Nintendo Switch 2 Experience Hands On

Today I had the opportunity to attend the Nintendo Switch 2 experience in Toronto. This event gave us the chance to see the Nintendo Switch 2 in person for over 2 hours. With a larger 7.9 inch 1080p HDR LCD screen supporting up to 120 fps and 4K ability when docked, what’s not to get excited about? Nintendo Switch 2 has 256GB of internal storage, Wi-Fi 6, dual C ports, and Bluetooth headphone support.

A Leap that still feels like home

Nintendo has stayed true to being unique with this generation release. I was pleasantly surprised with how well the mouse feature works (more on this later). When I picked up the Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time I immediately noticed the more premium feel than the first Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch 2’s display is brighter, sharper, and smoother. We can thank the 120Hz refresh rate for that. Docked or in handheld mode the display shines.

The Joy-Cons are redesigned which hopefully will fix that dreaded stick drift, although only time will tell. During this event they felt really good to hold and use, a much more premium experience than the Joy-Con on the original Nintendo Switch. With the new “Click in” magnetic feature it makes taking them on and off even easier. The magnets holding the Joy-Con to the Nintendo Switch 2 screen were really strong, and I didn’t feel any of that back and forth flex you felt when holding the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode.

Showcase

After checking into the event I was able to enter the first room. In this room they had all the accessories in glass and this was also the time where you could pick up the Nintendo Switch 2. Once in my hand I had to immediately check the Joy-Con attaching and reattaching mechanism. With a click of the button in the back they came off with ease. There is no more sliding them back into place, which is a huge upgrade on this device in my opinion. As I mentioned earlier, the feel of the system is premium. I also noticed the stand has been redesigned. It’s longer and more sturdy as opposed to the little stand on the original Nintendo Switch, and even a better upgrade then what Nintendo provided in the Nintendo Switch OLED model. I spent several minutes in this room while having a good look at each display. We then paired up with a partner to prepare for the next adventure in the showcase.

Mario Kart World

My partner and I then entered the first area which ended up being my opportunity to try Mario Kart World. We went head-to-head in a bunch of races, which was a lot fun! With power-ups and fluid racing, this title is easily going to be a fan favourite when the Nintendo Switch 2 launches. Having knockout mode with up to twenty four players is the chaos we need, and outside of the open world driving, gives Mario Kart that new feature it really needed to separate itself from the outstanding Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In this new mode, each leg of the race had a new threshold and if you’re not within that number you’re knocked out of the race. This continues checkpoint after checkpoint, knocking out 4 contestants per leg, until a victor is crowned.

I also got to checkout a whole list of new characters coming to Mario Kart World:

• Goomba
• Nabbit
• Cow
• Hammer Bro
• Coin Coffer
• Piranha Plant
• Conkdor
• Chargin’ Chuck
• Snowman
• Sidestepper and MORE!

Once you select a character you can choose a vehicle. You’ll want to be sure to check out the vehicle information to find out which ones suits you, as unlike Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, there is no mixing and matching of karts, wheels, gliders, etc. That’s not all that has changed in this release. We also get some new power ups to the items mix as well.

During knockout mode the competition was fierce as myself and twenty three other players went head to head. Although I didn’t finish in first place it was a great time, I can see this mode being an almost universal favourite when the game launches alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5th.

Going Banana’s

Donkey Kong Bananza is full of smashing fun as you can literally destroy everything around you. Although I was only able to play the game for a short time, I did get a good feel for the game and enjoyed the concept of what it brings. In Donkey Kong Bananza, you will have to guide Donkey Kong through the world to recover Golden Bananas from the villainous VoidCo with the help of a brand new companion. Core gameplay focuses on discovery and destruction using Donkey Kong’s mighty strength and fists. I can’t wait to drive into this game further as I find smashing therapeutic. Time will tell whether this destroy everything philosophy works as a long, 3D experience, but my brief time today makes me think Nintendo has something really interesting here.

Free Play

We were then given the opportunity to free play by selecting any of the six other games on display to try. Civilization VII stood out for me as I am a huge fan of the franchise. When I mentioned mouse mode earlier in this article, it seemed like this game was made just for it. While in mouse mode, having the Joy-Con flat on the playing surface makes it feel like you’re playing on a computer, which makes the experience that much better. I spent most my time here, and am pleased to say the Joy-Con mouse was way better than I had anticipated. Civilization VII looked fantastic on Nintendo Switch 2 as well, and playing with the Joy-Con mouse is my new favourite thing.

Speaking of the mouse, I also played Metroid Prime 4 Beyond which also has this ability. At the start I was having a hard time with the controls but once you start playing, it makes the game unique. Using the mouse to shoot and turn Samus was fun, and it adds a different play style I think some people are really going to enjoy. While I think I preferred not using the mouse feature to play Metroid Prime 4, I still think it’s a good use of the newest features in the Nintendo Switch 2. I think Metroid has great potential and will appeal to a lot of players.

Puffy Fun

Kirby and the Forgotten Land takes our puffy friend out on an adventure with new power ups to get. I enjoy this game because it’s very simple to play, but packs a lot of action. Kirby’s core remains intact: inhale enemies, copy their powers, and navigate stunning levels. Familiar abilities like Sword, Fire, Ice, and Cutter return, feeling intuitive and fun in the 3D space. Combat is simple but satisfying, and exploring the cleverly designed levels for hidden secrets. Level structure feels more like to Super Mario 3D World than Super Mario Odyssey, offering linear paths within more open-feeling areas rather than true open-world exploration. The game looks sharper on the Nintendo Switch 2 than it did on Nintendo Switch, and the glut of new stuff to explore and uncover will make this a worthwhile upgrade for previous owners, or a new experience for those who haven’t played it yet.

Next Generation

Overall I am impressed with all the upgrades that Nintendo has made to the Nintendo Switch 2. For me, the new magnetic Joy-Con’s and mouse stand out. With pre-orders selling out in record time this week, it’s easy to see why. Nintendo has been around the game for a long time and continues to move into the right direction. While the discourse around pricing will extend long after release, you cannot deny that Nintendo understands their fanbase and what they want to see. Once you have the Nintendo Switch 2 in your hands you will know what I am talking about. This is a premium device from Nintendo, one that feels so much better than the original Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch Lite, and the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Thank-you to Nintendo of Canada for providing us an opportunity to go hands on with the Nintendo Switch for an extended period of time. Stay tuned for more from GamesReviews as we dive deeper into our experiences during this event, as well as news and stories leading into the June 5th launch of the Nintendo Switch 2!