Nintendo Switch Catch-All 2.0

DSGamer wrote:

Or at the very least the Switch 2 is completely backwards compatible.

There's good precedent there. The GBA was backward compatible with the GameBoy, and the DS was backward compatible with the GBA, and the 3DS was backward compatible with the DS. The Wii was backward compatible with the GameCube, and the Wii U was backward compatible with the Wii, and the Wii U and Switch share the same library.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

Or at the very least the Switch 2 is completely backwards compatible.

There's good precedent there. The GBA was backward compatible with the GameBoy, and the DS was backward compatible with the GBA, and the 3DS was backward compatible with the DS. The Wii was backward compatible with the GameCube, and the Wii U was backward compatible with the Wii, and the Wii U and Switch share the same library.

I recently played an N64 game on my Wii that was on a Gamecube disc.

Good precedent indeed, but on the other hand, most recent precedent (Switch) is for no back-compat at all.

Jonman wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

Or at the very least the Switch 2 is completely backwards compatible.

There's good precedent there. The GBA was backward compatible with the GameBoy, and the DS was backward compatible with the GBA, and the 3DS was backward compatible with the DS. The Wii was backward compatible with the GameCube, and the Wii U was backward compatible with the Wii, and the Wii U and Switch share the same library.

I recently played an N64 game on my Wii that was on a Gamecube disc.

Good precedent indeed, but on the other hand, most recent precedent (Switch) is for no back-compat at all.

Do ports count?

the Wii U and Switch share the same library

I didn't say anything about backward compatibility...

DSGamer wrote:
Jonman wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

Or at the very least the Switch 2 is completely backwards compatible.

There's good precedent there. The GBA was backward compatible with the GameBoy, and the DS was backward compatible with the GBA, and the 3DS was backward compatible with the DS. The Wii was backward compatible with the GameCube, and the Wii U was backward compatible with the Wii, and the Wii U and Switch share the same library.

I recently played an N64 game on my Wii that was on a Gamecube disc.

Good precedent indeed, but on the other hand, most recent precedent (Switch) is for no back-compat at all.

Do ports count?

Not unless you're physically shoving the disc/cart containing the port inside the Switch somehow.

The joy-cons are the worst controllers I've ever used. Not comfortable, hard to be accurate with precision shooters without hurting your hands & my left joy-con had a major drift issue.

I use the Switch exclusively in handheld mode with my Fixture S1 connected to the Pro Controller. Its an utter dream & the Fixture S1 is an amazing piece of kit, sturdy yet mobile & designed to perfection. Will never go back to the joy-cons.

Fixture S1 - Amazon

In the console world, I think we're in the middle of a vast decoupling of software compatibility from specific hardware models, and trending instead more into the PC (and mobile device) style of "minimum system requirements".

The PS5 and Xbox Series systems are massively backwards compatible, and the idea of new console hardware improving the performance/experience of previous gen console games has already become a thing.

It was different when console hardware made extreme architectural changes from one generation to the next. But now that early/mid 2000s left turn that consoles took to PowerPC feels like an aberration.

Consoles have pretty much abandoned their special flower architecture design to fall in line with everyone else. High performance, plugged-into-the-wall boxes are x86 CPUs and desktop PC graphics GPUs. Portable machines are ARM SoCs. It's hard to see any current development in chips that would project to change this 5 years from now when it's PS6/Xbox-whoknowswhatthef**kitscalled time. The Switch Pro (don't stop believing) is basically guaranteed to be a newer NVIDIA Tegra, and I'd be pretty comfortable betting that a Switch 2 will be an ARM device of some sort (not a hard bet to make given every Nintendo handheld since GBA has been ARM).

Just like with iPhone games, I'm betting it's not long before we see console game compatibility expressed in terms of "Switch Pro or newer", "PS5 or later", etc.

Spikeout wrote:

The joy-cons are the worst controllers I've ever used. Not comfortable, hard to be accurate with precision shooters without hurting your hands & my left joy-con had a major drift issue.

I use the Switch exclusively in handheld mode with my Fixture S1 connected to the Pro Controller. Its an utter dream & the Fixture S1 is an amazing piece of kit, sturdy yet mobile & designed to perfection. Will never go back to the joy-cons.

Fixture S1 - Amazon

Dang it you were supposed to review that fixture a while back.

I could have saved $10 buying that and using the pro controller I already have.

Stele wrote:
Spikeout wrote:

The joy-cons are the worst controllers I've ever used. Not comfortable, hard to be accurate with precision shooters without hurting your hands & my left joy-con had a major drift issue.

I use the Switch exclusively in handheld mode with my Fixture S1 connected to the Pro Controller. Its an utter dream & the Fixture S1 is an amazing piece of kit, sturdy yet mobile & designed to perfection. Will never go back to the joy-cons.

Fixture S1 - Amazon

Dang it you were supposed to review that fixture a while back.

I could have saved $10 buying that and using the pro controller I already have.

I know, sorry about that. Haven't posted much in ages. You can have a couple of options if finances permit sure :p

Jonman wrote:
DSGamer wrote:
Jonman wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

Or at the very least the Switch 2 is completely backwards compatible.

There's good precedent there. The GBA was backward compatible with the GameBoy, and the DS was backward compatible with the GBA, and the 3DS was backward compatible with the DS. The Wii was backward compatible with the GameCube, and the Wii U was backward compatible with the Wii, and the Wii U and Switch share the same library.

I recently played an N64 game on my Wii that was on a Gamecube disc.

Good precedent indeed, but on the other hand, most recent precedent (Switch) is for no back-compat at all.

Do ports count?

Not unless you're physically shoving the disc/cart containing the port inside the Switch somehow. :)

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/kn3tZkx.jpg)

Stele wrote:
hbi2k wrote:
Djinn wrote:

JoyCons are junk. I recommend picking up the Hori Split Pad rather than spending more money on additional JoyCons that will just break on you again. It's a bit bulky, but buttery smooth in your hands. Best thing I ever bought for my Switch.

https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Switch-Split-Officially-Licensed/dp/B08FJ82W64?th=1

I have one, and it's fantastic for games that don't require motion. Feels good in the hand, a d-pad that's an actual d-pad, thumbsticks that aren't tiny. I played through the majority of Breath of the Wild with it, switching back to JoyCons only for motion-control puzzles.

Unfortunately, there are also great games that just plain aren't completable with the Hori only, so it's not a full replacement for JoyCons.

Fine I ordered one. Will report back on Wednesday.

Holy sh*t I love it. Just played an hour of Hades while the kids were napping this afternoon but it felt amazing, and I won that run. Looking forward to playing more things.

Might even get back into Mario Kart or Rocket League. I hated playing either with joycons, so rarely play portable. But this feels amazing.

Didn't try the turbo or anything. But real control pad feels solid and buttons offset from sticks just feels right.

I might also have to sell my Hori Left joycon with d-pad now. This effectively replaces it.

I bought this joycon replacement - Hori Nintendo Switch Split Pad Pro - and I am torn.

The controller is wonderful. Buttons feel great, sticks are good, and it is comfortable - except that is is so large. It really is quite huge and I am not sure I can use it for long periods of time. It feels like a 50/50 split between love and dislike currently.

However if you have large hands or find the joycons when on the Switch too small you might want to take a peak. In terms of quality and comfort (except for the size) it i quite great.

IMAGE(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71MLNlo2kQL._SL1500_.jpg)

With these 3rd party controllers do you still lose rumble and other features?

Yeah that Hori one has no rumble (fine) but also loses gyro aim (can't play BotW or Splatoon), but otherwise it's been perfect for me the last 3 days. The d pad is a delight. And offset sticks are fantastic. I've still only tried 2 games so far but I'll try to do more this weekend.

As said no rumble or gyro. You also don't get NFC for amibos. So you have to decide if it is worth it.

I am actually still torn. I am going to put in a few more hours with games before I decide if I like it.

That Hori gets all its power from the console, right? What's it do to the battery life?

Vargen wrote:

That Hori gets all its power from the console, right? What's it do to the battery life?

I have the 2nd version of Switch (ACNL) with better battery life so I haven't noticed any problem at all. Playing lots of handheld at home and I usually just charge at night.

Vargen wrote:

That Hori gets all its power from the console, right? What's it do to the battery life?

Without rumble or gyro the power consumption is incredibly low. I've had that controller for a few months now and I haven't noticed any difference.

Probably an unpopular opinion here, but I find it amusing that the best way to improve the portable mode of the Switch is to make it bigger and less portable

Djinn wrote:
Vargen wrote:

That Hori gets all its power from the console, right? What's it do to the battery life?

Without rumble or gyro the power consumption is incredibly low. I've had that controller for a few months now and I haven't noticed any difference.

Super interesting. I'm playing Baldurs Gate on Switch and have no need for rumble or that gyro thing. I did the giant hand thing though

Carlbear95 wrote:

Probably an unpopular opinion here, but I find it amusing that the best way to improve the portable mode of the Switch is to make it bigger and less portable

IMAGE(http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1061/1924/products/Zipper-Mouth_Face_Emoji_grande.png?v=1480481035)

Carlbear95 wrote:

Probably an unpopular opinion here, but I find it amusing that the best way to improve the portable mode of the Switch is to make it bigger and less portable

I'm with you on this one! I use portable mode all the time and my case is sized for portable mode and if I did the "solution" suggested here, my Switch wouldn't fit in the case that makes it portable.

Someone posted a case that fits with the Hori last time they were mentioned a couple months ago.

The little bracket for pro controller that Spikeout posted is probably a little smaller, but then pro controller isn't going to fit in case either.

But I would be willing to bet the Hori case isn't as portable as the case I already have that is sized for a portable Switch.

dejanzie wrote:
Djinn wrote:
Vargen wrote:

That Hori gets all its power from the console, right? What's it do to the battery life?

Without rumble or gyro the power consumption is incredibly low. I've had that controller for a few months now and I haven't noticed any difference.

Super interesting. I'm playing Baldurs Gate on Switch and have no need for rumble or that gyro thing. I dig the giant hand thing though :-)

Update: my wife and my birthdays are only a week apart, and because we couldn't think of anything we wanted we booked a nice hotel together. But with COVID on the rise again we had to cancel that, yadda yadda, I now have that Hori Switch Split and it's awesome

Probably not for someone with small hands, or someone who takes the Switch outside on commute or travel (when that still existed), or if you play games that lean on rumble/NFC/gyro. Neither apply to me playing Baldur's Gate though, so I'm a happy camper!

Oh and I also got that Mario Kart Live thingie, AND a decluttered home office with a nice router.

Got this off of Amazon and like it.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/bAaoxtN.jpg)

big boy joy cons

I don't have the hori ones but most people say it feels better than this but this one has more features.

Baron Of Hell wrote:

Got this off of Amazon and like it.

big boy joy cons

I don't have the hori ones but most people say it feels better than this but this one has more features.

Those look nice. They actually have a macro function. The Hori extra button just seem to be a 1-to-1 button reassignment, not as useful as originally thought. It is nice for replacing stick click buttons sometimes. I've used that in Rebel Galaxy Outlaw already. But since the game itself doesn't allow button reassignment, I'm stuck with another function I'd like to map that I can't.

I do really like the offset sticks and big grip of the Hori. But those are definitely cheaper, more portable, and still have motion control.

I did see a tip about the Hori, that you could replace one side with a joycon still for Splatoon, BotW, etc. and get motion aiming back that way. Might be worth it to still play those in handheld.

I love the ergonomics of the Hori. One issue though: As soon as Nintendo let you manually remap buttons on the Switch, I swapped X <> Y and A <> B, making the face layout on the Joy-Cons and Pro Controller identical to Xbox so it's easier on my muscle memory when switching back and forth between platforms. But the Hori just shows up as unsupported and unable to remap, so it's the odd controller out.

Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase October 2020

Bravely Default II - Feb 26th, 2021

Wasn't expecting a new Story of Seasons announcement. It looks really good, though. Releasing March 21st 2021.

Bravely Default 2, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town, and No More Heroes III were the only games in there that I was really interested in. Curious to see that both Hitman 3 and Control are getting "Cloud versions" released when Capcom and/or Nintendo decided it wasn't worth it to release a similar version of Resident Evil 7 in the US. I have a feeling performance won't be so hot without a USB Ethernet adapter.