Relax, critics: Nintendo doesn’t need a new hardware twist to captivate and entertain

Nintendo has finally unveiled the much-anticipated Switch 2. Given the weeks of frenzied speculation and leaks, it was inevitable that the internet would explode with opinions, whether from fans, critics, or industry insiders. And what did Nintendo offer us in the reveal? Just a brief glimpse, with flashy animations but few details.

Of course, some of the commentary is as over-the-top as you’d expect. I witnessed my first ‘give-me-more-now’ tantrum barely minutes into the reveal—a display of impatience that would make even Veruca Salt blush. Honestly, such reactions are way over the top. A little patience wouldn’t hurt.

But then, I encountered another, more surprising sentiment: some folks seem to think that in opting for an evolutionary step with the Switch 2, Nintendo’s somehow lost its innovative edge. Has Nintendo’s new console abandoned the commitment to “surprise and delight,” a hallmark ascribed to it by the late Satoru Iwata during the NX days? In a word: no. Imagining otherwise is just absurd.

When I look at the Switch 2, I see a familiar path for Nintendo. Sometimes, I think we get swept up in the narrative of the groundbreaking Wii and DS, and forget that Nintendo isn’t always about taking huge risks. More often than not, the company has a history of building on its successes.

Take the Super Nintendo, for instance. It was a more powerful successor to the NES, yet it’s often heralded as one of the greatest consoles ever. Then there’s the Game Boy Advance, which took the Game Boy formula and upped it a notch with a couple of extra buttons borrowed from the SNES.

I wouldn’t argue that these systems, which were home runs for Nintendo, lacked the company’s signature spirit. Nintendo’s ingenuity came through in other ways, like innovative peripherals and game designs that utilized the bumped-up hardware. When I think of Nintendo’s creativity, I think of the magical transformation from Metroid to Super Metroid, or Wind Waker’s brilliant art, every bit as much as Wii Bowling.

Even with the Wii and the original Switch, some of the most delightful innovations were add-ons, like the balance board or Ring Fit. These came later, showing Nintendo’s knack for enhancing a console’s life span with peripherals.

Remember, even when things didn’t gel perfectly, like the N64 to GameCube shift, Nintendo found ways to carve out beloved cult classics. And conversely, with the 3DS, the much-touted 3D feature wasn’t the system’s defining success; that honor fell to clever game design instead.

Admittedly, the Switch 2 itself isn’t a shocker in terms of design. It’s a natural evolution of a proven concept. The Switch reimagined portable gaming, and with the Switch 2, Nintendo aims to rise above the competition from sleek PC handhelds, offering something they can’t match: their unique and joyous game design.

There will be new features in the Switch 2, as hinted at in the somewhat-cryptic announcement trailer. Imaginations have already been sparked by Joy-Cons gliding across surfaces like a mouse, evoking memories of Mario Paint or even speculations of crossovers with other franchises. Advancements in Joy-Con tech could pave the way for intriguing new peripherals and possibilities.

And let’s not overlook the internal improvements. While we’re nearing a plateau in graphic advancements, better hardware isn’t merely about eye candy; it can redefine gameplay itself, bringing new ideas to life.

Ultimately, it’s too early for sweeping judgments. Yes, perhaps the initial reveal didn’t fully convey the console’s promise. If the new system visually mirrors its predecessor, relying heavily on looks for the reveal might not have been the wisest move. Yet, if there’s one company capable of astonishing us, it’s Nintendo. We’ve been in similar situations, and repeatedly, Nintendo has innovated through game design or quirky add-ons, regardless of a console’s visual novelty.

So, before clinging to premature conclusions, let’s wait and see what Nintendo has in store. Some patience, please—and brace yourselves, because the chatter isn’t going anywhere until at least April. Buckle up for the ride!