A wave of regret washes over me as I reflect on the first year with my Switch 2. It’s not a financial catastrophe, and perhaps future titles will redeem it, but the initial experience has been profoundly underwhelming. The launch of the original Switch felt revolutionary, a landmark moment in gaming history, but the Switch 2’s debut has lacked that spark, despite a steady stream of first-party releases.
Each new game feels…familiar. Mario Kart World feels pale in comparison to its predecessor, lacking the same exhilarating energy. Hyrule Warriors and Kirby Air Riders offer more of what’s come before, failing to ignite any real excitement. Even Donkey Kong Bananza, arguably the strongest offering, hasn’t captured the magic of Super Mario Odyssey or other 3D Mario adventures.
The impending release of Metroid Prime 4 holds no appeal, based on the reviews. The reports suggest a departure from what made the series special, a series of missteps I’m unwilling to risk my time and money on. This disappointment has led to a surprising realization: I genuinely had more fun during the Wii U’s first year.
This isn’t a nostalgic longing for a failed console. The Wii U, despite its shortcomings, possessed a certain charm. It boasted a surprisingly robust lineup of third-party titles at launch – Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Assassin’s Creed 3, Batman: Arkham City, and more – a support that quickly evaporated. Even then, that initial burst of variety felt more compelling than the Switch 2’s current offerings.
Ubisoft’s exclusive ZombiU, a clever and tense roguelike zombie experience, stood out. New Super Mario Bros. U, while not a masterpiece, offered a surprisingly enjoyable co-op mode. And I distinctly remember losing hours to Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed, a game that provided more thrills than anything I’ve played on Mario Kart World.
But the true heart of the Wii U’s early success lay in Nintendo Land. It wasn’t just a collection of mini-games; it was a showcase for the console’s unique features. And that’s precisely what the Switch 2 lacks – genuine innovation. It feels like an incremental upgrade, better graphics and slightly refined Joy-Cons, but fundamentally the same experience.
The Wii U dared to be different, filled with ambitious ideas, even if they didn’t all land. Miiverse, for all its quirks, fostered a sense of community that’s missing from the Switch 2. The current “innovation” – a webcam – feels like a superficial addition, a far cry from the bold experimentation of the past.
Nintendo Land, at its core, was a brilliant party game collection. Some mini-games were forgettable, but the truly exceptional ones were unforgettable. A cooperative Zelda adventure, a sequel to The Mysterious Murasame Castle, and a fast-paced, F-Zero inspired racer all offered unique experiences.
However, it was the competitive games that truly shone. Animal Crossing: Sweet Day, with its team-based candy collecting and GamePad-controlled guards, was a chaotic delight. Luigi’s Ghost Mansion, where one player haunted while others shouted directions, created moments of hilarious panic. But Mario Chase, a simple yet addictive game of tag, was the undisputed champion.
The thrill of the chase, the frantic scrambling, the sheer joy of tagging your friends and family – it was captivating. Hours melted away as we battled for supremacy. That single game, more than any other, justified the Wii U’s existence and its innovative GamePad. Mario Kart World hasn’t come close to replicating that feeling.
The Switch 2 is a capable console, but my first year with it has been a disappointment, a fleeting experience destined to fade from memory. My time with the Wii U, however, is etched with vibrant memories. It was a console that dared to be different, a console that, despite its flaws, left a lasting impression.
