Let’s get this out of the way: The Nintendo Switch is good. Like, really good. I played the console in two different modes at PAX South 2017: Handheld Mode with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (against three other Switches) and Two Player, Tabletop Mode with Snipperclips. After both demos, I walked away incredibly impressed by Nintendo’s ability to execute on their ambitious vision for their latest console.

Hardware

I played the Switch with Neon Red and Blue Joy-Con and it was joyous to use. In fact, I was so impressed with the feel of the hardware that it was all I was thinking about during the first play through of Mario Kart 8 Battle Mode. Every button press felt crisp and satisfying, including the shoulder buttons and L&R Triggers. The analog sticks were tight and responsive; they felt more like the analog sticks on the 3DS than the Wii U. This is definitely an improvement as the analog sticks on the Wii / Wii U have always felt a bit loose to me. Even using a single Joy-Con didn’t feel uncomfortable or too small; although the flat SL&SR buttons were hard to find, at first. Games run at 720p, when the Switch is used in handheld mode, and I thought it looked subjectively great! The display had great viewing angles and color reproduction; everything looked vibrant and crisp. Overall, I shouldn’t have been so surprised, since Nintendo has been making consoles for a long time, but the build quality of the Switch was striking.

Games

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was excellent. I played in the “M Diner”, a Mario themed diner with 4 Switches in handheld mode. The Nintendo rep confirmed that our wireless multiplayer connection was over Bluetooth. During our two games of Battle Mode, I experienced no lag or latency; the game looked gorgeous and was smooth. The experience worked because I was totally absorbed playing Mario Kart with two strangers and my fiancée. I constantly finished second in our tournament; but overall, the experience of wirelessly playing Mario Kart with 3 other individuals felt great. I’ve only used my iPad and iPhone for mobile gaming in the last several years, but I suspect this set-up of the Switch performed like a bigger (and higher-powered) 3DS. The “lightbulb” moment of using the Switch came in Tabletop mode with Snippercips.

Snipperclips is a paper themed puzzle game that’s best with another player. (A note of warning, playing this game with your significant other is the equivalent of building digital IKEA furniture on a 6.2 inch display…At the end of each level, you will either revel in your success as a functioning team or embarrass yourselves as you get into a shouting match over who-should-be-doing-what in the level.) The game seems to have intentionally difficult controls. Trying to figure out how-to-do-the-thing-they’re-asking-you-to-do is part of the fun and the controls add to that joy (or frustration). I played Snipperclips with my fiancé in Nintendo’s simulated airplane scenario. (BTW I would totally fly Nintendo Airways. They had great legroom and comfy seats.) We shared a console and had 1 Joy-Con each. Playing together on the same Switch, on a tray table, in close quarters, felt like an experience only Nintendo could deliver on. We were focused on completing the cooperative puzzles and audibly working out ways to solve them. On a real plane, I’m not sure my fellow passengers would appreciate our groans and loud…suggestions, on what to do: but, damn, it was it fun. My fiancé and I are frequent travelers and were immediately excited about our decision to pre-order the Switch. The ability to share this level of inclusive fun, and console power, anywhere really made the Switch shine.

Final Thoughts

The Switch is trying to accomplish something unique in the gaming landscape. It feels fresh, exciting and joyful; feelings we could all probably use a little of right now. Nintendo will have killer first-party games, but to turn this console into something truly magical they need the 3rd party support that the Wii U lacked. Based on the Switch presentation, it seems that they’ve secured some big names: EA, Bethesda, etc. I would love to see a Sony-level of support for Indie Games from Nintendo. The inclusiveness and potential of this platform seems perfect for developers to create some great new experiences. I didn’t use the Switch in TV Mode (i.e. Docked). To me, this is the least interesting mode because it’s the safest play. I’m sure traditional games will be great running in 1080p when the Switch is docked and the portability of this console should not be overstated: it’s well built; light-weight and uses small cartridge games. The pure fun of the Switch for me came from local multiplayer, anywhere. For our sake, I hope Nintendo is successful because the world would be a little more joyful with a device like the Switch around to bring us together.