The Nintendo Switch launches on March 3 and only a handful of IGN staff have actually touched it! Well, at least that was the case, until a special opportunity to go hands on presented itself last week. A group of IGN staff, ranging from editorial to our notorious GM, went hands on with Nintendo’s new console after we ran through Zelda: Defenders of the Triforce. Continue on to read their first impressions of the hardware, the Joy-Con, and what it's like to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Switch.

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THE HARDWARE

BRENDAN GRAEBER (Editor): “Initially, I was concerned about the size of the Switch and the two Joy-Con but it immediately felt comfortable. What really stood out to me was how clear Breath of the Wild looked on the Switch’s display in handheld mode. The Switch was small enough to feel comfortable in my hands (whereas the Wii U Gamepad could feel bulky at times) and yet I could still read all of the subtitles and small text, notice details like apples hiding in trees, and snipe Bokoblins from far off. Nothing felt lost in the transition.”

JONATHON DORNBUSH (Associate Editor): “I love that Nintendo's console is actually fun to play around with like a toy. When I first got my hands on the Switch, all I wanted to do was keep swapping between controller configurations — taking the two Joy-Con on and off the tablet was so satisfying, and finding comfortable ways to play away from the tablet or TV was an oddly satisfying experience. And I was worried the Joy-Con would be a hassle to hold, depending on hand size, but in my limited time with them they felt comfortable both freed from and attached to the Switch itself.”

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ZACH RYAN (Features Producer): “The most impressive thing about the Switch is just how easy it is to wrap your head (and hands) around it. In my brief hands-on, I tried to play with as many different configurations as I could and each one felt as easy to play and intuitive as the next.”

ALEXIO QUAGLIERINI (Associate Video Technician): “The Nintendo Switch

PEER SCHNEIDER (General Manager): “It’s been torture listening to Jose talk about the Switch and what it feels like, so when a Nintendo representative handed me a Pro Controller to play Breath of the Wild, I politely declined and grabbed the main system instead. Looking at pictures of the Nintendo Switch doesn’t prepare you for how different it actually feels, especially after playing the 3DS XL or Wii U. Instead of the glossy, toy-like appearance and thick bevels, the Switch looks and feels more grown-up; more serious. The material and understated style are closer to the black Nintendo DSi — only that the Switch is thinner and the screen is bigger than the entire DSi. There’s also something very satisfying about the way the Joy-Con detach from the screen and how the system slides into the dock and is instantly ready for play on the big screen.”

Close-Up Pictures of Nintendo Switch 39 IMAGES

MARTY SLIVA (Senior Editor): “Right from the outset, the Switch felt wonderful in my hands. It’s small, but it feels substantial, sort of like an Apple product. The screen was bright, and just big enough to entice me to play through a game like Zelda on it."

CJ GIBSON (Senior Producer): “The Switch is the hybrid piece of tech that I've been yearning for someone to create since the invention of the original iPhone. For its portability alone, I am incredibly excited for what the system has to offer. It sits right in the middle of an iPad Mini and iPhone Plus in terms of size but the icing on the cake are the Joy-Con controllers. Tactile, precision controls that feel natural in your hand and doesn't scream "portable children's toy." The unit itself feels great in almost every configuration. Lighter than you expect yet durable and sleek. With Nintendo's commitment to quality games and a backlog of nostalgic franchises, I have high hopes for this hybrid console in an ever increasing portable world. My only regret? Pre-ordering the standard grey unit over the hot blue & red version. Clearly, mistakes were made.”