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It's astonishing, however we're already closing in on the Nintendo Switch 2's half-year mark. By the time Metroid Prime 4: Beyond debuts on the fourth of December, it will be possible to deliver the device a detailed progress report thanks to its impressive roster of Nintendo-developed initial releases. Major titles like Donkey Kong Bananza will dominate that review, but it's Nintendo's two most recent games, the Pokémon Legends installment and currently Age of Imprisonment, that have helped the Switch 2 pass a crucial test in its initial half-year: the tech exam.

Tackling Performance Worries

Ahead of Nintendo officially announced the successor system, the biggest concern from gamers about the hypothetical device was concerning hardware. Regarding technology, Nintendo trailed PlayStation and Xbox over the last few console generations. That reality became apparent in the Switch's final years. The hope was that a successor would deliver smoother performance, better graphics, and standard options like ultra-high definition. 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 upgrade, we required examples of some key games performing on the hardware. We've finally gotten that in recent days, and the outlook is positive.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A as an Early Examination

The first significant examination came with the October release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The franchise had notable performance issues on the original Switch, with releases including Scarlet and Violet debuting in very poor shape. The system didn't bear all the responsibility for those issues; the game engine running the developer's games was aged and getting stretched past its limits in the transition to larger environments. Legends: Z-A would be a bigger examination for its developer than any other factor, but there was still a lot to analyze from the visual presentation and performance on Switch 2.

While the game's limited detail has opened debates about Game Freak's technical capabilities, there's no denying that this Pokémon game is not at all like the performance mess of its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It runs at a stable 60 frames per second on Switch 2, while the original console reaches only 30 fps. Objects still appear suddenly, and there are plenty of blurry assets if you zoom in, but you won't experience anything similar to the situation in Arceus where you initially fly and observe the whole terrain beneath turn into a rough, low-poly terrain. It's enough to earn the Switch 2 some passing marks, but with caveats considering that the developer has independent issues that worsen limited hardware.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment serving as a More Challenging Tech Test

Currently available is a more demanding performance examination, however, thanks to the new Hyrule Warriors, released November 6. The latest Musou title pushes the Switch 2 due to its hack-and-slash gameplay, which has users confronting a literal army of monsters at all times. The earlier title, the previous Hyrule Warriors, had issues on the initial console as the system couldn't handle with its rapid gameplay and numerous on-screen elements. It frequently dropped under the intended 30 frames and produced the feeling that you were pushing too hard when fighting intensely.

Fortunately is that it also passes the performance examination. Having tested the release thoroughly in recent weeks, completing all missions available. In that time, I've found that it manages to provide a more stable framerate versus its predecessor, maintaining its 60 frames target with more consistency. Performance can dip in the most heated of battles, but I've yet to hit any situation where it becomes a choppy presentation as the frame rate suffers. Part of that could be because of the situation where its short levels are careful not to put excessive numbers of foes on screen at once.

Notable Limitations and Final Assessment

Remaining are expected limitations. Especially, cooperative multiplayer has a significant drop near thirty frames. Moreover the first Switch 2 first-party game where it's apparent a major difference between previous OLED screens and the new LCD display, with notably in story sequences appearing less vibrant.

Overall though, Age of Imprisonment is a complete change versus its earlier title, similar to Z-A is to Arceus. Should you require evidence that the Switch 2 is fulfilling its performance claims, despite some limitations still in tow, both games demonstrate effectively of how Nintendo's latest is significantly improving franchises that had issues on old hardware.