My Switch 2 Hands-on Experience Thoughts

I got to got to a Switch 2 Hands-on experience yesterday so figured I'd share a few of my thoughts.

First up, Mario Kart World.

This was the first game they let us play. Initially we had enough time either handheld or with a pro-controller to play three races of wither single player or two player. Did two two-player races on TV and one single-player race handheld. The games visuals are absolutely gorgeous. The scope of the tracks is massive. Makes MK8 tracks all look as small as Baby Park by comparison. The start of races is absolutely chaotic fun with 24 races. Especially as you pass the first item boxes. Next was a Knockout Round with other attendees. Again, absolutely chaotic in the best way. Definitely a great mode to play with multiple people. Had only a few seconds with free roam while we waited for all attendees to join the knock out round so can't really comment except I fell off a course and it was like falling from a Totk sky island in terms of how long it took for me to hit ground and drive around. Courses / World seems MASSIVE.

Few critiques - that are probably event specific / settings. Steering assist was turned on, and we couldn't turn it off. Items auto-trail behind you rather than needing to hold the trigger. My muscle memory always kept going to hold the trigger and inadvertently firing my item. I don't know if this is a setting that can be toggled, but I hope so.

Mario Kart World validated my pre-order 100%.

Next game we were shepard to was Donkey Kong Bananza.

Got to play what seems like the opening level. Maybe it was just the short amount of time (approx 10-15 mins) with the game, but it didn't really gel with me. It's not one I can see myself running out to buy. It was still fun, you can seemingly smash and "dig" through most of the world(s) and hunt for Bananas in a similar way you just roam and find Moons in Mario Odyssey. If someone in my family group gets this, I'll borrow it, but for now it didn't seem great for me personally.

Then we got free reign to play various games / booths.

From memory, they had Metroid Prime 4 Switch 2 Edition (S2E), Botw and Totk S2E, Kirby S2E, Mario Party Jamboree S2E, Switch 2 Tour, Gamecube, the wheelchair game (can't remember it's name), and a bunch of third parties including Civilisation VII, Hogwarts Legacy, Street Fighter VI, Hades II, Cyberpunk 2077, and more.

Played Metroid Prime 4, Mario Party Jamboree, Civilisation VII, Totk, and Gamecube (F-Zero GX).

Metroid Prime 4 looked gorgeous running at 1080p/120fps. They said we could change to 4K/60fps but I didn't bother. Tried the mouse controls at first and probably need more time with them. Instinctively kept lifting the joy-con so just did and played with joy-con in each hand. Controls smooth. If you've played Prime Remastered on Switch, the experience is similar. Played what I assume is the opening section. Similar in structure to the opening section of Prime 1. Learning the controls. Learning some mechanics. Then using that knowledge to fight a boss.

Mario Party, Civ VII were fine, no surprises there. Totk was buttery smooth, as was F-Zero GX on the Gamecube emulation.

Hardware

Joy-cons are more comfortable. I never had a problem with the Switch 1 joy-cons, but it is nice to have a larger joy-con, especially with the strap bits.

Pro Controller seems initially identical to the Switch 1 version except has two new configurable paddle buttons.

Only had the actually system in my hand for hand-held Mario Kart and it had a tether bolted to it but felt good. The slightly larger size overall felt comfortable.

Overall the standouts for me are Mario Kart World definitely and Metroid Prime 4. Yeah I know Prime 4 is a Switch 1 game, and I'm sure it'll look and play fantastic on Switch 1 too but I'll get the Switch 2 Edition / Upgrade.