Diving into 4 Release Day Games for the Switch 2

The launch day game selection for the Switch 2 was uninspired. Most were titles already available for other platforms and ported to Nintendo for the first time. Still, we wanted to play a selection of what was available day one to see how the new system performed, and check out the different styles of games that Nintendo introduced for their new hardware. 

For this article we tried a completely new game, a Game-Key Card game, a paid upgrade and a GameCube game. Here is what we found.

The New Game: Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World was one of only two new games to truly launch with the Switch 2, the other being the tech demo Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. The latest Mario Kart game introduces an open world setting called Free Roam where players can take part in challenges or just wander the roads around their favorite areas. It is a great way to explore and try new skills while not in a race. There are also minigames scattered throughout the countryside. Completing these will yield coins or other rewards. At the time of this writing, Free Roam is only available in single player mode. 

Apart from the Free Roam, there are a number of other modes including Grand Prix, Battle, Time Trial and Knockout Tour. Knockout Tour is one of the new features where players race between multiple locations on the map. At each location, you need to cross the finish line in a certain place, or be eliminated. Early on this is relatively easy, as you need to finish in the top 20 or 16, but it becomes progressively harder, with only the top four players advancing to the final stage.

For those who enjoy the Mario Kart franchise, Mario Kart World is more of the same. It is fun and great to play with family and friends. Everything has a nice new polish you would hope for in a launch game, and the added modes are enjoyable.

The Game-Key Card: Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster

With the Switch 2 announcement came Nintendo's newest kind of game, the Game-Key Card. This hybrid incorporates the best (or worst) aspects of digital and physical games. The cartridge is required to play the game, but contains none of the game data. That needs to be downloaded from the internet. Once the game is downloaded, an internet connection is no longer required. 

We decided to try one of these new titles with the Switch 2 and went with Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster. Originally released in 2012 on the Nintendo 3DS, it is one of the few release day games that is only available on the Switch 2. As advertised, when the cartridge is inserted with no internet, the system tells you content needs to be downloaded to play. Once it is  installed, the game works with no Wi-Fi connection. 

Bravely Default is a turn-based role-playing game that takes place in a world that is protected by four elemental crystals. When one crystal is consumed by evil, a group of unlikely heroes try to save the lands. Each new character who joins the fight starts as a freelancer, but can learn different jobs or skill sets as they advance. There are 24 different jobs that can be learned in the game, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Maybe it is because it originated as a mobile system game, but Bravely Default looks and plays fantastic on the Switch 2 in handheld mode. The Game-Key Card is a bit of an annoyance, but once installed it works well.

The Paid Update: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

While a number of Switch 1 games are free to update for the Switch 2, others offer paid upgrades that add better graphics and new features. The latest mainline Zelda games - Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom - fall into the later category. The upgrades for these games cost $10, or are free with the top tier subscribers of Nintendo Switch Online (NSO).We decided to upgrade our version of Breath of the Wild and give it a try. 

Popping open the Switch 2 version of the game, the changes are noticeable. Graphics look cleaner and crisper, and load times are speedy. For those who never played Breath of the Wild on the original Switch, this is the best way to experience it going forward.

Apart from the graphic improvements, the update adds functionality through the Nintendo Switch app for smartphones. Zelda Notes provide extras for both games listed above, but one of the upgrades that sold me was the ability to fix weapons right from the app. Unfortunately, this announced functionality was not completely true. It is possible to repair in the app, but this is just one option that can be won from the daily bonus wheel. 

Zelda Notes offer other in-game functionality and enhancements that are quite nice. Voice memories are a new feature only available in the Switch 2 update that provide voice-acted story updates that can be found in game. Navigation provides an in-game map that can show secrets including shrines. My Play Data will show your in-game stats, while Item Sharing allows players to share their in-game creations with others by creating a QR code they can scan. 

The enhanced graphics and added functionality through the Nintendo app make the Legend of Zelda upgrades worthwhile, especially if you are a NSO subscriber.

The GameCube Reissue: Soulcalibur 2

Along with the release of the Switch 2 came GameCube games on Nintendo Switch Online (NSO). These are exclusive to the new console, and there are limited titles as the new emulator launches. At the time of this writing, there are three GameCube games available to play: F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker and Soulcalibur 2. Since we already played a racing and Zelda game, we decided to check out Soulcalibur 2.

The Soulcalibur series has always been a favorite fighting franchise, so firing up this classic was a blast. The GameCube app allows users to play games in standard definition or in CRT mode, which brings back the look and lines of a classic television. As it was created for older sets, the content is in 4:3 ratio, which means there are borders on both sides to make the game fit. 

The GameCube app is fun but lacking. With very little content there currently, it is worth waiting until more titles are released. Personally, we are hoping for Ribbit King.