It’s here! Nintendo’s long-awaited console, the Switch, officially goes on sale Friday, March 3, but we got our hands on an early review unit. This week, our GearedUp podcast goes hands-on with the new console, taking a look at its impressive features, and a few shortcomings.
We also test out what co-host Andru Edwards of Gear Live calls “the best game I’ve ever played,” the new “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” which will be released the same day as the Switch.
https://soundcloud.com/geekwire/hands-on-with-the-nintendo-switch-and-zelda-breath-of-the-wild
The Switch is notable not just because it’s Nintendo’s first console after the disappointing Wii U, but also because it is rethinking how game consoles can work. It’s essentially a tablet, which can be docked with a TV for living-room gaming or carried around for the same experience on the go. It’s also controlled with two technology-packed Joy-Cons, a kind of hybrid between traditional game controllers and Wii controllers.
Its novel features mean the Switch could be a huge step forward for the gaming industry — but it also creates lots of opportunities for things to go wrong. Join Andru and GeekWire editor Todd Bishop on this episode of GearedUp for a review of the pros and cons, as well as a look into the gameplay for Breath of the Wild.
Watch our behind-the-scenes video at the top of the story, listen to the podcast above or download it as an MP3. Also check out Andru’s extended Zelda review below.