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Switch revisited

The Nintendo Switch is a versatile option for gamers, doubling up as both a handheld system and home console. The more recent OLED model offers better screen quality, while the Steam Deck packs a more powerful performance, but the original Switch is still a great value option for those who just want to play all the Nintendo exclusives.

Key Specifications

• Review Price: £279.99
• Detachable Joy-con controllers
• 2-in-1 portable home console
• TV dock

The Nintendo Switch is on offer in the Black Friday sale, bundled with the new Pokémon Scarlet game and priced at just £286.99. This deal will save you £62.99, but will only be available for a few days.

The original Nintendo Switch has been around for over 5 years now, but has still proved to be a popular gaming device thanks to its fantastic versatility. It can be used as both a handheld and home console, allowing you to seamlessly switch between either mode.

Nintendo has expanded the Switch’s game library over the years too, with 2022 entries including Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, Splatoon 3, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Nintendo Switch Sports.

But there’s no doubt that the Nintendo Switch is starting to show its age, being forced to rely on the cloud (which means a consistent internet connection) to play third-party games such as Control, Hitman 3 and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Such hardware limitations are even more concerning since the arrival of the significantly more powerful Steam Deck portable.

And with the arrival of two Nintendo Switch variations – the Switch Lite and Switch OLED – is the original 5-year old portable still worth a buy? Here are my thoughts.

Design

• The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console capable of both portable and docked play
• First launched in 2017 and has since received updates and revisions 
• Is home to a vast library of fantastic exclusives and third-party games 

The Nintendo Switch itself is a slightly chunky tablet, with thick bezels and a 6.2-inch capacitive touchscreen sporting a 1280 x 720 resolution. It’s more akin to a low-cost phablet rather than a cutting-edge gaming device, yet the construction feels rock-solid and the metal finish very classy.

Only two things really stand out: a hefty vent at the top for cooling purposes, and the kickstand at the rear that enables you to prop up the console for tabletop gaming sessions when you’re out and about. Or, more commonly in my household, banished to the kitchen while someone else is watching TV.

And the latter is one of the few areas where Nintendo has put a foot wrong. The kickstand feels surprisingly weak and flimsy, and allows for only one viewing angle. The console has suddenly fallen back a couple of times when, say, an over-excitable Mario Kart 8 Deluxe victor jogs the table. Nintendo has fixed the issue with Switch OLED if this is a big concern for you.

Also, note that you can forget about charging the device while in tabletop mode, since the USB-C charging port is positioned on the bottom of the Switch.

The screen might not have a 1080p resolution, but this is no big deal. 720p is a sensible target for mobile gaming hardware, and at this size you still get an incredibly immersive experience; it puts even the PS Vita to shame. Where the Vita struggled to convince that you were playing proper home-console games, the Switch does it every time – because you are. I’ve spent about 60% of my time playing titles such as Super Mario Odyssey or Dragon Quest Builders handheld, and I’ve never felt that I’m getting an inferior experience.

The Switch’s magic is really in the supplied accessories, particularly the dual Joy-Con controllers. These slide into the rails on the side of the Switch with a satisfying click, sliding out again when you press a button on the rear of each controller.

Just be careful that the digital click you hear when you attach the controllers is followed by a mechanical click to denote that all is properly in place. Otherwise, picking up the Switch by the controllers could see the tablet crashing to the floor.

The dock, meanwhile, is a fairly elegant slab of matte black plastic into which the console easily slips, connecting and charging the tablet through the USB-C port. It has sockets for the USB-C power adapter and HDMI cable, plus three USB 3 ports – two on the side, and one behind the flap at the back.

These USB ports can be used to charge the Switch Pro Controller or a Joy-Con charging accessory, or also for an Ethernet adapter. However, they can’t connect a USB hard drive or USB memory stick, which seems a shame given the limited 32GB onboard storage. If you want extra – and you will – then a microSD memory card is the only way to go.

There have been a number of complaints levelled at the dock, with some users saying that sliding the Switch into it resulted in scratched screens. We’ve found that you can avoid this issue as long as you’re careful, although it could be a cause for concern for those with small, reckless children.

Battery testing

• Battery life now differs depending on the model being used 
• The Lite and new iterations of the standard console now last much longer
• Launch model battery life tests can be found below

Nintendo claims a battery life of three to six hours depending on the game, the brightness level and whether Wi-Fi is turned on or turned off. Brett tested this for his review last year and found that an hour of play would drain 36% of the battery, while an hour of charging would recharge it by 47% (with brightness set to 100% and Wi-Fi enabled).

My results this year – playing Super Mario Odyssey – aren’t much different, with any variation down to the change of game and the fact that my battery has been getting hammered for a year longer.

100% Brightness and Wi-Fi enabled
-38% after one hour of play
+45% after one hour of charge

50% Brightness and Airplane mode
-32% after one hour of play
+45% after one hour of charge

Realistically – and based on a year’s experience – you’re looking at a little under three hours of battery life for more demanding games and 20 minutes more with the brightness set to a comfortable 70%. That said, I’ve found that some less graphically intensive indie games will give you another half hour or so, so a lot depends on what you’re playing.

If you’re going on a flight, a day trip or a long-distance train journey then that three-hour battery life won’t be enough. Your best bet here is a USB-C battery pack with a high capacity and fast-charging capabilities, such as the Anker PowerCore+ 20100, the smaller PowerCore 10000 or RAVPower 26,800. Do yourself a favour and sling one in your bag before you go.

Joy-Con

• The Joy-con are detachable controllers with excellent battery life
• Can be used as a pair or individually as part of local multiplayer
• A small selection of games make use of motion controls and HD Rumble 

Underestimate those Joy-Cons at your peril. Each packs in a lot of tech, with not just an analogue stick, four face buttons and a trigger and bumper per controller, but an accelerometer and a gyroscope, Nintendo’s HD Rumble haptic feedback engine and – with the right Joy-Con – an NFC reader for Amiibo and an infrared depth-tracking sensor.

I’m still not 100% comfortable playing many games with a Joy-Con in each hand – the combination of the lightweight controllers and the slightly awkward position of the right analogue stick occasionally wrongfoots me. Yet it’s undoubtedly the best way to play Mario Odyssey and to feel the subtle but immersive HD Rumble effects.

If you want a more conventional controller then you can always slot them into the bundled Joy-Con grip. This might still be a little too small for some hands – personally, I find that the right stick and the triggers/bumpers feel ever so slightly crammed in – but it’s something I’ve become used to over the past twelve months. While the Switch Pro controller is a stronger alternative, it’s an option rather than a must-have.

The other great advantage of the Joy-Con controllers is that you have two controllers as your disposal when playing multiplayer games. Slide them out of the Switch, attach the wrist-strap modules and you’re ready for multiplayer Puyo-Puyo Tetris or Mario Kart – anywhere, anytime.

The greatest issue with the Joy-Con controllers is a phenomenon called “Joy-Con Drift”. This occurs when the analogue stick starts to drift in one direction, causing your on-screen characters to walk off in the wrong direction. This only really happens with long-term use, but has been a widespread problem that may force you to purchase new controllers in the future.

UI and Social

• The Switch user interface has remained largely unchanged since its launch
• Screenshots and videos can be shared directly to social networks from the console
• Friends and other information can be imported from other devices with ease 

The capacitive touchscreen and touch-friendly UI makes the Switch a joy to use, and whether you’re starting a game, changing settings or browsing the eShop, it’s easy to get around. I tend to pull the Switch out of its dock if I’m changing settings or purchasing something, just because it’s faster to navigate the UI or enter text by swiping left and right, tapping options or using the onscreen keyboard. You can switch between users quickly – the Switch supports up to eight – with the homescreen adapting to display the most recent games you’ve played.

When you launch a game or the eShop, the Switch even asks which user you want to launch it with. If, say, you’ve come unstuck loading a PS4 game, only to find that you’re on the wrong profile, you’ll understand how useful this can be.

One surprise about Nintendo’s software is how barebones and game-focused it is. There’s no real apps ecosystem as there is on the Xbox One and PS4, and you can’t even watch video-streaming services as you can on the Wii U. For me, this isn’t an issue. If I want to watch Netflix then I can reach for the TV remote, my tablet or my smartphone, not to mention the aforementioned consoles. If you’re travelling with just a Switch and phone for company, however, then you might take a different view.

Nintendo also has a Switch Online membership (£17.99 per year) which is required to play multiplayer games online. Upgrade to the Expansion plan (£34.99 per year) and you’ll also get access to a treasure trove of NES, SNES, N64 and SEGA Mega Drive games. There’s also a family plan available if more than one person in your household wants access.

These plans offer decent value, but it’s a shame that you only get access to old games. Xbox Game Pass, and PS Plus Premium to a lesser extent, offer access to a huge library of modern games although are admittedly more expensive than Nintendo’s offering.

Final Thoughts

The Nintendo Switch is starting to show its age, struggling to run modern third-party games, while also seeing performance issues for new first-party releases such as Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. This worry is only compounded by the speedy performance of the Steam Deck.

But this is still an excellent device, proving to be the most affordable hybrid console that lets you play excellent Nintendo games both at home and on the go.

Trusted Score

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God of War Ragnarök is a spectacular sequel, retaining the same ultra-satisfying combat as its predecessor, but with a more grandiose story to boot. 

Introduction

God of War Ragnarök is one of the most hotly anticipated games of the year, with the excellent 2018 reboot setting expectations sky high. 

I’m pleased to say that the sequel doesn’t disappoint, continuing the adventure of Kratos and Atreus with an even more ambitious story and deeper delve into Norse mythology, while retaining the same ultra-satisfying combat. 

You could argue that Santa Monica Studio has played it safe by making very few alterations to the core gameplay, but the ability to play as Atreus and a greater variety of enemies helps to keep players on their toes. 

Keep reading on for my thoughts on God of War Ragnarök and whether it merits a place in our Best PS5 Games and Best PS4 Games roundups. 

Story

• Thor and Odin are fantastic villains
• Playing as Atreus provides fresh perspective
• Story is superb, with greater ambition and scale

Despite being set three years after the events of God of War (2018), the opening of God of War Ragnarök sees Kratos and Atreus still dealing with the consequences of their previous adventure.

Baldur’s death has not only plunged Midgard into a brutally long Winter, with the landscape coated in a big blanket of snow, but also turned Freya from an ally into an enemy with a thirst for vengeance. To make matters worse, legendary Nordic figures Thor and Odin come calling as concerns begin to rise regarding a world-ending event called Ragnarök. 

Thor and Odin are arguably the best new characters for the sequel, with plenty of screen time showing them to be drastically different to their Marvel Cinematic Universe counterparts.

Thor is a hulking brute figure, who’s of few words but quick to temper. Odin is the exact opposite, as he’s surprisingly charismatic, and more obsessed with world knowledge than glamour and riches. He’s a fascinating villain, with far more nuance than the hot-headed Baldur. 

The large cast of characters from the previous God of War entry rejoin the cast too, with the Dwarven siblings, Brok and Sindri, involved in far more complex and emotional storylines this time round rather than merely providing comic relief. 

Even Atreus has been given a more prominent role, going shoulder to shoulder with Kratos as a joint main lead. Now a strong and mature teenager, he’s craving more independence from his overprotective father while also wanting to learn more about his newfound godly powers. Making him a playable character also allows us to view the relationship with his father from a fresh perspective, so we can sympathise with both Atreus and Kratos as they fall into yet another dispute. This emotional arc helps to keep the story grounded, despite the high fantasy backdrop.

There are some really memorable moments during your adventure, such as creeping around a giant’s kitchen and journeying into Asgard for the first time. These events are made all the better thanks to the one-shot camera that never breaks, doing an excellent job at improving immersion and making set pieces significantly more cinematic. 

Does Ragnarök reach the same heights as God of War (2018) in terms of jaw-dropping spectacles? That’s a tough task, with the original’s meeting of the world serpent and the fight with a lightning-powered dragon probably leaving a greater impression than most set pieces in the sequel.

But Ragnarök makes up for this with a more ambitious story, with the looming threat of war sparking far more grandiose conflicts and gut-punching climaxes. This is one of the very best stories I’ve ever experienced in a video game, never mind in 2022. 

Combat 

• Combat as Kratos is still brutally fun
• There are a few frustrating difficulty spikes
• Atreus feels very different to control, in a good way

In terms of combat when controlling Kratos, not much has changed since the preceding entry. There are a few extra special abilities to unlock, and new enemies that require fresh tactics to overcome, but it’s very much a “don’t fix what isn’t broken” approach here.

Swinging and throwing your ice-powered Leviathan axe in God of War Ragnarök still feels super satisfying, while being able to use the Blades of Chaos right from the start also allows you to mix it up so you’re not repeating the same attack patterns too often. Things really step up a notch once you unlock another weapon (which I won’t spoil) roughly halfway through the game, which also feels great to use and differs greatly from your existing gear. 

Being able to unlock new abilities also encourages you to experiment with different play styles throughout the course of the game – as do the various runic abilities which can help you freeze foes in place or unleash waves upon waves of fiery blasts. 

The combat does have a few rough patches though, as I encountered various difficulty spikes that sometimes felt unfair rather than challenging. There was often the odd scenario where I would defeat an enthralling mini boss fairly comfortably, only to struggle to beat a pack of minor grunts a few minutes later since they were equipped with overpowered long-reaching attacks and disorientating teleport mechanics. 

I also find it perplexing that Santa Monica Studio has mapped the health pickup action to the same button as grappling, making it difficult to command Kratos to pick up a health potion right next to a ledge. With enemy attacks being so punishing on the harder difficulty levels, one little mistake can easily cost you a win.

Combat isn’t so familiar whenever you assume control of Atreus. He’s only playable for select missions, so you can’t swap between him and Kratos whenever you please. But I think that was the right call, as each mission is tailor designed for each character, while also driving forward their individual story threads. 

Atreus feels very different to control than Kratos. His melee attacks aren’t as powerful as his father’s, but he’s more agile and better skilled at striking foes from range. Hit an enemy enough times with your bow, and you’ll be able to daze them and pull off a slick finishing move. Atreus even has his own skill tree, allowing you to unlock additional moves as you amass experience points. 

I don’t think Atreus is quite as fun to control as Kratos, with his father packing a more ferocious punch and the Leviathan axe proving to be one of the most satisfying weapons to use in video game history. But I did still enjoy his segments and appreciated the added variety. 

Explorations and puzzles

• Able to visit all nine Norse realms
• Great variety of locations, but there is some backtracking
• Puzzles offer welcome respite from combat

You’ll be able to visit all nine realms in God of War Ragnarok, including both Asgard and Jötunheim. There’s a great range of locations, from Dwarven mines to a frozen hellscape, although you will retread the same paths multiple times in the latter half of the game which is a shame. 

While you can stick to the path of the main story if you prefer, you’re also consistently given the option to take on side quests and explore new areas. You’ll be given excellent rewards for doing so too, including new runic powers and crafting items to unlock more powerful armour and weapon upgrades. 

There’s an absurdly large amount of content here for a linear game, with the main campaign taking me 30 hours to finish, and reports suggesting it could take a total 70 hours to fully complete if you want to experience every single side quest.

A number of puzzles have been scattered through the campaign, acting as welcome respites between combat encounters. There’s a great variety of puzzles here, smartly making your weapons double up as tools, with your axe able to freeze gears in place and your chained blades capable of grappling and moving large objects. 

Most of the mandatory puzzles in the main campaign are simple enough to solve, but brain teasers for optional chests and pathways see a notable difficulty hike for those seeking a challenge. 

Graphics and performance 

• Looks incredible on the PS5
• Various graphics and performance modes available
• Support for PS4 hinders the technical potential

God of War Ragnarök is one of the best looking games I’ve ever played. Images have an incredible amount of detail, with the individual hairs in Kratos’ beard and the grooves in a wooden bow clearly visible. 

Santa Monica Studio provides an excellent range of graphics options too, allowing you to play in 4K at 30fps or 60fps, or even hike up the performance to a more fluid 120Hz if your TV or monitor supports such speeds. 

But despite its impressive visuals, it’s still clear that support for the PS4 has hindered the technical potential of this game. There may not be any traditional loading screens (unless you die) but there are blatant tricks to hide them, with trips to empty pocket universes required whenever hopping between realms. I can’t help but wonder what Santa Monica Studio would have been able to accomplish with the full power of the PS5’s SSD – Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a great example of this with its universe-hopping mechanic. 

But I do appreciate that Santa Monica Studio wants God of War Ragnarök to be accessible to as many PlayStation owners as possible, and it’s still very impressive what the studio has been able to accomplish with these limitations. 

And despite using a pre-launch build, Ragnarök provided me with a delightfully polished experience. I can’t remember a single time when my game crashed or I noticed an unsightly artefact. There were a couple of occasions where enemies would stop attacking me, but would soon return to their aggressive ways after I had smacked them a few times with my axe. 

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Final Thoughts

God of War Ragnarök is a great example of how to make a world class sequel. It retains all the core components that made its predecessor so beloved, such as the brutal combat and immersive one-shot camera, while also introducing a couple of welcome new elements such as making Atreus a playable character. 

You could make the argument that Santa Monica Studio has played it safe with combat when playing as Kratos, as it’s virtually the exact same experience as before. But swinging your axe and spinning your chained blades is so incredibly satisfying that I really don’t mind – even with a few annoying difficulty spikes along the way. 

But Ragnarök surpasses its predecessor when it comes to storytelling, with an impending war upping the stakes and scale, and new characters such as Thor and Odin becoming some of my all-time favourite video game villains. 

God of War Ragnarök is one of the very best games available on both the PS4 and PS5, and an essential buy if you enjoyed your time with Kratos and Atreus during the 2018 entry. 

Trusted Score

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