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It's hard to believe, yet we're approaching the new Switch 2 console's six-month anniversary. Once the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 releases on Dec. 4, we'll be able to give the system a fairly thorough evaluation due to its solid selection of Nintendo-developed launch window games. Heavy hitters like Donkey Kong Bananza will headline that check-in, but it's the company's latest releases, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and currently the Hyrule Warriors sequel, that have allowed the Switch 2 overcome a key challenge in its first six months: the hardware evaluation.

Confronting Performance Worries

Ahead of Nintendo publicly unveiled the successor system, the primary worry from gamers about the then-theoretical console was about power. When it comes to hardware, the company fell behind competing consoles in recent cycles. That fact became apparent in the original Switch's later life. The desire was that a new model would bring more stable framerates, improved visuals, and standard options like 4K. That's exactly what we got when the system was released in June. Or that's what its specs indicated, at least. To really determine if the Switch 2 is an improvement, we required examples of important releases performing on the hardware. We now have that evidence over the last two weeks, and the prognosis remains healthy.

The Pokémon Title as the First Test

The console's first major test came with the October release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Pokémon games had some infamous tech struggles on the first Switch, with releases including Pokémon Scarlet and Violet releasing in very poor shape. The system didn't bear all the responsibility for that; the actual engine powering Game Freak's RPGs was aged and being pushed past its limits in the series' gradual open-world pivot. This installment would be a bigger examination for its studio than anything, but there remained much to analyze from the visual presentation and performance on Switch 2.

While the game's restricted visual fidelity has opened debates about the studio's prowess, it's clear that Legends: Z-A is not at all like the tech disaster of its earlier title, Arceus. It runs at a stable 60 frames per second on the upgraded system, while the older hardware tops out at thirty frames. Some pop-in occurs, and you'll find many low-resolution elements if you zoom in, but you won't experience anything similar to the situation in Arceus where you first take to the skies and observe the entire ground below transform into a rough, low-poly terrain. That qualifies to earn the Switch 2 some passing marks, but with caveats considering that Game Freak has its own problems that amplify basic technology.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment serving as a More Challenging Tech Test

There is now a tougher hardware challenge, however, due to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, released November 6. This Zelda derivative challenges the upgraded system thanks to its hack-and-slash gameplay, which has users confronting a massive horde of creatures at all times. The earlier title, the previous Hyrule Warriors, had issues on the first Switch as the console couldn't keep up with its rapid gameplay and sheer amount of activity. It frequently dropped below its target 30fps and gave the impression that you were breaking the game when being too aggressive.

The good news is that it too succeeds the performance examination. I've been putting the game through its paces during the past month, experiencing every level available. During that period, I've found that it's been able to deliver a smoother performance compared to its previous game, maintaining its 60 fps mark with more consistency. It sometimes drops in the most intense combat, but I've yet to hit any moment where it becomes a choppy presentation as the performance struggles. Some of this may result from the situation where its bite-sized missions are careful not to put excessive numbers of foes on screen at once.

Important Trade-offs and Overall Evaluation

Present are expected limitations. Especially, splitscreen co-op experiences a significant drop near thirty frames. Moreover the first Switch 2 first-party game where it's apparent a significant contrast between my old OLED display and the current LCD panel, with notably in story sequences appearing less vibrant.

But for the most part, Age of Imprisonment is a complete change over its earlier title, like the Pokémon game is to Arceus. If you need evidence that the Switch 2 is meeting its tech promises, despite some limitations remaining, both games show clearly of how the Switch 2 is markedly enhancing series that struggled on older technology.