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| I played the £75 Mario Kart World on Switch 2 - was it worth it? | I played the £75 Mario Kart World on Switch 2 - was it worth it? |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| After months of speculation, Nintendo has confirmed the successor to its wildly popular Switch console will be released on 5 June, when it will cost £395.99 to buy in the UK. | After months of speculation, Nintendo has confirmed the successor to its wildly popular Switch console will be released on 5 June, when it will cost £395.99 to buy in the UK. |
| But it's not so much of the price of the Switch 2 but its games that have been raising eyebrows, with the new Mario Kart World that is being released alongside it coming in at a whopping £74.99 for a physical copy. | But it's not so much of the price of the Switch 2 but its games that have been raising eyebrows, with the new Mario Kart World that is being released alongside it coming in at a whopping £74.99 for a physical copy. |
| Fans will have to wait weeks before seeing what the new console and game are like - and whether they are worth that sort of money - but here's what I found when Nintendo gave me a chance to try them both out. | Fans will have to wait weeks before seeing what the new console and game are like - and whether they are worth that sort of money - but here's what I found when Nintendo gave me a chance to try them both out. |
| When I first got my hands on the Switch 2, one thing became very clear to me - like the name suggests, Nintendo wants you to know this is a direct sequel to the Switch. | When I first got my hands on the Switch 2, one thing became very clear to me - like the name suggests, Nintendo wants you to know this is a direct sequel to the Switch. |
| This isn't like the jump from the Wii to the confusingly named Wii U, swapping motion controllers for a tablet that looked dated even back when the console released. | This isn't like the jump from the Wii to the confusingly named Wii U, swapping motion controllers for a tablet that looked dated even back when the console released. |
| Instead, the Switch 2 looks and feels just like its predecessor, with buttons in the places you'd expect - and a much larger (and nicer) screen. | Instead, the Switch 2 looks and feels just like its predecessor, with buttons in the places you'd expect - and a much larger (and nicer) screen. |
| What's it like to play? | What's it like to play? |
| It's fair to say Mario Kart World makes a fantastic first impression, thanks to the console having more power under the hood. | It's fair to say Mario Kart World makes a fantastic first impression, thanks to the console having more power under the hood. |
| It looks spectacular compared to previous Switch titles, though we're still talking about cartoony graphics - make no mistake, the console is more powerful but it's no match for the higher spec PlayStation 5, let alone PS5 Pro. | It looks spectacular compared to previous Switch titles, though we're still talking about cartoony graphics - make no mistake, the console is more powerful but it's no match for the higher spec PlayStation 5, let alone PS5 Pro. |
| And in my three races the standout feature wasn't the swishy new graphics or the controller, it was a trick that is becoming Nintendo's hallmark: making the new feel familiar. | And in my three races the standout feature wasn't the swishy new graphics or the controller, it was a trick that is becoming Nintendo's hallmark: making the new feel familiar. |
| Despite having never picked up a Switch 2, I stormed my way to consecutive first place finishes, much to the chagrin of those around me. | Despite having never picked up a Switch 2, I stormed my way to consecutive first place finishes, much to the chagrin of those around me. |
| The Switch 2's LCD screen, which displays crisp, vivid colours | The Switch 2's LCD screen, which displays crisp, vivid colours |
| But it doesn't come cheap. | But it doesn't come cheap. |
| The digital version of the game costs £66.99, it's another £8 on top of that for a physical copy - or pay an an extra £35 for a version of the Switch 2 with it built-in, something which pushes the console price to £429.99. | |
| According to industry expert Christopher Dring, these wallet-emptying prices are down to the costs involved in manufacturing - and President Donald Trump's tariff blitz. | According to industry expert Christopher Dring, these wallet-emptying prices are down to the costs involved in manufacturing - and President Donald Trump's tariff blitz. |
| “These cartridges are exclusively made in Japan, which is a country that's just been hit with a 24% tariff from the US Government, and the threat of those tariffs may have impacted Nintendo's pricing decisions globally,” he said. | “These cartridges are exclusively made in Japan, which is a country that's just been hit with a 24% tariff from the US Government, and the threat of those tariffs may have impacted Nintendo's pricing decisions globally,” he said. |
| In the US, Mario Kart World will be priced at $79.99, with the console selling for $449.99 (or $499.99 with Mario Kart bundled in). | |
| Mouse control and Donkey Kong destruction | Mouse control and Donkey Kong destruction |
| But there’s more to the Switch 2 than Mario Kart. | But there’s more to the Switch 2 than Mario Kart. |
| Fans will no doubt have been excited to see the hotly anticipated Metroid Prime 4, the first game in the series in 18 years. | Fans will no doubt have been excited to see the hotly anticipated Metroid Prime 4, the first game in the series in 18 years. |
| But while they will be familiar with the typical way of playing - moving and aiming with joysticks and shooting with the "A" button - there’s a significant new feature too. | But while they will be familiar with the typical way of playing - moving and aiming with joysticks and shooting with the "A" button - there’s a significant new feature too. |
| At any point in the game you can rotate the controller, put it on a surface and use it like a mouse. Fans of PC games will immediately feel at home with this, and it's a neat bit of engineering to be able to switch up on-the-fly without having to enter any menus. | At any point in the game you can rotate the controller, put it on a surface and use it like a mouse. Fans of PC games will immediately feel at home with this, and it's a neat bit of engineering to be able to switch up on-the-fly without having to enter any menus. |
| The mouse controls were intuitive - with my thumb oddly feeling quite natural on the thumbstick while moving the mouse around | The mouse controls were intuitive - with my thumb oddly feeling quite natural on the thumbstick while moving the mouse around |
| The optical mouse controls pop up elsewhere too, with PC strategy game Civilization VII a game that massively benefits. | The optical mouse controls pop up elsewhere too, with PC strategy game Civilization VII a game that massively benefits. |
| But in both cases, I do wonder how long you can play with the controller like this before the ergonomics become an issue. I have to admit I found myself wondering why I wasn't just playing on my PC with mouse controls and a comfortable resting position. | But in both cases, I do wonder how long you can play with the controller like this before the ergonomics become an issue. I have to admit I found myself wondering why I wasn't just playing on my PC with mouse controls and a comfortable resting position. |
| Still, the fact that this is built in to the hardware means we may see the Switch 2 as the obvious home of future PC ports to home consoles. | Still, the fact that this is built in to the hardware means we may see the Switch 2 as the obvious home of future PC ports to home consoles. |
| And there is another trick up Nintendo’s sleeve - both controllers can be held like this and used as mice, opening up some interesting possibilities. In particular, futuristic wheelchair basketball game Drag x Drive, where both "mice" are pushed to mimic moving wheels. | And there is another trick up Nintendo’s sleeve - both controllers can be held like this and used as mice, opening up some interesting possibilities. In particular, futuristic wheelchair basketball game Drag x Drive, where both "mice" are pushed to mimic moving wheels. |
| Elsewhere, Donkey Kong Bananza will be the first time the ape mascot has had a 3D platforming game of his own in 25 years, so there was some pressure on Nintendo to deliver a game which justified the wait. | Elsewhere, Donkey Kong Bananza will be the first time the ape mascot has had a 3D platforming game of his own in 25 years, so there was some pressure on Nintendo to deliver a game which justified the wait. |
| Keen-eyed Nintendo fans will notice Donkey Kong has had a makeover, with a much friendlier face and softened eyebrows | Keen-eyed Nintendo fans will notice Donkey Kong has had a makeover, with a much friendlier face and softened eyebrows |
| For lack of a better term it’s a destruct-em-up - you can destroy much of the floor and scenery in each level. | For lack of a better term it’s a destruct-em-up - you can destroy much of the floor and scenery in each level. |
| But there's that dreaded price news again. A digital copy will cost £58.99, while a physical copy retails at £66.99. | But there's that dreaded price news again. A digital copy will cost £58.99, while a physical copy retails at £66.99. |
| It seems Nintendo has a lot to offer Switch fans - but it will be taking a fair bit from them too. | It seems Nintendo has a lot to offer Switch fans - but it will be taking a fair bit from them too. |
| Rivals and originals | Rivals and originals |
| Some other titles I got to see in action were updated versions of Cyberpunk 2077 and Yakuza 0 - both of which big hitters on rival consoles which were deemed too complex to run on the original Switch. | Some other titles I got to see in action were updated versions of Cyberpunk 2077 and Yakuza 0 - both of which big hitters on rival consoles which were deemed too complex to run on the original Switch. |
| Like the other Switch 2 games, they looked good - and of course they will benefit as the new console, like the original, can play games on the go. | Like the other Switch 2 games, they looked good - and of course they will benefit as the new console, like the original, can play games on the go. |
| The original Switch created the genre of the hybrid console - one which works on a TV and as a portable system. | The original Switch created the genre of the hybrid console - one which works on a TV and as a portable system. |
| But since that launch in 2017, things have changed a bit. | But since that launch in 2017, things have changed a bit. |
| Now, it has a rival in the Steam Deck, a hybrid machine with the power to play most PC games. | Now, it has a rival in the Steam Deck, a hybrid machine with the power to play most PC games. |
| Nintendo would say something its rivals don’t have is that long list of exclusive titles. | Nintendo would say something its rivals don’t have is that long list of exclusive titles. |
| But there is a bit of a theme here: Nintendo has consciously gone for continuity. | But there is a bit of a theme here: Nintendo has consciously gone for continuity. |
| The console is the Switch 2, rather than having a completely new name. Many of those exclusives Nintendo is so proud of are new games in established series, while others are remasters of modern classics. | The console is the Switch 2, rather than having a completely new name. Many of those exclusives Nintendo is so proud of are new games in established series, while others are remasters of modern classics. |
| The "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" of 2023's smash hit Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom looks better than ever with higher resolution and frame rates - but will people buy the upgrade so soon after it first came out? | The "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" of 2023's smash hit Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom looks better than ever with higher resolution and frame rates - but will people buy the upgrade so soon after it first came out? |
| I had great experiences with these games in the 20 minutes I had with them. | I had great experiences with these games in the 20 minutes I had with them. |
| But for fans to get value for those high prices they will want something that holds up over weeks and months of gameplay. | But for fans to get value for those high prices they will want something that holds up over weeks and months of gameplay. |
| Will the Switch 2's slick nostalgia hit provide that? We'll start to find out in June. | Will the Switch 2's slick nostalgia hit provide that? We'll start to find out in June. |