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You won't want - or need - to put down the Nintendo Switch

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Nintendo Switch
R4 999 at takealot.com
Four stars

Nintendo had a problem. After delighting the gaming world with the Nintendo Wii, the Wii U came out to a lacklustre response. In fact, lacklustre might be putting it kindly. With its slow operating system, weak battery life and bad controller, many gaming publications deemed the Wii U a failure.

The brand knew it had to do better. In fact, its next release would have to be practically perfect.

And so, it gave us the Nintendo Switch – a flexible console that triumphs in its ability to switch beautifully between a plugged-in TV console to a handheld device in seconds.


Pictures: All supplied

In console mode, it rests in a docking system with the left and right joysticks clicked into a remote dock. In handheld mode, the joysticks get connected back onto the console and you’re good to go.

Travelling to the US (a gruelling 24-hour journey that involves plenty of sitting around in airports and in the plane), the Switch saved my life. With its comfortable ergonomics and generous screen size, I was occupied for hours of transit. Where I would usually play freemium games on my iPad or cellphone, here I could get stuck into an immersive and serious title such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. No. It’s no wonder artist John Mayer called the Switch “the best invention for a touring musician since Wi-Fi”.

You really can’t own a Switch without owning Breath of the Wild. Created to put all of the Switch’s functions to use, it’s a game so expansive, so lush, so downright fun, that it had me late for social engagements and going to bed at 4am.

What compounded my addiction was that I was not forced to put it down. When we had to go to a social engagement, I would disconnect the Switch from the TV and play it in handheld mode in the car while my husband drove. At night, I’d take the Switch with me upstairs and play it in bed (it’s not great for your relationships).

The problem with the Switch? It’s superb as a handheld device, great as a console-to-handheld device, but it doesn’t compete with the big boys as a console on its own. Serious console gamers will find the titles of the Switch lacking, and should rather opt for a Playstation 4 (PS4) or Xbox One S. However, given that the Switch comes in a lot cheaper than the PS4 and Xbox One S, it’s still really not a bad option for console addicts.

For those of you on the go, I really recommend the Switch.

QUICK REVIEWS

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
R1 199 at takealot.com
Five stars
With its sumptuous graphics, large and open world, quirky characters and almost endless quests, Breath of the Wild is the perfect Nintendo Switch game. Made with serious gamers in mind, this one is for advanced players who want an immersive and time-consuming experience.

1-2-Switch
R549 at takealot.com
Three stars
A simple, clever party game that pits players against each other as the complete various quirky tasks. From drawing guns, untangling treasure chests and even milking cows, this is a game best played in groups. Although it gets a little repetitive and some of the tasks are more stupid than quirky, it’s at a good enough price to add to your title collection.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
R809 at takealot.com
Four stars
A colourful title made to be played by the whole family. This one is for casual gamers and is easy enough to just pick up and play. Here, you can race the Mario Bros and their many friends against each other on various outlandish tracks.

Arms
R745 at takealot.com
Three stars
A fighting game for those who want some action. The characters have slinkies for arms, imagine that! This will appease both serious and casual gamers, and will be fun for a competitive family gaming night.

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