From the TimeOut section of the New Zealand Herald newspaper (2
February, 2017) ...


Switch up playing options
-------------------------
Francis Cook get his fingers on Nintendo's new console.

Making eye contact with a complete stranger while virtually
milking a cow is not something I ever imagined would happen.

"You should face each other," we were told. "Do we have to?"
I asked. My partner seemed to feel the same way.

We were at a Nintendo Switch hands-on session, the first
time the new console has been available for play in New
Zealand. Playing a package of games called '1-2-Switch',
I never expected this to happen.

After one incredibly awkward round of cow milking we asked
to move on, only to be pitted against each other in a
western-style duel scenario.

I smoked him twice, but we weren't having fun.

Earlier, my first foray into Nintendo's latest console took
me into familiar territory with the remastered classic
'Mario Kart 8'.

'Mario Kart 8's latest additions include new characters, new
carts and a brand new battle mode. Battle mode's revamp is
fantastic and I had a blast bombing my foes.

The initial thing that struck me about the JoyCon controllers
was just how tiny they were, however, using the JoyCon grip -
which turns the separate units into one complete gamepad -
makes for a comfortable experience.

We were shown how to switch between TV and portable mode, a
seamless process with any graphic downgrade barely
noticeable.

Using the device as a handheld, unfortunately, does not feel
comfortable. The flat surface makes it hard to rest your
fingers.

It wouldn't have been a Switch preview without 'Zelda: Breath
of the Wild', and it was today's stand-out game. I used the
Pro controller, which is a marked improvement over the Wii U
iteration.

'Breath of the Wild' is shaping up to be fantastic.

The new fighting mechanics feel fluid and, even during the
short demo, there were plenty of interesting ways to tackle
foes. I also enjoyed cutting down trees.

'1-2-Switch' was different. The most impressive demonstration
was the "HD rumble" in the JoyCons. One game had us guessing
how many balls were rolling around in the controller, and it
seriously felt like little marbles were rolling around as you
tilted.

Finally, I got to check out 'Arms' which is similar to 'Wii
Boxing' as the player uses the JoyCons to punch, guard and
move. The swings felt accurate and there was a surprising
level of strategy required.

With so many ways to play the Switch, I was left feeling a
little overwhelmed.

In the end, sitting with the Pro controller playing on the
TV felt the best - the way I normally play games.


** End of article **

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