I would love to give my Switch 5 stars, but I just can't, due to a myriad of issues ranging from overpriced accessories, dubious design decisions clearly intended to encourage consumers to buy things that should be unnecessary as well as some just awfully cheap parts that don't match an otherwise superb quality.
Let's start with the good:
+ The premise of a home console you can play anywhere is perfectly executed. The Wii U was the Switch's prototype; It showed promise, but it didn't quite deliver. The Switch DELIVERS. Going from TV to handheld and back is seamless and instant, especially if you have a TV that can "sync states" with devices attached to it. And the battery is big enough for a few hours of Zelda or several of something like Snipperclips or NeoGeo games. (It's not meant to replace the DS as the take-everywhere Nintendo console. So the poor battery life is somewhat forgivable.)
+ The screen is very high quality. It is IPS and I found that it doesn't distort colors like some reviews have mentioned (one professional review actually said you should expect poor viewing angles because it's IPS, which just isn't true; IPS are the best LCDs suited for multiple viewing angles). When Netflix comes out or if someone is sitting next to you watching you play or groups playing Snipperclips, etc, everyone will be able to get an excellent view of the screen. No problems with viewing angles. And the color, luminosity and contrast are all superb. 720p is an understandable compromise. If it was 1080p, not only would the screen cost significantly more, but it would need a bigger CPU, GPU, and battery, all which would drive up the price to be exclusive. Nintendo does not want to be an exclusive company. And nothing looks pixelated — though you can see aliasing if you look for it.
+ The plastic on the controllers is luxurious. They feel great to the touch. You really need to experience it in person.
+ Twin ball-joint thumb sticks on a portable. Need I say more?
+ Though the joy-cons are small and seem like they'd be uncomfortable, I really like them, together or apart. The tension in the sticks is perfect with some very slight "grooves" for horizontal and vertical movement (personal preference, but I like it this way).
+ Multiplayer from the get-go. No longer do you have to shell out extra on a second controller to get multiplayer on day one of your console ownership.
+ The operating system is barebones and FAST! with a small footprint. I prefer this to something that tries to be a poor man's computer with unnecessary features and animations that bog it down and increase loading times (looking at you XBone and PS4). And it looks slick, too.
+ Startup times are maybe one or two seconds max. No other console respects your time like the Switch. Pick it up and resume where you left off in Zelda instantly. Put it in sleep mode and it's instantly off so you can go get your life things out of the way before getting back to Zelda. Then instantly turn it back on and game away!
+ The fan is very quiet and does a great job at keeping the console cool. It does get noticeably warm during long sessions, but it's a pleasant warmth to the touch and not alarming at all.
+ The size of the console is right on point. It is probably the most comfortable handheld from Nintendo (they're not very good at comfortable handhelds though), but it's not so big you can't easily fit it into whatever bag you have. That being said, and as I said before about the batteries, the Switch isn't really a replacement for the 3DS and unless you're a big dude like Boogie2988, you'll never find a pocket this will fit in. Being so large, the screen guarantees a cinematic experience on the go; something which even the 3DS XL doesn't quite deliver.
+ It feels very sturdy and tough. This is Nintendo. They make tough devices. (There are some issues though. Look in the negatives, below.)
I feel like I could keep fishing for compliments for this System, but I think I've exhausted anything of significance... Let's move on to the gripes:
– The cover for the screen is hard plastic, much like the one for the upper screen of the 3DS. Except this one is about 5x as glossy as the 3DS and intended to be touched. This causes two problems: 1) if playing in a bright room or outside, the reflections on the screen make it nearly impossible to see details in the game you're playing. I hate seeing my face overlaid on top of my game. 2) it scratches easily. For a handheld touch device of this size and price, a glass screen is almost a necessity. However, glass also breaks, so if the console is for a child, that would mean it has a great chance of cracking from a drop. Conversely, children are not delicate with touch screens and will inevitably cover their screen with scratches. However, Nintendo is not really marketing this console to children like it has others in the past — millennials seem to be their target demographic, judging from their ad campaign — and that makes me think a glass screen would have been the right decision, even if it elevated production costs.
– $70 for a pro controller. $80 for a second pair of joy-cons that don't come with a grip. $30 for a charging grip (you can't buy a non-charging one independent of the console). Depending on how you look at it, this makes the official controllers for the Switch the most expensive in the business. But controllers have always been too expensive, in my opinion. ($70 might be okay for a pro controller because it's so good.)
– There is only one charging port and it is on the bottom. The Switch needs a bottom charging port, of course, so that the docking gimmick works perfectly, but it really needs a second one on the top to charge it during table-top play, since the battery is not fantastic. The Wii U controller has a charging port on the top and bottom for similar reasons. A second port would be cheap because it wouldn't need the full USB functionality, just the ability to carry a current. Why didn't Nintendo do the same with the Switch? Because they want you to spend $20 on the official stand that raises it up so you can charge it from the bottom. Ridiculous.
– The battery should be 50–100% bigger. It is something like 4350 mAmp. I would have paid another $50 for a battery twice as large. But maybe it's not only a cost, bust a space issue. If you want to play Zelda for more than 2-3 hours handheld, you will need a battery bank. I picked up a 10000 mAmp battery with a USB-C outlet and it will completely charge the console one time while playing Zelda and 1.75 times or more while the console is in sleep mode.
– UPDATE: This is where I griped about paid online services. Now that we know nintendo's pricing and more about what comes with it, I believe it to be more than fair. $20/year is practically nothing for what you get. My opinion has changed. I admittedly jumped on a bandwagon too soon.
– It is very true: The left joy-con can lose connection from even just crossing your legs the wrong way. I told Nintendo on the phone about it and they offered to "repair" it for free. But that means like 3 weeks or more without Zelda... also shipping costs. I just can't send it away right now. (By repair, they probably mean put in the quality receiver it should have had in the first place. Apparently just soldering a copper wire to the receiver is enough to make it work wonderfully... might be something I attempt myself in the future.
*UPDATE*
I sent my left joy-con off for repairs. After 4 business days it returned with absolutely zero connection problems. If your joy-con is having issues I highly recommend Nintendo's repair service.
– The dock needs to be heavier. It moves around too much. It feels cheap compared to the console, but fortunately, it's not something you have to touch frequently.
– The dock WILL scratch the screen if you're not careful. Fortunately it won't scratch it any on the viewing surface, just the black borders.
– the resistance for docking and removing the Switch should be a little firmer, too. It can be difficult to remove the joy-cons without lifting the console back up. In order to address this problem and the one listed above, I added a piece of the soft side of Velcro to each track on the dock. This helps protect the screen as well as adds just enough resistance to make the act of docking and undocking the Switch much more pleasant and stable.
I have no problems with the kickstand. Though I can't get mine to pop out like it's supposed to. It looks like it's bolted in place on mine. Maybe I'm just being too timid, but I don't want to break it. It will tip over if you touch it on the left side while it's in table-too mode. But the reality is that you're not supposed to be touching it when it's on a table, anyway.
I love my switch, but I'm worried Nintendo is headed down the same path as Apple has with their products in that they are started to intentionally gimp their products in favor of selling accessories and adapters. Also, I can't stand behind fees to play games online when I already have to pay for an internet connection.
I absolutely would not hesitate to recommend this console. I just wish it didn't feel like Nintendo was starting to become the kind of company that uses cheap tricks to get customers to spend more than should be necessary.
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Re-reviewed - great product, a few faults
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2017
I would consider myself well qualified to review the console, having owned all the early iterations of Nintendos (up to N64), plus a PS3 and Xbox over the years and I also game regularly on a PC.Firstly, I would like to say I've experienced no issues whatsoever. The left joycon works perfectly fine when in TV mode and I've not had any scratches on the tablet (though I did buy a screen protector). I'm a man in his 30s who is over 6 foot 3 with huge hands. Issues with holding the joycons - no! Hands down (pardon the pun) they are the most comfortable and best ergonomically designed controllers I've ever used, both when attached to the tablet and used on their own.I used to love Nintendo. I remember as a child how excited I got playing Super Mario Bros and Super Metroid, right up to when I bought Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time on the N64. The games had an element of magic about them and always bring back fond memories. I quickly fell out of love thereafter. I'm more of a 1st person gamer and the concept of family interaction on the Wii never quite did it for me. So I began to explore other platforms.As soon as I heard about the concept of the Nintendo Switch I was curious and the Zelda game got me interested in purchasing. Then a lot of the negativity from some individuals made me doubt whether I should buy the console. I changed my mind after reading some of the Zelda reviews and placed my order. Then, yet again, some (not many) 'reviewers' (who I now personally think have an agenda and simply don't want Nintendo to do well) made me doubt whether I had done the right thing. But, I decided to go ahead with my order.I've never before posted a review on Amazon but having read some of the negative comments on here from the majority being unqualified individuals who haven't even played on the Switch, I've felt compelled to write!The Nintendo Switch, for me, is easily the best console Nintendo has created since the SNES. It is well designed and feels like a premium product, the screen is very clear and as a device it runs very efficiently. I have no issue with the storage space as if you buy cartridges (which I prefer) it's more than sufficient. The sound quality from the tablet itself is very clear. When docked to my 50inch tv the picture quality is sharp and bright, with distance drawing not an issue and I've experienced no framerate drops. Graphically the games look very good, both when played as a handheld and when the machine is docked. The artwork on Zelda Breath of the Wild is simply beautiful. I'm more concerned with the quality of the games; Breath of the Wild is magical. If Nintendo keeps providing games as mystical and enchanting as Breath of the Wild why would I ever want to play on an Xbox or PS4!!Further, I'm not at all concerned about the lack of games as don't all consoles have few games at launch?! The lineup over the next 12 months looks very strong with Mario, Skyrim and Splatoon all to come. The only way third party publishers will develop games for the console is if people buy into the concept and invest in the product!!Playing the Switch has evolved a sense of excitement and nostalgia in me from my early gaming days. Believe me, this console deserves to do so, so well! It deserves in my opinion for Nintendo to reclaim their long lost gaming crown! Please, don't listen to the negativity. Support Nintendo with what they have done here which is to create a fun, magical and innovative gaming concept. I'd highly recommend.---------Unfortunately, I have had to downgrade my review from a 5 to a 3 star due to a number of issues that have developed with the machine in the 3 or so weeks since I've had it.Firstly, a very slight hairline crack line has appeared in the back plastic casing near to the power button. I have taken great care since I've owned the console and believe this to be an issue with the screw nearby being fitted too tightly so that it has defected the plastic when the console is in full throttle. I am now worried this is going to get worse with further use.Also, the battery life has gone surprisingly short. Sometimes I have taken it out of the dock and it jumps from 100% to approximately 70% when I have not used it and powered off and subsequently back on a few hours a few hours later. I am definitely not getting the suggested 2.5 hours out of Zelda when play portable. I have tried a number of things to rectify this including resetting the console and charging using the power cable only. As of this morning, I've left the console to charge all night using the power cable and it's only showing a 92% charge! Like I say I've handled the console with great care since I've had it, including being careful with charging of the battery. Predominantly, I've only charged it on the dock in sleep mode and Nintendo have not provided any 'dos or don't' instructions with regards to that. I am a little annoyed as I have invested over 40 or so hours into Breath of the Wild, which is a fabulous game, and I don't want to have to start over again. But I will be phoning Nintendo customer support this morning to ask for these problems to be rectified, unfortunately which may mean requesting a replacement. :(
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2017
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