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It's surprising, yet we're approaching the new Switch 2 console's six-month milestone. When the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 releases on the fourth of December, we can provide the system a fairly thorough evaluation based on its impressive roster of exclusive launch window games. Heavy hitters like the new Donkey Kong game will lead that check-in, but it's the company's latest releases, the Pokémon Legends installment and currently Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, that have helped the new console pass a crucial test in its initial half-year: the tech exam.

Confronting Hardware Worries

Ahead of Nintendo publicly unveiled the new console, the main issue from users around the then-theoretical console was concerning hardware. When it comes to hardware, Nintendo trailed competing consoles for several generations. This situation was evident in the Switch's final years. The hope was that a new model would deliver smoother performance, improved visuals, and standard options like 4K resolution. That's precisely what arrived when the console was debuted this summer. At least that's what its technical details suggested, anyway. To accurately assess if the new console is an upgrade, we'd need to see important releases performing on the hardware. We've finally gotten that in recent days, and the prognosis remains healthy.

The Pokémon Title as an First Challenge

The console's first major test came with October's the new Pokémon game. Pokémon games had some infamous tech struggles on the initial console, with games like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet releasing in very poor shape. The system wasn't exactly to blame for that; the underlying technology driving the Pokémon titles was old and being pushed past its limits in the series' gradual open-world pivot. Legends: Z-A would be a bigger examination for its studio than any other factor, but we could still learn to observe from the game's visual clarity and how it runs on the new system.

Despite the release's basic graphics has sparked discussions about the developer's skills, there's no denying that the latest installment is nowhere near the technical failure of its preceding game, the previous Legends game. It operates at a smooth 60 frames on the new console, but the older hardware maxes out at 30 frames per second. Objects still appear suddenly, and you'll find many low-resolution elements if you look closely, but you won't experience anything like the moment in Arceus where you first take to the skies and watch the complete landscape transform into a rough, low-poly terrain. This is sufficient to grant the new console a satisfactory rating, but with caveats since Game Freak has its own problems that amplify basic technology.

Age of Imprisonment as a Tougher Performance Examination

There is now a tougher hardware challenge, though, due to Age of Imprisonment, out Nov. 6. This Zelda derivative pushes the Switch 2 due to its Musou formula, which has gamers battling a massive horde of creatures constantly. The series' previous game, the previous Hyrule Warriors, performed poorly on the initial console as the console couldn't keep up with its quick combat and numerous on-screen elements. It frequently dropped below the desired frame rate and created the sensation that you were pushing too hard when fighting intensely.

Fortunately is that it also passes the hardware challenge. Having tested the title extensively in recent weeks, completing all missions included. In that time, it's clear that it manages to provide a smoother performance compared to its earlier title, reaching its sixty frames goal with more consistency. Performance can dip in the fiercest fights, but I've yet to hit any moment where I'm suddenly watching a slideshow as the frame rate suffers. Part of that may result from the fact that its bite-sized missions are designed to avoid overwhelming hordes on screen at once.

Important Compromises and General Assessment

Remaining are compromises that you're probably expecting. Most notably, shared-screen play sees performance taking a noticeable decrease closer to the 30 fps range. It's also the first Switch 2 first-party game where it's apparent a significant contrast between my old OLED display and the current LCD panel, with notably in story sequences looking faded.

But for the most part, the new game is a night and day difference versus its previous installment, similar to Z-A is to Arceus. For those seeking any sign that the upgraded system is fulfilling its performance claims, although with certain reservations present, the two releases demonstrate effectively of how the Switch 2 is markedly enhancing franchises that had issues on older technology.