Is the Nintendo Switch any good?

Is the Nintendo Switch any good?

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FreeLitres

Original Poster:

6,039 posts

176 months

Monday 19th October 2020
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I've been playing Super Mario Kart with my kids on my SNES mini console.

We were browsing Youtube videos when we saw gameplay of Mariokart 8 which looks amazing. It's not available on XBox One of course.

Is the Switch worth getting if I already have an XBox as my main console?

sjg

7,444 posts

264 months

Monday 19th October 2020
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It's great although MK8 can be a bit complicated for young kids. If they're used to SNES Mario Kart though they'll probably pick up the new stuff and bonkers courses much easier though.

I got a secondhand Wii U for all this - there's a lot of Wii U games (MK8 amongst them) that were ported straight over to Switch so may as well play on the cheaper platform, catch up on all the other Wii/WiiU games, plus you can use old Wiimotes as extra controllers rather than pricey Switch joycons.

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Monday 19th October 2020
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FreeLitres said:
I've been playing Super Mario Kart with my kids on my SNES mini console.

We were browsing Youtube videos when we saw gameplay of Mariokart 8 which looks amazing. It's not available on XBox One of course.

Is the Switch worth getting if I already have an XBox as my main console?
Mario Kart live is just out. You create a track in your home, have a physical toy Kart with a camera, and then the Switch shows the race around your home on its screen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6o6T40w6As

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asv-RmGxhhY

Edited by hyphen on Monday 19th October 17:17

dapprman

2,309 posts

266 months

Monday 19th October 2020
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I got one and really REALLY regret it. I was a bit of a fool as I'm not that big a fan of Nintendo games, but I've struggled to find much that suits my tastes and the games are also rather expensive. TBH I got it just before spending 7 nights in hospital and it was with that in mind it was purchased, but battery life also proved to be an issue (though fortunately I also had my battery pack with me to charge the switch).

Keep meaning to try and sell mine - I think I was hoping more games to be released that were to my tastes, where as I'm more of a PC gamer, not a console one.

vindaloo79

959 posts

79 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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The wii u recommendation is not a bad shout, mario kart 8 is pretty much the same on there.

There are some decent games but not that many.

My son is 4, 5 this month and plays (with supervision and help):

Mariokart 8
Mario Odessy - but needs loads of help
Splatoon 2 - online gets beat a lot but is improving over last six months and I usually step in and win a lot for him (it’s the mario kart if shoot em ups and very addictive)
Rocket league - he’s struggles to score but it’s a hard game and he enjoys it, I just feel sorry for his online team mates when they are trying to play competively so I put him against bots offline.
Lego Jurassic Park/Incredibles and has two more Lego titles coming for his 5th birthday and Xmas (these games are cheaper on older consoles)

Minecraft (runs slower than PC and Xbox one version but is fine for him) we play together on that and has been great for him, he can now spell basic words because of this game (mainly using auto spell for colours) and his arithmetic is improving from the recipes to create objects/items.

The switch and wiiu pro controllers are expensive and break often through sustained use. ( Nintendo are not overly generous beyond one year warranty and amazon don’t want to know)

I find that first party and Lego games lose very little in resale value and it’s possible to get used games and sell them with a loss of a tenner for first party titles. Lego games cost £24 but I can seemingly get £10-14 back for them or exchange for £6

So despite the high costs, the Nintendo tax is usually factored in with higher used prices

I should mention my mate runs a gaming store and “see’s me alright” when trading.

aberdeeneuan

1,339 posts

177 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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My 8 year old loves it, and has done all the while we’ve had it. He got into Mario, and is currently hugely into Zelda. Absolutely loves it.

Eldest (11) enjoys the party games when we all play together, he’s more into Xbox though as that’s what his mates play.

It’s expensive, depends on what games they’re into I guess. I play on it too sometimes, got into Zelda in lockdown and should really go on again.

sgtBerbatov

2,597 posts

80 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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Had mine for 3 years, and I play it more often than the PS4, as you can just play it as a handheld. But I'm a 32 year old man, not a child.

I play Stardew Valley a lot on my Switch, along with Overcooked. SV is like Animal Crossing really, you look after a farm etc. Overcooked is a good family type of game I think, so you can play it with him.

bloomen

6,854 posts

158 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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I got given one. I sold it shortly after.

For certain games it's right on the money. For others, mainly ports from elsewhere, it's simply not good enough.

I also found the controllers too piddly and basic for anything that required any finesse like driving. WRC 8, though it was impressive to have it a handheld form, was basically uncontrollable and looked awful.

I'd be definitely interested in an improved one. The current one doesn't cut it for me. If you love Nintendo's own games it may well hit the mark.

Murph7355

37,651 posts

255 months

Tuesday 20th October 2020
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8yr old has had one for 6mths and loves it.

Fifa20 was his main draw. That's morphed to Mario Odyssey and Luigi's Mansion (current favourite and very good). MK8 is top notch.

He has a few other games but those are the most played.

alorotom

11,908 posts

186 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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My daughter has one and we got it for her for Easter.

She loves Mario Deluxe and Mario Kart ... these are near identical to the same on the Wii U that I already had

She plays Yoshi Crafted World quite a bit and the current Animal Crossing is pretty good

Its a really good pick up and play console, I find with my PS4 that you need to dedicate loads of time to a game / playing and just picking up for a 10/20/30min session isn't really possible but on the switch it really is.

I use it more than my PS4 tbh.

superstreek

280 posts

209 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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My wife uses our for Animal crossing mostly (90% of the time) but MK gets the occasional outing and tried a couple of party games that would probably be good for kids and adults alike. Looks like the new Jackbox party pack will be on it so might have a look at that with the view that travel might eventually open up again.

Richyvrlimited

1,824 posts

162 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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I have one, I must've used it less than 10 times in 12 months, was a waste of money really.

Even though it's the 'improved' model the battery life is shocking. There aren't that many games for it, (there are loads on the estore, but the vast quantity are filler pap), and all the Nintendo ones are really expensive.

Despite it being a mobile device there's no Bluetooth audio connection.

Very few of the games are pick up and play, so are more suited to a longer session than a quick 10 minutes during a commute etc.

dapprman

2,309 posts

266 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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You've reminded me of one of the other reasons I really regretted getting mine. You can;t use it as a media player. I had an original Sony PSP and I probably spent more time watching videos and listening to music on it than playing actual games.

NewNameNeeded

2,560 posts

224 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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There haven't been too many AAA titles that have interested me on the Switch recently but there's a great catalog of indie games available and they can be had for good prices if you purchase from the Nintendo store in other regions (easy to set up and do).

In terms of big games then Mario Kart 8, Mario + Rabbids, Skyrim, Zelda BOTW .... all brilliant connected to the telly or handheld. The portability bit was key for me - it allows me to play a game whilst the wife watches something on the telly and we're still in the same room, and still being sociable. It's given me access to games like Skyrim I just never had the time to play on XBox. Now I can spend 30 minutes walking around a mountain the family have something else on the TV.

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Wednesday 21st October 2020
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Richyvrlimited said:
Even though it's the 'improved' model the battery life is shocking..
If you want more battery life on a Nintendo Handheld, you must buy a bulky battery back that sticks on to it.

That is the way. That has always been the way hehe

Richyvrlimited

1,824 posts

162 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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dapprman said:
You've reminded me of one of the other reasons I really regretted getting mine. You can;t use it as a media player. I had an original Sony PSP and I probably spent more time watching videos and listening to music on it than playing actual games.
If you could add Netflix etc to it, it would be much more useful a device IMO

NewNameNeeded

2,560 posts

224 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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Richyvrlimited said:
If you could add Netflix etc to it, it would be much more useful a device IMO
Very true. I've played YouTube videos on it (via Facebook) and it demonstrates how good the screen is and how it would be great for streaming services).

dai1983

2,902 posts

148 months

Thursday 22nd October 2020
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Zelda and 2 player Mario Odeyssey are the best games and are amazing. Zelda is quite difficult to master though.

Pikmin is coming out which is one of the most underrated game series out there.

SeanyD

3,372 posts

199 months

Friday 23rd October 2020
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Murph7355 said:
Luigi's Mansion (current favourite and very good).
Luigi 2 is incredible for all ages, I've completed it twice, daughter has once, and missus is half way. Great fun for the family .

Funny username

1,492 posts

174 months

Saturday 24th October 2020
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Genuinely, I believe this is Nintendo’s masterpiece. I love mine.


Currently working through Mario all stars.