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It's astonishing, yet we're nearly at the new Switch 2 console's half-year mark. Once Metroid Prime 4: Beyond debuts on the fourth of December, we'll be able to give the system a detailed assessment due to its solid selection of Nintendo-developed launch window games. Heavy hitters like Donkey Kong Bananza will headline that analysis, but it's Nintendo's two most recent games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and recently Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, that have allowed the Switch 2 conquer a key challenge in its first six months: the tech exam.

Confronting Hardware Concerns

Prior to Nintendo formally revealed the new console, the main issue from gamers regarding the then-theoretical console was regarding performance. In terms of components, Nintendo has lagged behind Sony and Microsoft for several generations. That fact was evident in the end of the Switch era. The hope was that a new model would introduce more stable framerates, better graphics, and industry-standard features like ultra-high definition. That's exactly what we got when the device was debuted this summer. That's what its hardware specifications promised, at least. To truly know if the Switch 2 is an improvement, we required examples of major titles performing on the hardware. We now have that evidence during the past fortnight, and the prognosis remains healthy.

The Pokémon Title as an Initial Challenge

The first significant examination came with last month's the new Pokémon game. The franchise had some infamous tech struggles on the original Switch, with titles such as Scarlet and Violet debuting in highly problematic conditions. The system wasn't exactly to blame for those issues; the underlying technology driving Game Freak's RPGs was old and getting stretched beyond its capabilities in the transition to larger environments. Legends: Z-A would be more challenging for its creator than any other factor, but we could still learn to observe from the visual presentation and how it runs on the new system.

Although the title's restricted visual fidelity has initiated conversations about Game Freak's technical capabilities, it's clear that this Pokémon game is nowhere near the performance mess of its preceding game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It runs at a consistent 60 fps on the new console, whereas the original console tops out at thirty frames. Some pop-in occurs, and you may notice many low-resolution elements if you examine carefully, but you won't encounter anything resembling the situation in Arceus where you first take to the skies and see the whole terrain beneath become a uneven, basic graphics. That qualifies to grant the new console a satisfactory rating, but with caveats given that the studio has its own problems that worsen basic technology.

Age of Imprisonment as the Tougher Tech Test

We now have a more compelling tech test, though, thanks to Age of Imprisonment, launched earlier this month. The new Zelda spin-off challenges the upgraded system thanks to its action-oriented style, which has gamers battling a literal army of monsters constantly. The franchise's last installment, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, had issues on the first Switch as the console couldn't keep up with its fast-paced action and density of things happening. It regularly decreased below its target 30fps and created the sensation that you were overwhelming the system when fighting intensely.

Thankfully is that it also passes the tech test. After playing the title extensively during the past month, completing all missions included. During that period, it's clear that it achieves a consistent frame rate compared to its predecessor, actually hitting its 60 fps mark with better regularity. Performance can dip in the most intense combat, but I haven't experienced any moment where I'm suddenly watching a slideshow as the performance struggles. Part of that could be because of the reality that its compact stages are careful not to put overwhelming hordes on the display simultaneously.

Important Limitations and Overall Evaluation

Remaining are expected limitations. Most notably, cooperative multiplayer sees performance taking a noticeable decrease around 30 frames. Additionally the first Switch 2 first-party game where it's apparent a major difference between older OLED technology and the current LCD panel, with notably in story sequences appearing less vibrant.

Overall though, the new game is a dramatic improvement versus its earlier title, just as Pokémon Legends: Z-A is to the earlier Pokémon title. For those seeking confirmation that the Switch 2 is fulfilling its hardware potential, although with certain reservations present, the two releases provide a clear example of how the Switch 2 is markedly enhancing series that struggled on older technology.