Nintendo Switch: The charm of previous consoles has vanished, it seems

Nintendo has long been one of the leading console and game developers in the video game industry. From as far back as the NES, Nintendo has been responsible for some of gaming's greatest consoles. Arguably, much of this appeal has been the distinct personality and charm that Nintendo brings to every console generation. This became even more evident with the Wii; where Nintendo started putting more and more of that classic Nintendo feel into every little piece of their consoles. From the chime present at the startup of nearly every console, to beloved tunes like the Mii Channel, Nintendo's consoles usually provide a sense of nostalgia due to this very reason.

The Nintendo Switch, in comparison, is innovative like previous consoles, but doesn't quite have the same personality or charms that its predecessors do. The home menu is largely minimalistic, as well as having an even more minimalistic startup for games. It lacks the iconic jingles like the 3DS or Wii, though this is where some of the only charm can be found in a flipping Joy-Con during the loading sequence of the game.

I will personally say, as much as I find the Switch's innovations fun, with its innovative Joy-Con functionalities and hybrid design, I miss the personality of the software side. Between StreetPass, system themes, and all the small quirks that exist in even things as simplistic as system transfers, there's a lot that feels missed here. Even worse, in a recent interview with Polygon, it was confirmed that the eShop has no music, and early glimpses at the Nintendo Switch 2 show a very similar and equally minimalistic home menu.

It also feels like Nintendo largely remains tone-deaf when it comes to requested changes, such as menu themes or more profile options. Granted, they've taken a step in the right direction by providing rotating profile icons on their Nintendo Switch Online app, but many of them never reappear, having a lot on the cutting room floor still. There's so much missing in Nintendo's latest iteration, and sadly we appear to be heading towards largely the same reality for its next. 

This final point is a nitpick, but one that seems largely shared by many in the community, which is the apparent decline in Mii appearances and functionality in games. Starting from the Wii, Mii's took a large forefront from the Wii all the way to the Switch, where it seems they've been dwindling out. There's still a Mii Maker, sure, but its app is hidden behind profile settings. There's a worry to be had here that Nintendo is slowly losing its roots, that the personality in even something as little as UI will likely never return.

Overall, I should say I loved the improvements Nintendo made with the Switch release, and given that it was a rushed console, there should be some grace given here. In saying that, Nintendo has also had 8 years since then to improve and reintroduce the personality in the Switch 2. While some of these details seem increasingly worrying, one can only hope that Nintendo has given time and thought to what captivated players with its past consoles.