Four reasons why the Nintendo Switch is overrated – Reader’s FeatureGameCentral

Not all its cracked up to be? (pic: Nintendo)

A reader argues that it’s all been downhill for the Switch since it’s amazing first year and that Nintendo need a change of direction of its successor.

The Switch is now five years old and has been a pretty much unmitigated success.

Nintendo rightly deserve praise for the console. As a Switch owner myself I’ve got a lot of love for the Switch. However, I do sometimes feel the shortcomings in the hardware are glossed over.

Here are some of the reasons why I think the Switch is at times, perhaps somewhat overrated

The lack of third party support

Thankfully I’m lucky enough to own a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S, so this doesn’t affect me too much but missing out on great multiplatform games such as Elden Ring, Resident Evil, Control, and Red Dead Redemption 2 must be frustrating for those who only own a Switch.

Even games that do release on Switch, such as FIFA and recently Guardians Of The Galaxy, either are cloud versions only or have far less features than the Xbox/PlayStation versions.

The lack of power/graphical capability

The Switch is a great device for people like myself who play mainly in handheld mode but, let’s face it, the machine is showing its age a bit.

I’m not an expert, but from my understanding the Switch is more powerful than PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 but noticeably less so than the base PlayStation 4/Xbox One.

I’m sure that Nintendo will have had to compromise on power in order to achieve portability but still, when the Switch launched in 2017 Sony had already released the PS4 Pro. With the PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X/S now out the Switch is essentially two generations behind.

It seems as if Nintendo is always playing catch-up. Fair enough, graphics aren’t the be all and end all but imagine if developers didn’t have to make significant compromises to make their games run on the Switch.

If the next Nintendo console had the portability of the Switch with power similar to the latest generation, and the third party support as a result, they would be even more successful.

The lack of high-profile releases

When the Switch first released in 2017 it had a hell of a line-up: Splatoon, Mario Kart, and some less high profile but still well received games like Snipperclips and ARMS. As well as Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, which many argue is a contender for the best game of all time, and also Super Mario Odyssey within the first six months. The Switch has had great games since, but I would argue it’s never hit the heights of that first year.

Personally, I prefer mostly single-player games, especially platformers, puzzlers or adventure games, which means that with the exception of Metroid Dread and Kirby And The Forgotten Land many of the high profile releases – such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokémon or the upcoming Splatoon 3, Nintendo Switch Sports, and Mario Strikers: Battle League – hold little appeal for me.

Fortunately, having not played much of Nintendo’s back catalogue I’ve managed to enjoy games such as Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario 3D World, and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

I do wonder, though, how more dedicated Nintendo fans, who may have already experienced these games, view Nintendo often plugging gaps in the release schedule this way, especially games like Super Mario 64, to which the minimum of effort was applied. Especially given that fans are crying out for certain games, like Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Zelda: The Wind Waker to be remastered and Nintendo are seemingly not listening.

The lack of sales/offers

This is perhaps slightly nit-picking. Currys in particular do often seem to do 20% off codes on new games and, after all, the standard £50 for new Nintendo games is better than £70 Sony exclusives.

However, with Sony you know that those exclusives are likely to be significantly reduced within the year. Nintendo on the other hand seem to offer little discounts, if any, on first party games.

I’m not saying you can’t get the occasional bargain. I’ve got some great games like Inside and Limbo for next to nothing. But if it’s a Nintendo exclusive like Zelda or Mario you’re just going to have to suck it up and pay the 50 quid. [There’s actually a sale on right now, although it started after you sent this feature in – GC]

All these complaints might seem like I’m down on the Switch. I’m not. It’s a great machine and for me being able to play games in bed or out and about is a big selling point. Also, there’s no way I’d get rid of my Switch and miss out on the new Zelda. I just hope that its predecessor relies less heavily on past hits and on more original content, as well as embracing third party support whilst retaining portability.

By reader matc7884

The reader’s feature does not necessary represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. As always, email gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk and follow us on Twitter.

MORE : Nintendo Switch Sports review – Wii get nostalgic

MORE : Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy and GBA support leaks with 40 games

MORE : Nintendo Switch Online adds new SNES and NES games and… they’re not very good

Follow Metro Gaming on Twitter and email us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

Entertainment – Metro