Switch – Page 9 – Tired Old Hack

Let’s not piss around – the Switch is a handheld

Published on January 19, 2017 by Chris Scullion11 Comments

Ever since the late 1980s, when the Game Boy started its global dominance, there has been an overwhelming agreement on the difference between home consoles and handhelds.

A home console is one that, as the name suggests, can be played at home: you plug it into your television, sit back and enjoy all the platform-jumping, goal-scoring, enemy-fragging shindiggery you want from the comfort of your sofa.

A handheld, meanwhile, is a console you can take on the move with you. It has its own screen and, crucially, never needs a TV. You can take it wherever you like and play games on it no matter where you are in the world.

That’s why I’m really bewildered at the way many online are comparing the Switch to other consoles (including the Wii U). Although Nintendo – for some bizarre reason I still can’t comprehend – is adamant that the Switch is a home console, that’s frankly bullshit. It’s a handheld, and anyone saying otherwise is… well, ‘wrong’ sounds harsh. Not right, basically. Continue reading “Let’s not piss around – the Switch is a handheld” →

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe hands-on preview

Published on January 18, 2017January 18, 2017 by Chris Scullion8 Comments

The reaction to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been oddly tepid so far.

Maybe there’s a slight sense of disappointment that while Splatoon gets its own proper sequel, Mario Kart 8 instead gets an enhanced re-release.

Or maybe it’s just the fact that this is the first time in Mario Kart history that Nintendo has dipped back into the same well rather than offering a brand new helping of tracks, characters and gameplay mechanics.

Whatever the reason, I don’t share the same indifference. I believe Mario Kart 8 is the best game in the series, so getting the chance to play it wherever I want in the world is something that would excite me even if it was a straight carbon copy of the Wii U game. Continue reading “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe hands-on preview” →

TOH Podcast 2 – Switch special with Kate Gray

Published on January 17, 2017February 6, 2025 by Chris Scullion4 Comments

Well, that first podcast went well. So well, in fact, that here’s another one for your beautiful earholes. Continue reading “TOH Podcast 2 – Switch special with Kate Gray” →

Nintendo Switch hardware hands-on impressions

Published on January 15, 2017 by Chris Scullion9 Comments

Yesterday I attended the UK Nintendo Switch Premiere in London’s Hammersmith Apollo (or whatever it’s called these days).

There I went hands on with a bunch of games planned to launch for the Switch in its first couple of months.

Over the next week or so I’m going to be writing up a series of in-depth hands-on articles for each of these games, one at a time (except for Splatoon 2, which I unfortunately didn’t get time to try out).

Before that though, it makes sense that I would give my thoughts on the Switch hardware itself: its strengths, any weaknesses it may have and, ultimately, whether I personally think it’s worth the £279 / $299 price that’s caused so much controversy. Continue reading “Nintendo Switch hardware hands-on impressions” →

Nintendo Switch presentation – Every announcement and trailer on one page

Published on January 13, 2017January 13, 2017 by Chris Scullion6 Comments

Well, it finally happened. Nintendo finally lifted the lid on the Switch and revealed all the juicy details.

The problem is, it did it in Japan. Which meant here in the UK we had to get up at 4am to see it.

Yer man Scullion did it. Because he’s a maniac. But there’s a real possibility you didn’t. Maybe you had work or school the next day, or maybe just “fuck that”.

The thing is, if that’s the case and you’ve just woken up and are ready to head out, you don’t have time to watch an hour-long presentation.

Enter yer man Scullion (not like that, you deviant). Continue reading “Nintendo Switch presentation – Every announcement and trailer on one page” →