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It's hard to believe, but we're already closing in on the Nintendo Switch 2's six-month anniversary. Once Metroid Prime 4: Beyond releases on December 4, we can provide the console a comprehensive assessment thanks to its solid selection of Nintendo-developed initial releases. Heavy hitters like Donkey Kong Bananza will lead that analysis, but it's Nintendo's two most recent games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and currently Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, that have allowed the Switch 2 overcome a critical examination in its initial half-year: the performance test.

Addressing Performance Worries

Prior to Nintendo publicly unveiled the new console, the biggest concern from gamers around the rumored system was about power. Regarding hardware, Nintendo has lagged behind Sony and Microsoft in recent cycles. That fact was evident in the original Switch's later life. The expectation was that a Switch 2 would deliver smoother performance, improved visuals, and industry-standard features like 4K resolution. That's precisely what arrived when the system was debuted this summer. Or that's what its technical details suggested, for the most part. To accurately assess if the new console is an improvement, we required examples of some key games operating on the system. That has now happened over the last two weeks, and the assessment is favorable.

The Pokémon Title as the First Test

The first significant examination came with last month's the new Pokémon game. The franchise had notable performance issues on the initial console, with releases including Scarlet and Violet launching in very poor shape. The system didn't bear all the responsibility for those issues; the actual engine powering Game Freak's RPGs was outdated and getting stretched beyond its capabilities in the franchise's move to open-world. Legends: Z-A would be more challenging for its creator than anything, but there remained much to observe from the visual presentation and performance on Switch 2.

Although the title's limited detail has opened debates about the developer's skills, there's no denying that the latest installment is not at all like the tech disaster of its earlier title, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It performs at a consistent 60 fps on the new console, but the Switch version tops out at 30 frames per second. Objects still appear suddenly, and there are various fuzzy textures if you examine carefully, but you won't experience anything like the moment in Arceus where you initially fly and see the complete landscape transform into a rough, low-poly terrain. This is sufficient to earn the Switch 2 a decent grade, though with reservations considering that the developer has separate challenges that exacerbate basic technology.

The New Zelda Game as the More Demanding Tech Test

Currently available is a more demanding performance examination, however, due to Age of Imprisonment, released November 6. The new Zelda spin-off tests the new console because of its action-oriented style, which has users confronting a massive horde of creatures continuously. The earlier title, the previous Hyrule Warriors, performed poorly on the first Switch as the hardware struggled with its quick combat and sheer amount of activity. It regularly decreased below its target 30fps and created the sensation that you were pushing too hard when fighting intensely.

Fortunately is that it also passes the performance examination. I've been putting the title extensively during the past month, playing every single mission included. Throughout this testing, the results show that it achieves a smoother performance relative to its earlier title, reaching its 60 frames target with better regularity. It can still slip up in the most heated of battles, but I've yet to hit any time when the game turns into a choppy presentation as the framerate chugs. Part of that may result from the situation where its bite-sized missions are careful not to put overwhelming hordes on the display simultaneously.

Significant Limitations and Final Assessment

There are still expected limitations. Primarily, splitscreen co-op experiences a noticeable decrease around 30 frames. Moreover the first Switch 2 first-party game where I've really noticed a major difference between previous OLED screens and the new LCD display, with notably in story sequences having a washed out quality.

Overall though, the new game is a dramatic improvement over its earlier title, similar to Pokémon Legends: Z-A is to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Should you require evidence that the upgraded system is delivering on its tech promises, despite some limitations present, these titles demonstrate effectively of the way the new console is markedly enhancing titles that performed poorly on old hardware.