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It's surprising, yet we're already closing in on the Nintendo Switch 2's six-month milestone. When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches on Dec. 4, we can provide the system a detailed assessment thanks to its solid selection of exclusive launch window games. Blockbuster games like the new Donkey Kong game will dominate that analysis, but it's Nintendo's two most recent games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and now Age of Imprisonment, that have helped the Switch 2 pass a key challenge in its first six months: the performance test.

Tackling Hardware Worries

Prior to Nintendo publicly unveiled the new console, the primary worry from gamers regarding the rumored system was about power. Regarding components, the company fell behind PlayStation and Xbox for several generations. That fact was evident in the end of the Switch era. The hope was that a new model would deliver more stable framerates, better graphics, and modern capabilities like 4K. That's exactly what we got when the system was released in June. That's what its hardware specifications promised, at least. To really determine if the Switch 2 is an upgrade, it was necessary to observe major titles operating on the system. That has now happened in recent days, and the assessment is favorable.

The Pokémon Title as the First Test

The first significant examination was October's Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Pokémon games had some infamous tech struggles on the original Switch, with releases including the Scarlet and Violet games debuting in very poor shape. Nintendo's hardware wasn't exactly to blame for those problems; the underlying technology running Game Freak's RPGs was old and strained past its limits in the series' gradual open-world pivot. This installment would be a bigger examination for its studio than anything else, but there remained much we'd be able to glean from the game's visual clarity and how it runs on the new system.

While the game's limited detail has initiated conversations about the developer's skills, it's undeniable that Legends: Z-A is far from the tech disaster of its predecessor, the previous Legends game. It runs at a smooth 60 frames on the upgraded system, while the older hardware reaches only 30 frames per second. Some pop-in occurs, and you may notice many low-resolution elements if you examine carefully, but you won't experience anything like the situation in Arceus where you begin airborne travel and watch the complete landscape become a jagged, polygonal surface. This is sufficient to give the system a decent grade, but with caveats considering that Game Freak has separate challenges that amplify limited hardware.

The New Zelda Game as the More Demanding Tech Test

There is now a more compelling tech test, however, due to Age of Imprisonment, launched earlier this month. This Zelda derivative pushes the Switch 2 due to its Musou formula, which has gamers battling a massive horde of creatures continuously. The series' previous game, the previous Hyrule Warriors, performed poorly on the original Switch as the console couldn't keep up with its quick combat and density of things happening. It regularly decreased below the desired frame rate and gave the impression that you were breaking the game when being too aggressive.

Fortunately is that it also passes the performance examination. I've been putting the game through its paces over the last few weeks, completing all missions available. During that period, the results show that it's been able to deliver a consistent frame rate versus its previous game, maintaining its 60 frames target with better regularity. It can still slip up in the most heated of battles, but I haven't experienced any moment where I'm suddenly watching a choppy presentation as the performance struggles. Some of this may result from the situation where its short levels are structured to prevent too many enemies on the battlefield concurrently.

Significant Compromises and Final Verdict

There are still compromises that you're probably expecting. Especially, cooperative multiplayer sees performance taking a noticeable decrease closer to the 30 fps range. Moreover the first Switch 2 first-party game where I've really noticed a major difference between previous OLED screens and the current LCD panel, with particularly during cinematics having a washed out quality.

But for the most part, Age of Imprisonment is a dramatic improvement over its earlier title, like the Pokémon game is to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. For those seeking any sign that the Switch 2 is fulfilling its tech promises, despite some limitations still in tow, these titles show clearly of how the Switch 2 is substantially boosting titles that performed poorly on older technology.