The full reveal of theNintendo Switch 2had just about everything it needed to become a major success for Nintendo, but a few failings are still holding back the successor to the original Switch. Showcasing the potential of the Switch 2’s new capabilities through running triple-A games alongside the new features ofMario Wonder, many of the Switch 2’s offerings were hard to believe at first. With Switch 2 marking a brand-new direction for Nintendo in the sheer scale of its games, it would have been the perfect time to liven up the visual side of the console.
After seeing all the exciting capabilities and games the Switch 2 has to offer, I’m still a littledisappointed by its absent featuresand missed opportunities for the technological leap. On top of Nintendo’s high-quality games, they’re known for a level of personality and upbeat spirit that’s hard to come by in the console industry, but even Nintendo seems to be shifting away from this idea. While it’s a small complaint compared to the other criticisms facing Switch 2,there’s still one aspect I was desperately hoping to see fixed from the original Switch during the most recent Nintendo Direct.
Nintendo Switch 2 Has A Dull Home Screen Again
Practically The Same Screen We’ve Been Used To For Years
Aside from a few new widgets, the home screen and UI for Switch 2 shown onNintendo’s official site are practically identical to the original console, which feels completely at odds with the massive leap in technology. With how manymajor reveals were showcasedduring the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct,I expected to see more of a unique visual change between the two devices.
Even the physical design of the console itself also seems to lack even the limited personality of the original Switch.
Even the physical design of the console itself also seems to lack even the limited personality of the original Switch, opting for a primarily black color scheme. While the toned-down colors of Switch 2’s design can help it feel more appropriate to pull out in public settings,the redesign coupled with the historically high price tags for Nintendo make it hard to see Switch 2 as being aimed towards kids anymore.
Nintendo Switch 2 Has Comparable Battery Life To Launch Switch 1 Despite Its Powerful Specs
Despite the noticeable increase in power from the Switch 1 to the Switch 2, the battery life of the new console will be comparable to the original.
Given that one of the most frequent complaints over the original Switch was its dull UI and lack of customization options, it would have been a surefire way to bolster the selling points for the new devices. Even if Nintendo had decided to continue the rather dull UI choices they’ve made for the past two consoles,changing the design of the Switch 2’s UI would have gone a long way to set it apart from its predecessor.
Giving Each Device A Unique Personality
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with Nintendo’s shift towards minimalism in recent years, it feels completely alien given the unique UI transitions between devices over the years. Although there were some similarities with similar technological leaps in the past, like the jump from the Wii to the Wii U, or the DS to the 3DS, they were still visually distinct or had options to customize your experience.Previous consoles have shown that there are plenty of ways to show more personality and life, even with a relatively simplistic design like the Wii U through the use of more color and visual space.
Every GameCube Game Confirmed For Nintendo Switch Online
The Nintendo Classics Library will finally be welcoming GameCube games to its list of playable retro titles with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.
On top of personalized themes, past devices like the Wii often provided unique features like ambient music that, even without customization options, added more personality and a distinctive charm to the console each time you booted it up. Despite the challenges facing Switch 2’s Ui design from an identical appearance to its predecessor,it’s disappointing to see a lack of any real improvements after nearly a decade of the same dull white void and lackluster menus.
Nintendo Switch 2 UI Should Have Done More
A Visual Update To Celebrate The Drastic Hardware Improvement
It’s virtually impossible to please everyone when it comes to releasing content with such dedicated fanbases being upset over games likeAnimal Crossingbeing absentfrom the direct, butan overhauled or even somewhat adjusted UI felt like it should have been an easy win for Nintendo. While the Switch 2’s titles themselves show no signs of the same design failings as the console’s UI, I’m still concerned the dull minimalistic designs will spread further than just a few basic menus in the future.
I’m still a little disappointed Nintendo didn’t take the opportunity to try something new.
There’s still a chance that downloadable themes could finally make their way to Switch 2, but after 8 years of waiting, I’m hesitant to even consider getting my hopes up.The absence of these features is even more strange considering that the original Switch had a themes section, but never had any additional ones added or made available for purchase aside from the White and Dark ones it launched with. While a boring design is definitely not my first concern for the upcomingSwitch 2, I’m still a little disappointed Nintendo didn’t take the opportunity to try something new.
