After eight years, theNintendo Switch 2was finally released, and it feels very much like a Super Switch.Reviews have been describing it that way, and while that’s not a bad thing, the system has to address all the issues present in the Switch 1. Joy-Con drift, input lag, odd sliding mechanism for the controllers, and storage space were a few of them, and to Nintendo’s credit, they have addressed certain issues.
The new magnetic Joy-Cons work much better, and I was able to fit every Switch game I own onto a single Switch 2 system with the available storage. However, one issue baffling stayed the same, and I didn’t realize it until I used the Switch 2 for myself. Upon using the Joy-Con grip, Idiscovered the harsh realitythat Nintendo didn’t improve it. They’re still just as poorly designed,essentially requiring a Switch Pro Controller for most games.
It Seems Like Nintendo Didn’t Improve The Joy-Con Grip At All
Joy-Cons Still Aren’t A Great Way To Play Most Games
When the Switch 1 came out, I distinctly remember having a great time in handheld mode and playing select games, Wii Remote and Nunchuk-style. However, when I tried the grip, it was a terrible experience. Having avertical design for a two-handed traditional controller is a recipe for disaster. It feels so uncomfortable that I frankly can’t stand to play with it. Grip controllers, like the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 4, naturally have a layout so that your thumbs are at an angle, which feels great, but the Joy-Con grip forces your thumbs to be awkwardly straight up.
Wii Remote and Nunchuk-style refers to playing a Switch game with a Joy-Con in each hand.
I remember when the Switch 1 Pro Controller came out,Rerezdid a YouTube review suggesting that future grips should widen the design to create more of a V-shape. That’s exactlywhat Nintendo should have done, but the company didn’t. It’s the same uncomfortable design as before. The Switch 2 Joy-Con grip has the same magnetic features as the console, which is a tiny improvement, but that’s not what people were criticizing. Like the Switch 1, you’ll need a Switch Pro Controller because once you get one, you’re never going back for most games.
You Must Buy The Switch 2 Pro Controller
It’s A Night-And-Day Difference
Sure, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller doesn’t come with the system and is quite expensive to boot. However, it wasn’tuntil I bought one that I realized how truly essential it is. Nearly all Nintendo Switch titles, especially thebest games available on Switch 2, will work best with the Pro Controller, and it’s not even close. Switch 2 has a lot of great action/action-RPG games, likeBayonetta 2,Wonderful 101 Remastered,Astral Chain, andCyberpunk 2077.
I spent very little time with the Joy-Cons before I ended up using my Pro Controller again. It just can’t be beat.
I can’t imagine myself playing any of those with the Joy-Cons, except in handheld mode. Games likeBayonetta 1or2were meant to be played with a traditional controller, and using the Joy-Con grip with its vertical layout is a nightmare. Additionally, thePro Controller is the nicest-feeling controller I’ve ever used, thanks to its incredible front and back grips. Not even the Xbox Elite Controller has the grip texture on offer here.
Once I hooked up my Switch 2, I spent very little time with the Joy-Cons before I ended up using my Pro Controller again. It just can’t be beat. However, it’s worth noting that if you already own a Switch 1 Pro Controller, it will work on the Switch 2, even with Switch 2 exclusive games. The dedicated Switch 2 Pro Controller has some improvements, like the D-pad, so if you have a spare $85, it may still be worth considering. No matter which Pro Controller you get, it improves theSwitch 2experience immensely.
