[Editorial] What a (Nintendo Switch 2) Experience!

The Nintendo Switch 2 is the NX Best Thing!

What can I say about the Nintendo Switch 2 that I have not previously stated? Well, for starters, I’ve held one in my hands, and it felt good. I was miraculously invited last-minute to attend the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience at ExCeL London. A huge thank you to our good friends at Rapid Reviews UK for hooking us up. With such an invitation, I had to drop everything and do all that I could to attend that appointment. Miketendo64 was still finding our feet when Nintendo did the hands-on event for the first Nintendo Switch. Come 2025, however, I finally get to say, “I was there!” So, without further ado, let’s get on with the show.

I was primarily invited to be a camera operator for the event. It was my task to take plenty of photos and videos of the console and the event. That said though, I did get to play a few titles myself. As for the rest, well, I got to stand there and watch someone else play. It didn’t bother me though. I was too mesmerized by how beautiful various games looked and ran on the system.

Hands-On with Mario Kart World (Nintendo Switch 2 Experience)

For starters, Mario Kart World. I saw it, I played it, and yes, everything everyone has been saying about the title is true. However, something I’ve not seen said elsewhere is how slow it feels when played in 50cc. For a console with improved specs and a much better frame rate, 50cc felt very slow at times. That said, it does intrigue me to think about how 200cc might feel and play like.

Of the few tracks I played, instead of undertaking repetitive laps, each lap is different from the last. The map is also broken into sections. I quite liked this aspect as it helps add to the uniqueness of Mario Kart World. It certainly helps the game live up to its “World” title. What’s more, having defending items automatically positioned behind you, multiple jumps, and new outfits are all additional touches that hugely benefit the game and help raise the bar.

How Gaming Events Should be Done

But before I say anything else about the games, I must talk about the show floor. Having attended MCM Comic Con × London last year, I was disappointed with how the EGX part was handled. I was very impressed with how Nintendo demonstrated the Nintendo Switch 2 experience. It was the perfect way of how a gaming event at ExCeL London should be done.

You enter one long hall to get your wristband and queue up, waiting your turn to go in. Once in, you are greeted by the red carpet treatment. Thunderous applause and cheers welcome you into a small secluded area, occupied by a sea of shiny new red Nintendo Switch 2 shirts, worn by event staff. Behind the staff were two rows of red kiosks, one to the left, one to the right. They were all set to one game and one game only, Mario Kart World.

First, you get to play it with the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con in a Nintendo Switch 2 Grip and then, the second race is played on the Nintendo Switch 2 itself, in handheld mode. Despite its much larger size, the console itself felt great to hold in one’s hands and the matte finish on the casing itself, is just a chef’s kiss. It’s responsive, it’s durable and despite some lingering familiarity, when you hold it, that’s when you know, “This is something new!”

Once your turn with Mario Kart World is over, then it is time to peak beyond the black curtain. You then venture into a grand hall that Nintendo had carved into sections dedicated to various launch titles. Everything had its own dedicated area. With a multitude of kiosks dedicated to Donkey Kong Bananza, it felt like Nintendo’s way of saying, “You played the best, now play the rest.”

Let’s Talk Games (Nintendo Switch 2 Experience) does

So, aside from Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, what else was there? The short answer is most of what was shown during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. From The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV, Welcome to Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Drag x Drive, Kirby, and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World, Nintendo Gamecube Nintendo Classics, Bravely Default HD Remaster, Cyberpunk 2077, Street Fighter 6, Split Fiction, Hogwarts Legacy, Yazuka 0 Director’s Cut, and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII.

Now, while I personally did not go hands-on with too many games as I was focusing on filming, I can comment on a few things. Firstly, as great as Donkey Kong Bananza looks, and it is a game I need from day one, there are some performance issues in terms of frame rate, but with so much going on and a highly expressive Donkey Kong, I can understand why some issues could exist, but for an all-singing and all dancing successor, this is an issue I hope is addressed in the next two months.

Mouse Controls & Welcome Tour

Let’s talk mouse controls. While the mechanic itself is ingenious and executed nicely, it does take some getting used to. Its implementation works well but, despite bigger buttons, turning a Joy-Con 2 Controller on its side and trying to press specific buttons at differing angles, feels uncomfortable at times. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get an actual mouse controller at some point down the line. At the very least, a Hori-licensed mouse accessory that the Joy-Con 2 Controller is inserted into. On that side note, the transition from mouse mode to regular gameplay at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is effortless and I’m here for it.

Something that has been getting some negative feedback is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Even though it won’t appeal to everyone and many of us feel like it should be packed in with the Nintendo Switch 2 upon launch, the insight it offers is rather interesting nonetheless. If you enjoyed Labo or Game Maker Garage, this is a title that will appeal to you. Having seen it first hand, I will go against the grain here and say I don’t think it should be a pack-in title. It is its own thing and deserves to be, as it is an informative insight into Nintendo’s newest console and the price of admission is a deserved one-time payment.

An Encouraging Feeling

But, moving back to Mario Kart World for a moment. The first encounter with the game is an absolute delight. For those lined in the larger hall, they came for the game, but stayed for the event staff. Whether consumers won or lost, the event staff on hand were quick to answer every question. They also provided insightful techniques and the cheering, there was nothing quite like it.

Every time there was a loud noise, it didn’t matter where you were in the room because every time you looked up to see where it was coming from, it was the Nintendo support staff, cheering on those who were playing. Now, I don’t know about you, but while the grumbling continues about the price of Mario Kart World, I wouldn’t mind paying extra to have that kind of support when I eventually play the game at home. It’s wholesome entertainment and thanks to the new GameChat feature, we can now get that kind of treatment at home.

After spending four hours at the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience, I can’t wait for the next Nintendo revelation. I am ready to go all in. Things cost more, but that’s inflation for you. Unfortunately for those in the UK, we’ve gotten accustomed to paying extortionate prices for momentary bliss. Still, when the world is full of darkness and tragedy, of course, I am going to fork out however much is necessary to bring a little light back into my life. I will continue to chase after the enjoyment and nostalgia of a fleeting childhood that is over before it started.