Nintendo Switch: Is it worth it after a year?

The Nintendo Switch was released around a year ago, on March 3, 2017, and after all this time, it has established itself as one of the best consoles to date. After the failure that was the Wii U, Nintendo needed to make the Switch work, and that they did. For those who don't know what a Switch is - it's a combination of a home console and a handheld console. It has a 6.2-inch, 720p screen which offers more detail than one would expect from a 720p screen, comes with two detachable joy-cons which serve as the controller and a dock. The dock lets you connect the Switch to a TV or a monitor for a better home experience. The combination of the dock and the screen on the Switch, as well as the small, easy-to –carry-around controllers, means you can game on it practically anywhere.

A lot of people were skeptical about the Switch, considering Nintendo's last big console, the Wii U, was a failure. I was one of those people, which is why I refrained from buying a Switch, until I was sure it was worth the hefty price. However, I have to say the Switch is an amazing, unique console and its sale figures reflect it. Nintendo has sold 17.79 million units (as of April, 2018), smashing the 14 million unit goal that they had set for March, 2018. Although graphically less powerful than other popular home consoles, games look stunning on its 720p screen, and it can output 1080p to an external TV or monitor. Although Nintendo's online services have yet to be fleshed out, and fully released, you have the option to play certain games online with friends for free. Once Nintendo's online services are released, it won't be free anymore, but for most people, online multiplayer isn't the reason they bought or are looking to buy a Switch. This console is best for fun, simple local multiplayer games, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, or family-friendly Nintendo exclusives like Super Mario Odyssey or Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and it truly excels here. Mario Kart is a classic game, perfect for any hangout with friends, and there are plenty of other local multiplayer games such as Pokkén Tournament DX, and ARMS which makes good use of the joy-con's motion controls. If you don't have anyone to play with (like most of us), then you'll be more than content playing Super Mario Odyssey, or Legend of Zelda: BOTW. The main drawback of the Switch is its high price, which can reach above $500 when you factor in the cost of accessories.

A lot of people were skeptical about the Switch, considering Nintendo's last big console, the Wii U, was a failure

It costs around Tk30,000 to buy a Switch in Bangladesh, and with it comes two joy-cons and a dock, as well as the necessary cables. However, in the long run you'll end up paying a lot more. Many people buy extra joy-cons to play with four people, a Pro Controller, a micro SD card, and much more. These costs can add up, and don't even include the price of Switch games, which are surprisingly more expensive than PS4, Xbox or PC games. Understandably, the price isn't worth it for many people. You can get a PS4, or Xbox for cheaper, and these two consoles provide better graphics, more familiar controller, and have other features, such as Netflix and Spotify. So, if you are planning on buying a console strictly to use at home, I would recommend you go with one of those two. The Switch isn't looking to replace or directly compete with these two consoles though, instead they are looking to fill the gap in the market. The fact that you can carry around the Switch easily, game on the go, and play on a large screen is honestly amazing. It seems like a simple idea now that we have it, but this is the innovation that made Nintendo the great company it is today.

In conclusion, if you are someone who moves around a lot, and spends a lot of free time outside, the Switch is a great pickup. I rarely spend more than half a week in the same place, which is why it was absolutely worth it for me, personally. It's also great for all of the unique games it offers, from Super Mario Odyssey to ARMS, to the next core Pokémon game in line. All in all, the Switch has a lot of things going for it, and only you can make the choice whether or not you want to fork up so much money for a gaming console, but I'm sure you won't be disappointed with what it has to offer.