Nintendo Switch

[cody6268]

I'm wondering, is the Nintendo Switch worth it?

I've mostly had Nintendo consoles all my life.  I've had the Gameboy Advance (not longer than maybe a week--no one liked the lack of a backlight; and when the Gameboy Advance SP came out; my folks returned it), Gameboy Advance SP (still sorta works, albeit intermittently and on its last leg), DS Lite, DSi (misplaced it a few years back), and the Wii. Also had a 2DS shortly in 2018, but unfortunately, I put it in my back pocket, not realizing in the 10 or so years since I had my DSi, I'd put on a lot of weight. It broke. It barely lasted a week, but I quite liked it. Past 5-6 years, however, I've mostly been a PC gamer. Also have a PS2, and have really been enjoying Gran Turismo 4, which I bought new last year after a slew of crappy "whatever Gamestop had cheap" titles.

The Wii I was never that much of a fan of. I've had one since 2010 or thereabouts when Sam's Club had a Black Friday deal on it for $100.  I mostly kept it in my room, and never had that much space for a proper play area. Sorta gimmicky, too. But I've recently gotten it back out; and have been using it occasionally.

Nintendo has retired all the compact portable consoles in favor of the Switch and Switch Lite. There's also a new OLED model coming out.  The Switch Lite looks attractive, but you can't really connect it to a TV. And it is no longer pocket-size.   Basically, it is the DS replacement. Thus, pass on it. The OLED model appears to be quite an upgrade over the regular Switch at only $50 more. However, I can't really afford to preorder it, and I'm sure it will be out of stock until next year given the current state of things once it does become available.

The regular Switch is both a TV and a portable console.

I am sure, that with the OLED model coming out, the regular Switch will be seeing some decent discounts, possibly on Black Friday.

[comis]

I'm wondering, is the Nintendo Switch worth it?

I've mostly had Nintendo consoles all my life.  I've had the Gameboy Advance (not longer than maybe a week--no one liked the lack of a backlight; and when the Gameboy Advance SP came out; my folks returned it), Gameboy Advance SP (still sorta works, albeit intermittently and on its last leg), DS Lite, DSi (misplaced it a few years back), and the Wii. Also had a 2DS shortly in 2018, but unfortunately, I put it in my back pocket, not realizing in the 10 or so years since I had my DSi, I'd put on a lot of weight. It broke. It barely lasted a week, but I quite liked it. Past 5-6 years, however, I've mostly been a PC gamer. Also have a PS2, and have really been enjoying Gran Turismo 4, which I bought new last year after a slew of crappy "whatever Gamestop had cheap" titles.

The Wii I was never that much of a fan of. I've had one since 2010 or thereabouts when Sam's Club had a Black Friday deal on it for $100.  I mostly kept it in my room, and never had that much space for a proper play area. Sorta gimmicky, too. But I've recently gotten it back out; and have been using it occasionally.

Nintendo has retired all the compact portable consoles in favor of the Switch and Switch Lite. There's also a new OLED model coming out.  The Switch Lite looks attractive, but you can't really connect it to a TV. And it is no longer pocket-size.   Basically, it is the DS replacement. Thus, pass on it. The OLED model appears to be quite an upgrade over the regular Switch at only $50 more. However, I can't really afford to preorder it, and I'm sure it will be out of stock until next year given the current state of things once it does become available.

The regular Switch is both a TV and a portable console.

I am sure, that with the OLED model coming out, the regular Switch will be seeing some decent discounts, possibly on Black Friday.

Hey, Cody!

I used to play with Atari/Nintendo/Game boy/Sega/Xbox/PS/Wii growing up, so I consider myself well versed with the topic.  I think Nintendo Switch is really quite 'worth' it if you play Zelda on it(which is the main game that make the Switch popular) and if you are semi-serious about gaming. 

For the most dedicated gamers, I am sure the traditional PC/Xbox/PS will continue to serve them well, and they will probably not settle anything less. 

Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, the largest body of gamers nowadays probably play their game on tablet/cell phone, and I tend to think those games are 'time killer' more than anything else, the design of the game are most suited for smaller screen of cell phone, and are not that graphics intensive.

Switch targets the niche market in between the cell phone and PC gamers.  These folks probably have exposure to traditional consoles, yet they find the cell phone games lacking.  And that's where the Switch excel at, you could take the game anywhere you want on a large tablet screen, but if you project it on TV, it doesn't feel too shabby.  That's exactly how I feel about Zelda on Switch, beautiful gameplay and plot, suitable on small screen but equally impressive on a large screen.  As my friend once put it, just that game alone is worth the Switch console, and I tend to agree with him on that statement(especially if you are into RPG games).

[GearedForwards]

I had a gameboy advance and advance SP, and a PSP, played on my sister's Wii, had a playstation 1 (slim) and 2, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. I've been a PC gamer primarily since about 2014 maybe and got my Switch in early 2017.

I really enjoy the Switch and think it's worth it as a companion to PC gaming, Nintendo tends to offer a lot of different titles then you'd typically find on PC and their exclusives library is excellent. I've thoroughly enjoyed Breath of the Wild, Minecraft (I own it on too many platforms now...), and Animal Crossing New Horizons.

Something I've also enjoyed is the retro gaming, if you get the membership to play online you get access to a huge library of the classic Nintendo games which is nice and offers nice diversions from the main modern game you may be playing. Connecting it to a TV is great and it works well as a portable, my Anker powerbank can keep up charging it whilst I play no problem and there's a few different styles of powerbank on Amazon designed to clip onto the back.

I will recommend if you get one to get a controller for TV play, but you can get a really nice design one on Amazon for about $20ish iirc

[Zephon]

We got one for the kids last 2019. It was a very good purchase. They’re not hard core gamers so the occasional Mario/Luigi game or Fortnite is enough for them. We saw the advantage of the Switch during out of town trips.

They (2 kids) can play with it while on the road going out of town. We just bring extra battery packs for the Switch (and the cellphone that’s providing internet hotspot). In the hotel, they can connect the Switch to any tv with an hdmi port and channel that they can access. Off course it’s not waterproof so no bringing it near water.

[Aloha]

My daughter and her friends all got Switches during the lockdowns last year.  She was a little bit of a game with her brother but not as serious.  We've had all the devices at one time or another.  She really liker her DS so the Switch is a fun one for her.  My partners son is a bit more into gaming so its fun for him but doesn't quite do it especially when he connects his system to a 60'' TV  .