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[HE1NZ]

Playing all these big games on a handheld should be great in theory. But in reality it's not. Switch is too damn big and heavy and poorly designed.

Tiny buttons on the joycons suck, especially shoulder buttons. Right thumbstick being below face buttons doesn't work. Trying to aim with a thumbstick and shoot with shoulder buttons is too much gymnastics. It's tiresome. Same thumbstick is gets in a way of pressing B too. And left thumbstick covers the "-" button. I hate these controls. Might as well just use a phone for portable gaming.

Also, joycons are wobbling while attached.

Handhelds should be small and tidy like GBA SP. Now that was a great handheld. Wii U gamepad was really comfortable as well.

Anyway I'm playing exclusively with a Pro Controller (it sucks too, but for different reasons), but everyone seems to be playing Switch in a handheld only. How do you enjoy that?

 

[Vawn]

You're a shitty handheld.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Good thing there's the Hori Split Pad Pro

 

[Dthomp]

I play my switch 97% docked so couldn't care less how it handles as a handheld. Love it

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

The buttons are too small.

 

[Birdo]

It could be worse....

 

[V4skunk]

My og launch Switch is rock solid.
I recently got stick drift as well and instantly cured it with isopropyl and a cotton bud.
My joycons don't wobble in handheld mode because I don't pick it up like a spaz to wear it out.

 

[gamerguywashere]

I use the hori left joycon with the nice dpad. Joycon drift on the Nintendoy sticks is terrible after about a thousand hours of play, but I love the Switch otherwise.

Battery could be a bit better, but after a few hours of demon souls crushing me, I need a break anyway. Maybe do the dishes and take a shower lol.

 

[Andodalf]

Works perfectly with my baby hand. But I will say that it feels like a toy compared to the vita

 

[MightySquirrel]

Thank the coders for emulation.

 

[VAVA Mk2]

You're a shitty handheld.

Good come back

 

[Portugeezer]

I don't think it's very comfortable in handheld mode for 3D games which require analogue camera controls and use of shoulder buttons, my hand never feels comfortable reaching for the stick, and I have a grip for the console.

I prefer simpler games on the Switch.

 

[Fake]

 

[PPIMystaceus]

Switch Lite is much better in regards to the handheld experience imo. Regular Switch never felt comfortable out of the dock for me.

 

[Codes 208]

I use it for both pretty evenly. As for comparisons the Wii U gamepad felt like a tonka toy and I personally hated the symmetrical analogs on the top.

the switch lite is the best handheld of the three (though I would argue the gba sp, psp and ds lite are the best handheld designs in general)

 

[REDRZA MWS]

It’s shitty when docked too.

 

[Aggressive Carrot]

I don't use Switch as a handheld much. I take it with me when going on a trip or to play games while watching TV. Switch Lite makes a better handheld.

 

[Chupanibre]

 

[The Pleasure]

It could be worse....

In for five.

 

[Danjin44]

I personally have no issue with it, especially for long games like Xenoblade, DQXI, Fire Emblem, Octopath and upcoming SMTV and Bravely 2 the handheld mode is a godsend.

 

[Vandole]

It could be worse....

It's still my handheld of choice for sneaking into prison.

 

[TKOFromTokyo]

I tried playing RE4 in handheld mode and found it unplayable.

 

[Strider Highwind]

You're a shitty handheld.

LOL

 

[-Arcadia-]

Mel Gibson avatars are out of control. It’s like letterposters x5.

 

[HaveButOneLife]

You fixing to get slapped, OP.

 

[RoboFu]

Idk my 5 year old son plays it as a hand held all the time without issue.

 

[Punished Miku]

I'm 50/50. Easy to play in the living room docked. Easy to play laying down in bed. I complete more games on Switch because it's just more convenient. Lots of times I don't feel like sitting up on the couch. I can lay down and play something handheld and listen to podcasts. The Switch comes with me on every trip I take.

As far as handhelds go, it's pretty much the most convenient one ever made. You can even literally stand it up on your night stand and play holding the joycons, which I've definitely done a few times. It has two joysticks and two triggers, and a touch screen, when historically almost all handhelds have not had that. I'm honestly not sure what else people could want from it besides better battery life. It's almost perfect as a handheld.

 

[Hendrick's]

It's shitty period.

 

[Rusty Shackelford]

 

[MagnesG]

SWITCH LITE

 

[BlackTron]

The Switch is the jack of all trades, master of none. You get both a handheld and a console in the same package, but it's not nearly the best at either.

It works well for me, I like how easy it is to switch. I can play a game both at home and on the go seamlessly, with no transition, no worrying about saves, it just removes the distinction between home and portable gaming entirely.

I hate shooters with any controller, but I don't as much mind aiming in a third person action game, and the gyro controls usually help alleviate it.

Sure the buttons and sticks on the joycons suck, but they're good enough to play a few levels of Mario between being docked.

I played a TON of Wargroove on Switch, changing constantly between docked/undocked, and then later Link's Awakening. In those games, despite the pro controller being a lot more comfortable and ergonomic, I didn't feel like the joycons were taking away from my experience at all.

 

[Clintizzle]

How fucking dare you?

 

[Agent_4Seven]

Sold my Switch yesterday for almost the same price I bought it less that a year ago. Waiting for BOTW2, SMTV, Prime 4 and much better model in terms of performance and screen resolution without DRS before I'll buy another one.

 

[Zannegan]

As sub-optimal as the joycon's sticks are, I'm trying to think of a handheld that has better--3DS? Vita? As for the size, don't, for the love of Pete make the screen any smaller.

Basically, there's lots of room for improvement, but if the Switch makes for a shitty handheld, then all handhelds up to now have been shitty. *shrug*

 

[Punished Miku]

As sub-optimal as the joycon's sticks are, I'm trying to think of a handheld that has better--3DS? Vita? As for the size, don't, for the love of Pete make the screen any smaller.

Basically, there's lots of room for improvement, but if the Switch makes for a shitty handheld, then all handhelds up to now have been shitty. *shrug*

Seriously. 3DS didn't even have sticks. It had 1 slide pad, and one nub.

 

[Wunray]

Good thing there's the Hori Split Pad Pro

I can vouch for this, it's amazing for handheld

 

[kunonabi]

When ive borrowed my friends' I always used it docked only. As a handheld it doesnt serve any of my needs and I'd rather just stick with my New 3DS which is pretty much handheld perfection.

 

[Kamina]

Luckily its a hybrid

 

[Oddvintagechap]

Its shit. Some games are decent though.

 

[nordique]

What??? It’s the Best ever!!!

Have you laid down in bed with the joy cons detached and the switch set up against another pillow

It’s so gooooood

 

[Knitted Knight]

Shit spooked me when I saw a late 30s, early 40's man in a hospital waiting room playing with his Switch this past Thursday. Branding his Switch with pride like a real gamer. If it was a kid I would understand but this was a grown ass man.... that thing has special sauce in it.

 

[Grinchy]

It sure isn't perfect, but I played it a lot as a handheld. I don't think it's shitty that way at all.

 

[MagnesG]

What??? It’s the Best ever!!!

Have you laid down in bed with the joy cons detached and the switch set up against another pillow

It’s so gooooood

Ultimate setup.

 

[Lupin3]

Yeah, it’s a shitty handheld, but pretty close to fucking amazing when docked.

 

[THE DUCK]

Yes, the Hori Split pad pro fixed it for me too.

 

[CamHostage]

Have you laid down in bed with the joy cons detached and the switch set up against another pillow

It’s so gooooood

Wow, that sounds much better than my experiences, where in the dark of night I feel a THUNK! on my nose and realize I've fallen asleep playing portable games in bed again...

I'm pretty sure I've been thunked with a Game Boy, with a GBA, with a NGPC, with a PSP, with a DS, with a 3DS, with a Vita, with my cellphone... luckily, I was never foolish to play Atari Lynx late at night, that thing would have caved in my skull!

 

[TonyK]

Ultimate setup.

 

[FireFly]

I play in handheld mode with a controller, since I can't stand the joycons. I think the freedom to move your hands is better anyway. And when the switch is resting on a surface, you don't have to worry about the weight.

 

[Spaceman292]

Completely agreed. PEOPLE DON'T HAVE SQUARE HANDS, NINTENDO

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Using mine hooked up to the TV 100% of the time. I agree OP, as a handheld this thing is a total failure. It's too big and heavy, but the worst part is it isn't comfortable to hold. PSP/Vita were MUCH better in that regard. Why does Nintendo hardware always have to be so shitty? The WLAN adapter is total shit as well.