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It's hard to believe, however we're approaching the new Switch 2 console's half-year mark. When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond debuts on Dec. 4, we can provide the console a comprehensive assessment thanks to its solid selection of exclusive launch window games. Blockbuster games like Donkey Kong Bananza will lead that analysis, but it's the company's latest releases, the Pokémon Legends installment and now Age of Imprisonment, that have allowed the successor overcome a crucial test in its first six months: the performance test.

Confronting Hardware Worries

Prior to Nintendo formally revealed the successor system, the main issue from players regarding the hypothetical device was concerning hardware. In terms of technology, Nintendo has lagged behind competing consoles in recent cycles. That fact was evident in the Switch's final years. The desire was that a successor would introduce consistent frame rates, smoother textures, and modern capabilities like ultra-high definition. That's precisely what arrived when the console was debuted this summer. At least that's what its specs indicated, anyway. To truly know if the new console is an improvement, it was necessary to observe some key games performing on the hardware. We've finally gotten that over the last two weeks, and the outlook is positive.

Legends: Z-A serving as First Test

The console's first major test was last month's the new Pokémon game. The franchise had notable performance issues on the original Switch, with titles such as Scarlet and Violet releasing in very poor shape. The system didn't bear all the responsibility for that; the underlying technology powering the Pokémon titles was aged and being pushed much further than it could go in the series' gradual open-world pivot. The new game would be a bigger examination for its studio than anything, but there remained much we'd be able to glean from the visual presentation and performance on Switch 2.

Although the title's limited detail has sparked discussions about Game Freak's technical capabilities, there's no denying that this Pokémon game is nowhere near the performance mess of its earlier title, Arceus. It operates at a consistent 60 fps on the new console, but the Switch version maxes out at 30 frames per second. Some pop-in occurs, and you'll find many low-resolution elements if you examine carefully, but you won't encounter anything like the moment in Arceus where you first take to the skies and watch the entire ground below turn into a uneven, basic graphics. That qualifies to give the system some passing marks, however with limitations considering that Game Freak has its own problems that worsen basic technology.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment as the More Demanding Tech Test

We now have a more compelling tech test, yet, due to the new Hyrule Warriors, out Nov. 6. The new Zelda spin-off tests the new console because of its Musou formula, which has users confronting a massive horde of creatures continuously. The franchise's last installment, Age of Calamity, struggled on the first Switch as the console couldn't keep up with its rapid gameplay and sheer amount of activity. It often fell below its target 30fps and produced the feeling that you were overwhelming the system when being too aggressive.

The good news is that it also passes the tech test. I've been putting the release thoroughly over the last few weeks, completing all missions included. Throughout this testing, it's clear that it achieves a more stable framerate compared to its earlier title, reaching its 60 frames target with more consistency. It can still slip up in the most heated of battles, but There were no instances of any time when the game turns into a choppy presentation as the frame rate suffers. A portion of this could be because of the fact that its compact stages are structured to prevent too many enemies on screen at once.

Notable Compromises and Overall Assessment

There are still foreseeable trade-offs. Primarily, cooperative multiplayer sees performance taking a noticeable decrease around 30 frames. It's also the initial Nintendo-developed title where it's apparent a noticeable variation between my old OLED display and the new LCD display, with cutscenes especially looking faded.

Overall though, this release is a complete change compared to its predecessor, just as Pokémon Legends: Z-A is to the earlier Pokémon title. If you need any sign that the upgraded system is meeting its tech promises, even with some caveats present, these titles show clearly of the way the new console is significantly improving series that struggled on previous systems.