Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World, and Pokemon Violet update reviews

The Nintendo Switch 2 has received immense criticism for the hardware and game prices since the initial announcement. I was hesitant about buying one, but ultimately succumbed to it and bought the last copy of the system at my local Target. Since purchasing it, I've spent the past several days using the console in both docked and handheld modes. My feelings are conflicted.

The hardware itself is mostly solid. The Joy-Cons have considerably improved analog sticks and buttons, and the screen is vibrant for an LCD. It isn't as heavy as I expected, and the rounder game icons are nice on the eyes. The battery life, however, is atrocious. On a full charge, the console lasts between 2 and 6 hours in handheld mode. This is much worse than even the Switch Lite. I understand the Switch 2 is effectively a portable PS4 Pro, and the new games are more demanding, but for $450, I expected better battery life. The screen is also more vulnerable to scratches.

The main improvement I noticed with the Switch 2 is the eShop. Unlike the Switch 1, there is virtually no lag, and the search options are more in-depth. You don't even need to log in every time you open the app. The Switch 2 Pro controller is also a strong contender for the best controller Nintendo has ever made. The analog sticks feel similar to the DualSense, and the D-pad and grip are more comfortable to use. Although the price is high, it feels like a luxury controller.

The first game I tried was Mario Kart World. Graphically, the game is not much better than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's base tracks. This is understandable, though, since the console has twice as many racers to render and there is an open world. The tracks are a step back from Mario Kart 8. The returning tracks chosen are not the most interesting, and most of them have already been remade in past Mario Kart games. The interconnected nature of the tracks also comes with a price. There are many fewer turns. Large stretches of many tracks are uninteresting straight lines that you have to drive through to reach the next area. Drifting also doesn't feel nearly as smooth as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. For most racers and karts, drifting for miniturbos is too sharp and often impossible to do unless you are driving through one of the game's rare sharp turns. The character roster is also a step back from the last game. The new outfits are fun and creative, but the inclusion of filler character slots that could have been filled with more interesting characters from the Mario canon is frustrating. Imagine if they added Professor E Gadd, Dixie Kong, or Toadsworth instead of a random fish skeleton. I'm glad my GOAT King Boo has returned, but I feel bad for people who wanted to play as other characters. The increase to 24 characters is impressive on a technical level, but makes races too chaotic for my tastes, even by Mario Kart standards. The new tracks, when they have good layouts, are a blast. My favorites are the new Rainbow Road and the Japanese temple-themed track. I think they'll be remembered fondly. The new items are cool too! The ice flower and hammer items feel like natural additions and should stay in future entries.

I appreciate that Nintendo tried something different with this game, but for the $80 price tag, I don't recommend it over Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The balancing, price, track selection, and character selection are all better in that game, while being on a console that is over $100 less. By no means do I think this is the worst Mario Kart game. It's the most innovative game in the series since Double Dash, and for people who are tired of the old Mario Kart formula, this is a breath of fresh air. I can't safely say this game beats Mario Kart 8 or Mario Kart Wii as the definitive Mario Kart game.

On the side, I've spent some time on Pokémon Violet with the game's free Switch 2 upgrade. It almost feels like a remaster. I noticed fewer glitches, a significantly higher resolution, and slightly improved textures, all while running at a mostly steady 60 frames per second. Playing 3D Pokémon at such a high frame rate is exhilarating, and my enjoyment of the game has increased. Scarlet and Violet were the first Pokémon games since Black 2 and White 2 where I took longer than a week to beat them. While they were fun games, the constant glitches and slowdown made the game frustrating. With this patch, I can say this is the best way to play these games without emulation. I'm glad this option is available, but I'm not happy it took nearly 3 years for these games to be fixed.

Switching to a game that didn't receive a patch is a mixed bag. They often appear blurry due to linear upscaling and a lack of effective antialiasing, and whether they run or load better is entirely game-dependent. Some games run significantly better, while others show no noticeable difference. The limited selection of games to receive proper patches is disappointing, to say the least, as I think many Switch 1 games could have benefited from them.

Overall, while I think the Switch 2 is mostly good hardware, I can't recommend it in its current price and state. The low battery life, lack of exclusives that aren't ports or remasters, and high price for a handheld all hinder the console from reaching its full potential. The console's leading system seller at the moment, while a good game, is not worth the price tag. I'd suggest waiting until Nintendo releases a cheaper model with better battery life or until the console has a more extensive selection of games.