Nintendo Direct 4/2/25 review: Switch 2 a new generation

Here it finally comes, the moment people have been waiting months to see. Nintendo is finally showcasing the Switch 2 in all of its glory. Without any more interruptions, we finally get to see what Nintendo has in store for this new system.

 

First up, we have the brand new Mario Kart game, officially revealed as Mario Kart World. Featuring 28 brand new tracks, interconnected through a large-scale map that you can drive on, driving to track to track while driving in your own direction. With classic grand prix mode, new and returning items, and even doubling the number of drivers to 24 racers per race, now with alternate costumes. It looks impressive for a brand new Mario Kart game, and is giving me a lot of Forza Horizon vibes. 

 

Next up, we have a showcase of all the new features of the Switch 2 system. Featuring a brand new C button that activates voice chat with your fellow friends, very similar to Discord. From the screen shares to the video camera with an external camera, they’re making this the place to chat, featuring a year free to have people test it out. They also showcased Download Play, similar to the DS and 3DS, renamed Gameshare, for alot of previously released games with free updates. With 7.9 inches of screen, 1080p for the screen, up to 120 frames per second, a brighter screen, a 4K resolution dock, magnetic joycons with a secure locking mechanic, use them like a computer mouse, and more insane features that are sure to please long time and new players. There’s even a tech demo that showcases the Switch 2 called Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which showcases what makes your system what it is. All of these new features showcased could be well worth the 450 dollars that Nintendo is asking for when it launches on June 5th, 2025.

 

They even talked about how the Switch 2 can play 3 types of games: Switch, Switch 2, and Switch 2 edition of switch games. Some of these upgraded games come with new features, new levels, and new ways to experience these games. Some of these games include Super Mario Party Jamboree, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Pokemon Legends Z-A. These games can be bought for Switch 2, or if you have the games on hand for the first Switch, you can buy an upgrade pack for an extra cost. I would have preferred if these were free, but I hope that these upgrades don’t cost alot of money to use. 

 

Next up, they showcased a brand new game called DRAGxDRIVE, which is a 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball game that takes full advantage of the Switch 2’s mouse movements of the new Joycons. It looks interesting enough, but I do hope this game gets its wheels off the ground, unlike Nintendo with ARMS. DRAGxDRIVE comes out this summer for the Switch 2.

 

Next, Nintendo is showcasing its third-party support for the Switch 2 by showcasing brand-new games from their partners. These games include Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Hades 2, Street Fighter 6 (featuring amiibo of 3 new fighters: Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly), Daemon x Machina: Titanic Sicon, Split Fiction, EA Sports FC, Madden, Hogwarts Legacy, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, Hitman: World of Assassination, a brand new 007 game, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy, and Yakuza Zero: Directors Cut.

 

Another game that was showcased is Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, in partnership with Koei Tecmo. This game takes place during The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s imprisoning war, which was a major event that happened through flashbacks in the game, now told in the Warriors playstyle. I think a game like this is neat because it gives the players more context on what happened during this time. 

 

As for Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo has announced that Nintendo Switch 2 is getting Gamecube games for its retro lineup. Games coming out on launch include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soul Calibur II, and F-Zero GX, but there are plenty of other games coming out for this service at a later date, including Super Mario Sunshine, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Chibi Robo, and tons more. While I would have liked to buy these like the old Virtual Console releases, the fact that some of these games are being released at all is nothing short of a miracle. 

 

Nintendo is surprisingly not done with it’s third-party releases as they did another wave of revealing their partner games from their partners and indie developers. These games include Deltarune 1+2+3+4, Borderlands 4, Civilization VII, WWE 2K, NBA 2K, Survival Kids, Enter the Gungeon 2, Starseeker, Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Kuntsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Story of Seasons, Grand Bazar, Goodnight Universe, Two Point Museum, Wild Hearts S, Witchbrook, Poyo Puyo Tetris 2S, Rune Factory, Guardians of Azuma, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Star Wars Outlaws, Nobunaga,s Ambition: Awakening Complete edition, Fast Fusion, Shadow Labyrinth, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, No Sleep for Kanamw Date-From AI: The Somnium Files, Reanimal, Fortnite, Arcade Archives 2 RIDGE RACER, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, Tamagotchi Plaza, and Human Fall Flat 2. With this impressive lineup of games that are coming at launch or within the first few months, the Switch 2 is bound to have something for everyone who wishes to game. 

 

With it’s final third-party appearance of the show, Nintendo has revealed a new title from FromSoftware that showcases a familiar feeling of dread, age-old wonders, monsters, and myth. With intense fights, a world that feels alive, and dark turns around every corner, this game, The Duskbloods, has something for Elden Ring players. The Duskbloods comes out in 2026 and it’s only on the Switch 2.

 

Back to the first-party games, we see that a beloved game is finally getting a sequel, Kirby Air Riders, where Kirby and friends ride on iconic vehicles like the Warp Star, Wheelie, and tons more. Featuring the game’s director Masahiro Sakurai, who was the original creator of Kirby. This game brings me tons of joy as I have played through this game alot as a kid. I cannot wait for it to come out later this year.

The final game to come out on this direct is a brand new, 3D Donkey Kong game called Donkey Kong Bananza, where the titular ape can smash, bash, and dig his way through an open-world environment as he traverses through these lands on a quest. This game gives me alot of Super Mario Oddessy vibes and I cannot wait to give it a try. 

 

As i am finally done going through the news about the Switch 2, I can safely say that Nintendo has created another incredible system that will be remembered for generations to come. The system itself looks really sleek and the games shown are nothing short of impressive, even if the prices of these games are a bit too much. I believe in giving a system like this a chance to show what it can do, but for now, I believe that the Switch 2 could be a well-received purchase if Nintendo plays its cards right. Overall, the Switch 2 has something for everyone, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. 

 

9/10