Gaming Nintendo switch - the portable king

[aofelix]

So, after a few months with my Switch, I've realised how much I love portable gaming which for bigger titles which are normally... well not portable. Epics like Zelda, XC2, Mario Odyssey can all be completed fairly quickly without me having to sit down. turn on the TV, not be disturbed, and dedicate a whole evening.

Mundane activities like grinding become.. well sort of addictive and nice for short care journies etc. It just really improves everything about gaming.


Anyway the switch where I am costs £250. After realising how much I like this portability stuff, I've looked for other solutions/alternatives.

Apart from a Vita and 3DS which don't offer the console quality experience the Switch does, there are none which deliver the same value.



You have an ipad which is 2-3x the price of the switch, no physical controller, limited/crap selection of games etc.
You have a gaming laptop which is 4-10x the price of the switch, again without a controller and not as portable.



Its just made me kind of realise just how great of value the Switch is at this price point when you look at alternatives.

Are there any? I've tried to look into the Pc gaming side of things as my humble monthly has provided a huge catalogue but every semi-decent solution with some longevity given the lack of optimisation of games on the PC side of things.. is well looking at 1k+.

On the PS4 side of things, well theres nothing.





I'm personally hoping either Sony or MS do catch onto the switch and offer a bigger version of the switch in tablet form with more horse power.. but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one as looking at ipad prices, it'll probably be a rip off.

 

[Yepi69]

You do realize that the Switch is basically an Nvidia Shield right? A Nvidia Shield also offered triple AAA games for less than the price of a Switch.
And since it runs Android, emulators weren't amiss.

 

[gameboy]

You do realize that the Switch is basically an Nvidia Shield right? A Nvidia Shield also offered triple AAA games for less than the price of a Switch.
And since it runs Android, emulators weren't amiss.

You can't take a shield with you and the shield is garbage as a video game player. 3ds DOES have console quality games on it: rune factory, fantasy life, Zelda 3d remakes, Kingdom Hearts 3d, Tales of Abyss, Luigi's Mansion 2 etc etc

 

[DeslotlCL]

The switch is great as it is, but the problem for third party games will start when sony moves to the next gen, and since microsoft already has the x, third party games will relly so much on "graphical power" and even if the switch get the ports due to its popularity , it will either receive a heavily downgraded game with missing content or an half completed game (just like on the wii days).

 

[Xzi]

You do realize that the Switch is basically an Nvidia Shield right? A Nvidia Shield also offered triple AAA games for less than the price of a Switch.
And since it runs Android, emulators weren't amiss.

Obviously you're likely aware that Shield TV is stationary. No portable that strong existed until Switch. I own a Shield TV and I've owned a Shield Portable, the former Android can only take you so far in, and the latter wasn't very powerful.

To OP: the one somewhat legit Switch alternative is GPD Win. It has about the same amount of power, but it's not near as user-friendly and storage space is an even bigger issue on a portable Win10 device. The GPD Win 2 is around twice as powerful as Switch, but it also costs over $700 AFAIK and the trigger buttons are designed poorly IMO (R/L1, 2, 3 all tiny buttons on the back of the unit instead of clickable sticks).

Switch is definitely the king of portable, it's just too bad we didn't have full console gaming on the go sooner. Nintendo should've waited and teamed up with Nvidia to release Switch instead of WiiU.

The switch is great as it is, but the problem for third party games will start when sony moves to the next gen, and since microsoft already has the x, third party games will relly so much on "graphical power" and even if the switch get the ports due to its popularity , it will either receive a heavily downgraded game with missing content or an half completed game (just like on the wii days).

PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are essentially afterthoughts, they won't sell anywhere near XB1/PS4 numbers. Thus most developers focus their efforts on getting their game to run on the base revision first and sometimes add the fancy "enhancements" for Pro/X afterward.

Switch is like a half-gen back from PS4, and pretty much any current-gen game can be adapted to that hardware. It's only a matter of motivation to do so for the developer.

 

[invaderyoyo]

Both the 3DS and the Vita have amazing "console quality" games.

I mainly use my Switch in docked mode because it's too big for me to lug around, but I know some people like to carry a bag.

Also, the Switch hasn't received any real third party support. I'm not talking about ports of games you can get anywhere else cheaper. I mean actual new games. I guess this is sort of okay if Nintendo can pump out good games at a steady rate, but we'll see if they can keep it up.

 

[Xzi]

Both the 3DS and the Vita have amazing "console quality" games.

I mainly use my Switch in docked mode because it's too big for me to lug around, but I know some people like to carry a bag.

Also, the Switch doesn't hasn't received any real third party support. I'm not talking about ports of games you can get anywhere else cheaper. I mean actual new games. I guess this is sort of okay if Nintendo can pump out good games at a steady rate, but we'll see if they can keep it up.

It'll be a while yet until Switch starts getting simultaneous releases, many third-parties are focused on getting other games out that would fit the portable experience well first. Like From Software with Dark Souls (although this is a simultaneous remaster release), Capcom with Megaman/X collections, Sega with Bayonetta 1+2, etc. Third-party support isn't lacking, though. They see the sales numbers, Switch isn't going away any time soon.

 

[aofelix]

GPD Win 2.. I check it out and the benchmarks for games looked terrible sadly. Also, as you mentioned, the price is quite ridiculous when comparing it to the Switch. When I see Gp Win, I feel an extra 300 or so bux will get you a decent 1050ti gaming laptop which will likely trounce it.




What I find sad is that Steam have messed around with their crappy steam machines and steam controllers when they could have jumped on this idea of a portable console with a 720p screen and allowed access to a HUGE library of games.

 

[Deleted User]

i don't know if it's the portable king. i enjoy 3ds and vita more. far more games on those consoles. in term of the performance yes but in terms of "fun" i'm not sure. i played on the switch mario odd and that's it. now i'm waiting for kirby but besides that nothing really interests me. maybe we could make this discussion again when more games will come out.

 

[Xzi]

GPD Win 2.. I check it out and the benchmarks for games looked terrible sadly. Also, as you mentioned, the price is quite ridiculous when comparing it to the Switch. When I see Gp Win, I feel an extra 300 or so bux will get you a decent 1050ti gaming laptop which will likely trounce it.

I disagree, it plays Dolphin games in 60 FPS or more. It is basically a laptop, you can access BIOS, overclock it, increase voltages, etc. But like I said I hate the button layout, not to mention I already have Switch, so it's not worth that kind of money to me.

I find sad is that Steam have messed around with their crappy steam machines and steam controllers when they could have jumped on this idea of a portable console with a 720p screen and allowed access to a HUGE library of games.

To be fair, Valve moved on from those long ago and is now more focused on VR, which is quite incredible on a strong machine.

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

I wouldn't call Switch the portable king yet, but it's set to take that crown by the end of its lifetime if it can keep up its current pace of great titles. Bonus points for the great hardware concept. I'm loving my Switch and all the free time I didn't know I had to play bigger games now that I can take them anywhere. It fits my life with a current and future game lineup that I feel is far better than the 3DS or Vita's offerings. Stardew Valley on the go is just too good. On the horizon are titles like DragonQuest 11, Bayonetta 3, and Metroid Prime 4. By the end of its lifetime, I believe the Switch will totally eclipse the 3DS and Vita in the quality of its game library. The Shield line was never gonna be a real contender, not least because it's Android-based with a low market share, making it wholly unviable for AAAs and most console third parties. There's a reason Nvidia turned the Shield platform into a set-top streaming box. I'm not counting emulators, as you can emulate on a million different things and I want to see new games, not old games I've played to death.

 

[Yepi69]

You can't take a shield with you and the shield is garbage as a video game player. 3ds DOES have console quality games on it: rune factory, fantasy life, Zelda 3d remakes, Kingdom Hearts 3d, Tales of Abyss, Luigi's Mansion 2 etc etc

You can, the Nvidia Shield, not the tablet or the TV version.
Switch can't run any video files at all (for the time being)

Obviously you're likely aware that Shield TV is stationary. No portable that strong existed until Switch. I own a Shield TV and I've owned a Shield Portable, the former Android can only take you so far in, and the latter wasn't very powerful.

To OP: the one somewhat legit Switch alternative is GPD Win. It has about the same amount of power, but it's not near as user-friendly and storage space is an even bigger issue on a portable Win10 device. The GPD Win 2 is around twice as powerful as Switch, but it also costs over $700 AFAIK and the trigger buttons are designed poorly IMO (R/L1, 2, 3 all tiny buttons on the back of the unit instead of clickable sticks).

Switch is definitely the king of portable, it's just too bad we didn't have full console gaming on the go sooner. Nintendo should've waited and teamed up with Nvidia to release Switch instead of WiiU.


PS4 Pro and Xbox One X are essentially afterthoughts, they won't sell anywhere near XB1/PS4 numbers. Thus most developers focus their efforts on getting their game to run on the base revision first and sometimes add the fancy "enhancements" for Pro/X afterward.

Switch is like a half-gen back from PS4, and pretty much any current-gen game can be adapted to that hardware. It's only a matter of motivation to do so for the developer.

To be fair, the Switch is more recent than a Nvidia Shield.
But likewise, its basically a different kind of Nvidia Shield with a much more powerful CPU/GPU.

 

[Xzi]

To be fair, the Switch is more recent than a Nvidia Shield.
But likewise, its basically a different kind of Nvidia Shield with a much more powerful CPU/GPU.

Switch's biggest benefit is the custom OS, but its CPU is actually throttled by about half. Less on the dock of course. This is necessary because of the self-contained design and heat restrictions. Still the most powerful portable console that's ever been on the market by a wide margin, and the price point is reasonable.

 

[Kioku]

Switch's biggest benefit is the custom OS, but its CPU is actually throttled by about half. Less on the dock of course. This is necessary because of the self-contained design and heat restrictions. Still the most powerful portable console that's ever been on the market by a wide margin, and the price point is reasonable.

The CPU is locked at half what the Shield TV is.. Docked or not. The GPU is the one that changes.

 

[Xzi]

The CPU is locked at half what the Shield TV is.. Docked or not. The GPU is the one that changes.

Correction: this.

 

[Jahrs]

So i love the switch and the games on it or rather the ports/remakes i never played on older systems because i either didnt have the system or wasnt interested at the time.

Its portability is what i find great cause whenever i get really into a game i cant usually take it with me. But the switch makes it easy and has decent stats all around nothing to brag about but its nice enough to play the games and not feel like im playing the n64.

my main issue is that the portability has lead to a different problem. ive played every game to death cause of all the extra time i have to play them now. so currently i have run out of games but each one i played for like a solid month between workshifts.

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

my main issue is that the portability has lead to a different problem. ive played every game to death cause of all the extra time i have to play them now. so currently i have run out of games but each one i played for like a solid month between workshifts.

My problem exactly lol

With all the extra game time I'm getting thanks to the Switch, I purposefully tried buying games with strong replay value and lots of content because I knew I'd have so much surplus hours to sink into 'em.

 

[Jahrs]

i know it sorta sucks but thats what my 2ds is for in the meanwhile. i just finished xenoblade chronicals 2 spent like 180+ hours doing everything possible and am now waiting on the update for it. previously played skyrim,oddysey,disgaea 5, and a few other not as long games. thinking about db xenoverse 2 but the dlc list on that is scary and i cant save transfer from my xbox so ill have to restart.

 

[Xzi]

My problem exactly lol

With all the extra game time I'm getting thanks to the Switch, I purposefully tried buying games with strong replay value and lots of content because I knew I'd have so much surplus hours to sink into 'em.

I don't think it'll be such a huge issue once games like No More Heroes, Metroid Prime 4, Pokemon Switch, SSB Switch, Dark Souls, and other long-form RPGs are all released. As-is there are a few games on Switch which it is possible to sink thousands of hours into, but I suppose you could call them "niche." Rocket League, Stardew Valley, Enter the Gungeon, and Darkest Dungeon all come to mind.

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

I don't think it'll be such a huge issue once games like No More Heroes, Metroid Prime 4, Pokemon Switch, SSB Switch, Dark Souls, and other long-form RPGs are all released. As-is there are a few games on Switch which it is possible to sink thousands of hours into, but I suppose you could call them "niche." Rocket League, Stardew Valley, Enter the Gungeon, and Darkest Dungeon all come to mind.

Definitely. Stardew Valley keeps me happy for long, long stretches of time
Also, I have such high hopes for Pokemon Switch. I'll probably end up sinking plenty of time into that.