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It's surprising, but we're already closing in on the Nintendo Switch 2's half-year mark. When the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 debuts on Dec. 4, we can provide the console a detailed evaluation due to its strong lineup of exclusive early titles. Heavy hitters like Donkey Kong Bananza will headline that analysis, but it's the company's latest releases, the Pokémon Legends installment and recently Age of Imprisonment, that have allowed the new console conquer a crucial test in its first six months: the hardware evaluation.

Tackling Performance Worries

Before Nintendo publicly unveiled the Switch 2, the main issue from users about the rumored system was concerning hardware. In terms of technology, the company fell behind Sony and Microsoft in recent cycles. This situation became apparent in the original Switch's later life. The hope was that a new model would bring more stable framerates, better graphics, and industry-standard features like ultra-high definition. That's precisely what arrived when the console was debuted this summer. At least that's what its specs indicated, anyway. To accurately assess if the upgraded system is an improvement, it was necessary to observe major titles running on it. We now have that evidence during the past fortnight, and the prognosis remains healthy.

The Pokémon Title serving as Initial Test

The first significant examination was the October release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Pokémon games had some infamous tech struggles on the original Switch, with titles such as Scarlet and Violet releasing in downright disastrous states. The system wasn't solely responsible for that; the underlying technology powering Game Freak's RPGs was outdated and being pushed beyond its capabilities in the transition to larger environments. Legends: Z-A would be more of a test for its developer than anything, but there remained much we'd be able to glean from the visual presentation and its operation on the upgraded hardware.

While the game's basic graphics has opened debates about the developer's skills, there's no denying that the latest installment is far from the tech disaster of its predecessor, the previous Legends game. It runs at a smooth 60 frames on the new console, while the older hardware tops out at thirty frames. Objects still appear suddenly, and you may notice various fuzzy textures if you look closely, but you won't experience anything resembling the situation in Arceus where you first take to the skies and observe the complete landscape turn into a jagged, polygonal surface. That qualifies to give the system some passing marks, but with caveats given that the studio has separate challenges that worsen limited hardware.

Age of Imprisonment as a Tougher Performance Examination

There is now a more compelling tech test, yet, because of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, out Nov. 6. The latest Musou title tests the new console thanks to its action-oriented style, which has gamers battling a literal army of monsters continuously. The franchise's last installment, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, performed poorly on the initial console as the hardware struggled with its rapid gameplay and sheer amount of activity. It regularly decreased below the desired frame rate and created the sensation that you were overwhelming the system when going too hard in battle.

Thankfully is that it too succeeds the tech test. Having tested the game through its paces over the last few weeks, completing all missions it has to offer. Throughout this testing, I've found that it manages to provide a more stable framerate versus its predecessor, reaching its 60 frames target with more consistency. It can still slip up in the most intense combat, but I haven't experienced any moment where the game turns into a stuttering mess as the framerate chugs. Part of that may result from the reality that its bite-sized missions are designed to avoid excessive numbers of foes on screen at once.

Important Trade-offs and Overall Verdict

Remaining are compromises that you're probably expecting. Especially, cooperative multiplayer experiences a noticeable decrease closer to the 30 fps range. Additionally the first Switch 2 first-party game where there's a clear a noticeable variation between my old OLED display and the current LCD panel, with notably in story sequences appearing less vibrant.

Overall though, this release is a night and day difference versus its earlier title, similar to the Pokémon game is to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. If you need confirmation that the new console is delivering on its performance claims, even with some caveats present, these titles provide a clear example of how the Switch 2 is substantially boosting titles that performed poorly on old hardware.