Nintendo is on the cusp of making computer games history with the launch of its new console, the Switch, and while The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is stealing all of the headlines as the big launch game, 1-2-Switch is well in the mix with its innovative gameplay. The new console is a hybrid home and hand held gaming device that lets you play serious games wherever you are and with 1-2-Switch it results in some unique options.
With most games, whether it’s single player or multi-player, home or handheld gaming, you look at a screen to play, but with 1-2-Switch you play against your opponent face to face. The idea is that it will be the perfect party game and while it may not be quite as ground-breaking as Wii Sports was when it arrived back in 2006, it could be a big part of the relative success of the Nintendo Switch launch.
Release date
The head-to-head multi-player game has been confirmed as one of the launch games for the Switch, so it has a UK release date of the 3rd March 2017. It’ll be joined by the glory of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, along with Super Bomberman R as the other console launch titles.
Gameplay
Essentially, 1-2-Switch gameplay is centred around a series of head-to-head games with each player facing the other with just a Joy Con controller in their hand. The games include Quick Draw, Samurai Training, Table Tennis and Copy Dance, along with a whole host of other games you compete against each other to win each game.
Quick Draw is a simple Wild Wild West shoot out with the fastest Draw and shoot with the Z trigger winning the game. However, Samurai Training is the mode that we’re most excited about as you go toe-to-toe with the Joy Cons converting into ninja swords and the win going to the player that manages to lend a hit. Sadly, it’s not quite as much of a free-for-all as you might have hoped for, as each player goes in turn with their opponent getting a chance to block the attack, but it still looks like a good bit of fun. Hopefully, it’ll pave the way for a Star Wars: Jedi Dual game at some time in the future.
Table Tennis is pretty much as you’d expect, and Copy Dance sees you throwing a shape and challenging your opponent to match it. There’s also Eating Contest where you point your Joy Con at your mouth and munch to finish a hot dog in the quickest time; Milk, where you milk an invisible cow’s udder; Safe Crack sees you each turning your Joy Con to feel for tremors to pick the combination the quickest; and Ball Count, where you tilt the Joy Con to guess how many balls are inside it.
The games on 1-2-Switch takes advantage of the HD rumble feature built into the Joy Con controllers to give you precise feedback on everything that you’re doing. It also uses the advanced motion sensors and infrared sensor to cover everything from movement, distance and activity during gameplay.
Playing the game, as with most Nintendo Switch titles announced so far, comes with a number of options in itself. Play it while it’s connected to the dock and you can face off against your friends and family in your living room, bedroom or games den. However, take it out and about and flip out the hand-held console’s kick stand and you can have a game pretty much anywhere: In a field, at a party, at the top of a mountain, on a Caribbean beach, out in the Sahara Desert, round your mates house, in a glass bottom boat… you get the point.
First impressions
1-2-Switch may not be anywhere near as exciting as the open world genius of fellow launch title, The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, but it could be a crucial game in terms of the future of the console. It’s the Nintendo Switch’s equivalent to Wii Sports and if it can have the same impact on casual gamers as the Wii’s unconventional launch masterclass, then it could be the linchpin in a Nintendo resurgence. Each of the games look like they’re going to be a good laugh to play and the innovative face to face gameplay style may well see a whole new style of gaming taking off. Fingers crossed it’s as much fun as it looks.
