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burninmylight on 01 February 2024
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Wman1996 said:
curl-6 said:

It was such a bummer in the 8th gen when a cool game was announced and then it was like "oh, it's for 3DS" when I'd much rather play it on a big screen, in HD graphics, with a comfortable controller and proper speakers. Even when the games were good, I just wished they were on a console instead.

Plus, having to buy two separate systems just to access everything was a major pain in the arse.

And that's the beauty of the Switch unifying the two; you can play either as a console or a handheld, depending on your preference, and you don't miss out on anything.

The money saved on hardware is huge. 

Let me break down my experience (unadjusted for inflation) 

I got a 3DS at launch which was $250. Thankfully, Nintendo already course-corrected in September by slashing 3DS to $170. Hey, at least I got the Ambassador games.

I got a Wii U after the price cut and when a retailer had it $50 off. So, I got a Wii U 32 GB for $250 (no games included, but that's a great price for Wii U in 2014).

That's $500 (pre-tax) right there. Now compare that to Switch which was $300 for one hybrid system with a superior library to date than 3DS and Wii U combined. I did thankfully get an employee discount at the store I was working at during 2017 so I got Switch for about $270 pre-tax.

Many Nintendo fans such as I want to buy pretty much every new system they come out with. It was a godsend to only buy one with Switch, and the next system is all but guaranteed to be a hybrid as well.

Yeah, 3DS and Wii U did have free online. Additionally, virtually every 3DS game capped at $40, and plenty were $30 or $35. But I'll take many new releases Switch games at $60 (or at least $40-$50) over having to play on two systems. 

If you wanted Mario Kart, Monster Hunter or Smash to both play on the go or on a big screen and/or with a more comfortable controller, you had two buy two different games or two versions of the same game. For two of those games, you had to go and unlock everything twice. For MH, you had to use some janky workaround to transfer your saves.

With Switch, you get a game once, and you're good. There is no, "Do I want to be able to play it on a road trip and lunch breaks, or do I want to play on a nice big HD screen with a better controller, or do I splurge and pay $100 for both?" with the Switch.

That absolutely has effected my gaming experience.