🔗 Share this article

It's surprising, but we're nearly at the Nintendo Switch 2's six-month anniversary. When the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 releases on the fourth of December, we'll be able to give the console a detailed progress report due to its strong lineup of Nintendo-developed launch window games. Heavy hitters like Donkey Kong Bananza will lead that check-in, but it's Nintendo's two most recent games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and currently Age of Imprisonment, that have enabled the successor overcome a crucial test in its opening six months: the hardware evaluation.

Addressing Hardware Issues

Before Nintendo publicly unveiled the new console, the primary worry from users about the hypothetical device was concerning hardware. When it comes to components, Nintendo trailed PlayStation and Xbox for several generations. This situation began to show in the original Switch's later life. The desire was that a Switch 2 would bring smoother performance, improved visuals, and industry-standard features like ultra-high definition. Those are the features included when the device was released in June. That's what its specs indicated, at least. To truly know if the new console is an upgrade, we required examples of some key games running on it. We now have that evidence during the past fortnight, and the assessment is favorable.

The Pokémon Title as the Initial Test

The first significant examination arrived with the October release of the new Pokémon game. Pokémon games had some infamous tech struggles on the first Switch, with titles such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet debuting in very poor shape. The system wasn't exactly to blame for that; the actual engine driving the developer's games was outdated and getting stretched beyond its capabilities in the series' gradual open-world pivot. Legends: Z-A would be more challenging for its developer than anything, but we could still learn to analyze from the visual presentation and performance on Switch 2.

Although the title's restricted visual fidelity has sparked discussions about the studio's prowess, there's no denying that this Pokémon game is far from the performance mess of its predecessor, the previous Legends game. It operates at a smooth 60 frames on Switch 2, but the Switch version tops out at 30 fps. Objects still appear suddenly, and you'll find many low-resolution elements if you zoom in, but you won't encounter anything like the moment in Arceus where you initially fly and see the entire ground below turn into a rough, low-poly terrain. This is sufficient to earn the Switch 2 a decent grade, however with limitations given that the developer has separate challenges that worsen limited hardware.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment as the Tougher Hardware Challenge

There is now a tougher hardware challenge, however, because of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, launched earlier this month. The latest Musou title challenges the upgraded system because of its action-oriented style, which has players facing off against a huge number of enemies constantly. The franchise's last installment, the previous Hyrule Warriors, performed poorly on the original Switch as the hardware struggled with its fast-paced action and sheer amount of activity. It regularly decreased below the desired frame rate and gave the impression that you were overwhelming the system when being too aggressive.

Fortunately is that it also passes the performance examination. Having tested the title extensively over the last few weeks, experiencing every level it has to offer. In that time, the results show that it manages to provide a more stable framerate relative to its predecessor, reaching its 60 fps mark with better regularity. It can still slip up in the most heated of battles, but I've yet to hit any situation where I'm suddenly watching a choppy presentation as the frame rate suffers. A portion of this may result from the situation where its bite-sized missions are structured to prevent too many enemies on screen at once.

Notable Limitations and Final Evaluation

There are still compromises that you're probably expecting. Primarily, shared-screen play sees performance taking a substantial reduction closer to the 30 fps range. It's also the premier exclusive release where I've really noticed a major difference between older OLED technology and the new LCD display, with particularly during cinematics having a washed out quality.

But for the most part, this release is a night and day difference versus its earlier title, just as Z-A is to the earlier Pokémon title. Should you require any sign that the upgraded system is delivering on its performance claims, even with some caveats remaining, both games provide a clear example of how Nintendo's latest is markedly enhancing titles that performed poorly on older technology.