Topic: Nintendo Switch --OT--

I'm using my Switch in handheld mode for the first time this afternoon so that I can grind for trophies in Final Fantasy IX on the television. The buttons on the Joy-Cons are seemingly built for Buzz Lightyear's thumbs, but other than that, it beats sitting and watching Zidane and Co. kill the same monsters over and over and over again for hours.

@Ralizah @Gamer83 Do the games really take such a significant hit?

I'm planning to use the Switch exclusively as a handheld, so that's how I would play the likes of Mario & Zelda.

I doubt I'll bother with a pro controller, as I much rather play the 'big' games on PS4. Switch would be for Nintendo exclusives (+Sonic Mania & Forces).

@johncalmc ...not sure I understand. You're playing on the Switch and the PS4 at the same time? Using an auto-battle option or something?

The joycon buttons probably take some getting used to if you're not accustomed to the buttons on handheld consoles. They're roughly the same size as the buttons on a 3DS.

If you have a table or other hard surface nearby, you can always use the pro controller with the Switch in tabletop mode.

@Fight_Teza_Fight It doesn't take a significant hit. Zelda and Mario both look beautiful and run well on the tablet. Actually, Zelda has fewer framedrops on the tablet. Mario has slightly dialed down graphical settings in handheld mode, but it still looks good. Just slightly worse draw distance, slightly less detailed shadows... those sorts of things.

@Ralizah I'm currently sat playing Super Mario Odyssey on my lap, while next to me is my PS4 controller. I've got a hair band holding the left analogue stick in place to make Zidane run in circles on the world map, and I've got the auto-battle mode on so I don't have to input commands. The only thing I need to do is press X a couple of times at the end of every battle to get through the EXP screens, so I'm just glancing up every now and again to see when I need to do it, while also hunting for moons on Mario. Honestly, it's quite ingenious.

I would say I use the Switch as a handheld more. I have the dock set up in the spare room as opposed to the main TV in the house. I do play docked but love the handheld option on the Switch.

@Ralizah That's good to hear. If I never play it on a HDTV I won't really notice the 'drop'.

I wasn't really in the market for the Switch until I cleared my Vita backlog, but the quality of Mario & Zelda is very hard to ignore.

@johncalmc Wow! That's quite a set-up. How are you enjoying handheld mode?

@Fight_Teza_Fight I have a friend who only plays it as a handheld and he's never run into any issues. It's a huge, multi-generational upgrade from the Vita. You'll love it.

@Ralizah I don't like it so much but then I don't really like handheld gaming. I'm the guy who has been crying out for a home console Pokemon game for years because I just want to play on my tv. But it's doable, and it's handy in this situation.

@Fight_Teza_Fight The games take a hit but the screen is like..20 times smaller. Mario looks great in docked mode to be honest. Watch a few off screen videos on Youtube to get an idea.

Whats everyones opinion on ARMS?

Personally I was gonna give it a miss but was surprisingly blown away at the egx demo booth. Buying it for my son for Chrimbo.

@themcnoisy It's probably worth it if you have people to play locally or want to compete online. There's not a whole lot of single-player content, though. I gave it as pass as I don't feel the amount of content justifies the price tag, but a lot of people really love the game.

Have you tried Splatoon 2? Even if shooters aren't your thing, you might still like it. It's really unique.

@Ralizah I dont have the time for online with splatoon unfortunately. Its my sons switch, I actually dont think hes online with it playing strictly offline.

ARMS is a lot of fun, but ultimately it's not really for me. Smash is basically the only fighting game I've played that I can stay interested in for an extended amount of time. I prefer Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

@KirbyTheVampire Yep. Unless Dead or Alive comes to the Switch (very possible, considering even the 3DS got a DoA game), Smash will be THE fighting game I play on Switch. I'd also nab Persona 4 Arena. Maybe the Persona 5 version will make it to the Switch?

@Ralizah I didn't even know Persona fighting games existed, lol. Interesting.

@KirbyTheVampire There are two Persona 4 fighting games, and they're both canon! As is the Persona 4 rhythm game. And the Persona x Etrian Odyssey crossover game.

Now we're getting rhythm games for Persona 3 and Persona 5, and they seem to be planning a Persona 5 Arena as well.

lol

There's actually a crossover fighting game called BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle coming to the Switch that'll include Persona 4 Arena characters, too.

@Ralizah Huh, that's cool. I assumed the Persona series only had the mainline Persona games. Not sure the fighters would be my thing, but it would be nice to have them on the Switch for people who like them, especially with the portability.

@KirbyTheVampire Atlus' current strategy with Persona seems to be to release a game and then to milk it with spinoffs, re-releases, etc. for years and years and years before a new one releases.

@Fight_Teza_Fight
I don't know if I'd say significant, but at least in SMO there are some noticeable differences in some of the kingdoms and I didn't get the same sense of 'wow' in handheld mode that I did looking at the tv screen and just how far into the game's world I could see. But like @Ralizah stated, you can certainly get by just playing on the tablet and being very satisfied. Hell, when playing undocked the Switch is the handheld system I always dreamed of.

Just bought a Switch with Super Mario Odyssey .

Too bad I'm working today, but I'm really excited!

I've been out of the Nintendo loop for too long.
How does the eShop work? Can I buy top up cards similar to PSN?

Any game recommendations? Just looking for Switch exclusives. Zelda, Pokken & Mario Kart will be eventual purchases.