- [Michael] For nostalgia junkies, the spring of 2017
is a heaven of retro riches.
But the Nintendo Switch
isn't just a new box you plug into your TV,
nor is it just another tablet to take on trips.
It's both:
a blend of on-the-go and on-the-couch game console.
And while I am not at all a gamer,
pulling myself away from Zelda
long enough to make this video, it was tough.
I'm Mr. Mobile and this is the Nintendo Switch review,
brought to you by Mint SIM.
(electronic music)
For a guy whose last hand-held console
was the original Game Boy,
the Nintendo Switch is a lot to unbox.
The core tablet is bigger than I expected at 6.2 inches
and it gets wider still when you slap on
the twin controllers that Nintendo calls Joy-Cons.
It still weighs in at under a pound though.
Unlike most modern phones or tablets,
the Switch doesn't have a heavy metal casing.
And it also doesn't go out of its way
to be especially sleek.
From the front firing speakers to the fan vents,
to the game card and headphone ports,
the USB socket, this thing is pocked with penetrations.
And it's plastic on plastic on plastic.
It feels pretty well made though
with the exception of the flimsy kickstand.
Why have a kickstand?
Because the Joy-Cons don't need to be
connected to the Switch to work.
They're two little independent controllers
for each of your hands,
or one in each person's hand for multi-player,
complete with accelerometers
so you can swing 'em around like Wiimotes.
And they're durable so you don't have to worry,
throw 'em around, frustrated because your opponent cheats.
(exclaiming)
- There can only be one.
(both laughing)
- [Michael] If it's just you playing,
you can step 'em both into the Joy-Con grip,
included in the box for a more comfortable click and clack.
However you use the Joy-Cons, their tactile push and pull
is much more satisfying than the slick plastic display.
Though games can take advantage
of that touch screen as well.
And if that 720p canvas starts to feel a little confining,
you just hook up the dock to your TV
with the included HDMI cable, and drop the Switch in.
There's no rebooting, no configuring, your game just goes
from the small screen up to the big one
and you pick up where you left off,
this time in full HD.
Now when your sibling or roommate or cheating coworker
comes along and whines that you're hogging the TV
during Full House or whatever, you just reverse the process.
Unplug the tablet, slap on those Joy-Cons
and keep on slaying wherever you want.
This is the Switch that gives the console its name
and it's just as effortless
as the commercials make it look.
In my four days with the device,
I only ran into the Joy-Con connection problem
I've read about elsewhere, once.
But I should mention that I've mainly kept the Joy-Cons
either connected to the console or mated with the grip.
I've also been very tender with the tablet
to avoid scratching, what I hear is a fragile display cover.
Fortunately, Nintendo offers no shortage of accessories
to protect your purchase and a nice looking bag
to tote around all the stuff you'll need
for a gaming weekend away from home.
On the topic of buying stuff, start saving your money now.
I don't mean for the Switch itself.
I think 300 bucks is actually a fair price,
considering all the product potentially you're getting.
It's the games that'll drain your wallet.
Whether you buy the cartridges or download them over wifi.
If you scoffed at the $10 price for Mario Run on your phone,
you'll probably balk at the new Zelda's $60 sticker price.
With those prices, it's obvious
that Nintendo is pushing this as a home console.
And while it's cool, it's not that.
Not yet anyway.
Now I got over that sticker shock
after just a few minutes of Breath of the Wild.
My first exposure to any Zelda title.
It offers an enormous world
that's every bit as engrossing as you've heard.
My concern is what happens after I finish it.
The Switch launched with fewer than 10 available games.
While I've enjoyed driving like a jerkwad in Fast RMX,
I don't see it holding my interest nearly as long.
And 1-2-Switch is a cute multi-player diversion
that deserves credit for being playable by feel,
you really don't have to look at the screen
if you listen to the sound cues and pay attention
to the rumble of the Joy-Con in your hand.
But I was kind of over it really quickly,
and not just because I kept losing for some reason.
The platform's first Mario title, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,
is over a month away.
And Mario Odyssey won't shelves until the holidays.
Given Nintendo's track record, I'm concerned
that the Switch's game ecosystem will be slow to show up.
The company does promise 100 titles by the end of year,
for what that's worth.
That ecosystem worry eclipses my other smaller annoyances
with the Switch, but they're worth mentioning.
There's only 32 Gigs of storage here,
so you'll have to buy a micro SD card
if you wanna download more than a few games.
Even though Bluetooth is built in,
Bluetooth headsets aren't supported.
You have to rely on wired headphones here.
While the onboard battery is big,
it'll still only last about three hours
when playing a heavy title like Breath of the Wild.
And some people think it's dumb
that the Switch doesn't offer a web browser or apps,
even though it easily could.
But personally, I'd much rather use the browser
on my phone or tablet.
In fact, I rather like that when I'm using the Switch,
I'm not sharing the screen with notifications
or being pestered by pings from a Slack app.
I pick up a Nintendo device in 2017
for the same reason I did in 1991:
to have fun, not to multitask.
And the Switch, has Nintendo's flair for fun,
laced all throughout it.
It's a delight to use on big screens and small.
And if you don't mind risking a few bucks
on a nascent ecosystem, I think you're really gonna love it.
I sure do.
Mr. Mobile's Nintendo Switch review is brought to you
by Mint SIM, the new way to get high-speed LTE in the U.S.
Head over to mintsim.com and use the discount codes
in the description for premium-quality service
on a premium-quality network for a fraction of the price.
Until next time, thanks for watching
and stay mobile, my friends.