DON’T FEEL BAD

While the whole thing might seem stupid to some people, fans of certain series or gamers interested in previously undiscovered franchises can feel like a series of games can be overwhelming. Certain games can feel like they have too much going on already. Other games can feel less attractive to you once you find out about the other 23 games in the series. I’m here to tell you that you should stop feeling that way. Play the games you want to play, guilt-free and effortlessly. 

HOW TO OVERCOME IT

Streamers and retrospective videos on YouTube. There’s always someone fun playing a game you’re interested in and streaming it online. That’s one of the rules of the Internet (probably). Watching ‘Let’s Play’ videos can streamline the process of introducing yourself to a new game and you can do it at your own pace. There’s no shortage of cutscene collections and even silent walkthroughs of games on YouTube. A series that would take you around 200 hours to complete can now be consumed in the form of a movie or a short video covering the main story points. You won’t be getting the gameplay experience but you will have a chance to skip the unnecessary padding that seems to dominate today’s games. 

REFRESHING YOUR MEMORY

The same ways described above can be a great way to refresh your memory on some games you feel nostalgic about. I’ve wanted to replay The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess for 7 years now. After being too busy and with my list of unfinished games growing endlessly, I gave up and watched story breakdowns. It satisfied my nostalgia and saved me a lot of time. Of course, there’s always the ‘previously on’ introduction video that games like Syberia 3 and Gears 5 utilise in order  to make it easy for fans to remember the main story beats before starting a new game or bring new players in and make sure they have something to help them figure out what’s going on.

GOOD FOR DEVS, GOOD FOR YOU

So don’t feel bad about DOOM Eternal or The Last Of Us 2. If you can’t or don’t want to spend money or time on the previous games, just look around for something free to get you in those games. Sure, you won’t be giving any money to developers at the time but you will gauge your interest in the games and possibly become a long-term, paying fan. That’s the best a developer can ask for and the beauty of gaming in this day and age.

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They got that running on THAT?!

AWE

More and more people seem to be holding off on buying multi-platform games on other consoles just to get them on the Nintendo Switch. A high number of people also seem to find themselves interested in franchises or IPs they never cared for before, just because they’re coming out on Switch. While all games are interesting on their own in terms of gameplay, there’s no denying the fact that playing these games on such a small system, as well as having the ability to play them on the go, still amazes consumers and tech junkies alike.

ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

Almost 7 years ago, if you told me I’d be able to play Skyrim, the latest Doom and Wolfenstein on a portable console with a good battery life and motion controls, I would have thought you’re smoking the devil’s lettuce or maybe that you’re Peter Molyneux. And it’s not just Bethesda franchises. Rocket League, Minecraft, Fortnite, Diablo III, an interactive open-world Zelda, a 60FPS Mario game and all the indie games your heart desires, all available anytime, anywhere. The notion of having complete home-console experiences with a choice to go portable is what’s selling people on the idea of the Switch. That and the ‘impossible’ releases.

DON’T PANIC

Simply put, impossible games as those games that come out on Switch and make you say “Holy shit, they got that running on THAT?”. While many companies have produced great ports or new IPs for the Nintendo Switch, there’s one that stands out due to their ability to deliver ports of incredibly demanding games in a short period of time, with outstanding quality. That company is Panic Button and their team is behind some of the best games out on Switch right now. They ported Rocket League, DOOM and co-developed Wolfenstein II for the Nintendo Switch using impressive techniques and engineering prowess that seems to be unmatched so far on Switch. Oh and did you know those guys are bringing DOOM Eternal on Switch? idTech 7. On a portable console. Insane.

BREAKING THE CHAINS

There are many reasons that make the Nintendo Switch a good system to own. Those reasons may differ depending on who you ask, but for me, a big part of it is the magic of having those big games on the go. As a student, I find myself sitting around a lot, studying and revising. It’s no surprise I don’t want to spend more time hunched over a TV screen and sink myself in the latest JRPG. The Switch offers me the flexibility to game even in small periods of time wherever I want to be, liberated from the shackles of ‘couch gaming’.

SALES SALES SALES

As we continue further on into the Switch’s life cycle, more and more companies are realising that consumers appreciate having big Switch games on the go, whether they are multi-platform or exclusives. They appreciate it with their extremely vocal support and more importantly, with cash. So to all developers working hard on bringing their games to the Nintendo Switch, keep ‘em coming and we’ll keep buying ‘em.

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