Honestly, I’m sitting here still buzzing from the Nintendo Switch 2 event in London. Pure chaos, right? Swarms of kiddos everywhere, each one practically bursting at the seams with excitement over this new gizmo. Picture the scene: a bunch of talkative little ones getting all giddy over the ridiculously long-named Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. I mean, whose idea was it to name it that? Anyway, this middle-aged guy totally destroyed some kids in Mario Kart World. I couldn’t help but laugh. Brutal.
Okay, so the big reason I schlepped out to this chaos in the first place was to eyeball the hardware. Sure, shiny games and all that are fun, but let’s get real – it’s all about the new bones of the Switch 2. Bigger screen? Check. Updated JoyCons? Double-check. And there’s this whole custom CPU/GPU situation that’s supposed to be the bee’s knees. But guess what caught my eye? The mouse. Yes, you read that right. The mouse.
So, this ‘mouse’ deal – it’s wrapped in a $449.99 price tag, which, yikes, but stick with me. If Nintendo’s cramming the Switch 2 full of nifty tricks like this, maybe it earns its keep. There’s a Welcome Tour kind of thingamajig showing off all these neat features buried inside the… guts of the thing (sorry for that visual). It’s got me wondering how these will play out in other games. Will it be as game-changing as the touchscreen was for the DS gang? Or just another Vita-like meh attempt we kinda, sorta pretend to remember?
But hey, before I get lost on a tangent: there’s this one game today that sort of blindsided me with how it uses the new functionality. It was tucked away in the Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, of all places. Must admit, the name alone is a mouthful, but whatever.
Anyway, a couple of new mini-games have cropped up in this RPG re-jig that are tailored just for the JoyCon and its mouse shtick. There’s a rhythm game, which is a bit of a hybrid lovechild of Theatrhythm and Persona Dancing, if those make any sense. And, brace yourself, an airship mini-game where characters yell directions at Ringabel, the poor dope who’s desperately trying to keep his craft in one piece through some borderline ridiculous chaos. Mild panic ensued, no lie.
These mini-games? Probably sticking to Switch 2, unless Steam finds some zany way to make it work with trackpads. Who knows? But they’re oddly charming and fit in with this tour idea they’re plastering all over the event. I saw people line up again and again to get another taste. Made me chuckle a bit, watching them dance around using the mouse almost like a little conductor’s baton or as if they’re dancing with their hands – jazz hands, anyone?
Switching gears, the Ringabel mini-game. Not quite a tech marvel but fun in a vintage Nintendo way. You’re flying, dodging, and basically managing a never-ending to-do list: “Push this! Pull that! Oh and by the way, your ship’s melting!” Like, just for kicks, right?
All this fiddle-farting around with clicking and dragging… It’s fun, weirdly addicting, and gives me hope maybe – just maybe – others will find clever ways to exploit this gadget. Call me optimistic, but hey. ‘Panic Cruise’ – aptly named, I gotta say. Flying through rings while juggling airship damage control? Sign me up.
As games are priced at a steep $80 a pop, you’d think you’d want some juicy extras, right? I wasn’t sold until I sat down for Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster. It’s the little quirks, like these games, that transform it from a niche line-up oddity into a legit showcase for what these new toys can do.
So now, I’m itching to grab this game, not just for my own entertainment, but to dazzle others with the Switch 2’s potential. It’s not just ‘Switch: The Sequel’. It’s a solid launch title for proving itself out of the gate. Kudos, Square Enix. Keep them coming.
