1-2 Switch Review

1-2 Switch

Release: March 3, 2017
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Family, Sport, Switch Reviews
PEGI: E
Comments:

 

Comment

It’s been well over a week since we launched and played 1-2 Switch for the first time, and although we’ve had fun when playing it, the constant struggle with the entry price is making this title really hard to recommend. I’ve seen numerous people accurately describe this as, “A great game as long as you didn’t pay for it.” While the majority of this review will focus on that statement, lets kick it off by looking at what comes on the card!

Here is the reality, that we all know already: 1-2-Switch has been made for once purpose. The purpose is to show off what the Joy-Con controllers can do, how they work with the system, how versatile they are, and to show off their arguably most interesting feature, the HD rumble. When I talk about it, without knowing how the Switch would launch, I would argue that this is a title Nintendo created to include with every Switch that goes out the door. After all, the Joy-Cons are the companies newest invention, and have features you normally wouldn’t find in your average controller. This needs to be introduced to the new consumers.

The uses of the Joy-Cons are demonstrated very well over 28 different minigames, all of which have you focusing on your partner rather than the television. Whether you are milking cows, block a samurai sword, or attempting to figure out how many tiny marbles are in a box, each mini games shows of one or more new mechanics that the Joy-Con controllers can perform.

Some games, such as the marbles in the box or twisting a treasure chest to remove the chains, are pretty fun and can make for a great party game that is quick but enjoyable. When using the built in randomizer, when these games are at the forefront, things are OK. However, every once in a while you are forced to play a game that isn’t as exciting. While I enjoyed having the game choose for me – which ultimately left it up in the air, rather than allowing payers to pick based on their strengths and weaknesses – when landing on these less impressive games, you really get pulled out of the experience.

That being said, 3/4 of the titles in 1-2 Switch are loads of fun to play, at least for a short while. All 28 will get old at some point. However, 1-2 Switch can easily be turned into a fun competition of sorts, as demonstrated by Abdallah and his wife Jess in the video below. For all 6 parts of Abdallah’s Beanboozled, check out his YouTube channel!

If you didn’t already know that 1-2 Switch cost over 40$ USD, you would assume that this – like Wii Sports and Nintendo Land before it – must be a pack in title, right?

Wrong.

1-2 Switch is coming in at a hefty 49.99 – 64.99 in Canada – and unfortunately the hype over the system is probably going to push thousands of units of this out the door. Don’t get me wrong, the mini games in 1-2-Switch are fantastic, and I’m having a lot of fun with it, but this fun definitely has it’s expiry date and with the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on my shelf, that expiry date has already come. In my preview I posed the following two question:

1. Does 1-2-Switch have enough content to keep me playing long after the initial launch window of the Nintendo Switch?
2. Should 1-2-Switch have been included as a pack in title, or a cheaper title, as opposed to a full retail release, price included?

The answer is no, it does not have enough content to keep me playing, and yes, it should have been a pack in title. I will pull out 1-2 Switch once in a while when friends are over, but with other great multiplayer titles like Snipperclips and Super Bomberman R on my system, it’s hard to recommend this one over those.

There is a lot to really like about the game, and with 28 different mini games and a few great modes for competitive play, the game will probably get at least a few hours of play time in your home. If you want to know more about what the Joy-Con controllers can do, this is almost a must-own title. There are lots of laughs to be had, but ultimately, you will pay a hefty price for that.

Trailer