06-05-2025, 02:57 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-05-2025, 02:59 AM by bork.)
(06-03-2025, 07:34 AM)Polident wrote: Standing at a crosswalk and see an ad for Mario Kart releasing on June 5. Wow. It’s actually this week? Maybe it’s me not having a preorder. But it does feel tepid.
I know this means nothing, but I'm currently on vacation and went to the one Best Buy in the area today to pick up something. Decided to ask about the Switch 2 and the clerk said that while they had no idea if they were even getting stock, they were told open at 12am. He also mentioned that usually people would already be lined up (this was at around 4pm I think) but nobody was waiting.
I dunno.
I took it as "I can't tell you how many systems we're getting, but if you come here at midnight, you'll probably be able to get one."
Pre-orders are sold out everywhere and we know this system will be successful. And yet it still feels like a pretty lukewarm launch. Don't feel any hype for it personally.
I'm skipping out on this console for now. There's just nothing at launch or coming out that makes me feel like I have to buy a system to play. When they're easy to get at Gamestop or if Amazon finally stocks them, then I'll likely get one because of trade-ins.
06-05-2025, 07:12 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-05-2025, 07:55 AM by Polident.)
Messed around with one in a store.
Speaks to how long it’s been since I played Mario Kart. The coin shit to go faster? Stuck at 50cc for the demo. Slow. But it’s Mario Kart, I suppose.
The controller seems pretty good. Felt same as the old one, but with a better dpad and bumper buttons. I’m assuming the dpad is better from feel because the old one is mushy and you can push it down at the center. The whole controller texture is rubbery, for some reason. Usually controllers like that turn sticky after a couple years.
Joycons were in the grip but felt the same. Analogs felt tighter and smoother. Honestly it all seemed like a Switch Pro model. Is this a cope? Maybe!
edit: tried it again. Definitely feeling cope. Mario Kart is fun.
Switch 2 get. Haven't opened it as I have stuff to do.
A lot of people lining up to pick up preorders.
Why to buy Switch 2 now:
- It probably won't be cheaper anytime soon
- It'll play all your Switch games better
- You'll need to get it before WW3 breaks out
Is there any good reason to get a Switch 2 now besides Mario Kart?
Not really. I have DK Bananza arriving soon and apparently that's by the Mario Odyssey team.
I'll add some impressions tomorrow.
Unpacked it.
Screen is very nice at first glance. Compared to the Switch 1 the device looks sexier for sure.
Magnetic Joy Cons detach and attach smoothly. Currently doing the System Transfer thing.
I like my new dopamine dispenser so far.
06-05-2025, 08:28 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-05-2025, 08:37 PM by bork.)
(06-05-2025, 09:44 AM)Chumbawumbafan69 wrote: Is there any good reason to get a Switch 2 now besides Mario Kart?
It can play Switch 1 games better than the original console does. I checked out Bayoneta 3 and it was running at 60 FPS. Age of Calamity runs at a rock solid 30 FPS. Mario Odyssey is 4K/60 FPS when docked, etc.
06-05-2025, 08:35 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-05-2025, 08:38 PM by bork.)
Okay, so after that rant I posted earlier I ended up getting a Switch 2 after all.
Woke up this morning and saw that it was available on Verizon.com. Figured since the price wasn't going to go down I should just get it now anyway.
Then a little bit later, we went out to do some errands. Popped in at Target and they had a number of consoles in stock. So I decided to just pick it up there as well and I'll return the Verizon one when it comes next week.
I still think it's a pretty lackluster launch. Mario Kart seems really cool and I'll play it later, but I still don't think it's anything that people need to rush out to buy. SF 6 is an impressive port that looks pretty much like the game does running on one of the Z1 Extreme PC handhelds, albeit at 720P. It's pretty much unplayable with the joy-cons though. You need a controller for it. I'd also like to give a middle finger to Capcom for still charging money for outfits and music tracks among other things. All of the shit that has been released for this game so far should have been included with the season 1 and 2 bundle package that they're advertising.
I think the most impressive thing about this console so far are the older games running on it. It's great to see them running with better frame rates.
The switch 2 itself seems very well made. I like how solid it feels with a joy-cons connected. It's also much much lighter than other handhelds in the same size range, I.E. PCs. And I think it's much more comfortable to hold and use.
Is it going to replace handheld PCs for me? For the time being, probably yes. But I don't expect that to last very long. It's also not going to replace the Asus Z13 that's currently my main gaming machine. It may not be a handheld, but it is a very portable tablet PC that that power and performance wise takes a giant dump all over everything else. It's in a class by itself. But it's also not fair to compare that with the Switch 2 because It costs $2300+.
06-05-2025, 09:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-05-2025, 09:43 PM by Besticus Maximus.)
I'm impressed with the hardware so far, but I could really do with a metroid 4 style game to suck me in.
I never played pokemon violet so I picked that up and I've spent more time on that than anything else.
Mario Kart is confirmed mario kart, kinda wish it had a bit more depth to the open world stuff tbh but it is still mario kart. I also checked out bayo 3, I never finished it cos the performance was terrible. But it's now performing well, it's just hideous to look at and in desperate need of fat patches. Links awakening looks great.
Everyone I talked to about this thing has basically been like: "eh I guess I'll just buy it"
I think Nintendo will set records with the 'eh' launch.
Switch 2 is there, it exists, you can buy it.
It seems to work. 
Made it through all the system transfers and installs, bought Mario Kart.
Time to sleep now and try it tommorow. Again, 'eh', I guess I'll sleep, work and try it tommorow. 
The Switch 2 is everything I wanted the first system to be. In retrospect, the Switch 1 was like a proof-of-concept with a ton of issues that all got fixed by its successor.
- controllers feel far more premium and suited for big hands unlike the first system's cheaper quality and feel
- it's not underpowered for a handheld like the original system was in 2017, 60fps seems like it'll be the standard for nintendo games this generation
- the online subscriptions offerings are solid with the virtual console stuff whereas first system had nothing
Good job, Nintendo. You made me a fan again after skipping out on your last system. Looking forward to Donkey Kong. 
(06-05-2025, 10:19 PM)Nintex wrote: Everyone I talked to about this thing has basically been like: "eh I guess I'll just buy it"
I think Nintendo will set records with the 'eh' launch.
Switch 2 is there, it exists, you can buy it.
It seems to work.
Made it through all the system transfers and installs, bought Mario Kart.
Time to sleep now and try it tommorow. Again, 'eh', I guess I'll sleep, work and try it tommorow.
I don't think that's a Nintendo-only thing. The PS5/XSX launch was identical in nature. I mean, has there really been anything that could be considered a "killer app" this generation? Pretty sure shit is still getting cross-gen releases.
Video games as a business has matured to the point where the devices are becoming a commodity and the games are so cheap and easy to make they too are becoming commodified.
06-06-2025, 02:55 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-06-2025, 03:01 AM by Polident.)
Honestly, PS5 benefited from COVID fatigue. Both living with regrets and being indoors.
If I were back in America, I’d probably would’ve made an effort to get a Switch 2. Think Nintex is right that it won’t get cheaper anytime soon and may raise in price, if anything.
Actually, I’m pretty dumb because I’m telling myself I’ll wait for the OLED version. But I almost never played it handheld.
Almost bought one but I think I'll wait until there's something besides Mario Kart to play on it.
Pokemon violet is actually a good videogame 
Switch 2 hardware is nice. Good performance bump all round and Switch 1 games look nice.
Mario Kart World is...more Mario Kart YMMV.
Gamecube games run well (at least Soul Calibur 2 does as I haven't tried the others yet). This thing really needs Dreamcast added.
I picked up Fast Fusion. Feels a little too floaty for me, but it looks and plays nice.
System transfer was a breeze.
Keen to try the game share thing with the old Switch.
Not much more to say.
Buy it if you really want to play Mario Kart, wait if you aren't that interested.
Donkey Kong looks interesting, but wont be out for a month.
Already 3-starred 100CC in Mario Kart World. Not sure what the unlockables are. Game doesn't have an easy list.
I totally forgot this thing has GameCube games 
06-06-2025, 06:17 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-06-2025, 06:24 PM by simiansmarts.)
(06-06-2025, 02:06 AM)Potato wrote: (06-05-2025, 10:19 PM)Nintex wrote: Everyone I talked to about this thing has basically been like: "eh I guess I'll just buy it"
I think Nintendo will set records with the 'eh' launch.
Switch 2 is there, it exists, you can buy it.
It seems to work.
Made it through all the system transfers and installs, bought Mario Kart.
Time to sleep now and try it tommorow. Again, 'eh', I guess I'll sleep, work and try it tommorow.
I don't think that's a Nintendo-only thing. The PS5/XSX launch was identical in nature. I mean, has there really been anything that could be considered a "killer app" this generation? Pretty sure shit is still getting cross-gen releases.
Video games as a business has matured to the point where the devices are becoming a commodity and the games are so cheap and easy to make they too are becoming commodified. What sets Nintendo apart from PlayStation and Xbox are they make an effort to get a couple of their big, evergreen games out each year. We saw with the Switch 1 that there's clearly an S-tier for Nintendo IPs that sell their systems as a killer app: the Mario Kart, the 3D Zelda, the 3D Mario, the Animal Crossing, the Smash Bros, etc. They already launched the system with Mario Kart, there's 3D Donkey Kong coming out a month later and 3D Mario is probably releasing next year to coincide with the new movie.
Now compare that to PlayStation who wasted so many years of precious dev-time chasing the GAAS gold rush under the leadership of Jim Ryan. It led to an absurd number of cancelled projects, record-breaking bombs like Concord (with Fairgames and Marathon likely not far behind) and now all they have to show for it is Helldivers 2. For casual consumers of videogames, the PS5 and Series X have felt like the 'GTA VI waiting room' for the past few years. 
You forgot Fire Emblem and Xenoblade. That is truely what sets Nintendo apart
If Nintendo adds DS and Dreamcast games to NSO, it would be the perfect game service for me. Just pay SEGA whatever they want to make it happen.
The mouse controls fit the DS touchscreen like a glove.
3 starred 150cc in Mario Kart World. Wish the world map in free roam was more functional. It doesn't show the collectables...
06-08-2025, 05:52 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-08-2025, 10:06 AM by Potato.)
Haven't really played with the Switch 2 in handheld mode until today. Damn it's a big bitch.
The CPU for Knockout Tour seems really overtuned. The first sections of a race you're usually heavily in the lead. Then the last section they rubberband so hard they fly in front of you.
A single blue or red shell completely fucks you over in the last section.
Gentlemen I have an important announcement to make.
The new Mario Kart is tremendously fantastic, thank you!!
Fucking Walmart delivered mine at 6:45am with Pringles and a Coke last Thursday. No knock but I made a joke during breakfast that ‘maybe it’s here’ and it was.
- Mario Kart is really good. It feels like V1 of a future state but the game and its courses are a dream. I really enjoy the free roam and the world is kind of alive enough to me but the challenges and maybe the tracking need to be improved. It’s an AMAZING mode for my 3YO though who can’t do races yet.
- Cyberpunk is a great port. Dropped it after 15 hours after my first kid was born and I kind of love jumping back in. I find the same cadence of play that I did with Witcher 3 and that’s a very good thing.
- Rune Factory inbound. I kind of like these games and this one minimizes the tedium.
- Probably getting Deltarune and maybe that weird Capcom game or Yakuza 0.
- Launch lineup has a LOT of great games but not enough new great games.
- HW is slick. Eshop is night/day better. Magnetized joy cons are lovely. Games look nice.
- upgraded Switch games fucking sing. Man does TOTK look nice. I bought an Atelier Game that came out earlier this year and it ran like dogshit on Switch and now it runs well. Game is actually interesting and good. This is kind of a game changer to the point I could see someone thinking new DLC for old switch games is viable.
- GameCube games are rad. Fzero has not aged much. Wind Waker is still fun but the content eh. Soul Caliber II is actually still a banger. Wish we could upgrade the games a bit. Would love a PN03 and Killer 7 drop. The former is still way underrated as a weird rhythm shmup in 3D and Killer 7 is still one of my all times.
Yakuza 0 is great if you haven’t played it. If you’re not already a weeb with an affinity for 80s bubble era Japan, it’s sure to make you one.
Soul Calibur 2 really is great. I had my kids playing it and they loved it.
I would definitely play PN03 and Killer 7. Forgot about those two.
I paid a man 13 quid on ebay for an expansion pack and online subscription, lets see if anything turns up, he had good feedback
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