| Nautilus said: The Switch is only 7 months old, but the ammount of quality indie games it is getting is simply staggering.Fast RMX, Stardew Valey, Steamworld Dig 2, Golf Story, the newly announced port of Darkest Dungeon, Owlboy, Cave Story, Timbleweed Park, and many, many more Im certain Im forgetting.What it lacks in big AAA suppoort, it gets in spades with indie games. Honestly speaking, the Switch, which are greatly enhanced by the portability(since most of them can be enjoyed on small play sessions, or just fit the format), is turning out to be a better platform for indie games than PS4, and its at least matching up to the indie support that PC gets. The indie situation was getting rather good by the end of the Wii U life cycle, but I honestly didnt expect this jump on quality and quantity by the indies.Pleasently surprised. |
I think this is any interesting position to take for a few reasons, although I don't really agree with it, especially the title. This is mostly due to lack of specificity in the criteria that makes something the best platform for something, in this case indies.
Is it strictly based on portability? Is it current overall game selection? Future game potential? Game cost? Best controller for playing the game? Best audio/visual presentation? Overall value e.g. crossbuy? Exclusives?
There are many factors in which you could make an argument for the stated position of Nintendo or any of the other platforms being best. In my opinion, most current criteria do not support Nintendo as the best current platform, with the exception of portability. Perhaps in the future this changes.
Something else to consider is that because it is new and has relatively fewer games available to purchase, buyers are currently less critical of the games they buy. In my case I didn't really mind overpaying for a Street Fighter 2 port and the novelty of some games on the portable screen was enough to get me to buy them. As more titles become available, these types of choices will be more scrutinized.
Due to Switch's portability, in my opinion it is strong in three areas: Nintendo properties (always strong here), ports/remasters of PS3/360 games, and indies. The jury is still out on ports of current generation games. Doom and other games of that ilk will be very telling. I think for what the system does, it does it very well. It's a fantastic companion system that builds on its strongest assets of unique experiences and anywhere gaming. As positioned though, it doesn't lend itself well to non-Nintendo AAA titles.
Back to the original assertion that Switch is the best platform for indies. Imagine the same question is posed for best platform to watch movies. Would it be a smartphone due to portability? For some, it very well may be. For others, it may be about the biggest screen, best sound, 4K UHD, etc. I think because we have less attachment to smartphones vs. home theaters, it may be easier to view this comparison objectively. Once specific brands get involved, it becomes more difficult. As always, it comes down to criteria and of course personal preference.
"There are things which, if done by the few, we should refuse to imitate; yet when the majority have begun to do them, we follow along - just as if anything were more honourable because it is more frequent!"
-Seneca
