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It's surprising, yet we're approaching the Nintendo Switch 2's six-month anniversary. When the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 debuts on December 4, we'll be able to give the device a detailed progress report due to its solid selection of first-party launch window games. Major titles like Donkey Kong Bananza will dominate that analysis, but it's two newest Nintendo titles, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and now the Hyrule Warriors sequel, that have enabled the new console pass a critical examination in its initial half-year: the tech exam.

Tackling Power Issues

Prior to Nintendo officially announced the Switch 2, the biggest concern from players around the rumored system was concerning hardware. When it comes to technology, the company fell behind PlayStation and Xbox in recent cycles. This situation began to show in the end of the Switch era. The hope was that a Switch 2 would deliver smoother performance, better graphics, and standard options like 4K. That's exactly what we got when the console was launched in June. Or that's what its specs indicated, for the most part. To accurately assess if the upgraded system is an enhancement, it was necessary to observe major titles operating on the system. We now have that evidence in recent days, and the assessment is favorable.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A as the Initial Test

The first significant examination came with October's the new Pokémon game. The Pokémon series had well-known technical problems on the first Switch, with titles such as the Scarlet and Violet games releasing in very poor shape. The console itself wasn't exactly to blame for those problems; the game engine driving the developer's games was old and getting stretched much further than it could go in the franchise's move to open-world. Legends: Z-A would be a bigger examination for its studio than anything, but there remained much we'd be able to glean from the title's graphics and how it runs on the new system.

While the game's basic graphics has opened debates about Game Freak's technical capabilities, it's clear that Legends: Z-A is not at all like the technical failure of its preceding game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It operates at a stable 60 frames per second on the new console, while the older hardware reaches only 30 frames per second. Objects still appear suddenly, and you may notice various fuzzy textures if you look closely, but you won't hit anything resembling the situation in Arceus where you first take to the skies and observe the whole terrain beneath become a jagged, polygonal surface. This is sufficient to give the system a satisfactory rating, though with reservations since Game Freak has independent issues that exacerbate basic technology.

Age of Imprisonment as the More Challenging Tech Test

We now have a tougher hardware challenge, though, thanks to the new Hyrule Warriors, released November 6. The latest Musou title tests the new console due to its Musou formula, which has players facing off against a huge number of enemies constantly. The franchise's last installment, the previous Hyrule Warriors, had issues on the first Switch as the system couldn't handle with its fast-paced action and sheer amount of activity. It regularly decreased below its target 30fps and gave the impression that you were pushing too hard when being too aggressive.

The good news is that it also passes the tech test. I've been putting the game through its paces in recent weeks, playing every single mission it has to offer. Throughout this testing, the results show that it's been able to deliver a smoother performance versus its previous game, reaching its 60 fps mark with better regularity. Performance can dip in the fiercest fights, but I haven't experienced any situation where I'm suddenly watching a stuttering mess as the framerate chugs. Part of that may result from the fact that its compact stages are careful not to put too many enemies on the battlefield concurrently.

Notable Trade-offs and General Verdict

Present are compromises that you're probably expecting. Especially, splitscreen co-op has a substantial reduction around 30 frames. Additionally the initial Nintendo-developed title where I've really noticed a major difference between older OLED technology and the current LCD panel, with particularly during cinematics having a washed out quality.

Overall though, Age of Imprisonment is a dramatic improvement compared to its predecessor, like the Pokémon game is to Arceus. For those seeking any sign that the Switch 2 is meeting its hardware potential, although with certain reservations still in tow, these titles show clearly of how the Switch 2 is markedly enhancing series that struggled on older technology.