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It's astonishing, however we're nearly at the Nintendo Switch 2's six-month milestone. Once Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches on Dec. 4, we'll be able to give the device a comprehensive progress report thanks to its solid selection of Nintendo-developed early titles. Major titles like Donkey Kong Bananza will dominate that analysis, however it's Nintendo's two most recent games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and currently Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, that have allowed the new console pass a key challenge in its opening six months: the tech exam.

Addressing Performance Issues

Ahead of Nintendo formally revealed the successor system, the biggest concern from gamers regarding the then-theoretical console was regarding performance. In terms of hardware, the company fell behind competing consoles over the last few console generations. This situation was evident in the end of the Switch era. The desire was that a Switch 2 would bring more stable framerates, smoother textures, and industry-standard features like 4K. That's precisely what arrived when the console was launched in June. That's what its technical details suggested, anyway. To accurately assess if the Switch 2 is an enhancement, we'd need to see some key games performing on the hardware. That has now happened over the last two weeks, and the prognosis remains healthy.

Legends: Z-A as the Initial Test

The first significant examination was last month's the new Pokémon game. The franchise had notable performance issues on the initial console, with releases including Pokémon Scarlet and Violet releasing in very poor shape. The console itself wasn't solely responsible for those issues; the game engine powering Game Freak's RPGs was outdated and strained beyond its capabilities in the franchise's move to open-world. The new game would be more challenging for its studio than any other factor, but we could still learn we'd be able to glean from the visual presentation and how it runs on the new system.

While the game's basic graphics has opened debates about the studio's prowess, it's undeniable that this Pokémon game is far from the tech disaster of its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It runs at a smooth 60 frames on Switch 2, whereas the Switch version maxes out at 30 fps. Pop-in is still present, and you'll find plenty of blurry assets if you examine carefully, but you won't hit anything like the moment in Arceus where you first take to the skies and observe the entire ground below become a uneven, basic graphics. This is sufficient to earn the Switch 2 a decent grade, though with reservations since Game Freak has separate challenges that worsen basic technology.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment as the More Demanding Hardware Challenge

We now have a more compelling tech test, though, because of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, out Nov. 6. This Zelda derivative tests the new console because of its Musou formula, which has players facing off against a massive horde of creatures at all times. The earlier title, the previous Hyrule Warriors, performed poorly on the original Switch as the hardware struggled with its quick combat and numerous on-screen elements. It frequently dropped below its target 30fps and gave the impression that you were pushing too hard when being too aggressive.

The good news is that it also passes the hardware challenge. Having tested the release thoroughly in recent weeks, experiencing every level available. In that time, the results show that it manages to provide a more stable framerate versus its previous game, actually hitting its 60 frames target with greater stability. It can still slip up in the most intense combat, but I've yet to hit any situation where I'm suddenly watching a slideshow as the frame rate suffers. Some of this might be due to the situation where its bite-sized missions are structured to prevent too many enemies on screen at once.

Notable Limitations and Overall Assessment

Present are compromises that you're probably expecting. Most notably, shared-screen play sees performance taking a noticeable decrease near thirty frames. It's also the initial Nintendo-developed title where I've really noticed a major difference between previous OLED screens and the new LCD display, with cutscenes especially appearing less vibrant.

However generally, the new game is a night and day difference compared to its earlier title, like Pokémon Legends: Z-A is to Arceus. For those seeking any sign that the upgraded system is delivering on its performance claims, although with certain reservations present, both games show clearly of how Nintendo's latest is significantly improving titles that performed poorly on old hardware.