Nintendo Switch 2 Hands-on – the role-playing debut line up is light, but the potential is there

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Following nearly a decade since the initial release of the Nintendo Switch, and following several months of excitement, Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 globally just this week. Fortunately, RPG Site was granted an opportunity to test the system during a press event held in New York City’s Midtown.

On this specialized site, we primarily feature role-playing games. This preference is quite evident; just glance at the logo at the top of your screen. While Nintendo boasts a variety of cherished franchises, due to our specific scope, we are particularly attentive for updates regarding particular series like Fire Emblem and Xenoblade, as well as any Mario RPG titles.

It’s been over two years since Fire Emblem Engage, and while we might hope for more surprises from Monolith Soft, neither Fire Emblem nor Xenoblade Chronicles has shown up on Nintendo’s latest console yet (have you read our review of the Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition?). For now, only a quick peek at the classic Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is available through the new GameCube library for Nintendo Switch Online.

Prior to the Nintendo Direct live stream, tunes from the game “Golden Sun” echoed within the premiere event media theater room. This was less of a subtle hint and more of an unfortunate foreshadowing, given that it happened 15 years after the cliffhanger in “Golden Sun: Dark Dawn”. Perhaps someday we’ll find resolution to this long-standing mystery.

In the meantime, as we eagerly anticipate fresh Nintendo-made RPGs for the Switch 2, it’s exciting to learn that several third-party games are transitioning onto the platform. These include Final Fantasy VII Remake, Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Wild Hearts. Additionally, some forthcoming titles are planned to release a Nintendo Switch 2 version as well, like Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma.

At the media event, only the Switch 2 edition of Cyberpunk 2077 was playable among all the games presented. Although some of my colleagues found the Ultimate Edition of Cyberpunk 2077 impressive, particularly in docked mode, I had mixed feelings about it. While navigating through a brief segment of Phantom Liberty’s opening scenes, I was informed that I was playing in performance mode with frames around 45fps and dynamic resolution scaling. During my brief demo, I couldn’t help but observe noticeable pixelation in character hair and frequent drops in frame rate during intense combat sequences. It’s possible that this is comparable to other console versions of the game, but I’m not entirely sure.

In addition to trying out Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut myself, it’s coming to our system with not just a port, but also new English and Chinese voiceovers, a fresh multiplayer mode, and additional cutscene footage totaling 26 minutes. Given that it was initially designed for the PS3, it runs smoothly on the 2025 system – something I wouldn’t have anticipated. What’s more, Sega has added extra content and language options, which is unexpected but welcome. The original opening theme “Bubble” returns in this version, as it was missing from the initial western release of the game.

Among the demo experiences I’ve had, none has left me more awestruck than those for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While higher resolutions are certainly enticing, witnessing these games run at a swift frame rate was an absolute joy. Everything from menu navigation to load times to even simple text boxes felt *dramatically more responsive* compared to their Switch counterparts. At the time of this writing, the USD prices for the upgrade costs on these “Switch 2 Edition” games are yet to be disclosed, but based on official yen prices, it’s estimated to range between $10 to $20 dollars.

Looking at the Nintendo Switch playing Zelda titles so smoothly on a potential Switch 2 makes me imagine which other Switch games might experience significant performance improvements with this new system. Games like the Xenoblade series, especially Xenoblade Chronicles 2, would be fantastic additions, and I hope to see Nintendo releasing more Switch 2 versions regularly during its early years. It would also be great if they considered upgrading certain Pokemon games for the Switch 2, though I’m not sure how probable that is. Fire Emblem: Three Houses might also gain significantly from an enhanced version on a potential Switch 2.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to play Square Enix’s versions of Final Fantasy VII Remake or Bravely Default HD Remaster during the Switch 2 premiere event. Similarly, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment was also not available for hands-on experience at the event.

As it turns out, we’re enthusiasts of role-playing games, excuse any geekiness! However, we do enjoy a variety of games as well. One of my favorites is the Metroid Prime series, and getting the opportunity to preview Metroid Prime 4 on Switch 2 was definitely a thrill for me last night. The visuals and gameplay feel spot-on, and playing a Nintendo game at 120fps feels almost illicit. The transition between Joy-Con gyro controls and the new mouse control setup is surprisingly smooth. The demo level appears to be from the initial section of the game, with its more linear structure similar to Metroid Prime 3, which is hard to believe given it’s been an astonishing eighteen years since that release! I’m eager to see how the interconnected world exploration holds up in this new installment.

Nintendo Switch 2 is set to release on June 5, priced at $449.99.

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2025-04-05 10:56