🔗 Share this article

It's astonishing, but we're nearly at the Nintendo Switch 2's six-month milestone. When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond releases on the fourth of December, we'll be able to give the device a comprehensive progress report due to its solid selection of Nintendo-developed launch window games. Heavy hitters like Donkey Kong Bananza will dominate that review, but it's two newest Nintendo titles, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and currently the Hyrule Warriors sequel, that have allowed the Switch 2 conquer a key challenge in its first six months: the hardware evaluation.

Addressing Hardware Issues

Ahead of Nintendo formally revealed the Switch 2, the primary worry from players around the hypothetical device was about power. In terms of components, Nintendo trailed Sony and Microsoft over the last few console generations. That reality was evident in the Switch's final years. The desire was that a new model would deliver more stable framerates, improved visuals, and modern capabilities like 4K resolution. That's precisely what arrived when the system was debuted this summer. Or that's what its specs indicated, at least. To accurately assess if the new console is an enhancement, it was necessary to observe major titles performing on the hardware. We now have that evidence over the last two weeks, and the assessment is favorable.

The Pokémon Title serving as Early Examination

The system's initial big challenge came with last month's Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The franchise had well-known technical problems on the initial console, with titles such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet debuting in highly problematic conditions. The system didn't bear all the responsibility for those issues; the underlying technology powering Game Freak's RPGs was aged and getting stretched beyond its capabilities in the franchise's move to open-world. This installment would be more challenging for its creator than anything else, but there was still a lot we'd be able to glean from the visual presentation and how it runs on the new system.

Although the title's limited detail has opened debates about Game Freak's technical capabilities, there's no denying that the latest installment is nowhere near the tech disaster of its earlier title, the previous Legends game. It performs at a stable 60 frames per second on the new console, whereas the older hardware reaches only 30 frames per second. Pop-in is still present, and you'll find many low-resolution elements if you look closely, but you won't experience anything similar to the instance in the previous game where you initially fly and see the entire ground below transform into a jagged, polygonal surface. This is sufficient to earn the Switch 2 a satisfactory rating, but with caveats since the developer has separate challenges that exacerbate limited hardware.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment as a Tougher Tech Test

There is now a tougher hardware challenge, though, thanks to the new Hyrule Warriors, released November 6. The new Zelda spin-off tests the new console because of its action-oriented style, which has players facing off against a literal army of monsters continuously. The series' previous game, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, struggled on the first Switch as the hardware struggled with its quick combat and sheer amount of activity. It frequently dropped under the intended 30 frames and created the sensation that you were overwhelming the system when fighting intensely.

Fortunately is that it also passes the tech test. I've been putting the release thoroughly during the past month, completing all missions available. During that period, the results show that it manages to provide a consistent frame rate versus its earlier title, reaching its sixty frames goal with more consistency. It sometimes drops in the most intense combat, but I've yet to hit any moment where the game turns into a slideshow as the framerate chugs. Some of this might be due to the situation where its bite-sized missions are structured to prevent excessive numbers of foes on the display simultaneously.

Notable Limitations and Final Evaluation

Present are expected limitations. Especially, cooperative multiplayer sees performance taking a substantial reduction near thirty frames. It's also the initial Nintendo-developed title where I've really noticed a noticeable variation between previous OLED screens and the new LCD display, with particularly during cinematics having a washed out quality.

But for the most part, this release is a complete change over its previous installment, just as the Pokémon game is to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. For those seeking confirmation that the new console is delivering on its hardware potential, even with some caveats present, the two releases show clearly of how the Switch 2 is markedly enhancing titles that performed poorly on previous systems.