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It's surprising, but we're already closing in on the new Switch 2 console's six-month milestone. When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond releases on December 4, we can provide the system a fairly thorough evaluation thanks to its solid selection of first-party launch window games. Blockbuster games like the new Donkey Kong game will dominate that review, however it's the company's latest releases, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and now the Hyrule Warriors sequel, that have helped the successor conquer a key challenge in its first six months: the performance test.

Addressing Hardware Worries

Prior to Nintendo officially announced the successor system, the main issue from gamers around the then-theoretical console was concerning hardware. In terms of technology, the company fell behind PlayStation and Xbox in recent cycles. That fact began to show in the Switch's final years. The expectation was that a successor would deliver more stable framerates, improved visuals, and modern capabilities like 4K. That's exactly what we got when the system was debuted this summer. At least that's what its hardware specifications promised, at least. To accurately assess if the new console is an enhancement, we required examples of important releases operating on the system. We now have that evidence in recent days, and the assessment is favorable.

Legends: Z-A as the First Examination

The console's first major test was the October release of the new Pokémon game. The franchise had well-known technical problems on the initial console, with games like the Scarlet and Violet games debuting in highly problematic conditions. Nintendo's hardware didn't bear all the responsibility for those problems; the actual engine powering the developer's games was old and strained past its limits in the transition to larger environments. Legends: Z-A would be more of a test for its studio than anything, but there was still a lot to observe from the title's graphics and performance on Switch 2.

Despite the release's restricted visual fidelity has opened debates about the studio's prowess, there's no denying that Legends: Z-A is nowhere near the tech disaster of its earlier title, the previous Legends game. It performs at a consistent 60 fps on Switch 2, but the Switch version tops out at 30 frames per second. Some pop-in occurs, and you may notice various fuzzy textures if you examine carefully, but you won't hit anything like the situation in Arceus where you initially fly and watch the whole terrain beneath turn into a uneven, basic graphics. That qualifies to give the system some passing marks, but with caveats given that Game Freak has separate challenges that amplify limited hardware.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment as a More Challenging Performance Examination

Currently available is a more compelling tech test, yet, due to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, released November 6. This Zelda derivative challenges the upgraded system due to its Musou formula, which has players facing off against a huge number of enemies continuously. The franchise's last installment, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, had issues on the first Switch as the hardware struggled with its fast-paced action and density of things happening. It often fell below its target 30fps and produced the feeling that you were pushing too hard when going too hard in battle.

Thankfully is that it too succeeds the hardware challenge. I've been putting the release thoroughly during the past month, completing all missions included. In that time, it's clear that it achieves a consistent frame rate versus its previous game, maintaining its 60 fps mark with better regularity. Performance can dip in the most heated of battles, but There were no instances of any time when it becomes a choppy presentation as the framerate chugs. Some of this might be due to the situation where its short levels are structured to prevent too many enemies on the display simultaneously.

Important Limitations and Final Evaluation

There are still compromises that you're probably expecting. Most notably, splitscreen co-op experiences a noticeable decrease closer to the 30 fps range. It's also the first Switch 2 first-party game where I've really noticed a major difference between older OLED technology and the updated LCD screen, with notably in story sequences appearing less vibrant.

Overall though, Age of Imprisonment is a night and day difference over its earlier title, just as Pokémon Legends: Z-A is to the earlier Pokémon title. For those seeking evidence that the upgraded system is delivering on its hardware potential, despite some limitations still in tow, both games demonstrate effectively of how Nintendo's latest is markedly enhancing series that struggled on older technology.