By Harith A.R.
Edited by Nur Najia Nazri
Image courtesy of Nintendo.
Nintendo Switch was first released in 2017, a historical mark in the event of console gaming where the Switch managed to integrate worlds together; portable and home console so either style will fit all sorts of players. If you use the regular Switch, the one with changeable controllers, a variety of options are available as well.
I first bought the console in 2020, right during the pandemic era. Yes, not a very wise choice given the fact that there was a global chip shortage during the time hence the price soared extremely high. Nevertheless, I made the purchase and still enjoy the console to this day albeit its shortcomings. I know that there are a few friends or readers out there who might still be interested in owning their very own Nintendo Switch but is an almost 7-year-old console worth your money? Find out in this review.
First, let's talk about the variation. There are V1, V2, Lite and the OLED version. V1 and V2 are not that different, except that V2 has better battery life and better power consumption. Nevertheless, it is almost impossible to find the V1 since it is already discontinued, replaced by V2. Then we have the Lite version, which I am currently using. Price-wise, it is budget-friendly although it does come with a few downgrades such as a smaller size, worse battery life, no detachable controller, and no dock so you cannot connect to the TV or any display via HDMI. However, it has the same processor as other versions so not much difference in terms of gameplay quality. Last but not least, we have the OLED version which can be considered the best version of Nintendo Switch; bigger display, better screen (due to OLED screen), and better build quality. In my opinion, you should choose based on your style and most importantly budget.
From left to right: V1/V2, OLED, and Lite.
Image courtesy of Nintendo Life.
In terms of quality, the Switch’s quality is subjective. Some may like it while others may not. Imagine its size as a bigger smartphone with controllers and you get a Switch. I do find the joystick a bit low in quality, frankly speaking. There is the drifting issue, where some consoles may experience sudden problems moving the stick, specifically when you want to move the characters or the camera forward and back. The issue is prevalent too and although there is a solution to it, there has never been a permanent one and maybe never at all as it is approaching the end of its life.
From the aspect of performance, if you are a hardcore gamer or always in a gaming community, you will probably know that Switch is lacking in power up until the latest OLED version as all versions share the same chip: Nvidia Tegra X1 that used to be good when it was first released in 2017 but now is extremely outdated and falling behind each year with other gaming consoles; even some latest smartphones are much more powerful than the Switch itself!
A huge difference between the PS5 (left) and Switch’s quality (right) from the new Mortal Kombat game.
Image courtesy of UNILAD.
I think one of the biggest reasons for someone to buy a Switch is because of its games selection; for the exclusive franchises that Nintendo offers such as Mario, Pokemon, Zelda and many more. However, if you have no particular game in mind, I suggest going for other consoles since Switch is not as powerful. You will get a much better gaming experience on other platforms such as Hogwart’s Legacy on PS5.
Pricing-wise, games on Switch are quite expensive. Most of the triple-A games such as Super Mario, Pokemon series, and Metroid range from roughly RM150-300. It is quite costly hence it is recommended that you check the best price on the market for which game you want to play before purchase.
To play online, you need to pay through the Nintendo Switch Online monthly or yearly subscription plan. The price is not cheap either and you are pretty much forced to do so, especially if you love online gaming.
The pricing plan for the Nintendo Switch online.
Image courtesy of Business Insider.
Currently, Nintendo does not offer any support for customers who reside in Malaysia, except if you buy from an authorised seller from Singapore (Maxsoft) as it is the closest country that receive authorised support from Nintendo itself.
In comparison to others, PS5 is currently the most popular console in Malaysia. However, in the US, Switch is the biggest market among other gaming consoles. Furthermore, there are also a few handheld consoles on the market right now. Though they are much pricier such as the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go, they mostly offer more game selections than the Nintendo Switch is currently offering.
The variety of handheld gaming consoles currently on the market such as the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go.
Image courtesy of Retro Dodo
As we are approaching the end of the year, there is a rumour going around that a new Switch successor is going to be revealed soon so if you are not in a hurry to get yourself a console from Nintendo, I would suggest waiting until the next console to be revealed soon. It is fun to game on Switch but given that it is already an old console, buying one now is not a very good decision, especially if you do not have any particular games you really want to play in mind.
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