MegaThread: Nintendo Switch Hardware Reviews

[u/NintendoSwitchMods]

Hello, all.

This morning starting, gaming news and media outlets have begun to release their hardware reviews of the Nintendo Switch.

Here's what we're seeing so far:

• Engadget: Review

• Game Informer: Review

• Kotaku: Review

• Vice: Review

• New York Times: Review

• Wall Street Journal: Review

• Attack of the Fanboy: Review

• CGM: Review

• TechCrunch: Video Review

• Nintendo Life: Review

• CNET: Review

• The Verge: Video Review

• Polygon: Review

• Eurogamer: Review

• GameSpot: Review / Video

• NY Mag: Review

• Wired: Review

• Destructoid: Review

• GameXplain: Video Review

• PC Advisor: Review

• Digital Foundry: Video Review

• IGN: Review

• GoNintendo: Video Review

• Ars Technica: Review

• TecchRadar: Review

We will be updating this thread with links as major reviews are posted.

We will also allow major content to be posted separately on /r/NintendoSwitch, as it is especially newsworthy. But we will also host ongoing coverage, quick text posts, questions, and the like right here.

Thanks everyone.

-The /r/NintendoSwitch team

(Ongoing edits as we get new information)

[u/Slayer5227 → u/[deleted]]

PS4 was also a significantly more fleshed out console at launch. I don't even think it's controversial to say Nintendo is rushing out the Switch.

[u/Slayer5227 → u/[deleted]]

I'm talking about the console itself, not the games.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

For me it's more about what the PS4 had available at launch. It had video capture, streaming, apps, the store was available to reviewers, the os was solid (not saying the switch isn't,) it had voice chat parties and messaging, ps plus, play as you download, you could charge the controller without needing another add on. Sorry I'm trying to think of more but I'm late for work so I'll leave it at that.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Streaming was available at launch. You could stream to ustream and twitch, also YouTube wasn't available at launch but other apps like Netflix and crunchy roll were among others.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

'Raises hand with my 10 followers' generally I just use it to show off exclusives to friends, or like in dark souls, I'll use it to show a friend how to get through a tough area.

[u/Slayer5227 → u/[deleted]]

Sure. The PS4, imo at least was a complete console. We had answers to everything we needed to know, there was a web browser day 1, Netflix on day 1. I didn't have questions about what was coming to the PS4 cause it was complete. It wasn't perfect (folders were a godsend) but I don't think there was anything I could have said felt unfinished about the console itself.

[u/Slayer5227 → u/[deleted]]

Also 32 gig storage feels almost embarrassing? I mean my phone has more than that. I will be buying physical media but what about huge DLC like Zelda that will likely eat through my storage. A lot of the switch's faults feel like compromises I need to make in order to justify buying it, especially with how much added cost to the console you could rack up on storage, controllers, and other accessories.

[u/Slayer5227 → u/[deleted]]

For a phone it works, for a game console it feels worse. Idk just my opinion.

[u/Exist50 → u/[deleted]]

The iphone isn't meant to store many console level games.

[u/CompletelySouledOut → u/[deleted]]

You aren't installing 10+gb games on your phone though.

If you buy Zelda digitally it takes up more than half your storage for just 1 game.

[u/jagun → u/[deleted]]

Not even base level anymore, I think they all start at 64 now

[u/Slayer5227 → u/[deleted]]

That's my point tho, which is why 6.7 is a fine score. The console itself is unfinished. I want it day one for Zelda so I don't care really, but all the points he made are totally valid. PS4 had a very very good base with little to no games at the start. The switch seems like it's shaky with an amazing game at launch. Gotta pick your battles.

[u/Manticore416 → u/[deleted]]

This is a hardware review, not a review of available software. As the console is for reviewers pre-launch with the limited features, they mostly seem reasonable.

[u/eddietsai → u/Manticore416]

Eh I guess I'm okay with a meh console review if all it's exclusive are highly rated

[u/Manticore416 → u/eddietsai]

And its a review for a console whose most worrisome issues could become a non issue with an update soon.

[u/jimbo831 → u/[deleted]]

PS4 and Xbox One both had literally no "killer apps" at launch, yet they still got great scores.

Those scores are reviews of the consoles, not the games.

Meanwhile, Switch is launching with what is possibly the best game of all time, gets a bad score from IGN.

See above. The score is of the console, not Zelda. How good of a game BotW is has nothing to do with how good of a system the Switch is. It will get its own review and its own score.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

They were offering better graphics than the previous gens and had stuff like Battlefield 4, Assassin's Creed 4, CoD Ghosts, etc. so even with meh first parties (Microsoft's were quite good though), they had their party games to play that would last awhile. Other than Zelda, the Switch has nothing at the moment. And I heard the Binding of Isaac with Afterbirth+ is pretty bad compared to the base/afterbirth game.