After the Wii U debacle, I wasn't really going to rush right out and buy the next Nintendo console. In retrospect, I should have. Most people I talked to couldn't stop talking about the Switch. I'm not going to sit here and blow Nintendo smoke up your butt.
One thing I realized while playing these titles is that Nintendo really knows how to make some damn good video games. Sure, they're going to take some chances, but that's a good thing. It's a sign that a company doesn't want to go stale.
The Table of Contents
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild caught me off guard right away. Most Zelda games ease you in slowly, but I died several times right out of the gate. That set the tone early. The open world was
what really had me curious going in, and it delivered. There were no restrictions like needing X, Y, and Z before you could access a certain area. I could go anywhere and battle whoever I wanted. You still need to build your character up, but you are not locked into following a specific path. That is the joy of open-world gaming done right.
This is not a race from point A to point B, either. The stamina system is a good example of that. It slows everything down and makes you think about how you move through the world. The puzzles felt like classic Zelda, challenging enough to keep you engaged without being so brutal that you put the controller down.
My one real complaint is the weapon breaking. It got annoying, and the progression system could use some work. That feels like something Nintendo will improve on down the road. On the flip side, the music is excellent. I write about video game music a lot, and Breath of the Wild is a standout. It supports the game perfectly without ever feeling overwhelming. Another gold star from Nintendo.
Super Mario Odyssey
The controls in Super Mario Odyssey are spot on. Everything jumps, moves, and flows the way it should. The game brings back the open-ended style of Super Mario 64, which felt like coming home. The main new feature is Cappy, the hat that lets Mario take over enemies like T-Rexes and Goombas to solve puzzles. Throwing it is a blast, and it gave me flashbacks to Galaxy in the best way.
The kingdoms are a lot of fun, and the variety keeps things fresh. Familiar themes show up, including those 2D platformer sections built right into the levels, which is a nice touch. There are tons of cool mechanics that feel like they were made just for this game, and some of the platforming here is the best the series has ever had. The moons are everywhere, so exploration can run as deep as you want it to.
The outfits are a fun bonus too. My one question is whether the sheer size of it all pulls you away from tight gameplay at any point. There is no hub world to mess around in, which some people might miss, but it is a fun tribute to Mario's history and hard to complain too much about. I had to stop and think about how many bad Mario games actually exist. Yeah, took me a second too.
Luigi's Mansion 3
Luigi's Mansion 3 brought the vacuum back to Nintendo hardware after skipping the Wii entirely. It sets the tone right away with goofy humor, and I have to give them credit for that Virtual Boy reference early on. They are mocking their own history, and it works. The game takes its time getting started, but once you have the vacuum and the flashlight in hand, you are ready to go. From there the repetition basically disappears, which kept the gameplay feeling fresh throughout.
Gooigi is one of the more interesting additions, a clone made of jelly that opens up a whole new layer of puzzle solving. The dark light attachment on the flashlight was a cool mechanic too, and the puzzles stayed fun and fresh from floor to floor. Each floor ends with a boss fight before you can move on, and the way the game builds on itself as you go is welcome. The main quest is a little shorter than I expected, but the rest of the game is open for exploration if you want to dig in.
There is also an online four player Scream Scrapper mode that is a great time if you enjoy co-op. Fair warning though, it helps to have friends who know what they are doing.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of those games where you know what you are getting into. Nintendo kept the same formula and just expanded on it. More ways to progress, more ways to create, more reason to keep coming back. The day progression system means the grind is real, but it gets better the more time you put in. You build up your island, fish, chop wood, and chip away at goals. Simple stuff, but it works.
There is always something to work toward and a new reward waiting every day. The building side of things opens up in a big way, parks and structures, and whatever else you can dream up, which reminded me of Minecraft more than once. Nook Miles and crafting are the two biggest improvements the series has seen in a while. They give the whole experience more structure and direction. The online play is a little odd; visiting other people's islands never quite clicked for me the way the rest of the game did, but it is there if you want it.
If you have played Animal Crossing before, you know what this is. New Horizons just gives you more of it.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is essentially a port of the Wii U version, but it comes loaded with all the DLC included. My guess is Nintendo knew the game was rock solid and figured it deserved a second shot on hardware people actually owned. The Wii U never found its audience, so the Switch was the right place to let this one breathe.
The roster is massive right out of the box, 42 playable characters from across the Nintendo universe with no unlocking required. The double item box is back, too, which I was happy to see. You can hold up to two items at once now, rather than just one. If I remember right, that was a GameCube feature, so it was good to have it back. The vehicles got some tweaks that I personally did not think were necessary, but you can now unlock a new part for every 30 coins you collect, which gives you something to chase.
I never owned a Wii U, so Battle Mode was new to me entirely. Balloon mode ended up being my favorite thing in the game. Nintendo improved on what was already there, and it shows. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the same story as Odyssey and Breath of the Wild. Nintendo has the formula down, and this one does not miss a beat.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses finally brings the series back to a home console for the first time since the Wii. I will be honest, the whole school setting gave me some hesitation going in, but once I got past that, the game pulled me right in. Before I even got into the game itself, the hub grabbed me. There was so much to explore right from the start, and the character customization was great. I will say this upfront, though: buckle up. You will drop serious hours into this one if you plan on seeing it through.
You play as a professor at the Officers Academy, where you train students and lead them into battle. The weapon system added a real layer of strategy to the fights. Knowing which weapon worked best against each enemy made every battle more engaging. The monastery is huge, and I could spend hours just searching and exploring the grounds. Bonding with characters is a bigger emphasis here than I expected going in.
The social side of the game is deep. You build links with your house, form bonds with students, and can even pursue relationships, all of which reminded me of Persona. I also liked that you could recruit characters from the other houses to join your side. On top of that, everything in the game rewards you for your time. Fishing, eating, and gardening all count for something. I found that running a handful of extra battles each month just to level up my characters made a big difference. Highly recommend doing that.
That willingness to take chances is exactly what Breath of the Wild was. A big gamble, and boy did it pay off. Nintendo has a formula that makes great games, and if they stay true to that path, great games will follow. I've been around long enough to know the difference between a great game and a great marketing campaign. These made the cut.
