48 Hours Remain

As the official Nintendo Direct to reveal the follow-up to the Switch looms, I thought I would take some time to think back on the original Switch launch, the games that I loved from the deep catalogue and think to the future, what do I want out of the Switch 2?

The Past

When the original Switch launched, I was just getting back into video games after a long hiatus. I was still fond of games, and I had kept a lot of my childhood games, either with me or at my parents’ house. But for years I was out of the game, not interested, or they didn’t fit into my lifestyle. In retrospect, I wish I had held onto a handheld system, or purchased the 3DS much sooner because that would have better suited me, but at the time I had other priorities. The first year my current Fiancée and I started dating I had bought us a Wii U, after a visit home with a layover to see my friend Rappy. He was the herald of the virtues of the Wii U complete with demonstrations and hands on proselytisation.

The two screens - what a gadget - the games - Mario Kart’s still around! - the excitement of discovering something new again! Upon returning home, we went to Fry’s (RIP) and came out with the full kit. It was exciting! That Christmas I bought us both 3DS units, Animal Crossing and each a Pokémon game. I had started to get bit by the Nintendo Bug once again. As the end of the Wii U life was in sight, I still a fresh convert who hadn’t been through all the pains and droughts was greeted with the online hype machine that could be the Nintendo NX and all the rumors were fascinating. I remember sitting in our old apartment watching the first E3 presentation of Breath of the Wild with awe and excitement, getting ready for the release.

We hadn’t secured a pre-order, but the weekend of release we marched around LA to various retailers until waiting in line at a Target that clearly didn’t have enough units to go around, someone spilled the beans that a nearby Toys ‘R’ Us (RIP) had stock. The race was on! We arrived before open, it was still early in the day, we knew our best chances to get a unit was to show up before opening. The line was forming when we arrived but we were less than 10 away from the front. The crowd was excited! The door opened, at least an hour before the store was set to open and the announcement was made - “We have plenty of Nintendo Switch Units available and we will let you in before open!” I still think back on this moment with fondness and then roll my eyes when I think about the VC unit that dismantled Toys’R’Us.

Breath of the Wild was a revelation to me. I know there were people that complained, especially at first or during previews before launch, that the tower mechanic was played out, the Ubisoftication of Zelda was not their Zelda, but to me, someone that had been away from muck and mire of video games since 2007… 2008, I thought it was incredible (and it still is incredible, even after Tears of the Kingdom came back around and remixed the formula again, Breath of the Wild still stands as one of the greatest video games of all time, at least to me). This is the era of the Switch, for me. It’s taking something that feels so familiar and remixing it just enough to become something groundbreaking - it feels so new but I know it so well! I want more of this for the next round.

Top 5 things I want from the Switch 2!

5. A Unified Online Service

I think the retro offerings from Nintendo are great and for the most part they work really well. When it was just the NES and SNES I could understand why they would separate the programs but now that we’ve got all manner of subscription based, packaged emulators, I think it’s time to group them all into one offering. It would be great to not have to launch 5 different programs to check out the games on offer. It would also be great if they add control binding so I could finally wrap my head around playing the N64 handheld. Also I think they need to add DS games.

4. A Better Joy-Con experience

I think the controllers on offer are my least favorite thing abou the Switch. We all know the sticks drift, but the thing that really gets my goat is how bad the d-pad is on the pro-controller. It makes playing Tetris 99 practically impossible due to phantom drops. “Cyberbuffalo, just use the joy-cons, idiot” you might say but to you I’d lob back the issues with inconsistent connectivity. On each Switch I’ve owned, when used in split mode, the Joy-Cons will (specifically the left) will desync and search fairly consistently and that doesn’t make for a good time. So fix them and the pro-controller d-pad!

3. Backwards Compatability

This is already confirmed but it’s such an important thing for me that I wanted to put it here anyway. We need this to be fairly straightforward with no funny business. I should be able to setup my account and watch the games roll in along with all appropriate save files. Lets make this happen, Nintendo, you can do it!

2. The Return of StreetPass

There is a level of social interaction the Nintendo wanted you to try with the Switch that in theory seemed possible, but I’ve yet to wow a group of people at a rooftop party by passing around the Joy-Cons. Nintendo wanted us all to connect with one another and pass the controller and play the games - we’re at the airport and have all we need; let’s race! But what they could do to proliferate the social standing of the Switch 2 is bring back StreetPass. I wish I was around when StreetPass was first demonstrated, I probably wouldn’t have though about it twice because it doesn’t matter how you describe it. It’s all predicated on receiving that flashing green light, an endorphin hit you couldn’t possibly understand until it happens to you. The original Switch was light on this patented brand of Nintendo gimmick but for me, this is what the Switch 2 needs most. It needs Nintendo to fly its freak flag higher. Maybe we’re inviting a whole new host of Miis to the StreetPass gates - help me solve this puzzle, seed my flowers, race my slot cars & play rogue-lite ghost Tetris! A whole new era of games, incentive to bring your Switch2 with you! Give us what we’re clamoring for, StreetPass2!

1. Mother Fucking Badge Arcade

Picture this. It’s 2026. You’ve just downloaded Capcom Arcade 3rd Stadium and you want to add it to your folder of retro game collections on your Switch 2. You turn on your switch and are greeted with a Nintendo News article that new badges have been added to Nintendo Badge Arcade 2! The bunny takes your hand and walks you through the arcade where you use your free daily credits to score some new badges! You then use those badges to decorate the custom home-screen folders for you retro game collection, and all is right with the world. The children are happy! Mom and dad stop fighting! World peace is one step closer to being obtained. Please. Folder customization and mother fucking Badge Arcade.

On to the future!

I have so many games I haven’t full explored, on Switch, that even if Nintendo went out of business tomorrow, I’d have enough to do with it to last me the rest of my life. Or at least into my fifties. I’m glad the Switch2 is coming out and I cannot wait to see what features - AND games - it has. Speaking of games, my top 5 franchises I would like to see return on Switch in the first 12-18 months.

5. Bayonetta

In some form or another! It could be a follow-up Viola game, another off-shoot like Bayonetta Origins (which I LOVED) or a full-blown Bayonetta 4.

4. Astral Chain

Surprise! Two character action games right out of the gate for me. This is such a sick game that it deserves a follow-up. I know there are some bad reports about the state of PlatinumGames but I’m hoping with Nintendo as a partner they can make another kick-ass entry in the AC series.

3. Star Fox

I like Star Fox and think that it needs to be revitalized. Maybe a hybrid adventure/space game, or even just a return to the classic formula. Star Fox Zero, I thought, was solid. But it didn’t blow me away (or anyone else for that matter). I think its time to try something new again.

2. AMIIBO FESTIVAL

I almost included Badge Aracde here as well, but after looking deep into my soul I finally knew what belonged. Animal Crossing Amiibo Festival is the entire reason that I’m an Amiibo collector. That goddamned game is the reason we have so many Amiibo cards (almost an entire set!). And if ANY OF YOU TOOK THE TIME TO ACTUALLY PLAY IT, you would have found the chillest, sickest, sometimes-frantic but always charming and cute board game on the Wii U. Like every single game in the Animal Crossing franchise, Amiibo Festival develops little by little as you play and expand the board. Its a fun experience, especially when catching up with friends or just chilling by the fire with your significant other. I think this game could be expanded further either by making it a Nintendo Wide experience, or fully embracing what it is and making it the worlds best Animal Crossing side game. There are bones there. Let my Amiibo shine - they deserve to tap tap tap - let me engage with them - roll my dice, Kicks! Haters be damned, this could be great!

1. Animal Crossing

Speaking of, I just want it. New Horizons was so great but felt like it was missing so many things that made the series great that I want them to come out swinging with a whole new entry in the game. (This was one of Rappy’s requests for the final direct and I think it’s good enough that it belongs on this list).

Final Thoughts

The Switch has been with us through a lot of great times and some not-so-great. It’s been a constant companion at home, all throughout the house, on long car rides, in the air, sometimes across the world. It’s an incredible device that really has changed the way we interact with games. No matter what Nintendo has planned for this direct, we’re definitely in for some surprises. But even if they just released a Switch one with new Joy-Cons and slightly better specs, I’d probably be happy.