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It's hard to believe, however we're already closing in on the Nintendo Switch 2's half-year mark. When the upcoming Metroid Prime 4 releases on the fourth of December, we can provide the device a detailed progress report thanks to its solid selection of exclusive launch window games. Heavy hitters like the new Donkey Kong game will dominate that analysis, but it's two newest Nintendo titles, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and now Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, that have helped the Switch 2 pass a critical examination in its first six months: the performance test.

Confronting Performance Worries

Prior to Nintendo officially announced the Switch 2, the biggest concern from users around the hypothetical device was regarding performance. In terms of components, Nintendo trailed PlayStation and Xbox over the last few console generations. That fact became apparent in the end of the Switch era. The desire was that a Switch 2 would deliver consistent frame rates, better graphics, and industry-standard features like 4K resolution. That's precisely what arrived when the system was debuted this summer. At least that's what its specs indicated, anyway. To truly know if the new console is an upgrade, we required examples of some key games operating on the system. We now have that evidence over the last two weeks, and the outlook is positive.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A serving as Initial Test

The console's first major test arrived with the October release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The franchise had some infamous tech struggles on the initial console, with titles such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet releasing in downright disastrous states. The system wasn't exactly to blame for those issues; the game engine driving the developer's games was old and being pushed beyond its capabilities in the franchise's move to open-world. This installment would be more of a test for its creator than any other factor, but there was still a lot we'd be able to glean from the visual presentation and how it runs on the new system.

Despite the release's basic graphics has opened debates about the studio's prowess, it's undeniable that Legends: Z-A is not at all like the technical failure of its earlier title, Arceus. It runs at a smooth 60 frames on Switch 2, but the older hardware reaches only 30 frames per second. Pop-in is still present, and there are various fuzzy textures if you examine carefully, but you won't hit anything similar to the situation in Arceus where you initially fly and watch the whole terrain beneath become a jagged, polygonal surface. It's enough to earn the Switch 2 some passing marks, but with caveats considering that Game Freak has its own problems that exacerbate restricted capabilities.

The New Zelda Game as a Tougher Performance Examination

Currently available is a more compelling tech test, though, due to Age of Imprisonment, released November 6. The latest Musou title pushes the Switch 2 due to its hack-and-slash gameplay, which has gamers battling a literal army of monsters constantly. The series' previous game, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, struggled on the initial console as the hardware struggled with its quick combat and sheer amount of activity. It frequently dropped under the intended 30 frames and gave the impression that you were overwhelming the system when being too aggressive.

The good news is that it also passes the tech test. Having tested the release thoroughly in recent weeks, experiencing every level it has to offer. In that time, the results show that it manages to provide a consistent frame rate relative to its earlier title, reaching its 60 fps mark with more consistency. Performance can dip in the most heated of battles, but I've yet to hit any time when the game turns into a slideshow as the frame rate suffers. Part of that might be due to the situation where its compact stages are designed to avoid too many enemies on the battlefield concurrently.

Notable Compromises and Final Verdict

Remaining are expected limitations. Most notably, shared-screen play sees performance taking a substantial reduction around 30 frames. Moreover the first Switch 2 first-party game where there's a clear a significant contrast between my old OLED display and the current LCD panel, with notably in story sequences having a washed out quality.

But for the most part, the new game is a night and day difference over its previous installment, like Pokémon Legends: Z-A is to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Should you require confirmation that the Switch 2 is meeting its hardware potential, even with some caveats remaining, these titles provide a clear example of the way the new console is substantially boosting franchises that had issues on previous systems.