The Switch is nearly two years old at this point, and while it's absolutely smashed sales records and given Nintendo a very important win after the disaster that was the Wii U, it's now going on sale for the holidays. Which, of course begs the question: is now the time to buy?

You can't talk about the Switch without being impressed with the flexibility of the hardware. Drop it in the dock and you have a proper dedicated console. It's kind of even better as a portable, especially when you compare this to the 3DS - it is a way better experience. Detach the Joycons and you can see one of the many, many ways of playing the Switch. So, now that you have a stand that you can play it in tabletop mode, but you can also sync other controllers including the pro controller or even if you're docked you can use the USB controller. There's a lot of different options for playing the Switch.

This is clearly what Nintendo wanted the Wii U to be - a tablet-sized console that's actually portable. The Wii U is a good comparison here. A lot of titles from it have imported over to the Switch, including Mario Kart, Splatoon, Toad and, of course, the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. There's a great selection of indie games as well, such as Overcooked 2, as well as Dead Cells.

Lots of games have found their home on the Switch, especially the ones that aren't super graphically intensive that run really, really nicely here. This is also the spiritual successor to the 3DS which means that we're finally getting games like Pokémon moving over to a full, proper Nintendo console. For a portable it's also got some serious power. Take one look at a game such as Wolfenstein II and it is hard not to be impressed.

Now sure, it's way lower resolution than the PS4, Xbox One but it does look reasonably close and it is incredible impressive that this is running in a handheld console. Fortnight is a great example. This is a game that runs on basically every device out there but this is the best mobile version on the Switch, mostly thanks to the physical controls.

The thing is though, the Switch really doesn't make sense if it's your only dedicated console. Most big AAA games take months to make it to the Switch and that's if they make it at all. And on top of that they generally don't perform as well as other consoles and they cost full price. This is totally fine if you wanna play the excellent Nintendo exclusives but if you wanna play other games such as Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed or Gran Turismo, this is not the console for you.

The thing is, both the base PS4 and Xbox One are cheaper than the Switch and with those consoles you are getting a better dedicated gaming experience. If you don't care about the portable stuff, they make a lot of sense. You also don't have any kind of backwards compatibility or virtual console here. This is bizarre considering that it was Nintendo who kind of pioneered the whole idea of doing a virtual console.

Both the Wii and the Wii U could play a lot of older games via the virtual console. And on top of that they could also, you know, work with a disc that you just pop in from your last generation system. Instead, on the Switch, I'm buying Mario Kart for the third time on the second different platform in the last couple of years.

Is that just me? Guess Nintendo just has to keep selling those mini consoles, right?

Sure, you've got access to some NES games if you pay for Nintendo's online service but well, let's get into that. Both PSN and Xbox Live include current generation games for free every month as opposed to a couple of old NES titles. And on top of that you actually don't even need to necessarily pay for the Switch's online service.

There's also an upcoming upgraded version of the console on the horizon, which might make it not be such a crazy idea to hold off and wait. But you could also just not do that, buy a Switch right now and come play Pokémon Smashing with the rest of us. Your call.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Hey guys, this is Austin.The Switch is nearly twoyears old at this point.And while it's absolutelysmashed sales recordsand given Nintendo a very important winafter the disaster that was the Wii U,it's now going on sale for the holidays.Which, of course begs the question:is now the time to buy?You can't talk about the Switchwithout being impressed withthe flexibility of the hardware.Drop it in the dockand you have a proper dedicated console.It's kind of even better as a portableespecially when youcompare this to the 3DS,it is a way better experience.Detach the Joyconsand you can see one of the many, manyways of playing the Switch.So, now that you have a standthat you can play it in tabletop mode.But you can also sync other controllersincluding the pro controlleror even if you're docked youcan use the USB controller.There's a lot of different optionsof playing the Switch.This is clearly what Nintendowanted the Wii U to be;a tablet-sized consolethat's actually portable.The Wii U is a good comparison here.A lot of titles from it haveimported over to the Switch,including Mario Kart, Splatoon, Toadand, of course, the upcomingSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.There's a great selectionof indie games as well,such as Overcooked 2,as well as Dead Cellsand this is a little bitof a trend for the console.Lots of games have foundtheir home on the Switch,especially the ones that aren'tsuper graphically intensivethat run really, really nicely here.This is also the spiritual successorto the 3DS which means thatwe're finally getting gamessuch as Pokemon, moving over to a full,proper Nintendo console.For a portable it's alsogot some serious power.Take one look at a gamesuch as Wolfenstein IIand it is hard not to be impressed.Now sure, it's way lowerresolution than the PS4,Xbox One but it does look reasonably closeand it is incredible impressivethat this is runningin a handheld console.Fortnight is a great example.This is a game that runs on basicallyevery device out there but thisis the best mobile version on the Switch,mostly thanks to the physical controls.The thing is though, the Switchreally doesn't make senseif it's your only dedicated console.Most big AAA games take monthsto make it to the Switchand that's if they make it at all.And on top of that they generallydon't perform as well as other consolesand they cost full price.This is totally fine if you wanna playthe excellent Nintendo exclusives.But if you wanna play other gamessuch as Call of Duty, Assassin's Creedor Gran Turismo, this isnot the console for you.The thing is, both thebase PS4 and X Box Oneare cheaper than the Switchand with those consolesyou are getting a betterdedicated gaming experience.If you don't care aboutthe portable stuff,they make a lot of sense.You also don't have any kind of backwardscompatibility or virtual console here.This is bizarre considering that it wasNintendo who kind of pioneeredthe whole idea of doing a virtual console.Both the Wii and the Wii Ucould play a lot of older gamesvia the virtual console.And on top of that theycould also, you know,work with a disc that you justpop in from your last generation system.Instead, on the Switch,I'm buying Mario Kartfor the third time on thesecond different platformin the last couple years.Is that just me?I guess Nintendo just has to keep sellingthose mini consoles, right?Sure, you've got access to some NES gamesif you pay for Nintendo's online servicebut well, let's get into that.Both PSN and Xbox Live includecurrent generation gamesfor free every monthas opposed to a couple of old NES titles.And on top of that you actuallydon't even need to necessarilypay for the Switch onlineservice to play online.Now yes, if you wannaplay Smash, for example,online you have to pay.But if you wanna playsomething like Fortnightyou actually don't have to pay anythingbecause that makes sense.There's also no proper party system,you can't do voice chaton the console itself.While it does support cloud savesit doesn't work for all games.The entire online system does just feela little bit half-baked.I will give them credit,at 20 dollars a year at leastthe Nintendo Switch online serviceis less expensive than PSN or Xbox Live.But, well, that makes sense becauseit's not as good.Probably the biggest reason to hold offon buying a Nintendo Switch right noware the rumors that there'san upcoming Switch Pro due out next year.Supposedly, the Switch willhave an upgraded screenas well as potentiallya little bit more power.Now, that's all fine and goodbut if you take one look at the 3DSyou'll know that thereis very little chancethat the Switch is goinganywhere anytime soon.Even though there are upgraded versionsof the 3DS available,pretty much all games dosupport the older version.I expect that to be the exact same casefor the Switch.I really do enjoy the Switch.It feels like a glimpse of the futureof where consoles are headedover the next few years.Now, of course, with anupgraded version on the horizon,it might not be a crazyidea to hold off and wait.But you could also just not do that,buy a Switch right nowand come play PokemonSmash with the rest of us.Your call.