It’s been a while since I last played a video game. Like 15 years. It’s not that I don’t like them. I used to have a blast playing Mario Kart and Beetle Adventure Racing on my N64. But somewhere along the way gaming just kind of fell off my radar.
Suffice it to say, I have the itch to pick up a controller again. What’s different now? The introduction of the Nintendo Switch Lite. I found the original Switch interesting, but I was never tempted to buy it. It just seemed too big and clunky for handheld play – which I think I would prefer.
That all changes with the Switch Lite. Its slimmed down proportions, eye-popping colors, and lower price tag ($199) might be enough to lure me back into the world of gaming. But I’m not ready to take the plunge quite yet.
For one, I want to try it out in the store first. It was just released Friday, so I should have the opportunity soon. The other reason for holding off? Concerns over the built-in joysticks.
According to several forums, many people had issues with “drifting” on the original Switch controllers. The joysticks would register movement without being touched, which obviously was a problem.
As annoying as that is, there was at least a solution. The controllers on the original Switch are removable, and therefore can be replaced. In fact, Nintendo was doing it for free for at least some customers.
But that’s not possible with the Lite, where the unit is one solid piece. One report (see above) suggests the new joysticks have a different part number, despite looking identical to the originals. Hopefully that means Nintendo made efforts to fix the problem. Only time will tell – and that’s why I’m going to watch from the sidelines for a few months before plunking down my money.
PENT-UP CURIOSITY 