Nintendo Switch Hands-On: 10 Things We Learned 

One of the unique features of the Switch, the detachable Joy-Cons, are a core part of the experience. If these controllers did not fulfil what Nintendo set out to do with them, the Switch would be crippled out of the gate. Fortunately, the talented designers behind them have gone above and beyond, and the end result does everything they need it to do.

When attached to the screen when the unit is in handheld mode, the setup will be familiar to anybody who ever played a Wii U. The analog sticks and buttons are all within easy reach, and the unit as a whole is light enough to hold for extended play sessions.

The controllers are also designed to be used individually in games such as 1-2-Switch, and prove just as adept at this job. Essentially, they function as miniature Wii Remotes in this mode, and their lighter weight and smaller size compared to the older controller make this mode usable for just about everybody who wants to play.

An aspect that Nintendo are keen to push is the HD Rumble, designed to give vibration feedback at a level not seen before. This comes into play on 1-2-Switch minigames Safe Cracker and Ball Count, and both work excellently. Safe Cracker asks players to rotate the Joy-Con slowly to turn the dial on their safe, with the click feeling subtly different when the dial is in the correct position. This is balanced really well, as the difference is very easy to miss if you twist the controller quickly, but with a gentle touch you can find the sweet spot. Ball Count is similarly impressive, as the controller simulates several balls rattling around in a box as it is tilted, then asking the player how many balls are inside. Subtlety is again the key, and the result never seems unfair.