Nintendo - Switch 32GB Console - Neon Red/Neon Blue Joy-Con

The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo's latest home/portable gaming console released on March 3, 2017. It's powered by NVIDIA's Custom Tegra processor(also powers NVIDIA's Shield), has a 6.2-inch 1280x720 LCD Multi-touch capacitive touch screen, 802.11 ac wireless card, Bluetooth 4.1, 3.5mm audio jack, 32GB of internal storage and weighs .66lbs. This is not a typical video game console, it's a truly portable console that you can enjoy from the comfort of your couch or you can take it with you and continue your game wherever you left off. The Switch feels practical; essentially a tablet with attractive controllers attached to both sides of the screen. ~What's Included: The Switch Console, Docking Station, Left & Right Joy-Con Controllers, Two Joy-Con Wrist Straps, Joy-Con Grip Accessory, AC Adapter and a HDMI Cable. There isn't much to the Docking Station, it's made out of plastic and contains a small circuit board inside. The unit offers a HDMI port, AC port, 3 USB ports(one USB 3.0 on the back, two USB 2.0 on the side). The USB ports work for using an external keyboards, charging smart phones, tablets and controllers. One thing that is a disappointment is that the Joy-Con Grip accessory is not able to charge the Joy-Cons, the only way for them to be charged is by attaching them to the Switch console or by picking up a separate Joy-Con Charging Grip for $30. There is also no Ethernet port on the unit at this time. ~Operating System: I've always been a fan of the grid-style operating systems for both the Wii and the Wii U, so I was glad to see Nintendo kept a simliar look for the Switch. The OS is simple and clean, nothing fancy, everything is easy to find and it's very responsive. Switching from app to app is snappy. ~eShop: The Online Shop for the Switch is basic at this point. Each game page describes details such as the Supported Controllers, Required Space, Number of Players and so on. But one addition that's missing—and I hope they patch this—are user ratings. Reviews aren't everything but they can at least let us know if a game is worth passing on. A wish list available as well. Nintendo Switch Online Service will launch this year and will cost $20/year, $4 a month or $8 for a three-month subscription—which is significantly cheaper then both Plus and Gold. What this fee will get you are: Free versions of classic games(Balloon Fight, Dr. Mario, Super Mario Bros. 3, ect. ), Deals on eShop titles, unlimited online multiplayer and online voice chat. The Parental Controls are robust, you can control through an app for your smart phone or directly from the system. You can restrict software based on its rating, prevent online voice chats or social media posts, and also use a PIN to restrict unwanted purchases from the eShop. You can set Play Time Limits and you can be notified when your child exceeds the set play time. You can also choose to suspend the software your child is using if they exceed the allotted time. ~Recording Features: The Switch probably has the best screen capture feature for a console. The instant the capture button is pressed on the controller, a screen shot is taken. You can add and change the color of the text before posting it on Twitter or Facebook( I hope there's an update to Instagram in the future). The resolution of the photos is 1280x720 and it's in JPG format. The Switch is able to record 30 seconds of video by holding the screenshot button for a few seconds, it's not much but a step in the right direction. I'm glad to say there is no HDCP, so if you use a recorder for online playthroughs, you will be able to capture video straight from the HDMI cable. ~Screen/Performance: The Multi-touch Capacitive IPS screen is not glass but plastic(as was the case with the PlayStaion Vita). It's feels and functions no different than a glass screen but while you won't have to worry about the screen shattering if you drop it as you do with your smart phone, it is just more likely to be scratched. So, you will want to get yourself a good screen protector as soon as you pick-up the Switch. Some of the textures come off a bit soft at times but even still, the colors are vibrant, the reflections and lighting effects are impressive and it's plenty bright enough to accommodate a portable gaming experience. Contrast and viewing angle of the screen are impressive as well, from the side you are still able to view the screen clearly. I experienced frame-rate dips during graphically demanding gameplay sections of Zelda: Breath of the Wild but the stutters were sparse and did not become much of a problem during my playthrough. The design of the Switch is a balancing act between: battery life, CPU/GPU power, screen size, weight, temperature and price. With all that said, I think Nintendo was able to find that sweet spot as well as anybody could. ~Sound: The stereo speakers sound crystal clear; with the volume turned up, I haven't experienced any crackling or distortion. They sound great for mobile speakers and they're located on the bottom front of the display. ~Controllers: There are numerous controllers and combinations you can use on the Switch. The wireless controllers are connected via Bluetooth 3.0 and all options have an Accelerometer, Gyroscope and HD Rumble. Additionally, the Right Joy-Con also has a Motion IR Camera on the bottom of it. ~Joy-Cons Attached to the Switch Display~ it's the portable way to play, feels comfortable and it works well. The Joy-Cons are contoured with smooth rounded corners and both the buttons and control sticks are within reach of your thumbs. I do miss the classic Nintendo D-pad but at least it's available on the Pro-Controller. Depending on the type of game being played(whether it's competitive or casual) and how large your hands are, your hands might begin to feel slightly strained after an intense gaming session. I noticed after a good couple games of close Mario Kart 8 races and battle modes that my hands felt cramped but I didn't have this problem playing Breath of the Wild. ~Joy-Cons Attached to the Joy-Con Grip~ This setup works fine for long gaming sessions. While the Joy-Cons are connected to the Grip attachment, there are 8 lights on the face of the controller that represent each player that is connected to the Switch at that time. For instance, if you are player number two, the second indicator from the top will illuminate on the left and right side of the Grip attachment. ~Standalone Joy-Cons~ This setup almost mimics how you would use the Wiimote and Nunchuck from the Wii days. I played Breath of the Wild for an hour using this setup to see how it would hold up in comparison and even though it's not the most ergonomic setup, it does work—and it's not as strenuous as first expected. One con I have with the Joy-Cons is that the + and - buttons are sort of awkward to press with this setup. ~Pro-Controller~ Flip-out the kickstand, sit back and use the Switch as a small TV while you game with the Pro-Controller; I use this setup while I'm waiting for projects to compile. I keep my Switch next to me and play a couple rounds of Mario Kart 8 or complete side missions with Zelda. It's such a quick, satisfying way to game and the Pro-Controller is the best choice for gaming on the system, especially at home. ~Battery: I played Mario Kart 8 for a good two and a half hours straight and I had 7% Battery life remaining. Recharged the Switch, played Zelda and got about 2 hours and 45 minutes before the battery was fully depleted. For games that have a lower graphical demand, the battery life reaches anywhere from 4-6 hours before depletion. You will virtually never have to worry about the battery life of the Joy-Cons, Nintendo advertises approximately 20 hours of battery life. ~Heat: One of the things I noticed while playing the Switch in tablet mode is that it does an impressive job of dissipating heat, the system doesn't feel warm at all and is completely silent. After playing Mario Kart 8 and Zelda: BotW for about a hour each, I temperature tested the rear of the system at 87.2 degrees F, the Joy-Cons at 76.5F, the screen at 84F and the warmest part of the Switch is the top left of the rear where the game card is at 94.3F. ~Memory Expansion: The Switch has an Internal Memory of 32GB but it's expandable with a microSD, microSDHC or microSDXC memory cards of up to 256GB. The slot is easily accessible by raising the bulit-in kickstand. The system prompts you to turn off the system—by holding the power button for 3 seconds. If you plan on purchasing most of your games digitally, then I'd recommend a microSD card of at least 128gb. ~Price: The Nintendo Switch console costs $299.99, which gets you the system, two Joy-Con controllers, a Joy-Con Grip, wrist straps and both a HDMI and AC adapter cable. Additional purchases: Joy-Con Charging Grip(depending on if you want to charge the Joy-Cons while using them as a traditional controller), the Nintendo Pro Wireless Controller(cost $69.99) and expandable memory. ~Overall Thoughts: The Nintendo Switch is something unique. It's not a video game system that will impress you with its top-of-the-line internal specifications; there's no 4K, no TB hard drive, no Blu-ray player. This system's purpose is to deliver a truly portable console experience for people who want play games. When you take that into account, it can't be compared to other traditional consoles. The Switch has stand-out games such as Super Mario Odyssey, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8, ARMS, Snipperclips, Splatoon 2, 1-2 Switch. There is something for every type of gamer out there, from Single-player to Competitive online multiplayer. What I like most about Nintendo's new console is the most simple and that's with a single push of the power button the Switch is put to sleep and then no matter where you are—in real life or in-game—you can instantly wake up the Switch and resume right where you left off.

I have to say, I am very impressed with Nintendo on this one. I've seen Nintendo evolve over the course of many years, and I have been a bit worried about them lately. It seemed as if they were always late to the party, and had been making games that only stuck to their "formula" that they had developed for each of their series. They tried to become more unique with their motion controls on the Wii, but while it did great with sales at first, it just didn't perform well enough to be considered a real success. And of course the Wii U was a failure. Then, The Switch was announced. At first, due to my worries, I wasn't all that interested in it. But as the hype for the new console began to grow, I slowly became absorbed by it. Of course, the new Zelda was part of this hype, so I couldn't resist for long. By the time we got to release date, I was SO excited that I couldn't control it. And then it arrived. I was absolutely blown away. The Switch was incredible! Nintendo had finally made something that was truly new and unique after a streak of consoles that were seemingly afterthoughts. There are plenty of pro's and con's to this console, so let's discuss them a bit. First, the cons, and why some of them aren't actually cons to begin with. First of all, yes, The Switch has had plenty of launch issues. The de-sync issue with the left joycon, dead pixels, and even just straight up broken units. But the thing about all of these problems that people fail to understand, is that they were completely expected. Every launch generation of a new console has a bunch of issues. The first build is always the most rough. I mean, the red ring of death originated from the launch build of the XBox. The fact that people are so infuriated with these issues is a bit ridiculous, regardless of how abundant they may be. Plus, Nintendo has been doing their best to replace all problematic consoles, so good on them. Also, if your are messing up your controllers by putting the wrist straps on the wrong way, then that is your own fault. They are fairly self explanatory, and if you put them on incorrectly, all you have to do is hold down the release button and apply a little force. They will slide right off. I've also heard people complaining about the resolution of the console. While it is pretty sub par compared to competitors, I personally don't feel like the image has to be perfect to enjoy game play. For what it is, it looks absolutely amazing graphically. As for the screen scratching issues, yes the screen is plastic, so expect it to be prone to scratching. First of all, although it may seem like it is easy to scratch the screen on the dock, but it really isn't. As long as you are decently gentle with the console, and you put it in and out of the dock at a straight angle, then you will be fine. Secondly, if you don't already buy a screen protector for every mobile device that you buy, then you are doing it wrong. It should be a no-brainer to buy a screen protector for a device that you take on the go, as it is exposed to outside forces. Make sure you get a screen protector if you buy The Switch, because yes, it isn't that hard to scratch. However, still try your best to be gentle with the console. The console itself is surprisingly durable for what it is made out of. As cheap as the plastic may feel, it is actually quite strong, and while it can be scratched, extensive damages are difficult to incur on accident. Except for the dock. That thing is pretty cheaply made, but since it is simply a way to connect to a TV, you really shouldn't have a reason to put it in a situation where it can be damaged. Personally, I only have three issues with the console as a whole. One being that I very much dislike the table top mode. This is a personal issue, so not everybody will have the same issue with it that I do, and therefore shouldn't judge the console based on this. The kickstand is a bit cheap, yes, but it is supposed to be that way because it is removable, preventing it from being permanently broken off the console. However, why is it positioned to the side?? It would make so much more sense for it to be in the center. Due to it being on the side, it is unbalanced, so it doesn't stay standing. There were many times that I tried to adjust the volume and ended up knocking the console over and popping the stand off. Plus, the screen is just a little too small to enjoy table top mode fully, and its a bit awkward when trying to focus on such a small image at a greater distance. A minor detail, but a bit annoying. An extra issue would be that the controller grip doesn't charge the controllers, but this is minor, not entirely necessary, and fixable. Also WHERE ARE THE GAME MANUALS??? My second and third issues are a bit more important. First of all, the battery life is only about 3 hours and some change (a bit less playing Zelda). This is not an issue normally, because finding a chance to charge the console is fairly easy in this day and age, especially when the connector is USB Type-C. However, it is a bit of a different story on a long car trip or plane ride, and it certainly wouldn't last long enough to keep you entertained the whole way. Yes, it could be fixed with portable batteries, but this is another investment that would make the process more difficult. Not to mention that the charging doesn't keep up too well when the console is running. Secondly, why is charging port on the bottom!?!? This makes NO sense, because you can't play table top if your are charging the console, and it is extremely uncomfortable to play it while laying in bed because the cord juts out into your chest/stomach. A poor choice of placement on Nintendo's part. The final issue that people have that I don't care about that much personally, is that the launch library is extremely small. While this is true, obviously it will be fixed over time. For this reason, however, I will say that if you aren't a hardcore Nintendo or Zelda fan, I believe it is worth waiting for the library to expand and for some prices to drop a little. Okay, that's it for the cons, now for the pros. Which is literally everything else. Because this part will be extremely long, I'm going to do this part in a list to save some space. Here we go: 1. The console looks SO SEXY and sleek. 2. For how small they are, the controllers are very comfortable to use. 3. The console is very durable despite its plastic screen. 4. The multiple modes on this console are an extremely innovative idea. 5. The sound effects. OH MY LORD THE SOUND EFFECTS. 6. The controller grip is also very comfortable to use. 7. The screen and graphics within games look amazing. 8. The UI is very well-crafted and easy to use. 9. The inclusion of the screenshot button was an awesome idea. 10. I am so glad that they went back to game cartridges! 11. THE PRO CONTROLLER IS AMAZING! 12. Storage space is actually quite good, you just have to get the larger games like Zelda on cartridge, and then you have plenty of space for all other games. 13. I love the mechanism that is used for attaching and removing the controllers. 14. Controls are very responsive and fine-tuned. 15. ZELDA IS AMAZING!!!! 16. Motion controls are still a bit janky, but much better than the Wii, and also used more as a enhancement than an integral game mechanic. 17. IR camera is pretty cool, I hope they incorporate it in cool ways in the future. 18. Obviously, it's amazing that this is a mobile console with as much processing power as it has. 19. Prices are bit high, but actually quite sensible when you think of what you actually NEED to buy and how expensive it is to game nowadays. 20. Updates don't take forever, online capabilities seem pretty powerful. 21. Third party support seems to be going well so far, hopefully it doesn't crash like the Wii U. 22. This isn't really a pro or con, but despite the online play becoming a paid service, it seems like it will be pretty affordable. Hopefully the bonuses for buying it will get better, because right now they don't seem worth it. 23. Docking station works really well and is quickly responsive. 24. Brightness features working really well. 25. I like that Mii's are used for profile pictures now, instead of being an actual feature of the console. Makes more sense. 26. Parental controls make sense and work really well for their intended purpose. I'm sure there is more I could say, but for now I will leave it at that. Overall, this is an incredible console, and has impressed me so much more than I could have hoped for. Great job Nintendo, I look forward to the future of The Switch.

So far, I am really enjoying the Nintendo Switch! :) I got the Nintendo Switch as an early birthday present. I ended up getting the Switch with the Red/Blue Neon joy-con controllers because I love the fun color scheme on the controllers. I would highly recommend on buying a carrying case for your Nintendo Switch if you want to protect it and carry it on the go. Pros: * The UI is intuitive and simple to use. * You can exist the game within a matter of seconds and go back into the game instantly. * Hybrid console - play it on TV or take it on the go. * Region Free - you can play games from different regions (ie. U.K., Japan, etc.) But you would need to create a separate account for that region in order to get the games from other countries. * You can create several accounts. * You can post images and videos on Twitter and now on Facebook! * Has a very sleek and modern design. Cons: * The Joy-con controllers are kinda small. Even when you put them in the joy-con grip controller, it still feels kinda small. I have small hands and even I think it feels a bit small! I think it's because that the grip controller is kinda narrow that makes it feel like your hands are too close together when holding the joy-con grip controller. If you have big hands, I recommend you get the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. * 32GB of storage space (I recommend getting a SD micro card because you will need it.) * It's not as powerful as the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X, but it still manages to have great games on the system. Games such as Bayonetta 1 & 2, DOOM, Dark Souls HD Remastered, Rocket League, Skyrim HD, Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and many more games to come. * The kickstand on the back is not that great. 1.) It's on the far side of the console. 2.) It's kinda skinny and if you accidentally bump into it, it could fall over. 3.) The micro SD card is exposed. I highly recommend on buying a much more sturdy stand from Amazon.com. That's what I did. Despite its flaws, the Nintendo Switch is a step in the right direction. Nintendo learned from their mistakes with the Wii U and created a more unique and easy to use console system for both the consumers and video game developers. Overall, I love my Nintendo Switch! I'm looking forward to more amazing things for the Nintendo Switch in the future. :)

'm a HUGE gamer (you might say part of the "hardcore gamer" crowd), and I have owned every major home console to exist from the Atari 2600 onwards. I have about 25 years' worth of those consoles still on my entertainment center. And while there are valid criticisms of the Switch (which I'll get into), it remains a 5-star experience, because this device is just simply fun, no matter who you are. Let me immediately jump into one of the chief concerns on folks' minds: games. Or lack thereof at launch. Nintendo has a fairly poor recent history of third-party support, but nonetheless, the Switch is the first system I've pre-ordered since the PS2 nearly 20 years ago. I have no concerns at all that the games will come. Why am I so confident? Because Nintendo's chief struggle has been a divided market for their games. In Japan everyone loves their handhelds (3DS/PSP), and consoles get ignored. Here in the Western market, we're the exact opposite. Because of that divide (along with unclear marketing), the WiiU never received the support it needed to succeed. That won't happen with the Switch. You'll see support for the 3DS (which has an amazing selection of quality games) slowly start to ebb, and Nintendo will eventually end up with one unified platform for all their software, East and West, portable and console. That means you'll see more great games on Switch, because things that used to be handheld-exclusive will now show up Switch... even if you intend to use the Switch docked 100% of the time. Which leads into my next point: I'm obviously an American gamer. I'm not into handhelds myself. When I bought this, I assumed I would use it docked 99% of the time. After owning it for a month, turns out I was wrong on that front, and this is where the Wii-style "it's just fun" comes in. The JoyCons feel like a natural evolution of the Wiimote, and enable a game like 1-2 Switch which, while admittedly on the shallow side, gets non-gamers engaged quickly and easily. I brought it over to my mother-in-law's when we were visiting a couple weeks ago, propped it up in the first-party carrying case (which also serves as an on-the-go stand), and I had non-gamers instantly engaged in the quick-draw and ball-count minigames. While I don't plan to bring it to rooftop parties or basketball courts (my word, those ads were silly), I can actually see the use-case of taking it along to a bar working out pretty well. The screen for sure is beautiful, and big enough to support off-TV multiplayer with no issue. And those JoyCons, by the way? I have large hands, and I'm as surprised as anyone to report that as tiny as they are, they're not uncomfortable to use even for hours as tiny individual controllers for multiplayer-on-the-go. And they feel even nicer when you use the two of them together, one in each hard. Honestly, you can forget the included grip. The freedom of being able to rest your hands anywhere you want while retaining full control is a revelation. Oh, and, side-note that I have not experienced any of the Left JoyCon connection issues which have been widely reported. As far as the battery life: it's definitely enough for my purposes, though maybe not everyone's. It gets in a solid 2.5 hours of battery life of high-intensity gaming, and naturally seems to do better than that for simpler games and lower brightness settings. The only use-case for me that doesn't work out is using it on cross-country or international flights. But frankly, it's not as far off from the 3DS's typical battery life as people are suggesting, and I know my iPhone 7 certainly doesn't do any better than the Switch does as far as battery life while gaming. I will say that, a minor annoyance to me is that the Switch's sleeping/idle battery usage is way, way too high. I took it out of the dock at 100% one time and left it on my coffee table. Next day it was completely dead and wouldn't turn on. So if you're going to take it out of the dock for use later, I suggest you turn it OFF, which can only be achieved by holding the power button on the device itself (via controller, SLEEP is the only power-off option given). Nagging little issue on the dock: I was one of an apparently somewhat large pool of people who received a dock which is bent inwards a bit. Seems like this may have been a packaging issue. Fortunately mine isn't bent as badly as some others I've seen online, and I have not experienced any resulting screen-scratching... yet. The fortunate thing on this front is, the parts of the screen that would potentially get scratched are on the far edges and are just black space anyway. Would not actually detract from the gaming experience were it to happen. More on the dock: I don't actually care myself, but for those who want it, the HDMI-CEC implementation seems wonky. When docked, my Switch would occasionally steal away the input even when in sleep mode. I just disabled the Switch's HDMI-CEC so it wouldn't do that anymore. I imagine a firmware update will solve that issue in short order anyhow. Transition between the dock, handheld mode, and back is just as smooth as Nintendo's ads represent it to be. Very, very slick. Have to also give props to Nintendo for adding a clear controller management screen for turning controllers on and off, which is something I struggled with on the Wii/WiiU (as in, this controller accidentally got turned on, is there seriously no way to turn it off without powering down the whole system? That's fixed now!). Can't judge online play yet, obviously, but for what it's worth, my download of Snipperclips (HIGHLY recommended for all ages, by the way) a week after launch was extraordinarily slow and suffered frequent disconnects. Impossible to tell if that's a device issue or a server issue, but for now I'll cross my fingers and hope it was a server issue. To be clear, if you want to play the latest sports games, FPS's, and the like, and you only plan to buy one game system... the Switch may not be for you. To me it's very much a supplement to one of: a gaming PC, PS4, or XB1, as far as hardcore gamers are concerned. But what a worthwhile supplement! Besides the 1st-party normal certainties (Zelda, Mario, Smash, Kart, Metroid, Donkey Kong, etc), you can be sure Monster Hunter, Xenoblade, Fire Emblem, Phoenix Wright, Professor Layton, and other compelling properties will be making appearances on Switch. In summary, the Switch is an awesome, fun device. It unapologetically does not have the graphical horsepower of the other major gaming devices on the market due to its hybrid nature, but that's fine with me... I care about fun games, not pixel-counting. If I could give it a 4.5 I would, but its issues are all minor enough that I wouldn't feel right deducting a full star. It's the new darling of my entertainment center, with the versatility of the JoyCons giving it a better range of appeal between the casual and hardcore crowds than any other gaming system, ever. I can't wait for more games to drop for it!

I have been a long time gamer and I currently own a Xbox X and a PS4 Pro and I really never thought about buying a Switch until recently. I found it more intriguing than the Wii but I wasn't sure it was for me and my typical gaming preferences. I figured if I wanted to play something on the go, or play for a quick few minutes, I would just use my iPad or phone. However, I soon got tired of most iPad/phone games being 'free' games with a ton of ads or having to pay micro-transactions to do anything. I much prefer just paying once upfront for a game and not be held back by not paying money. Also, very few of those games I found I enjoyed for any amount of time. So as I thought about it I started to think how nice it would be to have a console-like experience on the go or just something I could pick up to play for 10 minutes anywhere in the house. So after about a week or so of consideration, and reading a couple recent articles of why people love their Switch, I decided that it might be something that would fill the gaming 'gap' So I picked up a Switch and I have owned it for about 3-4 weeks now and I have enjoyed it. I have only used it as a portable and have not hooked it up to the large TV yet. Like I had envisioned it is great to sit on the couch and get in a few minutes of Zelda, or some other game, without going to the other TV and fire up one of the consoles. I look forward being able to bring it on the plane as well instead of having to play Candy Crush or some other lame game to waste time. So here are what I see being a few pluses and minuses: Pluses: +portability - it's best feature! +better games than what can be had on other portable devices +very quick start-up/load times +comes with the dock to play on the TV. Most companies (i.e. Apple or Microsoft) would probably have charged separately for it. +quality first party games (Zelda, Mario, etc) Minuses: - battery life is okay at about 2.5 - 3 hrs - need to buy another power supply if you don't want to always charge it in the dock. Otherwise you have to unplug the dock to bring the cable to charge it somewhere else. - need a screen protector and a carrying case - screen could be a tad higher resolution - charging port on the bottom is not a great design choice if you want to charge and play - Charging cable could be longer for charging while playing - Charging cable plug could have been smaller and with retractable prongs so it is easier to pack on the go - Kickstand when not playing as a handheld is flimsy. Why didn't they at least add a second one or put a wider one in the middle? So while there are more 'minuses' they are not deal breakers and are more observances/annoyances than anything. So overall the Switch is a great for those that are used to a high end gaming experience but want something portable. I will say though that if I had to choose 1 of the 3 consoles to play, all things equal, the Switch would be 3rd on the list. However, the Switch versus other portable options it would be 1st by a landslide.

My kids have been asking for this system for a while now, so I finally bit the bullet and bought one. Having owned a Wii-U before I knew I liked Nintendo's systems and my kids love their games, it was just a matter of buying yet another system... Fortunately my kids love it. This is a terrific, family-friendly system! Set-up was pretty easy (and my kids really had fun with it--though of course they're impatient to just get it set up already). It's all done mostly online, so an internet connection helps a lot (I genuinely have no idea if you can set it up without being online--never even thought to check). It comes with some charge, so you can start playing right away once set up is complete. One helpful hint: if you're thinking about buying one of these--or any Nintendo product for that matter--go ahead and set up a Nintendo account ahead of time. That makes set up quick, and you can control things like playtime, monitor what's been played and when, etc. Nintendo has a FANTASTIC array of parental controls that can be accessed through their website. For parents of kids--younger kids especially--this can be a lifesaver! I had my doubts about the controls but so far (a month of hard kid play--ages 6, 8 and 11) they've held up well. They seem to charge fast and hold their charge well. I also bought a wired controller since I have three kids and there's a handful of games they can all play together. The portable screen is neat and seems durable, though I'm terrified of how it will hold up to drops. With my kids ages we don't really let them port it around. The first long car-trip we take may change that--which probably means I'll be looking for some kind of durable case for it. The screen has a nice, sharp picture to it even though it's small. Two of my kids have actually played it in another room while my older kid played on one of our other systems, so it has come in handy already. As a parent I love the fact that so many of Nintendo's games are kid-friendly. While there are certainly older-kid (like me haha) games out there for the system, the ones my kids want to play are Mario Kart, Splatoon and the like. Games load fast from the cartridges. You have to be careful and make sure they get put back when you're done, as they're very small and seem super-easy to lose. There's not a lot of storage for the downloads required. We haven't needed an extra memory card yet, but probably will with just a few more games. Fortunately even the large memory cards (the system uses micro-SD cards) are pretty cheap and seem to go on sale all the time. We have a back-up ready for when we need it! We purchased two games with the system (thanks Gamers Club Unlocked!) as it doesn't come with any. If you're a GCU member hold out for a sale on the games when you buy your system--they come down to almost half-price! Otherwise all the most popular games (Mario, etc) tend to stay at the $60 mark. I've seen a bundled deal or two, but they're pretty rare. Overall this is a well-designed and family friendly system, with the best family-friendly games out there. It does a lot already, but seems like it's capable of a lot more. If you were holding out like me then wait no longer! This is a great system and well worth the money.

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most unique video game devices to release in the past few decades. A device that doubles up as both a portable and home console through incredibly simple mechanics, the Switch has near endless options to play in and experience your preferred virtual worlds. Many devices over the years have failed in their new advancements, with many being seen as gimmicky or failures. Fortunately, the Switch does not land in this category, instead finding itself in the company of some of the best consoles in the history of video games. Design: A Quality Surprise The Nintendo Switch comes in a nice sleek box along with all of its other physical components. Upon opening, you’re greeted with the Switch itself as well as the two Joy-Cons, which are the controllers, of your choice. Underneath these, you’ll find all the necessary cables, the dock, as well as two extra grips that can be attached to the Joy-Cons. Originally, everything feels a bit cheaply made and flimsy, but upon complete assembly, the Switch truly shines. The Switch’s screen is made of a strong plastic that would take extreme damage to break, and the Joy-Cons, once attached, are designed to protect the Switch if dropped. These Joy-Cons fit firmly in most peoples’ hands and create a comfortable, portable device when attached to the Switch. The dock, once connected to a television, allows for you to simply drop the Switch in and have the screen transfer. While the dock feels a little cheap and lacks in its ports, the simplicity of transferring the Switch to the television is unrivaled. Usage: Pure Accessibility Nintendo has always attempted to create consoles that work for all types of people, and the Switch nails that idea. A device made for both those in front of a television and those on the go, the Switch is designed to be accessed by anyone at any time. As a home console, the Switch is weaker than your average console, but makes up for this shortcoming by allowing more interactive and physical play with motion controls. As a portable console, the Switch is a technical achievement. The simple ability of bringing a full-featured console on the go with you is unrivaled compared to other consoles, and is a great leap in the right direction for video games. Verdict The Nintendo Switch is a flat out amazing, fun, and crazy idea for a console that ends up just working. The sheer amount of ways to play and access your games puts the console head and shoulders above the competition. The Switch is something that can fit into anyone’s daily life, whether that’s commuting 2 hours both ways, or simply sitting in front of the couch after a hard day’s work. Nintendo has absolutely knocked it out of the park with the Switch, and the future it holds will bring more excitement and fun.

It is difficult to review game consoles when they are still within their first month of being launched. The new hardware is exciting but you are still getting launch window games while the OS (and games) are being actively tweaked and updated. So far I have played three games on my Switch: Zelda, World of Goo, and Snipperclips. I am really anticipating Mario Kart, Arms, Super Street Fighter II, and Sonic Mania (for the launch window games). The good news is that I have continued to play the three games I purchased and I have had two of them on the console's launch day. So the games have been able to hold and keep my attention and should last me until at least Mario Kart comes out later this month. I'll break things down a little bit and first talk about the hardware. Overall, the Switch hardware is solid. You get a satisfying feeling clicking on the Joy-Con controllers to the console itself as well as the controller-styled holder. Although everything is plastic, it feels sturdy. I have no doubts that the console itself will last for years before showing signs of wear and tear (unless you truly abuse it). The 720p screen is actually pretty low resolution by today's standards but it easily gets the job done. Text is easy to read, colors look nice, and navigating the menu isn't difficult or cumbersome. Nintendo has finally added a capacitive screen and that makes touch navigating (and game play) a lot easier compared to the DS line of consoles (including the New 3DS). The Switch seamlessly transfers from portable console to home console by placing it in the included dock. I do wish that there was a click when the Switch was inserted like there are with the Joy-Con. Instead you're pretty much lining the Switch up and placing it on top of a USB-C port hoping it will go in. I haven't had difficulty with this but it would have been nice for there to be a railing and click system that the Switch could be inserted to that would guide it to the USB-C port. Wireless connectivity is solid and I'm able to download content quickly over my 802.11ac network. It's a welcome change to see Nintendo embrace newer Wi-Fi tech instead of sticking with something older (the Wii U supported only 2.4GHz 802.11n). The wireless range of the Joy-Con are solid, I have two pairs of Joy-Con synced with my console and have not had any connectivity issues (including both left Joy-Cons). I can easily access my Switch in the living room from the kitchen. Load times for downloaded simple games are minimal as are more complex games on cartridges. I upgraded my Switch's storage to a 64GB microSDXC card and simple, downloaded games are fine. I haven't tried anything complex from the SD card though. I do wish that the Switch came with more than 32GB of storage. That really seems lackluster in this day and age especially when eMMC storage is so inexpensive. Nintendo could have easily loaded it up with 128GB. I also wish that the battery life was better. I am only getting a couple of hours (~2.5) playing Zelda but I'm getting about 4 with Snipperclips and a bit longer with World of Goo. Those numbers are OK but it would have been nice getting 5 hours out of Zelda and 8-9 out of the other titles. I would have gladly opted for a thicker, heavier console to get more battery life. Unfortunately, as of now, there aren't any power bricks that charge the Switch fast enough to let you play and charge at the same time. The current power bricks will charge the Switch but the battery still drains faster than the charge rate. The OS GUI needs some work as well. It's fine for basic functionality but Nintendo should really open it up more. Media apps would have been nice to have as well. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, HBO Go, Showtime, Epix, etc. would all be welcome on the Switch. The watching experience would be better than my smartphone and it would mean I could get rid of the stupid media device that's hooked up to my HDTV. Nintendo has said that media apps are coming but, in this day and age, it seems downright sinful to launch any type of media device (a streamer, Blu-ray player, gaming console, HDTV, etc.) without at least Netflix. Overall though, the Switch is a solid home and portable console. Like any system still in it's launch window, it could use some additional work. The OS GUI is dated, we need more games, and media apps are a must. But the hardware itself is solid. The dock feels a little cheap but the rest of the console, including the Joy-Con, are solid. The kickstand holds the console up just fine (don't believe Cnet's click-bait video), the Joy-Con have a satisfying click when inserting them, and they work well when attached to the Switch for portable gaming. I have zero doubts that Nintendo is working on improving the switch experience. Due to the lack of games, I don't recommend this console just yet for the average gamer. I highly recommend this for hardcore gamers and Nintendo fans but right now, I don't think that the downloadable games and Zelda are enough to hold the average gamer over. Mario Kart is definitely going to help. Casual gamers should give this console another month or two one Mario Kart, Splatoon, and Arms are released.