Farewell to the Nintendo Switch

Nintendo's greatest system

The Dream Nintendo Console

The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo’s greatest system ever made. Yeah, you heard me. Now let’s get a couple of things out of the way before you get up in arms about that comment. First of all, I’m talking about systems when it comes to Nintendo's first-party content and what you can play on that console. The Super Nintendo is still the G.O.A.T. when it comes to overall game console impact, with only the PlayStation 2 coming close to it (obviously subjective, but you get the point). However, if you're a Nintendo superfan, like I am, the Switch is the closest thing to a dream console you can get.

It had first-party content in size and scope similar to the pre-Wii era that so many of us had been missing. You can play almost every single Nintendo game thanks to the NSO service. It received a good number of surprising ports, specifically from Western third-party developers. It has a phenomenal lineup of Japanese gaming content. It became a home to some of the best pick-up-and-play multiplayer titles that Nintendo is known for. While still lacking in multiple features, it’s the best online console Nintendo has had so far. Finally, it provides us with the long-held dream of being able to both play on your TV and then take the system on the go like a Game Boy.

The Hardware

The Switch’s hardware gets a lot of flak these days, but when it first came out in 2017, we were happy with its capabilities. I do remember some comments scrutinizing its power when it was released, but for the most part, many gamers were still surprised that Nintendo was able to take a system with the power of their recent Wii U and put it in tablet form. The Switch (and, in some ways, Switch 2 as well) is somewhat tricky to explain in terms of its capabilities fully. It’s essentially on par with the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U in terms of graphical fidelity, but it has the ability to implement some graphical architectures that those consoles can’t. I always called it the HD generation perfected, plus you can take it on the go. Either way, Nintendo is a master at maximizing the potential of its hardware, largely due to its philosophy of prioritizing art style over realistic graphics. Still, many third-party developers have managed to release some “impossible ports” on the system. Yes, The Witcher III does look the worst on here, but it’s playable, and I would argue that if you take the tech goggles off, it’s an impressive port even graphically.

The Switch’s OS and system features do feel like a lost opportunity, however. If I were making a system with a tablet-like feel and look, I would lean into some more than Nintendo did. The OS is extremely simple and has added a small number of things that are so subtle that you won’t notice them. A part of this was that Nintendo wanted to leave as much memory as possible for the games, so they utilized approximately 800 MB of the system's 4 GB of RAM. Still, it would have been nice to have themes beyond black and white. Another thing Nintendo should have done is offer apps similar to those on mobile devices. You don’t need to have a mobile game store or anything like that, but imagine all the typical entertainment apps from Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, and more being available on your Switch. Instead, we got a random YouTube and Hulu app. I think that if Nintendo had pushed for more apps and tablet-like features, the system might have attracted some non-gamers and would likely have surpassed the PS2 in sales.

The Games

We need to take a step back and remember how many Nintendo fans felt in the Wii-era of Nintendo systems. The Wii had some solid content, such as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Xenoblade Chronicles, Mario Kart 8, and Splatoon. However, there was a certain it factor the company had been missing during that era. That same factor that gave us games that were accessible to casuals but made a lot of hardcore gamers happy at the same time, that type of size and scope was missing during that time, with the Nintendo Switch, that changed as games that were essentially spiritual successors to many N64 and GameCube classics were released.

Super Mario Odyssey was the Mario game we had been dying to play for so long, a true sequel to Super Mario 64. Mario was back to big open spaces and collecting everything he could, providing another iconic entry to the franchise that certainly became a childhood title for many younger gamers. The Legend of Zelda finally took a step up in the big open-world market and released two open-world masterpieces in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Are there a couple of things to criticize and nitpick with these two entries? Sure, but for the most part, they gave us the closest thing to a Skyrim Zelda and showcased what Anouma and his team could do if given the proper time and resources. Metroid fans like me were no longer begging for a game as the Switch became the system to play the series on, and not just because of the NSO service. Metroid Prime Remastered is a beautiful recreation of my favorite game of all time, with modernized graphics and more accessible for the new generation. Metroid Dread gave us a stellar 2.5D Metroid experience that old-school fans can enjoy. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was one of the first megaton announcements for the console and is FINALLY coming out at the end of the year.

There are many more games I could name. The system was packed with incredible content and groundbreaking first-time franchise entries for Nintendo. Shocking entries like Final Fantasy VII, Grand Theft Auto, The Witcher III, Dark Souls, Wolfenstein, and so on. Japanese support for the system was overwhelming, with games like Dragon Quest XI, Octopath Traveller, Persona 5, Bravely Default 2, Monster Hunter, and many more. The first party didn’t just give us Mario and Zelda, but also other major Nintendo franchises like Fire Emblem, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., Luigi’s Mansion, Kirby, Pikmin, Splatoon, Xenoblade, Animal Crossing, and so on, receiving some of their most successful releases on the system. The return of classic Rare games thanks to Microsoft and Nintendo’s forming relationship and the NSO service - the most significant title being 007 GoldenEye, a game that has been criminally stuck on the N64. Lastly, we finally got mainline Pokemon games on a major console! Granted, it hasn’t come without controversies around the art style, graphics, and performance; but we actually have had whole new Pokemon generations start with a Nintendo home console.

The Legacy

The Nintendo Switch is poised to have a lasting legacy. It’s the dream Nintendo console for hardcore Nintendo fans, featuring some of the biggest franchises, including returning characters and major moments for their respective series. The system could be the most successful Nintendo console in terms of units sold when its all said and done, surpassing the juggernaut Nintendo DS. It’s the home to a game that will be in the discussions of greatest games of all time in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and is the system where we saw new eras begin, like a new Mario voice and Doug Bowser’s time as Nintendo of America President. However, what its most critical legacy could be is going to be determined by what happens in the industry over the next several years. If my theory that handheld consoles could become the entry point for gaming hardware that consoles used to be comes true, the Switch could be the NES or PS1 of this new lineup of gaming hardware. Even gamers who don’t love Nintendo, like I do, can’t deny that the Switch may end up being the system that opens the floodgates to a new generation of gaming devices. It’s been an incredible 8 years, and it’s time to give the floor to Nintendo Switch 2. It’s been a hell of a ride, and one that won’t soon be forgotten.

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Be Nice to All