Games have not been Going the way I Expect...
2025 was a year in gaming I was looking forward to! Unlike the outcry of many others, I was personally very much looking forward to the release of Nintendo's Switch 2. I felt it was a repeat on an already-winning formula, and all that was really needed for the Switch family of consoles to continue to succeed was a hardware upgrade.
The console released on June 5th in 2025. I picked up my pre-ordered Switch 2 on release day! I was interested in trying the console's launch title, Mario Kart World, as well as Donkey Kong Bananza and was also caught up in the hype surrounding games like Pokemon Legends Z-A and Metroid Prime 4 becoming cross-gen titles. Things were really looking up!
Oftentimes, life has a way of working out far differently from what we expect.
Ominous one-liners aside, here's my little collection of physical Switch 2 games thus far! Digital titles I've played as well include, of course, the digital download of Mario Kart World that came with my console, as well as Pokemon Legends Z-A which I also just played a digital copy of. I want to take this time to a do a "lightning round" of sorts - a shot-by-shot series of mini reviews of all these games to get you all up to speed!
I'd like to tell you all about my thoughts on some of these games. I'll split these talks up into separate articles. The reasoning, I think you'll find, is sound and well-thought out:
- This article will be way too long if I try to talk about 6 games at once;
- Content;
- lazy (i even stopped capitalizing see?);
With that out of the way, let's start with the launch title!
The Switch 2 made an interesting and unprecedented choice in launching their direct successor console with a new entry in the Mario Kart series!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was the latest entry in the series before now, and is a true gem of a game. There's no specific part of the game that overly stands out about it aside from the soundtrack, in my opinion - but that doesn't really matter when Deluxe's standout feature is being the most well-rounded and polished entry in the series by far.
Mario Kart World had a lot to live up in that regard. Did it stick the landing? The short answer is a definite no. The long answer, however, I do think is more interesting!
The obvious thing to ask about a successor to 8 Deluxe is, "what does this game do that's new?". Every Mario Kart game has to have its own unique appeal; a gimmick, a hook, something that separates it from the others. World's unique selling point is an open-world approach to the design of its tracks. When you drive at the obligatory Peach's Castle-esque track, you're only an open field or highway away from driving yourself into the next track. No transitions, no menus, no loading screen.
The first or second or tenth time, it's actually really cool! However the shine quickly dulls when you realize the Grand Prix mode is worse off for it. For some reason, Nintendo decided to make the track you travel to only be raced in for one lap...?
Now there's also a new mode called Knockout Tour, which is really fun! It's an elimination mode that chops the roster of racer after each checkpoint in the race based on performance. The last track of the race is down to the final 4 racers who are all scrambling for that 1st place result at the finish line. Very fun time, and a much-needed refresh of the Mario Kart formula!
The open-world level design is fun to explore to. Similar to games like Forza, there's a "free drive" sort of mode where you can just go wherever you want to discover the world, find little goodies and unlockables, and even practice some of the routes for Grand Prix without a timer or competition! Much like Grand Prix, it is a fun novelty but doesn't really have any long-term appeal.
I won't deny how well-designed the world is! It truly is! However, I think Mario Kart World was tasked with the sisyphusian goal of being yet another Breath of the Wild'd Nintendo franchise without actually realizing the runoff effects that such a choice would have on other parts of the game.
In my opinion? Sisyphus didn't get squashed, but the rock did roll over his toe... And either way, the rock is back at the bottom of the hill.