While the Nintendo Wii was a massive financial success, it was bloated with a lot of horrible software. It was a very fun console though and had some top-quality games. The Wii U was a financial disaster, but it did have some wonderful first-party experiences. While Nintendo has been a bit shaky since the GameCube, with regards to their home consoles, the Nintendo Switch stands out as their crowning achievement. It can be played on the go or on your television and is the most innovative console, ever. It may not have the sheer power of the Xbox One or the PlayStation 4, but the Nintendo Switch is the best console of this generation. It even has two of the best games of all time on the system in a matter of seven months, which is an incredible accomplishment.
Top-Notch Games
The Switch, which isn’t even a year old, has a plethora of top-tier quality games, and more are coming. Although a lot of games announced in the January 11 direct were ports, people have to understand that the Wii U didn’t sell very well, sadly. Most people have never played the games that were announced. Bringing Hyrule Warriors, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, and even a game like The World Ends With You is an incredibly smart business move. Nintendo is not even close to announcing their full lineup of games for the year. They always wait until a game is near completion to announce it; it’s been their philosophy for years. It’s possible that we get a number of new titles, like Pokemon, Bayonetta 3, and Metroid Prime 4 this year. If Pokemon releases, sales will explode.
Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey released within seven months of each other and are two of the greatest games of all time.. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the best RPG of the current generation with a superb combat system (once you understand the intricacies of it), an excellent story, and intriguing characters. ARMS is a whacky fighting game and is even landing on the competitive eSports gaming scene. Splatoon 2 is a smash hit and one of the most fun games on the Switch; it embodies everything Nintendo is about. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is an incredible game by Ubisoft, further showing Nintendo’s third-party support. The Nintendo Switch seems to have so much quality software in so little time.
Finally, third-parties are actually supporting the Nintendo Switch. The ability to play L.A. Noire or DOOM on the go is a treat and the ports are excellent. Sure, they are ports, but they are ports of two of the best games from the last two generations (although yes, L.A. Noire is from last generation, but it’s one of the best from the previous generation). Wolfenstein II is coming to the Switch, which is wonderful for Switch owners considering it’s Bethesda’s holiday season 2017 hit. The fantastic thing is Nintendo’s software lineup can only get better from here and is shaping up very nicely. It’s stronger than its competitors over the last year in just nine months (it had the best software lineup of 2017). This doesn’t even take into account what is coming in 2018.
Whacky Fun Factor
There is nothing compared to the fun factor that Nintendo has to offer. Their first-party lineup is impeccable and their philosophy is that games should be fun, first and foremost. That doesn’t mean games can’t be difficult though. Two major hits for the Switch, Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild, are actually pretty difficult at times. You can beat both games pretty quickly, but to do everything the game has to offer? It takes a long time. The challenge actually enhances the fun factor of these games though.
Splatoon 2 is probably the best example of Nintendo’s style and philosophy. It’s completely whacky. It’s a shooter, but the goal is not to go off killing other players. Instead, the goal is to cover each stage with as much ink as you can with your guns. It has this charming style and allure to it, similar to Nintendo’s new IP ARMS. Even Xenoblade Chronicles 2, despite its length, is incredibly fun and rewarding due to the amazing combat system. Nintendo does fun like no one else, and isn’t that why we all play video games?
The Switch has taken this philosophy to a new level and is finally fulfilling the promise and potential of Nintendo that hasn’t been seen since the GameCube era.
Innovative Hardware
I was skeptical of a console/portable hybrid. In fact, I hated the idea. Nintendo completely changed my outlook though. There are so many options on how to play the Switch, whether it be on the TV, propped up on its stand using a pro controller or the Joy-Cons with the grip, or just playing with the Joy-Cons connected to the tablet. It is incredibly innovative, and only something Nintendo would come up with. They continue to drive the industry. It doesn’t matter if it lacks the sheer power of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, which are great in their own right, or lacks home entertainment options like Netflix. It’s not all about power and the Switch is a gaming system, not a home entertainment system. Nintendo understands this, which is why the Switch is selling so well. Its about the games first and foremost and Nintendo is paving a completely new path for themselves. They focused on innovation and created, possibly, the greatest home console and portable system of all time.
The Future is Brighter Than Ever
Nintendo has Bayonetta 1 and 2 coming next month, The World Ends With You, new Yoshi and Kirby games, the definitive version of Hyrule Warriors, Project Octopath Traveler from Square Enix, and so much more coming in the first six months of 2018. It’s astonishing. Nintendo has the strongest upcoming software lineup for the first half of the year, and more announcements are bound to happen, especially since a new Fire Emblem game is slated for this year.
There’s no doubt about it: the Nintendo Switch is the best console of this generation. It may have a late start, but the hardware is incredible for a hybrid console, and the software lineup, while still being bult, may be stronger at this point than any other console.
It has the best RPG (Xenoblade 2) of this generation, the best action-adventure game of all time (Zelda: Breath of the Wild), and the best platformer ever created (Super Mario Odyssey). Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best racing game ever. It’s not just the hardware that makes a console, but the software as well. Nintendo’s software is stronger than anyone; it may be a smaller collection, but it has quality over quantity.
Nintendo is sure to have a lot more for us this year, but the Switch is superior to its competitors. While other companies are having a war over the raw power of their systems, Nintendo is making top-notch games for one of the best consoles ever created, focusing on innovation, not power.