Have you ever held a switch? Its long, flat and the controllers suck. Awful dpad and bad sticks.
Its almost comical, for a small stick the 3ds stick is better than any joycon stick.
And also, internal storage being only 32 GB, and cart games being downloaded in full to the system.
The switch is a mess. At least the games emulate well.
That’s not even going into the online ransom shit.
And the dock sucks too. Would it have killed Nintendo to add like 2 more USB ports and an Ethernet port.
And not related but powera can eat shit
To be fair when it came out seven years ago it really shook up the portable gaming scene. Every portable console coming out since is an iteration on that design. The joycons can go to hell though. And those weird ass online plans.
Isn’t the switch itself just an iteration on the GameGear, or close to ‘home’, the GBA?
It’s not the first chunky, horizontal handheld. The only thing that was new about it was the joycons, and they ditched those immediately for the Lite.
The Game gear and GBA played games that were nothing like the home console games of their time.
This is what the Switch brought to the table. Breadth of the Wild was a great home console title, and you could play it handheld on the go.
I think that calling BOtW similar to other full-scale console games of 2017 like Sniper Elite 4, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, Nier Automata, Prey, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, RE7, or AssCreed Origins, is a biiiiiiig stretch.
It was a huge jump for Nintendo (it was basically putting GameCube-level games on a handheld), but it was still far behind other consoles. Witcher 3 (2015) even eventually released on the Switch in 2019, and it was massively graphically gimped compared to *ahem* real consoles.
I think that discounting the 5th best selling game of the year (plus all the awards) because you like games on other platforms is a mistake.
Graphics aren’t everything!
I didn’t say it’s not good, I said it’s not equivalent to console releases of that year. Graphics isn’t everything, and I still enjoy playing Pax Imperia and Nox, but that doesn’t change that it was a handheld game, not a console game. Pokemon Red/Blue were also some of the best selling games the year they released, but that doesn’t make the Gameboy equivalent as a console to PSX or N64 either.
What makes you think it’s a handheld game? It was originally designed for and did release on the Wii U, a console
BotW was originally developed for the WiiU, which it also released on. It is not a “handheld game”, and tbh I’d take it’s gameplay loop over Nier Automata or Shadow of War any day of the week.
The Switch design is an evolution of the Wii U controller, which itself was evolved from the the lower screen design of the DS, which itself was modelled on the old Vertical Multi Screen Game and Watches from the 1980s.
Have a look through all of Nintendo’s consoles and you’ll see the lines of inspiration drawn from generation to generation.
Yea, you have a point. But in terms of feel, my n3dsxl is a lot comfier
I really liked the original 2DS personally. The announcement left everyone incredulous as the device sounded and looked like a dumb downgrade. I mean, it was hard to tell if it was joke or not. In the end though it’s light, cheap, tough and surprisingly comfortable.
The 2ds looks cool, I want more systems in the family
Hey, is it too late to buy a couple of n3dsxl in 2024? Is it unusable now as all online services are shut down? Can you still find game cartridges to buy?
I just want something simple to play co-op game with the wife and kids on camping trip or on-the-go sometimes. Last month I dug out my old DSLite from the attic and it’s still boot. My candy-crush-4-life wife love the Mario kart and couldn’t stop playing LOL. But we can’t justify to buy 2-4 Switch.
Because fuck Nintendo and their predatory anti consumer business model.
They can be a lil hard rlto find, but are well worth it. Get one, a 128gb microsd and you have a really good system
When it came out it was just slightly better than a phone
But without an app store full of shit that games the recommendation system.
Nintendo handhelds would have died a long time ago if smartphone vendors could have avoided that problem.
Cheaper than many phones as well.
Not a hot take at all. It was revolutionary for the first year it was released and then was quickly surpassed on every front by any company that put slightly more effort (and more cost) into any part of the switch: graphics, sensors, controllers, expandability, etc. Pretty stock for any Nintendo product, because they only focus on hardware that be produced mass-market and get good profit margins on. Which means it’s often made with current-to-dated components that can get overlooked because it’s the only platform you can play Nintendo games on. Also, not sure why they are so allergic to ergonomics, all the way back to the NES controller, the least comfortable controller of its peers
One small thing but I’m surprised nobody points it out - the charging port location. I like using my switch/steam deck in bed or otherwise laying down, and the fact that the charging lead is at the bottom of the console rather than the top sucks. It just gets in the way and stops you resting the console on you. Whereas the Steam Deck just has it on top where you can just plug it in while playing.
I know the technical reasons behind it because of the dock and all that, but it’s annoying.
In general, I think the steam deck is better than the switch in almost every way - The switch is just an expensive ticket for the right to play Nintendo games nowadays.
Yup. I’ve always loved having a handheld device as a companion to my PC. The first few months with the Switch were great, but as time went on I just wanted a better designed Switch that’s also just a PC, particularly after getting hardware-banned for trying to fix some of the issues myself with homebrew apps.
I never would’ve thought that we’d actually get to see a device that’s real so quickly (anyone remember the Smach Z?), is actually pretty good and how quickly it’s now becoming its own market segment.
I game on my bed too, and use a flat right-angled USB adapter. Basically, something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Duttek-Degree-Adapter-Extender-Support/dp/B0C244K2HC/
I use a similar but magnetic version with my phone and other USB-C devices, and it’s been a game-changer.
It’s definitely not as comfortable as something like the Steam Deck, but I played so much Switch while commuting on the train since it came out. It’s been a real joy to have. It’s also WAY smaller than any of the current-gen handhelds.
What do you mean by “cart games being downloaded in full to the system?”
I never owned a Switch, but I would say it was instrumental in the Deck’s conception. If the popularity of the Switch had never happened, I wonder if Gabe would have taken the chance.
Nintendo cuts all kinds of corners and usually doesn’t bother competing as a “performance” console, but people generally loved that thing when it first came out. I’m sure people will have gripes about Steam Deck v1 when v2+ comes out, too.
Its not about power, its about its horrendous controls. Its like trying to game on a comically long phone
Get an Odin 2. It’s fantastic.
I have a retroid pocket 4 pro. Odin 2 was out of budget.
The retroid is bloody amazing. Its a better switch than the switch itself.
The AYANEO AIR 1S is smaller than a regular Nintendo Switch, being closer to a Switch Lite.
And the rp4 pro
Sure, but the AIR 1S is an x86 device with a 7840U, so it runs regular PC games like the Deck for example.
Yea, 2different ideas
So, let’s take botw, about 10 GB.
If you put the cart in, it downloads, you get hose 10 GB on the system. And you’ll also need the CSRT for DRM reasons or shit
It doesn’t download the game if you have a physical copy. I just checked my switch and my physical copy of botw is using 0 mb of storage.
Further to this - it doesn’t download cart data to the Switch/SD card, but it does store save data, update data and DLC data on the Switch/SD card. So while BOTW may not download its whole 10Gb onto the Switch, you may end up with a few Gb in other data that’s locally stored.
OK - I thought this was the case, but wasn’t sure. At any rate, a microSD card is a good purchase (but that’s true for all of these handhelds).
Yeah, I’d almost say it’s an essential purchase. I buy a fair few online titles and I’ve found my 128Gb SD to be a bit lacking. I’m considering upgrading to a 256Gb or 512Gb but they’re still too expensive at high transfer rates.
If you have to choose between capacity and transfer rate for an SD card for a Switch, go for transfer. I had an old slow card and that was abhorrent for load times and stuttering on games that were stored there.
Well you have to consider it’s 7 years old. It was incredible in 2016.
My 3dsxl is even older and a lot comfier
Do you have very small hands? The 3DSXL aches my hands if I play for too long but I’ve never had any problems with the Switch, or even a GBA.
Yes, I didn’t and still don’t understand why they didn’t make the joycon buttons and “d-pad” more comfortable. It’s Nintendo’s least comfortable controller and it’s the biggest reason I hate using the Switch portable mode.
Everyone’s saying it’s old here - the Game Boy was more comfortable to hold and had better buttons. It’s not about age.
The 3ds has a good dpad too. Has Nintendo forgotten how dpads work
This is something I think a lot, how portable gaming kind died. I don’t mean the devices itself, yes the switch and the deck are amazing devices, but I miss games designed and meant to be playable on small devices, like the games we got until the 3DS, games that fit the portable device if that makes sense.
It’s amazing but I simply can’t play a game like Elden Ring on a portable device the same way I used to play my DS.
Portable gaming died because of smartphone gaming, unfortunately
This is part of what I love about the Playdate.
The Joycons were an absolute disaster and ruined the portable experience. I got 4 of them repaired. When they inevitably broke again, I gave up and bought a pro controller. Precariously balancing the Switch on your lap or setting it on furniture so you can use a pro controller is not a handheld. Still had lots of fun with the games on it, but the experience should have been better. Nintendo has building controllers for decades, you would think they could at least begin to approach competency.
Yeah, it is basically impossible for me to use the stock switch for anything more than an hour handheld with my hands cramping up. I ended up having to get some rubber grips with a palm bumpout in order for it to be remotely comfortable.
The steam deck is a huge upgrade in that regard. Significantly more comfortable to hold. Plus, the steam deck is capable of emulating pretty much anything on the switch full speed :). On top of all of that is barely even costs more lol.
I completely agree that the switch is genuinely painful to hold on handheld mode for more than ten minutes. The controllers and buttons are too small, it’s flat, and generally not ergonomic. It’s definitely designed for child sized hands in mind and not adults. I do my best to avoid using it in handheld mode.
Meanwhile, my steam deck is a much superior design. The ergonomics are excellent, it fits my hands, the buttons are spaced apart well, and are adequately sized, and I can play for hours with no hand cramps.
However…
The switch absolutely trounces the deck on portability. The fact that it’s flat and small means that, even while in a case, it’s extremely easy to slip into a backpack and take on the go. The deck while in a case, however, is bulky and doesn’t fit in a backpack if I want to put anything else in there (like a book and my laptop).
They were each designed with different goals in mind. I hate the ergonomics of the switch, but really do appreciate how easy it is to take on the go. I love the ergonomics of the deck, but hate how cumbersome it is to take anywhere. Nintendo made the choice to sacrifice ergonomics, and valve made the choice to sacrifice portability. Unfortunately, no solution will be perfect, and I accept that.
Good point, tho my switch only left my house like once for a smash tourney
I find I very rarely use it as a handheld. I find it kind of heavy and awkward to hold after longer periods of time. I kinda wish Nintendo made another 3ds, lol. I’m extremely curious about what they’re going to do for the switch successor
I’d go even farther back - make another GBA
I want both a new GBA and a new 3ds.
I think maybe I just want a GBA
Which is probably currently available if I look around
I want a GBA, but the money to get one is not worth it.
A GBA is not worth 100 euros to me.
That’s true, especially since I don’t have any of the old physical games.
I might get one of those “retro handhelds” (rg351p, PowKiddy, etc) one day. Those at least seem much more reasonable, and probably sport more open architecture
I’m big into those, you want some recommendations?
Hell yes!! I would love that. I’m definitely looking for something lofi - like even playing SNES games would probably be overkill. Bonus points if it can play contemporary retro games, like for PICO-8
That would be really interesting. Heck I would even just take people making more games with the gba’s restrictions. I’ve always thought it’s super interesting. As developers get used to working with a console or system, we end up rolling into the next generation. So they don’t really get to flex their skill as much as I think they probably could.
I sometimes wonder what we would see if older consoles had another 7 years of life added to them. I try not to think about it too hard or I get kinda sad about the games we’ll never see lol
Well it’s the only handheld that hasn’t given me cramp after 20 minutes, so at least there’s that. DS and 3DS were limited to stylus games for me.
I honestly wish for a vita sized steam deck. I love the PS vita 1000. It was small and portable but thick enough to hold. Still would be uncomfortable after many hours but honestly that just means it’s time to take a break
The problem is that the Steam Deck plays PC games, that were designed for a big screen. You can’t make the screen much smaller than the current Deck while keeping it legible.
Handheld mode is really not great for extended periods.
I got it for (business) trips, so I appreciate that I can easily connect it to a hotel room TV, or put it upright on a train or plane table.
One disconnected joycon in each hand IS pretty comfortable, since I can avoid the static “controller in front of you” arm pose.
It’s meant for children so, yeah, as an adult it fucking sucks to hold. But that is still the case when it’s docked and you’re using the joycons. The joycons are just incredibly small. They also suck in terms of construction and get drifting sticks super fast.
Yea. But also, I have pretty normal hands, joycon are somehow too long for me.
