Nintendo’s Massive Release
Tomorrow is the release date for the Nintendo Switch 2. One of the craziest releases I have seen in recent years. Back in the early 2010s, when a console was released, entire city blocks were taken over. People would camp outside stores for weeks or even months on end. It was never a mere release, it was an event. Somewhere along the line, companies failed to capture audiences in the same way. Sony has posted some of their highest numbers ever, yet conversely, didn’t exactly shut down stores upon release.
This represents a unique moment in history. A rare moment when a console release can become something more. Nintendo has managed to accomplish something genuinely rare, capturing the best of times past and fusing it with today.
Switch 2 Arrival, Mad Hatter Delivery
Assuming all goes well, a console should arrive at my doorstep sometime tomorrow. (Delivery out where I live is basically run by the Mad Hatter. Stuff regularly shows when it isn’t supposed to. I can’t help but think of that scene where the Hatter celebrates his ‘unbirthdays’) Of course, assuming it does, I am looking forward to seeing how ‘Mario Kart World’ has evolved over the years. I already have pre-ordered ‘Donkey Kong Bananza’, so I suppose there will be a new 3D Mario announced, and that should be interesting. I especially am looking forward to playing ‘Tears of the Kingdom’ in glorious 4K.
As I’ve mentioned numerous times, I truly believe the entire point of art should be to create stuff, not merely consume. Merely consuming art creates a terrible cycle within us all. It gives the impression that somehow we are incapable of creating anything meaningful. More than merely having a great time, I hope there will be new stories and experiences that inspire me with fresh ideas. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Nintendo Stories That Never End
I am also interested in seeing the future of characters like Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong. The more I reflect, the more I realize how much of my life has been bookended by these Nintendo characters. It is impressive to think that characters can evolve and grow with us. I think about how I spent much of my formative years reading Spider-Man and X-Men comics. I spent countless hours traversing Hyrule in all its iterations. Instead of turning me into some couch-dwelling individual, I became a creator.
Is the Switch 2 overhyped? No, I don’t think so. Nintendo has created some of the best video game universes and characters. Although I truly love games like ‘Uncharted 4’ and ‘Horizon Forbidden West’. But as masterful as these are, there is an end to these games. ‘Uncharted’ is sadly over, and ‘Horizon’ will probably end with the next game. There will always be Hyrule. Mario will always be journeying through the world, and beyond. There will always be new moments and adventures.
With that being said, the Nvidia graphics processor, new display, better controls and faster processor are really all just icing on the cake here. Being a part of the ever-continuing stories from some of my favorite games is what really sold me.
