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It's surprising, but we're already closing in on the new Switch 2 console's six-month anniversary. When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches on Dec. 4, we can provide the console a fairly thorough assessment thanks to its strong lineup of first-party initial releases. Heavy hitters like the new Donkey Kong game will dominate that analysis, but it's the company's latest releases, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and recently Age of Imprisonment, that have enabled the new console pass a critical examination in its initial half-year: the tech exam.

Tackling Hardware Worries

Prior to Nintendo officially announced the successor system, the biggest concern from gamers around the rumored system was regarding performance. When it comes to hardware, the company fell behind Sony and Microsoft in recent cycles. That fact began to show in the Switch's final years. The expectation was that a successor would bring smoother performance, improved visuals, and modern capabilities like ultra-high definition. That's exactly what we got when the device was released in June. That's what its specs indicated, at least. To truly know if the new console is an improvement, we required examples of major titles running on it. We've finally gotten that in recent days, and the assessment is favorable.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A as the Initial Challenge

The system's initial big challenge arrived with last month's the new Pokémon game. Pokémon games had notable performance issues on the initial console, with releases including Scarlet and Violet launching in downright disastrous states. Nintendo's hardware wasn't exactly to blame for those problems; the underlying technology driving the Pokémon titles was aged and being pushed much further than it could go in the series' gradual open-world pivot. Legends: Z-A would be more of a test for its creator than any other factor, but there was still a lot we'd be able to glean from the title's graphics and its operation on the upgraded hardware.

Although the title's limited detail has opened debates about Game Freak's technical capabilities, it's undeniable that this Pokémon game is not at all like the performance mess of its predecessor, Arceus. It operates at a stable 60 frames per second on Switch 2, while the older hardware reaches only 30 frames per second. Objects still appear suddenly, and you'll find many low-resolution elements if you examine carefully, but you won't hit anything like the moment in Arceus where you initially fly and see the entire ground below become a jagged, polygonal surface. That qualifies to earn the Switch 2 a decent grade, but with caveats since the studio has its own problems that worsen restricted capabilities.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment as the More Challenging Performance Examination

There is now a tougher hardware challenge, yet, because of Age of Imprisonment, released November 6. The new Zelda spin-off tests the new console thanks to its Musou formula, which has players facing off against a literal army of monsters continuously. The franchise's last installment, the previous Hyrule Warriors, had issues on the initial console as the system couldn't handle with its fast-paced action and density of things happening. It frequently dropped under the intended 30 frames and gave the impression that you were breaking the game when being too aggressive.

The good news is that it likewise clears the tech test. Having tested the release thoroughly over the last few weeks, playing every single mission available. During that period, the results show that it's been able to deliver a smoother performance compared to its previous game, maintaining its 60 fps mark with more consistency. It sometimes drops in the fiercest fights, but I've yet to hit any situation where I'm suddenly watching a choppy presentation as the performance struggles. Part of that may result from the fact that its bite-sized missions are designed to avoid excessive numbers of foes on the battlefield concurrently.

Notable Compromises and General Evaluation

There are still foreseeable trade-offs. Primarily, cooperative multiplayer has a substantial reduction around 30 frames. Moreover the first Switch 2 first-party game where there's a clear a significant contrast between older OLED technology and the current LCD panel, with cutscenes especially having a washed out quality.

However generally, this release is a night and day difference compared to its previous installment, similar to Z-A is to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. For those seeking confirmation that the upgraded system is delivering on its hardware potential, although with certain reservations present, the two releases provide a clear example of how the Switch 2 is markedly enhancing titles that performed poorly on previous systems.