It takes a lot to get me up at 4am UK time, but that's exactly what Nintendo did when they captured the imaginations of many gamers around the globe with their Nintendo Switch in-depth reveal last Friday. With specific details of the hardware, release date, and a whole host of game reveals for the upcoming twelve months, Nintendo demonstrated a device that has the potential to be truly game-changing, but still leaves us with a lot of questions. Is the Nintendo Switch worth its $300 price tag, and how does it compare to similar touch-screen devices such as the iPhone and iPad and their unparalleled library of games" Last Sunday, I attended the Nintendo Switch Premiere Event in London's Hammersmith Apollo, and my hands-on experience of the revolutionary new console alleviated many of my initial fears, even if some lingering doubts regarding the extent of developer support for the device remained.
My first impression of the Nintendo Switch was during the demo for the phenomenal The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and holding the device for the first time in its 'handheld' orientation was genuinely shocking. Having had extensive experience of previous Nintendo products, especially the wieldy, plastic construction of the Wii U Gamepad, this was an entirely different proposition. The 720p screen was incredibly sharp and colorful, the JoyCon attachments were comfortable to grip (even if the weight of the device may make extensive gaming sessions slightly more difficult)...