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It's astonishing, but we're nearly at the new Switch 2 console's six-month milestone. When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond debuts on the fourth of December, we can provide the device a detailed evaluation based on its solid selection of exclusive launch window games. Major titles like the new Donkey Kong game will lead that check-in, yet it's two newest Nintendo titles, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and now the Hyrule Warriors sequel, that have allowed the new console overcome a crucial test in its initial half-year: the performance test.

Addressing Hardware Worries

Ahead of Nintendo formally revealed the new console, the primary worry from players about the rumored system was regarding performance. When it comes to technology, Nintendo trailed PlayStation and Xbox for several generations. That fact was evident in the Switch's final years. The hope was that a new model would deliver smoother performance, better graphics, and modern capabilities like 4K resolution. That's exactly what we got when the device was launched in June. That's what its specs indicated, anyway. To really determine if the upgraded system is an upgrade, it was necessary to observe important releases operating on the system. We now have that evidence during the past fortnight, and the prognosis remains healthy.

Legends: Z-A as the Initial Test

The console's first major test came with October's Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The Pokémon series had notable performance issues on the first Switch, with games like Scarlet and Violet debuting in downright disastrous states. The console itself didn't bear all the responsibility for those issues; the game engine powering the developer's games was outdated and getting stretched beyond its capabilities in the series' gradual open-world pivot. Legends: Z-A would be more of a test for its developer than anything, but there was still a lot to analyze from the title's graphics and how it runs on the new system.

Although the title's limited detail has initiated conversations about the developer's skills, there's no denying that the latest installment is not at all like the technical failure of its preceding game, Arceus. It operates at a stable 60 frames per second on the upgraded system, but the Switch version maxes out at thirty frames. Objects still appear suddenly, and there are plenty of blurry assets if you look closely, but you won't encounter anything resembling the moment in Arceus where you first take to the skies and see the entire ground below transform into a jagged, polygonal surface. It's enough to give the system a satisfactory rating, though with reservations since the developer has separate challenges that exacerbate basic technology.

The New Zelda Game as the More Challenging Tech Test

We now have a tougher hardware challenge, though, due to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, out Nov. 6. The latest Musou title tests the new console thanks to its hack-and-slash gameplay, which has players facing off against a literal army of monsters continuously. 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 regularly decreased under the intended 30 frames and gave the impression that you were pushing too hard when fighting intensely.

Thankfully is that it also passes the tech test. I've been putting the release thoroughly during the past month, experiencing every level available. In that time, the results show that it's been able to deliver a more stable framerate versus its previous game, maintaining its sixty frames goal with more consistency. It can still slip up in the most intense combat, but I haven't experienced any time when the game turns into a choppy presentation as the frame rate suffers. A portion of this might be due to the reality that its compact stages are structured to prevent overwhelming hordes on the display simultaneously.

Notable Trade-offs and Overall Verdict

There are still compromises that you're probably expecting. Most notably, splitscreen co-op sees performance taking a substantial reduction around 30 frames. Additionally the initial Nintendo-developed title where it's apparent a noticeable variation between older OLED technology and the current LCD panel, with particularly during cinematics having a washed out quality.

But for the most part, Age of Imprisonment is a night and day difference compared to its earlier title, similar to Z-A is to Arceus. For those seeking any sign that the upgraded system is meeting its performance claims, although with certain reservations remaining, both games provide a clear example of the way the new console is significantly improving series that struggled on previous systems.