While I enjoyed my time with Mario Kart World, the $80 price tag never left the back of my head. I kept thinking about that while enjoying the racing experience, trying to find what made this one special compared to the content-rich Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or even older titles like Mario Kart: Double Dash.
The big takeaway I felt was, well, it’s more Mario Kart. It’s a polished, well-running experience everyone will love with their Switch 2 at launch. I looked to see what makes this warrant the new standard price of modern video games, but I couldn’t find it.
Hopefully, the ‘Free Roam’ mode and the upcoming Mario Kart World direct changes my tune, as I enjoyed my time with the experience despite my grievances.
Enjoy the Show – Show Floor Experience
After playing Mario Kart World, I was guided to the core experience, where multiple games were accessible. Using my Experience Pass, I was given the ability to play six games/experiences they had on the show floor.
Every station was perfect, with games having zero issues and the PR people at each area answering questions. Playing each experience was a highlight, so let’s break them down.
The Purple Lunchbox Returns – NSO GameCube Online
The first experience I tried out was the Nintendo GameCube Online booth, where they had the entire launch line up.
Composed of F-Zero GX, Soul Calibur 2, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Super Mario Strikers, I was impressed.
Each game I tried ran perfectly, had a resolution bump, and supported some quality-of-life features. They include save states, remapping the controller, and a CRT filter. In addition, if the original GC release supported widescreen, that’s accessible here.
The booth also had the new NSO GameCube controller, mirroring the original controllers from the 2000s. Everything felt perfect, down to the pressure-sensitive triggers and amazing left analog stick.
What a Mouthful – Kirby & The Forgotten Land Switch 2 Edition
After reliving my childhood, I returned to one my favorite Switch releases, Kirby & The Forgotten Land. It’s one of the first-party titles supporting the Switch 2, featuring a sharp resolution boost and 60 FPS support. Alongside those upgrades, Kirby’s first 3D adventure also receives a new campaign.
Kirby goes on a new adventure in the ‘Star-Crossed World. ‘ He explores familiar levels with reworked level designs and new Mouthful Mode forms. The demo gave me access to a spring form, letting Kirby jump high in the air and crash down to break heavy objects.
Finishing the original, I noticed a few things. While the more challenging enemies and familiar progression were enjoyable, I loved how great the game’s 60 FPS felt.
For a 3D platformer, a high frame rate goes a long way in offering sharp controls. Even if Kirby didn’t need it, the upgrade is appreciated.
Nintendo’s Eye Toy – Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition
I got to experience Nintendo’s attempt at the Microsoft Kinect, or rather Nintendo’s take on PlayStation’s long-dormant Eye-Toy.
The demo began with Bowser and Bowser Jr. hosting a game show, having two teams compete, and one comes out on top. The mini-games involved us playing a ‘Simon Says’ game and another having us balance objects on our heads.
It ended with the teams having to wave their arms and shout the loudest. Something my awkward self was not 100% on board with. Regardless, I walked away with a smile and genuinely felt impressed.
The Legendary Bounty Hunter – Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Being a fan of the Metroid Prime titles, I was curious to see how the game faired on Nintendo’s latest hardware. The demo was during the game’s opening, where Samus fought alongside the Galactic Federation to defeat Stylx and his space pirate allies.
Samus’ controls were identical to Prime Remastered, alongside some quality-of-life changes. I noticed that the Scan Visor is now mapped to a button rather than using the D-Pad to select it. In addition, the Joy Con’s mouse controls are supported, though I had a hard time using them.
In past Prime titles, you had the option to hard-lock on targets by pressing the left trigger. But since I had to hold it down during the demo’s boss encounter, I struggled to aim using the mouse controls. I, instead, used the gyro controls.
Aiming using the right Joy Con was responsive, effortlessly hitting the bosses’ weak points. General shooting felt good using it, too. Considering this is also a Switch 1 title, it’s great seeing gyro controls work so well.
The demo was visually impressive. Running at 1080p at 120FPS, it was the smoothest-playing game at the Nintendo Experience event. I was assured by the PR rep watching my play session that the game would also support a 4K/60 FPS mode, though it wasn’t accessible in the demo’s options menu.
Overall, it was a great experience, and while the mouse controls take some getting used to, they could be a boon for first-person shooters on the console.
Rise from the Grave – Hades II
Being one of the third-party titles present at the Nintendo Experience, Supergiant Games’ Hades II was playable. It played identically to the PC release, running like a dream and looking sharp in TV mode.
Supergiant also commented on how the game will run across both Switch consoles, confirming 60 FPS. In addition, I learned that it was easy to bring the game to Switch 2. This was the best news at the event: learning that even indie developers will have an easy time putting their software on the new platform.
Welcome to Night City – Cyberpunk 2077
As one of the biggest third-party releases at the Nintendo Experience event, I had to try the Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077.
The demo had me in Dog Town, doing a mission in the Phantom Liberty expansion. According to the CD Project Red developers I spoke with at the event, they purposefully picked that area to be transparent with players regarding the game’s performance on Switch 2.
Cyberpunk 2077 looked great on the console, running at a stable 30 FPS and using a mixture of settings found on Series S and Xbox One X. The team at CD PR commented that bringing the game to PC handhelds helped with the optimization process on Switch 2.
The biggest takeaway from speaking with them was the importance of being part of a console launch. They were beaming with pride at the quality and state of the Switch 2 release.
The game, being one of the few third-party titles launching fully on a cart and selling the complete experience at $70, is one launch title to keep an eye on.
A Polished Blade – Zelda BOTW & Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Editions
While I didn’t play these at the event, I saw off-screen gameplay for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom on Switch 2.
From off-screen gameplay, it looked great on the console. The 60 FPS looked incredible, and the visual improvements (better draw distance, grass density, etc) enhanced two great Zelda adventures.
I didn’t feel the need to go hands-on with these titles since the improvements are strictly visual/performance-based. If you are a Switch Online with Expansion Pass member, you can enjoy these Switch 2 additions at no additional cost if you own the Switch 1 original.
Ohhh, Banana… – Donkey Kong Bananza Impressions
After my adventures on the show floor, I was given access to the game of the event: Donkey Kong Bananza. The demo was for 20 minutes and contained two areas to explore.
Punching Through the Mines – Initial Impressions
The game opened with Diddy Kong-looking monkeys hacking away in the mines, with control given to DK after punching through a wall. The great ape, donning overalls that would make Mario proud, used his immense strength to punch his way through.
I quickly learned how ‘large’ even the short opening sequence was, as DK charted his paths through punching and smashing his way through stone walls. It was such a great feeling, giving me Super Mario Odyssey vibes my entire play session.
In that title, Mario could use Captures to play through challenges the ways Nintendo’s designers want you players to. But you could use your move set to do things your way. That was how I approached my 20-minute session, finding secrets and items that even the Nintendo rep didn’t expect people to discover.
When I found Cranky Kong later in the demo or got across some platforms after throwing a rock at stuff, the Nintendo rep went, ‘Wow, didn’t see that coming’.
Radical Rock Surfing – DK’s Moveset
To chart his destructive path across the game’s open world, DK uses a diverse moveset. DK still has his iconic roll, but the Donkey Kong Jungle Beat clap returns to pick up items around you. But his newest moves involve three different styles of punching.
DK can punch forward (Y), upward (X), or downward (B). This is key for digging through the world around you, and the impact of every punch is fantastic. The game’s camera works well with digging, letting DK see through walls when hidden areas are close.
The ape can also pick up objects from the ground, riding on them or throwing them at anything. And depending on the type of object you are holding, they can be used as a melee weapon for a while or stick to walls. While I didn’t play around with this too much during the demo, I see the level design and gameplay potential.
In response to seeing how the punching/digging mechanic worked, I suggested some accessibility options. Since you mash the buttons to punch, a mode where you hold the button instead would help players having a hard time with consistent button pressing.
A Handsome Ape – Visuals/Presentation
In contrast to my impressions of Mario Kart World, I was blown away by Donkey Kong Bananza’s visuals. The colors pop off the screen, and the shockingly stable 60 FPS while tearing through the level itself never stopped impressing me.
DK being more expressive is fantastic as the ape’s eyes are emotive and react to everything around him. It reminds me of Crash Bandicoot’s redesign in Crash 4: It’s About Time. They ditched the PS1-style design for the character and went with something more cartoony, making him look far more alive.
That’s the same vibe I feel with DK, and I can’t wait to see how he reacts to more stuff in the game’s massive world.
Closing Thoughts on DK Bananza
When the demo concluded, I couldn’t stop smiling. When I think of Nintendo and the next generation, this is the game I imagine. Melding new hardware with Nintendo’s creativity, DK Bananza is set to be the next evolution of the 3D platformer.
Seeing everyone’s reactions to the game at the event only cemented my thoughts. That was the game everyone loved playing and was the most excited to buy with their Switch 2s.
Hanging Up the Joy Con – Nintendo Switch 2 Experience Closing Thoughts
Leaving the event with a Switch 2 backpack, I feel great about the console’s future. A key issue for Nintendo during the Switch generation is underpowered hardware. While the platform did great work receiving iconic games like Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, many third-party releases and Nintendo’s releases struggled to run well.
However, the Switch 2’s core hardware has plenty of tech to future-proof itself. Even if the $80 price point for Nintendo’s biggest games sours things somewhat, that doesn’t take away the fact that Nintendo is leveraging new, powerful hardware to get amazing experiences you can’t find anywhere else.
Stay tuned for continued coverage on the Switch 2 on Lords of Gaming, and check out the Switch 2 articles we have out now!
