After the bitter failure of the Wii U (just over 13 million sales worldwide in five years of operation), there is no doubt about Nintendo's desire to find the path that leads to success. It is no coincidence that the launch of the Nintendo Switch is largely inspired by that of the Wii, the biggest success of the Kyoto firm, with more than 101 million consoles sold worldwide. With the help of Zelda Breath of the Wild as the flagship of the machine (as was Twilight Princess at the time, also released on two Nintendo consoles at the same time), the Switch can also count on 1-2 Switch whose concept is reminiscent of a certain Wii Sports. A compilation of mini-games aimed at making the family laugh in front of their console, this is Nintendo's objective, which is bringing Motion Gaming up to date, which we thought was dead and buried with the cessation of production. from the Wii. But the ghosts of the past seem to have tough skin at Nintendo, which still believes that video games can also be enjoyed by gesticulating in front of the television and looking at their opponent straight in the eye.
EYE TO EYE
Because staring at Madame and her friends passing through the house that we requisitioned for the purposes of the test, it is indeed the leitmotif of 1-2 Switch which would be played almost without a screen. Because apart from the video tutorials launched at the start of the game, 80% of the mini-games are "appreciated" without having to take a look at the tablet or the television screen. The idea for Nintendo was to find this fun and festive spirit similar to board games. And in fact, we can not deny that the first moments spent in the company of 1-2 Switch allowed us to type a few good bars of laughter. Moreover, in an attempt to prolong the pleasure, Nintendo has planned wide. It is indeed no less than 28 mini-games that are installed on the cartridge. A significant figure certainly but that we put into perspective immediately when we know that the average duration of these events rarely exceeds 30 seconds of play. Yes, 30 seconds is neither a joke nor a troll but indeed the time required for some of these mini-games which do not require any passive in the video game and do not even offer an ounce of learning curve. Absolutely non-game, something that Wii Sports had not even dared to do when it was released in 2006. A voluntary choice on the part of Nintendo, which must also ensure such heresy on its own. Because the faults are far from stopping in such a good way, you'll see, it's funny.
So 28 trials of 30 seconds on average, we said, but which can quickly be halved if we ignore duplicates and – poor – gameplay variants (if we can talk about gameplay here), like Duel au Wild West and Imbroglio in the Wild West, or even Parade with two hands or Duel with the sword. And then, when it's time to take stock of the games that deserve a little attention, the number of drinking challenges drops a little further. Of course, depending on everyone's affinities and how we can gauge the notion of fun, the choice of the right mini-games differs, but objectively, there are hardly more than 8 events that manage to get by. honorably. Here is the list of mini-games that caught our attention:
- Duel in the Wild West
- Flag Race
- Boxing
- Parry with bare hands / Sword duel
- Safe
- Treasure chest
- Gorilla
Beyond these tests, there is indeed nothing to be learned from 1-2 Switch, especially not from these experiences which border on video game nothingness (Fais Dodo, Podium, Air Guitar, Duel Magique, Danse Libre), or those that are risky (Yum Yum, Blind Shave, Hand Milking, Turn the levers) where we can squarely question the effectiveness of the Joy-Con. On the other hand, what can be hopeful in 1-2 Switch is the way the Joy-Con were used. Horizontally, vertically, placed on the table, fixed to the tablet, placed 5 cm from the mouth with the infra-red detector in line of sight, the joysticks have been scrupulously put to the test of all possible ways. It is obviously the use of so-called HD vibrations which risks surprising players more, with a much greater precision than a classic vibration. That said, nothing extraordinary either, since in the tests such as "Safe" or "How many marbles", we have chained poor performances to the point of questioning the effectiveness of these HD vibrations.
"IT'S AN embarrassment MY Buddy!"
But that's nothing compared to some choices made by Nintendo in this 1-2 Switch. Because if we start from the principle that it is a family game, therefore playable by children, there is reason to be offended by certain events such as Under Pressure or Milking by hand which turn very quickly in the gravelly. Of course, Nintendo can still brandish the PEGI 12+ map displayed on the game's cover, but we don't think we're wrong in saying that it's a bad taste. The transition is also all found since we can definitely not finish this test without mentioning the dressing of this 1-2 Switch. Beyond the – dubious – themes chosen by voluntarily supported color codes for each of the events, it is above all the acting of the actors who flirt with the ridiculous, giving way to moments of embarrassment, of discomfort, to which the player is besides confronted when it is necessary besides to put in scene on certain mini-games (you too masturbate on an imaginary bottle of soda). So yes, you can tax us with piss-vinegars or embittered journalists, but admit nevertheless that the grotesque is not necessarily funny. And what is even less is the exorbitant price of the game, sold OKLM at 50€, the same price as Zelda: Breath of the Wild at certain retailers. There, for once, Nintendo is wrong all along the line.
