A Nintendo Switch Retrospective - Three Years in Review

Nintendo are risk takers and, following the prototype disaster, the Wii U, being a risk taker has shown their creativity and innovation. Three years into its life cycle, the Nintendo Switch is one of the best, most innovative consoles ever made, supported by a multitude of studios, with a plethora of fantastic titles that can be played anywhere you can carry the console. Its functionality, portability and games catalogue demonstrate a revival of Nintendo’s ethos that gaming be fun and enjoyable, regardless of how much power is in the device. Although potential buyers of the console have a lot to look forward to, there are tell-tale signs of slowing momentum from Nintendo – a Metroid Prime 4 production restart, haphazard game announcements through twitter, and long spells of silence amongst next-gen console hype. These do not bode well for a dynamic future that includes big titles other than Breath of the Wild 2. This article aims to take a retrospective look at the Nintendo Switch three years after release and present my arguments for what Nintendo has done right, what Nintendo has done wrong, but most importantly, why I feel that the Switch is a valuable addition to anyone's gaming needs.

First, I’ll explore what makes the Nintendo Switch such a game-changer in the console world – it’s functionality, and how the plethora of games available has continued to illustrate the uniqueness of the console. Secondly, I move on to explore how the Switch has infiltrated the Console War yet brings Nintendo into a league of their own. I then discuss where Nintendo’s failures lie and the shortcomings in improving underdeveloped and lacking Switch features, especially after three years of consumer feedback.

Nintendo’s slow in momentum is troubling, and points to an uncertain future. However, the Nintendo Switch is undeniably a fantastic console, and I believe it deserves a spot on the best of all-time list. For those who don’t own one…where you been?

- Before I begin, I’d like to give a shoutout to my good friends Joe Belham and Mark Leedell over at Pushing Buttons Podcast on Spotify for providing me with feedback and the inspiration to write this piece. Go Check 'Em Out! -

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Nintendo in the Console Wars – A League of their Own

Three Years On: A Plethora of Games

If there’s one thing that all gamers agree on, it’s that good games are essential for a console. Without them, the machine will be forgotten. To date, the Switch has sold over 59 million units worldwide (according to Christina Gough’s July 2020 report on Statista) and that is, no doubt, thanks to its incredible line-up of exclusive and triple A title releases. It is difficult to dispute the extensive quality and exhaustive list of titles: Animal Crossing: New Horizons; Octopath Traveller; Breath of the Wild; Super Mario Maker 2; Fire Emblem: Three House; Super Mario Odyssey; Super Smash Bros. Ultimate; Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening; Xenoblade Chronicles 2; Splatoon 2; Luigi’s Mansion 3; Astral Chain; Pokémon Sword/Shield; Pokémon Let’s Go; Dragon Quest 11 S; Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze. All these games, by the way, have a Metacritic score of 80 and above, impressive numbers for any console.

One of my biggest disappointments, however, has been the Pokémon series, which received deeply mixed reactions by audiences for both Let’s Go and Sword/Shield, but I believe that Gamefreak have been dwindling in quality for a while (post Black and White 2), and attribute the failure of Pokémon strictly to Gamefreak rather than Nintendo as a whole. There were, and are, concerns that the titles emerging from Nintendo have been remasters and remakes, specifically of Wii U games, and while this is worrying to some extent, it can also be seen as a benefit for many gamers who didn’t get to experience the quality titles that did exist on Wii U, or are able to experience titles never before on Nintendo platforms for example: Skyrim, The Witcher 3 and Dark Souls Remastered.

It should not be forgotten that Nintendo’s creativity and innovation that was showcased with the Nintendo Wii has also been demonstrated in full form this console cycle. Late last year Nintendo released their circular fitness extravaganza, Ring Fit Adventure, a sort of spiritual successor to the Wii Fit. And in 2018, Nintendo released their do-it-yourself Virtual Reality with Nintendo Labo. Although Nintendo Labo did not take the market by storm, so to speak, Ring Fit Adventure was an incredible success, to the point that it was sold out for months on end because of demand – even today you will struggle to find a copy at retail price. It is also worthwhile to mention Arms, Nintendo’s early Switch release that has been extremely popular and become a growing Esport alongside Splatoon, Smash Bros. and Pokémon. Nintendo have avoided the formulaic game making seen from Triple A exclusives on other platforms and display their creativity in full force. What’s funny is that, while Microsoft and Sony compete with “next-gen” consoles and argue about who will have better exclusives, Nintendo parade their success against the likes of Halo Infinite.

The Indie Home and a Quality Selection

The collection of Indie titles on the Nintendo Switch is staggering, easily rivalling the catalogue of Xbox and Playstation. Hollow Knight, Celeste, Dead Cells, Stardew Valley, Enter the Gungeon, Shovel Knight, CrossCode, Cuphead, Ori and the Blind Forest, Terraria, Undertale – all these titles are fabulous and some of the Switch’s highest rated games, a must play for any Switch user. The PC Steam market is of course cheaper and more diverse, however the portability of the switch and the nature of detachable Joycons lends itself greatly to playing smaller, indie titles. I, alongside many I know, will often purchase the titles on Switch, despite the increased price, for the usability and portability of the console. Hollow Knight for example is fantastic on the Switch – it is the perfect game for travel and the springy triggers of the Joycons makes the movement feel swift and precise, unlike using other platforms’ controllers which often have haptic or adaptive feedback on their triggers.

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A League of their Own, for Better or Worse

Three years on, there is no competitor to the Switch. And it’s looking like there isn’t going to be one. Although mobile gaming is ever-increasing with a wider user base, it seems that it cannot replace handheld gaming, and neither Sony nor Microsoft have any interest in that realm. So, Nintendo are on their own, and while that’s great, it also provides them with a monopoly on the sector and gives them no reason to truly listen to their audience.

From day one, or even from the pre-release marketing, everyone could see that the hardware was impressive, and nearly perfect for achieving the “switch” concept that it was going for. Largely, the Switch has delivered: playing with a Joycon in each hand is luscious; instantly swapping between handheld and console mode is seamless; and playing console games on a handheld is something many had thought wouldn’t happen. The portability of the switch and its functionality are refined and accessible, demonstrating features of a perfect handheld experience. However, after three years there have been some notable features that are missing or have gone unaddressed.

Firstly, Nintendo’s hardware is notably underwhelming in the presence of others on the market which, I assume, was a decision made to cut costs. The Joycon stick-drift has been a notorious issue for many Switch users, though I have had no issues after three years. It was rather shocking that Nintendo didn’t make alterations, recalls or future changes to the Joycons, especially given they were sued for their poor joystick quality. The Joycons also present issues when trying to play some games. Triple A titles, specifically shooters such as Doom and Fortnite, struggle significantly on the Switch, especially when in handheld mode, and are only worsened by these imprecise joysticks which are clearly not conducive to playing certain genres/games. Personally, I have accepted that the Switch is not that type of console. It is understandable that if a game is released on a console, the expectation is that it can run that game without low fps issues and joystick annoyances. However, the Switch is clearly not designed for these types of games and trying to force it into that category will sorely disappoint you. But given the array of diverse games that the weaker hardware does support, it’s still very much worth the investment.

The docking station should have been the solution to this problem. The premise was that it would upscale games to 1080p on the big screen from its 720p handheld form, but its practical performance enhancing capabilities are lacklustre. What Nintendo should have been looking for by now, regardless of a “Switch Pro” concept, was to provide docking stations that utilised better upscaling technology to achieve smoother frames and guaranteed better visuals. For me, I’m keen to play games on the smaller screen where I find the condensed 720p image sharper and more aesthetically pleasing than a blown-out 1080p upscale. The docking station does its job of switching screens perfectly, but by all accounts, it is slightly underwhelming.

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When Will They Learn? – Failures and Shortcomings

The Nintendo Switch has suffered from stagnant development, and this can be attributed to three key areas:

· An unevolved user interface

· Outdated online experiences

· Poor communication with and response to audience feedback

An Unevolved User Interface and an Outdated Online Experience

The Switch’s user interface is good. It is simplistic, it is uncluttered, and the visual icons are direct and effective. Investigating the settings, looking through recorded media in the albums, and connecting controllers is all simple and easy. But after three years of the same look, it would really be nice to have evolved the interface in some way. Perhaps new themes could be available for greater expression, perhaps game tiles could be moved to create a new layout. The Nintendo 3ds allowed you to relocate tiles with a simple hold and drag – even better, it could create folders for applications. Maybe one day I want to play a Mario game, why can I not search for them instead of only having the filter system? Although the interface is clean and effective, it is also lacking inspiration and evolution.

The biggest issue with Nintendo and the Switch, is the poorly executed online experience. Yes, it is cheap, there is no denying that. But it is almost unfathomable, that to communicate with friends, you are required to use your mobile phone as a gateway to online (the irony that a console designed to perform multiple functions requires a separate device for online connection is not lost on me here). Animal Crossing tried to streamline this by adding emotes and a somewhat useful chat-box, but even Animal Crossing couldn’t break the impossible barrier of inviting a friend directly from the menu. In fact, regardless of whether it was able to do that, it does not serve as a viable replacement for simply being able to click on a friend’s icon and pressing “invite to game”, or at least alerting them that I want to play. It’s all well and good showing me that my friend is online, but what can I do about it if I can’t send them a quick message or an invite? Thank God Fortnite and Rocket League have their own invite systems. Nintendo truly need to mix the functionality of Microsoft’s Xbox online communication with Sony’s strong server dedication to provide an online experience that works (if you need an example of where online performance is lacking, try playing Mario Maker 2 online for 5 minutes).

Nintendo should be learning from mistakes about what works and what doesn’t both from competitors and from themselves. The Wii U’s hardware and games collection was a miss, but the console had one of the most original online experiences produced in the gaming world. The Miiverse was possibly one of the best ideas Nintendo have ever had, and its ability to connect players was beautifully executed - it was a social media platform that managed to feel expressive and communal. However, Nintendo failed to properly regulate it, and instead of trying to be active participants in helping it succeed, they killed it. To not even attempt to recreate some elements is a missed opportunity. One that has resulted in no sense of community in the Switch’s online realm. Nintendo have also missed an opportunity to create greater community by adding applications to the Switch. The Switch is clearly tablet-like by nature, and in portable technology, it now feels almost standard that applications such as Facebook, twitter, Netflix, or Spotify be available for use. If Nintendo had partnered with Discord, they could have avoided maintaining their own communication service, but I suppose that’s a distant dream for those who have come to realise that Nintendo are unfortunately unwilling to adapt.

Highlighting another flaw inherent in both the online and user interface experience is the Nintendo Switch Eshop. At its introduction, the fact that Nintendo’s online store was able to provide such a diverse array of indie titles with a strong rewards programme was massively appealing. Later the free NES and SNES applications and the Switch game vouchers again lent to a store that was able to provide great content (it’s also pretty awesome that you can get onto the Japanese store to purchase games unavailable on the Western store). Yet after three years, design flaws, and Nintendo’s uncaring game filtering, has led to some deep issues. A lack of filtering systems, effective spotlighting and user review systems is coupled with a store that is clogged with weak, strange and mobile games, has sales that are infrequent and absent for most first party entries and simply overpriced titles – classic to Nintendo’s way of thinking. Maybe there are some gems in there (shoutout to Tennis 1920s) but seeing an £11 game drop to £1.80 without some serious user reviews does not instil a huge amount of confidence in me.

If Nintendo are on track to embrace a diverse range of games and studios, then they need to catch on to an online and store model that provides something akin to what were are seeing with Steam, Epic Games, Xbox’s Game Pass or Sony’s PS Now services. The online service needs to provide effective communication, some basic application usage, a streamlined store experience and a model to compete with subscription-based service, or the Switch’s future will be sorely affected.

Slowing Momentum and Poor Communication

It is difficult to judge Nintendo too harshly for this, as they have, year after year, delivered high-quality games to the Switch, but delivering brings expectations. With their notable absence from this year’s pseudo-E3 game events, the future isn’t looking great. It’s not just the absence from the conferences; mini-directs are often uneventful and simply uninspired, and haphazard game announcements like Paper Mario are bizarre and random. I wish I understood who wanted to see a Pokémon teeth-brushing application? Or who at Nintendo thought that WWE 2K Battlegrounds was the reveal we’d been waiting for? Nintendo are falling back into long spells of silence, and that translates into fears that future titles are far away, or simply non-existent. As good as I’m sure Breath of the Wild 2 will be, it cannot be the sole title relied upon for a sustained game projection long-term.

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Final Thoughts and the Future of Nintendo Switch

I love the Nintendo Switch. I think is it one of the most versatile, innovative and exciting pieces of gaming technology we have seen, and I hope that Nintendo chooses to pursue this path in either this or the next console cycle.

Moving forward though, Nintendo need to seriously rethink their online experience, not just to compete with other companies, but to show users that they value them and are listening to what they have to say. Long spells of silence and poor game announcements do not bode well for a future with a receptive user base or one that can level the great experience many users have had over the past three years. Having said this, it is important to remember that the Switch’s game library quality has developed to a standard that is unparalleled by the likes of Sony and Microsoft, and the hardware presented is innovative, functional and extremely user friendly. I now regularly see people playing together in towns, on transport or just out and about – anything that can bring people together so well and with such joy should be celebrated to the fullest.

Although I am concerned by the slow in momentum, I am excited for the Switch’s future. I think we all hold out hope for some sort of Switch Pro, but the fact is, the Switch delivers. In a world where Microsoft and Sony compete for power, both in market and in hardware, Nintendo does a fantastic job of realising that they’ve developed a product that is unrivalled and high-quality. Props to Nintendo I would say.

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“Well that’s all I’ve got time for. I’ve got to get back to playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons on my Nintendo Switch system” – Reggie Fils-Jiggy (That's paraphrased folks!)