Games Inbox: When will there be Nintendo Switch 2 console reviews?

Metro

04-06-2025

The Wednesday letters page is surprised at Sony's provocative State of Play annoucement, as one reader finally starts to get excited about Nintendo Switch 2.
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Pretty gutted to hear that there'll be no Nintendo Switch 2 reviews at launch but that was the rumour, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I don't really need a review of Mario Kart World, especially with the previews out, but I would've liked to see a detail hardware review of the console and its peripherals.
Do you think it's possible a hardware focused site like Digital Foundry or a similar YouTube channel could've been sent the consoles early to review just them, and not the games? I haven't pre-ordered, but I was probably planning to pick one up this week if I can, now I don't know what to do.
I don't really buy the day one update excuse (what's the betting the patch notes don't explain anything?) but I also don't know why else they'd do this. Nintendo games always review well so it's kind of worrying that they don't think these ones will.
Benjy Dog
GC: It's possible Nintendo could've given hardware-only outlets early access, but as far as we know everyone in Europe is in the same situation (or worse) as us. Perhaps one or two of the bigger US sites will get them earlier but we don't think so, given they haven't got them yet.
Less than perfect
So there we have it, officially: there will be no Nintendo Switch 2 reviews before launch and I'm guessing not until next week. Although I'm sure we'll see a bunch from more unreliable sites anyway, which is a handy opportunity to make a note of who never to listen to in the future.
I think probably Nintendo is not trying to manipulate anything exactly, but I have seen a number of previews, including GC and Eurogamer, have pointed out that the open world isn't really used for much, other than messing around.
This is not something I'd considered before, I just assumed it would have all sorts of extra races and things, but it seems the extra missions are pretty trivial. Nobody seems entirely sure, because nobody has played more than five hours or so, but if this has been left intentionally blank for future DLC I think that's pretty cynical and will backfire badly, given the cost of the game.
But I don't know what the alternative is? That Nintendo has lost its touch and made a big open world and forgot to put anything in it? No one seems to be complaining about the actual races, but I don't get the impression this is going to be getting any 10/10 scores.
Focus
Poke the bear
Pretty shocking that Sony would have their State of Play try and undermine the Switch 2 launch. They can deny it is, but to announce it at the last minute like that, to take place literally an hour before the Switch 2 comes out. They knew exactly what they were doing.
It's a long time since Sony has been this aggressive. I don't think they've even acknowledged Nintendo publicly since the PSP was battling the DS all those years ago. On the one hand it's childish and petty but on the other hand at least Sony did something. At least they woke up for a second and showed some fight.
I worry that whatever's in the State of Play is just going to be more live service rubbish but if they manage to put out a good one then maybe this will be seen as a turning point and whatever it is they think they've been doing for the last two years can quickly become a memory.
Hammeriron
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Now and then
I sold my Xbox Series X last year and considered a PlayStation 5 but then Sony decided to raise the price while hinting at the PlayStation 6, which put the kibosh on that idea.
But I've just bought a new gen Fire TV Max stick and noticed you can stream Xbox games with Game Pass Ultimate.
So, while I wait to buy a Switch 2 (not pre-ordered), I dusted off my last remaining Xbox Series X controller – a custom job by The Juve using my Microsoft Reward points – bought one month's Game Pass and had a quick blast.
I have to say it works really well – no problems with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor or Atomfall so far, other than maybe around textures. Next up will be Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I recently upgraded to decent broadband though, so I doubt I'd have been as impressed a month ago.
However, while I'm pleasantly surprised at how well it works, I still don't see the value in a persistent subscription, especially at the current price. I'll dip in and out I reckon and, frankly, physical media will always be king.
Foximusprime81 (gamertag/NN ID)
A right State
Ain't that a gander. To see your week become busier than usual. Firstly, the most indomitable question must be asked. Doth Sony know, thy move is folly? Because their announcement screams only one word. It isn't genius or excitement. It's desperation. Sony are perhaps feeling the blues. With Nintendo two days away from stealing their limelight. Why commit the move of further humiliating themselves?
Let's just say it. The State Of Play will disappoint us once more. It will marginally fail on each and every count. Why wouldn't it? Sony aren't exactly helping themselves, with the banal focus on live service titles, such as Marathon by Bungie. This intermittently reeks of even attempting to steer away the focus from Summer Games Fest and the Xbox Games Showcase. Because of either sheer mismanagement or a wrong chess move.
At this point, must I even shake my head at the people who will expect the world and collect the scraps?
Shahzaib Sadiq
GC: The last State of Play was pretty good.
Shadows Die Thrice
I'm very much looking forward to getting my Switch 2 on Thursday, but the wait has not been painful at all, as I've had the absolute pleasure of playing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice for the first time. I think it might just be my favourite FromSoftware game.
It probably has the best combat of any game I've played, definitely the best stealth ever, extremely satisfying traversal, and a fantastic 16th century Japanese setting. The balance between parrying, attacking, dodging, and countering is truly inspired, with the fights having a real feeling of flow and fluidity. The world and enemy design is top notch, with a welcome emphasis on more human rather than fantastical opponents.
It's interesting that many people bounced off the game due to the difficulty. I don't think it's any more difficult than any other Soulsbourne game, probably easier. Even the famed final boss was not insurmountable once you learned his tricks. I remember Laurence and Orphan of Kos in Bloodborne being much harder to defeat, not to mention Ornstein and Smough in Dark Souls! (I hate dual bosses!).
I would very much welcome a sequel, spiritual or otherwise, to Sekiro with lots more potential in the whole concept. I hope it isn't the last we've seen of the lone wolf!
Ryan O'D
Omni Consumer Products
Loved your preview of the RoboCop expansion, the original game was a blast so I can't wait to get stuck into this (it's just £20 to pre-order from Fanatical).
I wanted to ask, is the game a rougelike? With the tower set-up it made me wonder if it was, but there's been nothing from the trailers I've seen to totally confirm or deny this?
Sunny
GC: It's not a roguelike.
Good enough
I'm starting to get excited for the old Switch 2 now, finally.
I've one booked and fully paid for at Argos, and a backup £20 deposit for a Smyths down the road ( not going at midnight, that's a young man's game. And I won't be scalping if I get hold of one of them).
Mario Kart 8 has become an almost nightly ritual for me and my partner, so Mario Kart World is a no-brainer, especially with the bundle.
I'm like 95% through Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, so intend to upgrade and finish that, and strangely I'm dying to play the original Ridge Racer via Arcade Archives.
Is that the most amazing launch line-up I've ever encountered? No, but with Donkey Kong: Bananza in July, Metroid Prime 4 at some point, and maybe some bits and bobs before Christmas I'd say it's a strong enough suite of games for a launch window.
My biggest worry is figuring out which SD card works and what to buy and transferring my games and saves from my launch Switch 1.
Looking forward to your and other readers' reactions to the console and games. We're finally here!
ANON
Inbox also-ransI have to say that Mario Kart World review was kind of concerning. If there's not really much to do in the open world except drive around and look for little mini-challenges, was there really a point in doing it that way?
Tacle
Welcome Tour is the strangest thing I think Nintendo has ever done. What possible benefit does its existence have, except to make Nintendo look bad, in terms of making a boring 'gaming', charging for it, and looking like chumps compared to Astro Bot.
Oberon9 More Trending
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