The Paradoxical Console
The Nintendo Switch is one of, if not the most popular gaming console in history. Its sales have managed to far surpass many that have come before it and even compete today with the PS5 and Xbox. However, despite this, there have been plenty of criticisms towards it. People have even often called it an outright terrible console. So what is it about this console that makes it so popular even today?
Believe it or not, the Switch is actually 7 years old. For good reason too. What makes the Switch so unique is the fact that it is not only a regular console, but also a portable one. Nintendo is no stranger to portable consoles as they have had many in the past such as the iconic Gameboy and DS. Sony even tried their hands at this with the failed PSP. However, nothing has truly worked well as the Switch.
By offering players the option of either playing in handheld or in console mode, Nintendo is able to reach a much broader player base. Now, they no longer have to choose whether they want to target just their handheld or console audiences and instead can aim for both at once. This also paved the way for people who were always too busy to own a console. Now, they could finally play their favorite console games on their own schedule. However, even with all of these benefits, the Switch still faced its share of issues.
Joycon Drift. If you are a Switch owner, then this phrase should give you shivers. For better or for worse, the Switch has become notorious for its joycons moving on their own while in handheld mode. Because of this players have had difficulty playing games as it will cause unnecessary movement. Although Nintendo offers free repairs for this issue, the fact that it persists has led to criticism.
To make matters worse, the Switch has also become notorious for its performance issues. Despite being a modern console, the hardware on it can at times feel very outdated. A game that you could run perfectly fine on a normal computer will usually see a severe downgrade in quality on the Switch. This could vary from horrible graphics to incredibly long load times. In the worst case scenario, games might be absolutely unplayable if you chose to play on it.
And yet despite these issues, the Switch continues to be a very popular console. This can likely be boiled down to two main reasons: convenience and availability. Even with these issues, the Switch is still a fairly solid console. The fact that you can immediately go from sitting in your house playing on the tv to on the train playing it in your hands makes it so you basically have no reason to stop playing like with a PlayStation or Xbox. Adding to the fact that there still hasn't been a new console from Nintendo and you’ll start to get a clearer picture of what makes the Switch so special. It may not be the best console out there, however its unique features and its benefits it offers makes it truly one of a kind.
Logan Floyd-Mcgee | Writer POP-COOLEDTURED SPECIALIST cooledtured.com | GROW YOUR COLLECTION