Nintendo Switch First Impressions Round-Up

We’re just one week away from the launch of Nintendo’s home/portable hybrid console, the Switch, and a lucky few have already got their hands on pre-release units (including one stolen from a Nintendo distribution centre). Early buzz on the hardware is mostly positive, with many praising the build quality, though the Switch has been criticised for its paltry 32GB of on-board storage, 5GB of which will be taken up by system software.

“The tablet summons that giddy feeling I got from Apple’s original iPhone, and long before both, Nintendo’s own original Game Boy,” The Verge’s Chris Plante says. “It’s beautiful, it’s simple, and it feels a bit like magic. Nintendo has long encouraged players to step outside, and now they’ve made a home console that allows for that. Relaxing in a lawn-chair in my backyard while tooling around an open-world Zelda feels luxurious.”

“The Switch makes an odd first impression. It looks more like a lopsided tablet than a game console because, well, that’s what it is,” writes Devindra Hardawar of Engadget. “At its core, it’s simply a very powerful slate with a customized version of NVIDIA’s Tegra X1 mobile processor inside. Most of the time, you’ll be holding it with the two Joy-Con controllers attached to its sides, which makes it a bit awkward to wield with one hand. That’s not much of a problem, though, since it balances nicely when you’re gripping it with two hands like a game controller.”

“After spending a few days with the Switch, it seems to fall somewhere between those systems,” Hardawar adds. “It doubles-down on the best aspect of the Wii U — the ability to game away from your TV screen — and its intriguing hardware has plenty of potential for developers.”

Arekkz Gaming even gives us a first look at the Switch’s UI:

Sadly, a number of the Switch’s features are not currently available – such as access to networking features, including the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Accounts sign-ins – but will be activated via a day-one firmware update. “While the console is extremely limited without the update, it’s able to play “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” without any problems,” reports Business Insider’s Ben Gilbert.

The Nintendo Switch is set for release on 3rd March.