Games
This is where the Nintendo Switch both soars and stutters. The event was a mix of games showing off gimmicks as well as some Nintendo properties fans were hoping to see. Splatoon 2 was certainly a moment of brightness, with the messy mayhem taking center stage along with new abilities and weapons. Super Mario Odyssey was odd, yet intriguing. Seeing our favorite mustachioed plumber in the same space as normally proportioned humans is a bit strange to say the least, but it was clear that impressive platforming and new abilities will shine in the upcoming exclusive. Of course, The Legend of Zelda was there to close out the show, with plenty of new action and a set release date right alongside the launch of the console.
Third-party offerings were also interesting, though a bit more mixed. Standouts were easily Fire Emblem Warriors (which is a first and third party collaboration) and a Shin Megami Tensei title. Outside of that it was sort of hit and miss. Suda51 got up to share that a new No More Heroes game is in the works, but it was an awkward moment that didn’t convey much. There were also some weird motion controlled games, and quick glimpses at other titles that didn’t stay on screen long enough to leave a lasting impression.
Still, when looking at the lineup, it seems to have more big exclusives than at least one of its competitors, the Xbox One. Microsoft has a rough go ahead of it with the console lineup. But, the Xbox One is at least getting many of the third-party blockbusters slated for the year, none of which have been confirmed for the Switch. There was no mention of Mass Effect or Star Wars from EA, no Assassin’s Creed or Watch Dogs from Ubisoft, and Activision didn’t even bother to show up. Red Dead Redemption 2 wasn’t even whispered.
Right now, it’s looking like the Switch is in a similar predicament as the Wii U. Strong Nintendo titles, but not much else, which is not how you attract the general gaming community. Meanwhile, Sony has an extraordinary lineup for the PS4 and the PSVR headset, and is set to make waves with some big exclusives as well as third-party juggernauts.
