Expert review of the Nintendo Switch

After a red/white box landed on my desk, work really became a bit of a hobby again.

• The Switch tablet
• The Joy Con controller (2x)
• Joy Con grip (1x)
• Joy con straps (2x)
• Docking station (1x)
• HDMI cable (1x)
• Power cable (1x)

The Switch feels solid and the Joy Con controllers are easy to attach. The menu is easy to use, user-friendly, and can be set completely in Dutch.

At first glance the screen seems a bit small, but that illusion quickly disappeared when I attached the Joy Con controllers. Compared to a 2DS, you're suddenly holding a pretty big handheld. The brightness of the screen is good and adjusts (if you set this) to the light of your surroundings. At its brightest, the 720p screen comes into its own and you can keep playing when the sun shines.

For a console like the Switch, the battery life is very important. According to Nintendo, the console should last between 3 and 6 hours. While testing, I rarely encountered battery problems. The Switch easily lasted while I played Zelda during my train ride of 1.5 hours, lunch break of 45 minutes, and some racing before bed time without having to charge in between. While on the go, you can charge the console by using a power bank.

This is when the Nintendo Switch really comes into its own. I take the Switch out of my bag and within a couple of seconds, I'm galloping through the latest Zelda world. On a crowded train, I play with the Joy-Cons attached to the console. Do I have the compartment to myself? I prefer to sit back with the Switch positioned in kickstand on the table and a Joy-Con controller in each hand. I used to see my extra travel time as a problem, but now it's a moment to myself to relax before and after work.

This also gives the Switch an edge over its standard console cousins. Multiple people can play together on 1 Switch. In this mode, the left and right Joy Con each function as a separate controller. For me personally, playing with a single Joy Con becomes uncomfortable after half an hour due to my above-average hands, but for children or people without bears' claws, it's very doable.

Even at home it remains striking how the Switch is designed for convenience. I simply place my Switch in the docking station and poof, Link appears almost immediately on my TV. It's the same the other way around: pull your Switch from the docking station and you're ready to play on the go. When you play for a long time and have bigger hands like I do, investing in a Pro controller is a good idea.

Zelda is a solid launch game, but a bit of variety is always good. I'm currently enjoying myself with Zelda and Fast RMX, which, incidentally, shows up on your screen at 60 fps. What's particularly interesting is the fact that large developers like EA are also developing for the Switch. It may be interesting for many fans to play the new FIFA anywhere, instead of in front of the TV.

Of course, the console is also ideal for younger gamers. I can imagine that as a parent you now think: "Now I'll never get my child to play outside anymore". Fortunately, you can use the accompanying smartphone app to allow your child to play for an hour. Too long? Then you'll receive a notification about it on your phone, and you'll be able to show a warning remotely or close a game.