Nintendo Switch

[+adamchevy]

In fairness, there is plenty of "media" out there that insists on putting an overly positive spin on things as well. I don't think there is any harm in objectively discussing the flaws of a product like the Switch as it is far from perfect.

I haven't seen much said negative about Breath of the Wild. But it's probably to early to give much feedback.

[Gentlegamer]

I haven't seen much said negative about Breath of the Wild. But it's probably to early to give much feedback.

 

It's Trash Loot and Trash Mobs: The Game™

 

There ya go.

[NE146]

So this might strike you as "duh". but I held off on opening my Switch until today because I still had a preconceived notion of hooking up to a TV, and that would take prepwork, etc.

 

Well holy cow I totally forgot that the Switch is portable and I can use it as a friggin handheld. That totally changes things! Now I got it open here on my office desk and am checking out Zelda, playing it exclusively as a portable for the moment. I can check it out on a TV sometime later... totally not worrying about it.

 

I guess that was the entire premise of it.. but I wasn't really paying all that much attention so it didn't quite click in my brain.

[Gentlegamer]

Did you break out the hella kickstand?

[+adamchevy]

My Amiibo for Breath of the Wild all showed up today. Here's a few pics.

 

[Tanooki]

I haven't seen much said negative about Breath of the Wild. But it's probably to early to give much feedback.

 

Did you look hard enough? In no particular order from memory as I'm not going to look for it now (cleaning Famicom games I found today.)

- Frame rate is 30fps, some certain places dips closer to 20.

- Doesn't look much different than WiiU game other than 900p

- Damned weapon/shield breakage is overkill

- Some complain about it being so huge with little direction (kind of misses the point)

- The one hit kills being overkill

- Weather being a nuisance (and it is, but that's again the point)

 

I'll give them the frame rate, the one hit kills, and especially the breakage as it's stupid.

 

But it looking like the WiiU is a big DUH really given how far it got developed on there. They weren't going to delay it another 6-12mo to make new assets and effects for the Switch developing parallel Zelda titles especially in the scope of something that freaking large. It's a launch game anyway, don't want to go too far up the ladder or you set expectations at a point few could top alienating developers and buyers too.

[cybercylon]

There could always be a patch later that improves the frame rate (for the Switch version). My guess is it probably pushes the Wii U and maybe not so much the Switch. The port was to get systems out of the door. Now they need to have a steady stream of good games and make sure not to run into a supply crisis. I am guessing it will be easier to find one in a few weeks. If it is really doing well enough, would not be surprised to see a holiday shortage.

 

I am not sold on the Switch yet. Only time will tell.

[+adamchevy]

 

Did you look hard enough? In no particular order from memory as I'm not going to look for it now (cleaning Famicom games I found today.)

- Frame rate is 30fps, some certain places dips closer to 20.

- Doesn't look much different than WiiU game other than 900p

- Damned weapon/shield breakage is overkill

- Some complain about it being so huge with little direction (kind of misses the point)

- The one hit kills being overkill

- Weather being a nuisance (and it is, but that's again the point)

 

I'll give them the frame rate, the one hit kills, and especially the breakage as it's stupid.

 

But it looking like the WiiU is a big DUH really given how far it got developed on there. They weren't going to delay it another 6-12mo to make new assets and effects for the Switch developing parallel Zelda titles especially in the scope of something that freaking large. It's a launch game anyway, don't want to go too far up the ladder or you set expectations at a point few could top alienating developers and buyers too.

Guess I didn't . Those are some good points. It sure was in development for a long time to have all of these idiosyncrasies. Of course it looks like the best game I'll be playing this year on a new console . If I wanted to buy a PS4 or Xbox One, that Horizon Zero Dawn game looks pretty amazing.

 

I saw this today as well, and wow I'm almost as excited for this game as I was for Zelda:

 

https://youtu.be/IDi9rgu2u_Y

Edited March 9, 2017 by adamchevy

[atarian63]

Fast RMX was ok, price was cheap,needed something to play for starters,def my kind of game.

[Zap!]

I haven't seen much said negative about Breath of the Wild. But it's probably to early to give much feedback.

Not much negative I can say, but there are at least two errors. I found a glitch and a typo. Not sure I can talk about the glitch here, because it gives away a small spoiler. But the typo just used the same word twice, and omitted a word that was supposed to be there. It's after you complete the three you-know-whats, before you-know-who gives you something promised.

[NE146]

So I haven't read the majority of the comments from people who have one of these.. but my initial impression of this thing (as I use it purely as a handheld) is it feels kind of flimsy to be honest. i just tried pulling out the stand and felt like I was going to break it. Wonder how this unit will hold up with years of rough play.

 

Oh who am I kidding, we all know Nintendo will redesign it shortly Switch Lite! Switch XL! Atomic Purple!

Edited March 9, 2017 by NE146

[Punisher5.0]

I think the system as a whole is very solid. The kickstand is maybe a weak point but I doubt I'd ever use it other than to install a memory card.

 

I'm looking forward to future iterations. A model with a X2 proc and 8 gigs of RAM would be really sweet.

[Tanooki]

There could always be a patch later that improves the frame rate (for the Switch version). My guess is it probably pushes the Wii U and maybe not so much the Switch. The port was to get systems out of the door. Now they need to have a steady stream of good games and make sure not to run into a supply crisis. I am guessing it will be easier to find one in a few weeks. If it is really doing well enough, would not be surprised to see a holiday shortage.

 

I am not sold on the Switch yet. Only time will tell.

Probably. As I recall the same dumb comments about so called weak hardware and games taxing the system right off were pulled about Twilight Princess on Wii which was optimized and made for Gamecube. It's just the draw back of getting something out fast that wasn't designed for specific hardware and it happens a lot, third party too. Look at the difference between TP and Skyward Sword on the same system, big upgrade. The Switch game was shovelware from the dying WiiU since that POS couldn't last long enough on its own. You can also pull that argument about an unoptimized shoddy port with Dragon Quest Heroes 1+2 as it uses PS3 assets and the Switch can easily handle that level of stuff, yet it runs worse than it, something between there and the watered down washed out Vita release. SquareEnix was looking for a way to make quick cash in a narrow selection of launch games in Japan and didn't care to iron it out as it has to be out on time.

 

Guess I didn't . Those are some good points. It sure was in development for a long time to have all of these idiosyncrasies. Of course it looks like the best game I'll be playing this year on a new console . If I wanted to buy a PS4 or Xbox One, that Horizon Zero Dawn game looks pretty amazing.

Some of them are valid, other are just lousy nitpicks based on personal preference (of which some I do agree with too.) It's a launch game, I never expect much out of stuff like that as it's a new thing, usually rushed in some ways, and is also a learning curve as well just at its start.

Edited March 9, 2017 by Tanooki

[Andromeda Stardust]

 

 

It's not out yet, just the parental controls app (as well as place restrictions on the console itself). You can do matchmaking on the console, and they brought back Friend Codes, too. It knows your friends from the other apps that used them (Miitomo, Mario Run, Fire Emblem) but doesn't present the whole list. I suspect the mobile app is only needed for chat and voice.

 

Confirmed as I played a match of Bomberman in the twilight of March 3rd as the sun came up. I think voice chat will be supported with wired headsets as well. The integrated TRRS headphone/mic jack will work with any off the shelf stereo wired headset. Not sure why they said a mobile app would be needed as that is certainly not the case with Bomberman, currently the only game to offer online play. You'll just need a long cord to use headsets while docked.

[Austin]

I haven't seen much said negative about Breath of the Wild. But it's probably to early to give much feedback.

It's Trash Loot and Trash Mobs: The Game™

 

There ya go.

 

..and when you actually get to the points that push the story forward, all the characters in these moments want to come off as condescending pricks.

 

I'll be honest. The game has a lot of little things I could nitpick about, but you get used to them the more you play. I do wish there were more likeable story characters though. If they aren't enjoyable or at least entertaining, then what's the point?

 

I've been thinking about it, and I think the biggest problem with the game is that once I am done with it, I don't think I will ever want to play it again. The experience is so involved, expansive and time consuming, it isn't going to lend itself well to repeated playthroughs like older Zelda titles have (particularly the earlier ones). That said, I'm enjoying the hell out of the game right now while it lasts.

[Andromeda Stardust]

When the rock guy is hanging down you want to jump and climb on top of him and hit that black part sticking up with the arrow above it. Then slash it with a sword. I still haven't beat him yet but i've come close several times.

Useful stuff to know. I just run like hell whenever a Stone Talon appears. I have five hearts and somewhat upgraded clothing (Hylian garb with optional winter resistant substitutes, and the heat resistant Gerudo outfit which is borderline useless from a defense perspective), and the stone monster still takes me out in a single hit. I've also gotten stumped in a couple places so far. Stupid Amazon didn't even ship my Zelda guide until yesterday, grrr...

 

Oh, and you haven't lived until you've learned how to shield sled. It's like 1080 snowboarding meets Zelda. Okay not really. Bring something warm to wear since the cold air in this mountain region requires +2 cold resistance stats. Best to use something disposable to sled on (like a pot lid) and not a good combat-worthy shield, as you will wear it out rather quickly by sledding on it. I broke two good Soldier shields this way... :facepalm:

[Andromeda Stardust]

Switch save data is locked to the console and can't be transferred.

 

While that's something that I can live with (Although if I lost progress partway through Zelda because of it, I might be singing a different tune), it's rather inexcusable at the same time. There isn't even a need to lock saves for online multiplayer enabled games to prevent cheating, given that they can just be tied to a specific user account to prevent their distribution to others.

 

That we can't remove the SD card, insert it into another Nintendo Switch, and log into our account to restore access to our save files residing on external flash memory boggles the mind. Not sure what Nintendo is gaining from this short of perhaps planning on cloud saves as a carrot to dangle in front of potential subscribers of their upcoming online service.

They will fix this in a future update. Give it time...

[Andromeda Stardust]

Clearly you get a few lemons in every batch, but some of it is just people being dumb and not doing it right with those joycons getting stuck on the wrongly attached added strap piece.

It's not about consumers being dense or stupid. As soon as I unboxed the Switch, I attempted to insert the Joycon upside down, more specifically I was holding the screen bottoms up which didn't help. Anyway I managed to get the Joycon three quarters onto the screen and it nearly got stuck that way. Fortunately I was able to back it off.

 

They should have designed the rails to be asymmetric, so the Joycons and Joycon straps or accessories could only be inserted in one direction. Place a stop at the bottom end of the rail to prevent reverse insertion, then key them so that one rail is slightly diffrerent depth than the other, preventing the right Joycon to be inserted on the left rail and visa-versa. Keyed rails would only allow them to be fitted one direction, not ie the right Joycon being accidentally be inserted on the left side, upside down, what have you.

 

It's like inserting a left foot into a right shoe. Nothing preventing you from physically inserting your whole foot, but the fit is awkward and even painful if you try to walk on it. The current design allows for improper insertion resulting in Joycon getting stuck with an "almost there" fit. That is poor design IMO, and it is too late to retool the rails or the Joycon and have it compatible with existing parts. They could have tooled it so that it "fits like a glove" in when inserted properly, but completely prevented improper insertion.

 

But they are stuck with the current flawed implementation for the foreseeable future, so we must be diligent and not try and attach them backwards.

[Andromeda Stardust]

 

While it's not something the end user should be doing for kicks, it IS a good test. Falling out of someone's hands onto concrete is a thing that happens to small, portable electronics. If it can't survive such an action, what's the point of making it portable?

 

It's something a lot of manufacturers seem to get wrong these days. I once saw a lady sit down on the bus, and her phone fell out of her coat pocket. So a 2 foot drop onto a vinyl bus floor. the screen shattered. I remember thinking "and that's why I don't buy Apple products". I've seen frickin light bulbs survive worse drops! No, really- look!

 

People keep asking me why I still use an old Samsung Rugby flip phone for talk and text. It has survived 4-foot drops on concrete, and when questioned as to why I didn't upgrade, I'll proceed to take the phone out of my pocket, and drop it on the floor just to prove my point.

[omegadot]

Oh who am I kidding, we all know Nintendo will redesign it shortly Switch Lite! Switch XL! Atomic Purple!

 

I will be first in line for Atomic Purple.

 

Gotta start working on my pre-order bot and go buy me pre-order line bat if that fails.

[Asaki]

I haven't seen much said negative about Breath of the Wild.

My only real gripe is that there is no auto-camera option. It's not hard for me to get used to having to use twin-sticks, and it controls way better than Monster Hunter or Dark Souls, but I still don't see why it's necessary.

 

Tiny gripes, the WiiU version:

All of the dual screen support is disabled.

The back of the box says the game supports Wiimotes, Wiimote + nunchuck, and Wiimote + Classic Controller, but it doesn't.

 

Possible spoilers (I'm not very far in the game, though):

I'm hoping there are actual -dungeons- later in the game. The shrines are a neat idea, they sort of remind me of how you level up in Adventure of Link, but even the more difficult ones take maybe 5-10 minutes to complete.

 

I just run like hell whenever a Stone Talon appears. I have five hearts and somewhat upgraded clothing (Hylian garb with optional winter resistant substitutes, and the heat resistant Gerudo outfit which is borderline useless from a defense perspective), and the stone monster still takes me out in a single hit.

I won't spoil how to do it, but I've killed a bunch of them with only four hearts and no armor. They're not very smart monsters, you can just dodge their attacks as long as you don't back yourself into a corner.

 

Now Octorocks, those guys annoy me. Their aim is pretty dead-on, I'm pretty sure they lead their targets.

Edited March 9, 2017 by Asaki

[BillLoguidice]

This has been making the rounds, but is worth posting here as well, since it gives a perfect summary of the current Switch issues (Kotaku link), although I will say a few of those are more nitpicky than an actual issue/challenge:

 

• (1) The kickstand on the back of the Switch is flimsy and seems destined to snap off. It props up the screen at a steep angle unsuited to a lot of situations and generally feels unsteady. It also doubles as a cover for the MicroSD card slot, so if it does break, your memory card will be exposed.
• (2) Both the Joy-Con grip and the Pro Controller lack a headphone output, putting the Switch behind the PS4, Xbox One and even the Wii U in terms of allowing you to easily listen to game audio on headphones from your couch when you’re using the console to play a game on the TV.
• (3) The charging port is on the bottom of the Switch, which is fine when you’re holding it but means you can’t prop up the screen on a table while charging it, because the plug gets in the way.
• (4) The release buttons you use to detach the Joy-Con are small and hard to press without accidentally pressing other buttons as well.
• (5) The caps that slide over the Joy-Con when you’re using them separately are oddly tricky to get on and off.
• (6) There’s no HDMI output on the tablet, so if you want to plug the console into a TV at a hotel or your relatives’ house, you’ll need to bring the dock with you.
• (7) There’s no support for bluetooth headsets, which feels like an omission in a high-tech tablet device in 2017.
• ( You can’t transfer your saved games to a new console or a MicroSD card, which means there’s currently no way to back up your saves.
• (9) If you want to use the included AC adapter to charge the console on the go, you have to open up the dock and remove it before taking it with you.
• (10) The included HDMI cable is a hair under 5’ long, a foot shorter than the 6’ that I’ve come to think of as standard and too short to use in my entertainment center. Apparently Nintendo likes shipping things with cables that are too short.
• (11) The included Joy-Con grip doesn’t charge the controllers, so if you use the Switch for TV gaming and want to charge the Joy-Con every night you’ll have to disassemble the grip controller and re-attach the Joy-Con to the handheld in the dock. It’s an awkward process, and your only alternative is to buy a Pro Controller or shell out $30 for a nearly identical “charge grip” with a USB input.

[Tempest]

- Damned weapon/shield breakage is overkill

 

Ugh really? I hate games that have breakage systems like this. Please tell me you can at least repair things?

[Asaki]

(3) The charging port is on the bottom of the Switch, which is fine when youre holding it but means you cant prop up the screen on a table while charging it, because the plug gets in the way.

I haven't seen the Switch in person, but the WiiU Gamepad has contacts on the bottom of the unit because the charging cradle/stand is designed to connect that way. I'm assuming if the Switch doesn't have a similar accessory, it will at some point.

 

 

(11) The included Joy-Con grip doesnt charge the controllers, so if you use the Switch for TV gaming and want to charge the Joy-Con every night youll have to disassemble the grip controller and re-attach the Joy-Con to the handheld in the dock. Its an awkward process, and your only alternative is to buy a Pro Controller or shell out $30 for a nearly identical charge grip with a USB input.

I was wondering about that when they first released pictures of it.

 

Ugh really? I hate games that have breakage systems like this. Please tell me you can at least repair things?

Most of the stuff that breaks easily is cheap anyway. Remember in Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker how things like sticks, torches, and enemy spears kind of made okay improvisational weapons for a few whacks? This is the same thing, except you get to store anything you pick up in your inventory for later. (also, whenever you break a weapon on a monster, it does crit damage now)

 

Real weapons/tools are much more durable, but less common.

 

Skyward Sword had a shop where if you had the right ingredients, you could pay to have shields and things upgraded to be more durable. I'm pretty sure BotW has something similar.

Edited March 9, 2017 by Asaki

[Atariboy]

 

Ugh really? I hate games that have breakage systems like this. Please tell me you can at least repair things?

 

Potential spoiler ahead, but I've been told that a special sword that's familiar to all Zelda fans is out there somewhere, and can be found by thinking like you did 25 years ago. It's supposed to be unbreakable.