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It's surprising, yet we're already closing in on the Nintendo Switch 2's six-month milestone. By the time the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 launches on the fourth of December, it will be possible to deliver the system a comprehensive assessment thanks to its strong lineup of exclusive early titles. Blockbuster games like Donkey Kong Bananza will dominate that review, but it's Nintendo's two most recent games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and now Age of Imprisonment, that have allowed the successor pass a crucial test in its first six months: the tech exam.

Addressing Hardware Issues

Before Nintendo formally revealed the Switch 2, the main issue from players regarding the hypothetical device was about power. In terms of components, Nintendo has lagged behind PlayStation and Xbox over the last few console generations. That fact was evident in the original Switch's later life. The expectation was that a new model would bring more stable framerates, improved visuals, and industry-standard features like 4K resolution. That's exactly what we got when the console was released in June. At least that's what its specs indicated, for the most part. To truly know if the new console is an improvement, it was necessary to observe some key games operating on the system. We've finally gotten that in recent days, and the outlook is positive.

Legends: Z-A serving as Early Challenge

The first significant examination came with the October release of the new Pokémon game. Pokémon games had some infamous tech struggles on the initial console, with titles such as Scarlet and Violet launching in highly problematic conditions. The console itself wasn't solely responsible for those issues; the game engine powering the Pokémon titles was outdated and getting stretched past its limits in the franchise's move to open-world. The new game would be more of a test for its studio than any other factor, but there remained much to observe from the visual presentation and performance on Switch 2.

Although the title's basic graphics has initiated conversations about Game Freak's technical capabilities, there's no denying that the latest installment is nowhere near the tech disaster of its earlier title, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It runs at a stable 60 frames per second on Switch 2, but the Switch version reaches only thirty frames. Objects still appear suddenly, and you may notice many low-resolution elements if you zoom in, but you won't experience anything similar to the moment in Arceus where you initially fly and observe the entire ground below become a jagged, polygonal surface. This is sufficient to earn the Switch 2 a satisfactory rating, though with reservations given that the studio has its own problems that amplify restricted capabilities.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment as a More Challenging Performance Examination

Currently available is a more compelling tech test, yet, due to Age of Imprisonment, out Nov. 6. The latest Musou title challenges the upgraded system because of its hack-and-slash gameplay, which has gamers battling a literal army of monsters constantly. The series' previous game, Age of Calamity, had issues on the first Switch as the system couldn't handle with its quick combat and sheer amount of activity. It regularly decreased under the intended 30 frames and produced the feeling that you were pushing too hard when being too aggressive.

The good news is that it too succeeds the tech test. I've been putting the release thoroughly over the last few weeks, experiencing every level it has to offer. During that period, the results show that it achieves a smoother performance versus its previous game, maintaining its 60 frames target with greater stability. It sometimes drops in the most intense combat, but I've yet to hit any moment where I'm suddenly watching a slideshow as the performance struggles. Part of that could be because of the fact that its short levels are designed to avoid excessive numbers of foes on screen at once.

Notable Trade-offs and General Assessment

Present are foreseeable trade-offs. Most notably, splitscreen co-op has a substantial reduction around 30 frames. It's also the first Switch 2 first-party game where I've really noticed a noticeable variation between previous OLED screens and the current LCD panel, with cutscenes especially having a washed out quality.

Overall though, this release is a night and day difference versus its previous installment, similar to the Pokémon game is to the earlier Pokémon title. For those seeking confirmation that the Switch 2 is fulfilling its hardware potential, although with certain reservations remaining, these titles demonstrate effectively of how the Switch 2 is markedly enhancing titles that performed poorly on older technology.