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It's surprising, however we're approaching the new Switch 2 console's six-month anniversary. Once Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches on December 4, we'll be able to give the console a detailed progress report based on its impressive roster of Nintendo-developed initial releases. Blockbuster games like the new Donkey Kong game will lead that check-in, however it's the company's latest releases, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and recently Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, that have helped the Switch 2 pass a crucial test in its opening six months: the hardware evaluation.

Tackling Power Worries

Before Nintendo officially announced the successor system, the primary worry from users about the then-theoretical console was about power. When it comes to components, Nintendo has lagged behind competing consoles in recent cycles. That fact began to show in the end of the Switch era. The desire was that a new model would bring consistent frame rates, smoother textures, and modern capabilities like ultra-high definition. That's precisely what arrived when the device was released in June. At least that's what its technical details suggested, at least. To truly know if the new console is an upgrade, we required examples of some key games performing on the hardware. That has now happened during the past fortnight, and the prognosis remains healthy.

Legends: Z-A as an Early Examination

The system's initial big challenge came with last month's Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Pokémon games had some infamous tech struggles on the first Switch, with titles such as the Scarlet and Violet games debuting in downright disastrous states. The system didn't bear all the responsibility for those problems; the actual engine powering Game Freak's RPGs was outdated and getting stretched past its limits in the series' gradual open-world pivot. This installment would be more challenging for its studio than anything else, but there remained much to observe from the game's visual clarity and how it runs on the new system.

While the game's restricted visual fidelity has initiated conversations about the developer's skills, there's no denying that Legends: Z-A is far from the performance mess of its predecessor, the previous Legends game. It performs at a consistent 60 fps on Switch 2, while the original console reaches only 30 fps. Pop-in is still present, and there are plenty of blurry assets if you look closely, but you won't hit anything similar to the situation in Arceus where you first take to the skies and observe the whole terrain beneath transform into a rough, low-poly terrain. This is sufficient to earn the Switch 2 a decent grade, though with reservations considering that the studio has independent issues that exacerbate limited hardware.

The New Zelda Game as the Tougher Hardware Challenge

Currently available is a tougher hardware challenge, however, because of the new Hyrule Warriors, launched earlier this month. The latest Musou title challenges the upgraded system because of its Musou formula, which has users confronting a literal army of monsters constantly. The earlier title, the previous Hyrule Warriors, had issues on the first Switch as the hardware struggled with its quick combat and numerous on-screen elements. It frequently dropped under the intended 30 frames and gave the impression that you were pushing too hard when fighting intensely.

Fortunately is that it too succeeds the hardware challenge. Having tested the release thoroughly during the past month, experiencing every level available. During that period, the results show that it achieves a consistent frame rate versus its predecessor, actually hitting its 60 frames target with better regularity. It sometimes drops in the most intense combat, but I've yet to hit any situation where I'm suddenly watching a slideshow as the performance struggles. Part of that could be because of the fact that its compact stages are designed to avoid too many enemies on the display simultaneously.

Notable Trade-offs and Overall Evaluation

Remaining are expected limitations. Primarily, splitscreen co-op has a noticeable decrease closer to the 30 fps range. It's also the premier exclusive release where I've really noticed a significant contrast between my old OLED display and the new LCD display, with notably in story sequences looking faded.

Overall though, this release is a complete change compared to its predecessor, similar to Z-A is to Arceus. For those seeking confirmation that the new console is meeting its tech promises, although with certain reservations remaining, these titles demonstrate effectively of how Nintendo's latest is substantially boosting franchises that had issues on old hardware.