You've probably read a bunch of thoughts and previews about the Nintendo Switch 2 at this point, many of them from us.
I was already a little sceptical of Mouse Mode before it was officially announced in the Nintendo Direct. I don't like playing games on my PC, and if I have to, I avoid keyboard and mouse like the plague. Except for things like The Sims or perhaps Stardew Valley. But controller is always my preference. I essentially grew up with them in my hands, and I just can't wrap my little brain around using the mouse for anything other than pointing and clicking on links and pictures.
So I'm not surprised that, after trying Mouse Mode with numerous games on the Nintendo Switch 2, I don't really like it. I might even hate it. But it's one of those, "It's not you, it's me" situations, for the most part.
I acknowledge that I'm not the target audience for this, and while I love Nintendo's creativity and ability to play with the weird and wonderful, I never got a Labo, my amiibo collection is relatively slim, and 3D mode on 3DS is always turned off. I'm a lot of fun at parties, honest!
Honestly, Mouse Mode is a great idea. As soon as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was re-announced last year, I figured it would be a cross-gen title for Switch 2. And then when Mouse Mode was rumoured and then leaked, Metroid was the first Nintendo title I thought of that I knew would be a perfect fit. It's a flippin' FPS, after all. Shooters are tailor-made for the precision of mouse controls, and they work extremely well in Prime 4.
In fact, Mouse Mode works great with pretty much everything I played. Super Mario Party Jamboree's enhanced release gave us six ridiculously fun minigames that all worked so well with the mouse. The controls were responsive and smooth and simple. The fun came from the simplicity mixed with the silliness that is sorting through mail or playing hockey with a tiny, thin little mouse.
Drag x Drive is the 'showcase' game for the mouse beyond more conventional use cases, a real win for wheelchair representation and also innovative gameplay. And god, am I terrible at it. I eventually got the gist after a tutorial and plenty of embarrassment, but it never felt natural. But what other games can you play using two mice? It's still impressive, though.
But my problems don't really lie with the tech itself. Being able to seamlessly transition between Mouse and Joy-Con mode is actually brilliant, and the new Joy-Con Straps are easy to attach and feel great, allowing for smooth movement on tabletop or legs. It's also very responsive and, besides a few sudden stops in Drag x Drive which resulted in some awkward crashes and flips, it seems extremely competent.
My biggest issue is the size of the Joy-Con. As a Joy-Con or a 'normal' controller, I actually like the Switch 2's upgraded grips. I'll probably still swap them out for something a bit larger once Hori and other third parties get involved with their own versions, but I found them much more comfortable to hold than the current Joy-Con on Switch 1.
Put them into Mouse Mode, however, and they just felt awkward. The Joy-Con aren't contoured to the shape of your hand, and they're much too thin to feel robust like a standard PC mouse. That means I have to find a way to rest my fingers and my palm on something that's a bit thicker than an iPhone.
Of course, it widens out as it gets closers to the 'base', but my fingers aren't really supposed to be touching the table while I'm using the mouse, and instead of resting over the top of a rounded surface, I'm trying to wrap them around in a comfortable manner.
That thinness caused issues a number of times, particularly while playing Drag x Drive. A few times, I could feel the controller slipping out from under my palm, which would cause me to crash or just completely stop moving. Even with the strap on (I don't dare live dangerously under the watch of the Big N), I never felt like I fully had the controller in my grip.
The button placement on the Joy-Con also isn't super intuitive for a mouse — that's not really a problem you can solve without completely changing the design. There are gaming mice out there with button layouts that make sense, and plenty of ergonomic mice that also put left and right clicks in sensible places. Essentially, there's no easy solution, but I almost definitely pressed the wrong button while fighting the final boss of the Metroid Prime 4 demo. No, Samus, put the Scan Visor down and charge your beam up so you can finally get rid of the Metroid pustules clinging to it.
A lot of this probably comes from my lack of experience with gaming mice in general, but I know Nintendo can make really good controllers with multiple functions. The GamePad might be clunky, but that's not my issue with the Wii U. And while I don't like motion controls, I don't find the Wii Remote and Nunchuck uncomfortable to hold, and I could deal with the limited uses for motion.
Mouse Mode is optional in most cases, of course. I can't see myself playing Metroid Prime 4 any other way than with a Pro Controller. I need to give Mouse Mode another shot, or find something that really clicks with me. A build mode in a new Animal Crossing that lets me move houses and objects tile by tile on a map, perhaps. Pikmin 5 with some special Pikmin or stages you can command and progress through with the mouse. or just something more creative than aiming and shooting and driving. More dual mouse games, Nintendo! Even if I'm bad at them.
Anyway, there is one thing Nintendo could do to stop my hands cramping; make a case. I use the Wii Remote as an example of something that I found relatively comfortable despite the gimmick. But there's an exception: Mario Kart Wii. If you like holding the Wii Remote on the side, at the top and bottom, then fair play to you. I hated it. Thank goodness the Wii Wheel was a pack-in with that game, because it was a complete game changer for Wii.
So, why not pack in a mouse 'shell' for the Joy-Con with Drag x Drive? Something to make the Joy-Con in Mouse Mode fit a human palm a bit more naturally. I know that'd make the seamless transitioning of Metroid Prime 4 a little harder, and with Drag x Drive, you'd probably find shooting a little harder, but there has to be a compromise?
As it stands, right now, I'll be avoiding Mouse Mode. Unless there's some kind of accessory or moulded plastic peripheral, or some even more interesting use for it, it currently just feels like it's there. We'll know a bit more by the time the console releases. In the meantime, I'll keep the cheese away from this particular squeaker and my fingers crossed.
Comments 147
I actually stay away from the joycons overall anyway as I’m a docked gamer.
So mouse wheel means nothing to me and a total waste of product cost.
Give me the pro controller anytime.
Switch 2 pro controller preordered.
I think it'll be the Switch 2 feature which never gets utilised quite as much as the developers think, like the IR sensor on the Switch 1. For me personally, where I usually position myself to play on TV, I don't really have anywhere I can use a mouse. At least not with my right hand. So unless it works well rubbing on your thighs I doubt I'll use it
Different opinions on this one, i also read from others who also played it, that actually love it.
For me its its a traditional way (pro controller)
Or handheld. Mouse function is perfect for strategy games.
Has this article been fact checked? A photo proving the writer is really fun at a party would be handy.
Wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo or at least third parties eventually released such cases or even dedicated mouses for Switch 2 and also hope that will be the case for those interested (I have to try it to know for sure, but I might be fine with just the Joy-Cons 2 personally) - that said, the good thing as also mentioned by the article is that apart from the occasional parts of games and even more rarely full games that require it Mouse Mode seems to be mostly optional so practically everybody wins!
Then don't use it? I was already not really interested in the feature. It's mostly because I game when sitting on the couch. Mouse mode doesn't seem practical that way. And also don't play games that are designed for a mouse on a console. But a game like Civilization 7 seems more fun to play with Mouse Mode.
No, I don’t imagine using the joy con on edge will feel like a revelation in controls for everyone.
For myself I know it’ll be one of those inputs I flip flop between because of the added mouse precision, yes, but also the fact that I’m not in search of a solution to standard controls
i think its a great optional gimmick, but o think ill only use it when having fun in mario party with friends. I LIKE MY SOLO PLAYING IN HANDHELD MODE MORE COMFY 😻. i do however appreciate nintendo for this, they are geniuses
Since 2012, I've found it hard to sit comfortably at a desk, so have done all my coding/arting/musicaling on my laptop, on the couch or sat in bed. I tried to use a mouse in those situations, but it's just not comfortable to do.
This whole thing smacks of "the developer is sitting at a desk", and reminds me of how we went through a period (and still happens) where the font on the screen is 8pt on a 1080p screen, because the developer is sat right in front of their monitor, and not the one end of the room playing from a sofa to the TV at the other side.
Also, just saying, but if you hold a Joycon between your finger and thumb like a pen... WAY more comfortable. Try it.
If the sensor was in the little diagonal cutout at the "tip" of the joycon... ... ...
@OldGamer999 What mouse wheel?
They have FPS that uses a mouse is a game changer but that was missed here.
Seems like a less-than-ideal gimmick, just like the detachable joy cons in the first place. Those things are incredibly uncomfortable to play with for more than 5 minutes, and after the initial "oh neat, look kid, we can set the Switch propped up on a table and both play", I never used it that way again.
Speaking of control options, has anyone investigated the potential of the camera and joycon working like a wiimote with super accurate pointer control? It would be like a reverse Wii setup but still be equally as functional wouldn’t it? If so I’m really hoping for a return of “light gun” gaming like those amazing resident evil shooters and the house of the dead series. 🤞
@Jayenkai Both of those are good comparisons. And one of my first thoughts was "What if you put the left joycon in your right hand and vice versa, could you hold it like an ergonomic mouse to access the buttons better?" Or you could flip it around maybe.
I'm very interested in trying Metroid with it. Even with the smaller Switch Joy-Con, I actually don't find it uncomfortable to hold like that.
Calling Metroid Prime an FPS just because it's a first person game and you shoot things is like calling GTA a racing game just because you drive cars.
Metroid Prime is not an FPS. It's a First Person Adventure Game. Just like Metroid was sci fi Zelda from the side view, Prime is sci fi Ocarina in first person.
And, Prime was perfectly designed to use the GameCube controller. It doesn't play like an FPS and I wouldn't want it to. Nintendo themselves are as guilty as anyone, turning Prime 3 into a (good in its own right) gallery shooter and making Prime Remaster control like a generic FPS on any console.
(PS: Playing an entire game like Prime with a Joycon on edge is a terrible proposition and I can't believe Nintendo let that one out of the gate. They might've been sitting on this idea since the 80s 😂 and it was pre-obscolesced by wii pointer controls 20 years ago anyway. ✌️)
Did we need a whole article about someone who doesn’t like normal mouse controls, not liking the S2 mouse controls?
@Yosti
"Then don't use it?"
not everyone is as enthusiastic about paying for and owning tech they dont want and will never use ✌️
Give me the Command and Conquer collection on S2 and that mouse mode will definitely get plenty of use!
I'm definitely up for using it, I hope to see a Pro Mouse controller for S2 soon.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am very curious how much I will like it, especially in a game like Metroid.
One of my hopes for this feature is, being able to play retro PC games on the Switch 2.
@Darkri74345
"Did we need a whole article about someone who doesn’t like normal mouse controls, not liking the S2 mouse controls?"
do we need articles at all? 🤔
The point of this article is auto-strawman, self-flagellation at Nintendo's pleasure. Just like the "TOTK is 70 dollars, but maybe that's a good thing" articles from a while back, and other examples I cant think of right now. It's in the Hookshot Media style sheet lol 😆 ✌️
I'm not a fan of mouse mode on consoles, I play sitting on the couch or lying down, it's not very practical to use mice, which don't seem to be the best in terms of ergonomics, but I'll have to try first. For me it's an additional and optional method, someone might like it.
@Jhena
"One of my hopes for this feature is, being able to play retro PC games on the Switch 2."
stupid as i think the joycon mouse idea is, I've long wished for some GOG style PC releases on Switch so if this is what it takes, I'm in 😼👍
@-wc- if really drilling into it, I’d call it a FPSA
I just want to point out that Metroid Prime 4 isn't an FPS but a First-Person Action-Adventure game.
As soon as I saw the mouse mode I knew it was something I will never use. I'm just hoping certain games in the future don't force you to use it.
@-wc- I'm sorry am I missing the part where you're paying for the mouse functionality separately? According to Nintendo this literally cost them nothing to add to the console, and it incentivized them to utilize the mouse in unique ways which you wouldn't see on PC games. I don't see how working with a concept we've been familiar with for years and adding functionality to it is a downside at all.
My point is I don't understand how this 'diminishes' the value of the product, when you're paying for the full package, and the full package clearly has tech on a level that would be the same price regardless of the mouse functionality.
Reminder : You CAN plug a mouse into your original Switch.
And some games even work with it.
Having a mouse "option" isn't the problem. For me, it's things like...
.. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S has a mouse mode, because EVERYONE needs a mouse mode for playing that, don't they...
And when I first thought "oh, it'll be ok, 'cos in Handheld mode the mouse controls would be replicated by having the touchscreen", because that made sense.. .. And then that bloomin' Wheelchair Basketball thing happened and I went "Oh, good grief" (but with swearier words)
"I never got a Labo, my amiibo collection is relatively slim, and 3D mode on 3DS is always turned off"
1: no Labo here
2: every amiibo purchased minus the re-releases of the Callie/Marie & Pearl/Marina ones
3: 3D gives me a headache so it was always off!
4: rumble is always off
5: MouseCon will NEVER be used by me!
I'm hoping 3rd parties will make an ergonomic grip the joycon 2s can snap into to make mouse mode more comfortable. Otherwise I can't really see it being comfortable to use for more than short bursts like in the Mario Party minigames.
@JohnnyMind Yeah. I can see Nintendo bringing out a dedicated mouse peripheral down the line, when there is a larger library of games that use the functionality.
It’ll be called the Nintendo Mouse Pro. It will look like an actual mouse (animal) and will be 120 USD (excluding tarrif markup)
My god what is happening with our beloved Nintendo??
They are falling apart at the seams...
Iwata's shadow looms large now that they had to make decisions without him. So incredibly evident now.
Golem's in suits are failing the thing we all are so connected to.
The mouse thing was stupid from the word go, I mean where am I going to tun this thing, one couch next to me? Dumb.
But with that said, the Game Key, unobtainable status of ALL the pricing (look closer) and the shakedown and misdirection approach will change the company forever in all the worst ways.
So, in that way "the mouse" fits perfect.
@-wc-
I've been calling Metroid Prime a First Person Shooter since it first came out on the GameCube.
@-wc- Me neither, lol.
Instead of making the joycon with a mouse sensor, Nintendo should have just allowed the use of whatever mouse you want. I've never considered the purchase of arpg (like baldur's gate) or fps 'cause I cannot get used to use a gamepad for those type of games.
The representation that it enables was a slam dunk and wheelie good. Mouse mode doesn't look so accurate from the golf mini game though.
@Darkri74345 Yes, it helps the website engagement.
Ahh, Nintendo is totally spoiling Alana by Making her Cramps Great Again!!
I prefer a pad my self but would be interested to see what it would be like on fortnite on switch as alot cross play on there I'm looking at you pc gamers they seem to have an advantage other any one with a pad so will it even out the competition?
Yeah, I can’t see myself using this feature for any games other than Mario Maker. Still cool, though.
Mouse mode feels for me for cursor based games (Mario paint, super Mario maker) but not really for other games.
"I don't like playing games on my PC, and if I have to, I avoid keyboard and mouse like the plague"
Me too @AlanaHagues . Just not a fan at all. The only game I have for Steam is Secret of Mana remake, as that is the only way I had to play it. Just have never been a PC gamer. It is not what I sit at a computer to do. I can't see myself using mouse mode if it can be helped.
So it's another gimmick? Well I am shocked!
It would be nice if they let you plug in or pair a REAL mouse instead.
Lots of non-enthusiasts for mousey here. I'm excited for it. I did start my gaming life on a PC, and I still am unable/unwilling to play an FPS with analog sticks. I hate it. So Wii pointer was perfect for me, and I'm loving this mouse idea too. I hope it'll be comfortable, and yes, a shell seems necessary.
It’s a shame nobody has moved on from mouse controls for shooters. Not saying there is anything better but moving out from cover and shooting a closing enemy is all we’ve done since Space Invaders. Might be time for some
Innovation!
Switch has many great point and click games, such as Monkey Island, Larry, Syberia, Inner world, Deponia... etc
Maybe those will get mouse support.
Don't worry, I'm sure they have plans for a $199 official nintendo mouse add-on.
But yeah, knowing how the joy-con is shaped I can imagine it making for a pretty poor mouse.
It’ll work well on games like Arkanoid or another blast from the past……Shufflepuck Cafe.
I'm the same; I'm glad Nintendo added this for variety and for people who want it, but I will probably basically never use mouse mode. Maybe occasionally for games like Mario Maker 3. I'll get civ 7 eventually but for civ 6 I actually like the touch controls better than mouse so simply don't play it docked for that game.
OK THANKS FOR THAT
What I thought every time I heard people mentioning the mouse mode.
Joycons aren't mice, and they won't feel good being used like mice.
Touchpads like on the Steam Deck would have been much better.
@Theghostofkeithmoon It would be hilarious if it actually looked like a mouse as in the animal!
Don't care. More options though. I wonder if the Switch 2 will work with a "real" mouse.
Just wait for the inevitable “joy con magnetic mouse dock”, or for Mobapad to create something.
Alana has said her favourite feature of the Switch 2 is the joy con HD rumble, so I’ll take the lack of enthusiasm for the mouse with a pinch of salt.
Lenovo were much smarter than Nintendo with this.
Nintendo ignored these 3 things when they copied Legion Go Gyro.
They copied Lenovo and yet they ignored their major features.
Nintendo didn't understand Lenovo because they are a console company and Lenovo is a PC company.
You need a PC company to include 2 mouse's in one gyro done right.
Mouse Controls would really benefit the level creation in a Super Mario Maker Switch 2 release.
The thing about Mouse control for me is that this could allow them to potentially port some PC games over that they couldn't necessarily do before.
Whether that would be the case remains to be seen.
@OldGamer999 Yeah, first preorder after the console was a Pro Controller, followed by MKW. Im sure mouse mode is fine in Mario Party, but that’s not why I’m buying the console. But maybe there’s a Pro Mouse in the pipeline…
Nintendo could have easily added a normal PC style mouse via bluetooth for the Switch and Switch 2. Could have even made a Nintendo branded mouse. The Joycon as a mouse looked weird to me from the start.
You know what the mouse needs? A cheap plastic bracket to set the JoyCon in so it has a wider base to slide on. I'm worried I'm going to be in an intense firefight in something like Metroid or Doom, and end up toppling over as I slide it around whatever surface I use. A wider platform to set it in would be nice, and would probably not cost much.
So, you know, it'll be charged, like, $30.
@MasterGraveheart
Nintendo already have a mouse dock, but still looks flimsy.
The Witcher
Star Wars: Empire at War
Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.2
These could now come to Ninty
@Skippermonkey
You got the same as me
But I got the MKW SWITCH 2 bundle
Then Pro controller just after.
All Smyths Toys UK.
That’s all we need a pro mouse 🤣🤣🤣
@Spider-Kev Not sure I'd call the JoyCon wrist strap strip of plastic a suitable dock. I'm thinking something wider. Kinda like the old Wii Mario Kart wheel.
I’m still not sold on mouse controls, especially when it’s being touted as one of the main gimmicks of the new system. I need a game like Mario Paint or Super Mario Maker 3 to perfectly showcase it. It’s odd that there’s no mousepad provided for it yet.
@-wc- That was one of the more pedantic "actually" type comments I've seen around. The analogy was pretty bad too. Even if you race in GTA games (have no idea), participating in car races is not something you're doing constantly in GTA, but in Metroid you shoot at enemies and to unlock things pretty much always. And btw, the Metroid Wiki categorizes it as both action-adventure and first person shooter . I would personally also add that it has a Metroidvania-like progression. But let's not get that far.
I would be interested to hear initial thoughts on mouse mode from someone who actually enjoys a mouse.
It’s a nice feature but I doubt I’d ever use it as I only really ever play handheld. Nice it’s there though
@Darkri74345 Good reply. I wouldn't mind a little more balance to reporting from Nintendolife, especially with an article this long and overly drawn out. "I've never used mouse and keyboard and I don't like mouse mode." Wow, I think we could have guessed that. Mouse controls can be awesome once you spend an afterenoon adjusting. I assume Nintendo will release a more comfortable and ergonomic mouse (Mario Paint came with one) and I'm hoping any bluetooth mouse might connect to Switch 2. If I were going to give Nintendo a great idea it would be "Wario Paint" where you create your own Warioware games and it comes packed in with a comfortable mouse.
In short, Nintendo did motion controls better with Wii than Switch and mouse controls better with SNES than Switch 2. Good article, in between.
@MasterGraveheart
Watch the original reveal, the mouse slides into a dock
What’s wrong with motion controls?
@JohnnyMind I think I saw an accessory making it better for the mouse mode even before they did the direct based on the 3D printed joycons.
If they do something meaningful with it. But I can't help but think of the DS era and how you could tell when a game was designed for the touchscreen functionality and when they just shoehorned it in because it was the shiny new thing and it was pointless at best and made the game worse than it would've been with normal controls at worst. I'm already side-eyeing the Bravely Default remaster for the "minigames" mentioned in the trailer.
I've said it on this site already but to me it's very useless and a loss of research and development resources tbh.
They should have gone back to pointer controls, refined thanks to motion controls, since it is already part of their history and that effectively does the same thing.
Plus I mean, who in their right mind plays the switch in front of a desk? Playing with mouse mode IS putting yourself in an unusual position or setup so that you can effectively just freaking play.
It's very surprising coming from Nintendo and honestly it kind of feels like they were just trying super hard because they thought they had to have another gimmick. I would add if Drag and Drive is supposed to be the proof of concept game, then that pretty much confirms what I've said. It looks like a fine game but people are going to drop mouse mode really quick.
Between this, the prices going insane and the interactive manual not being a pack in, I have to say the whole switch 2 announcement is not great so far to say the least as much as it pains me to say that.
I think Nintendo has done a horrible job at showing off the mouse.. why not have Mario Maker 2 ready with mouse support or just put together a quick Mario paint 🎨 demo ? Instead, we got a game of disabled basketball playing robots on wheelchair??? 🤷♂️
Who’s running Nintendo right now?
I have to imagine third parties are working on mouse shaped joy cons already. Surprised nobody has announced one for launch honestly.
@-wc- I can’t see an optical sensor adding much cost to these controllers at all, it’s ancient tech at this point
@Abrammchi What are you on about? Metroid Prime 4 and Civilization VII showing how FPS and RTS games can be played with it are the best use cases you could ask for.
Yeah, I think the real use-case for the mouse mode is going to be for PC ports that use menus and cursors for navigation and are awkward with a control stick (e.g. Rollercoaster Tycoon, Poly Bridge, etc.), but I'm not surprised that Nintendo is demoing it with Metroid and Drag x Drive rather than going "it'll make PC ports slightly easier to play!"
@OldGamer999 I'm the exact same. I would love to buy a docked only version with no joycons.
@-wc- ,
We can't all have stuff exactly made for our own personal tastes. I have no interest in the mouse controls so will not use them. How much more expensive then the original joycos are these new ones?
I’m actually stoked for this feature. This is what draws me into Nintendo products, I want the weirdness, if they didn’t have the weirdness it wouldn’t be Nintendo IMO.
No, thank you. Here's my math equation:
Overpriced system
+
This gimmick
+
My current backlog
=
Notify me when Switch 2 Lite is released.
With Two USB ports. I have a spare laptop Logitech BT mouse I might try that with the game. This will help with Fortnight, COD, Doom, and any other FPS game. The biggest one I want to try again is Sniper series. Two Joy-Cons 2 and BT Mouse at the same time.
@Baker1000 apparently it does though
Thank you for writing an article about a real world experience. Joy Con are not mice. I don't see how anyone right now can hold their Joy on like this and think it's a natural mouse feel. I even tried using my Roku controllers which are slightly bigger but it just doesn't work.
I'm sure a lot of people will get use out of it but I have a feeling it's going to be like VR and after 15 or 20 minutes people are just done. I really like VR games but the nausea is real. This Joy Con mouse mode looks like it was created to cause carpal tunnel.😩
@Varkster
"I'm sorry am I missing the part where you're paying for the mouse functionality separately?"
why would I need to demonstrate this?
"According to Nintendo this literally cost them nothing to add to the console,"
sure that makes sense. 👍
@johnvboy
i hear you.
but the switch is absolutely bloated with extra features for anyone that mostly or always uses it for one mode or the other, and now it's gonna cost 50% more, so to have even more (frankly imo) stupid Homer Simpson car features tacked on out of the blue is a bit of a hard pill to swallow, for me, in the absence of any real innovation. ✌️
@Medic_alert came here to say I don’t see myself ever using the mouse. Then I saw command and conquer and all I can say is…. Yes please!
At least nintendo does ‘weird novel nintendo stuff’ like a mouse possibility,
I will use it if mario paint gets a remake and i can program darude - sandstorm.
Talking about novelty, what really shines is that chat/ytpstreamer without BG feature, would be great with the ngc games recreating the good 2002 times.
Journalist who hates using mice on PC also hates using mouse mode on Switch 2, news at 11.
Do we have impressions from somebody who doesn't hate using mice on PC?
using my real mouse to scroll through the comment section
I like the concept of the two mice, but I do have a hard time picturing it being used often or to great effect. It’s also the only new thing the switch 2 does that the switch cannot. The camera too, I guess, but I also picture that going into the dust bin soon enough. The issue with Nintendo and their various gimmicks as of late is the lack of follow through. Instead of just having the one game showcase what is possible, there needs to be at least three substantial games at or close to launch to really sell the idea.
As someone that loved the controls of Kid Icarus Uprising (I know I’m crazy but also proof that I do enjoy some off the wall ideas), I have no faith this new control scheme will be properly supported.
It's not for me at all either. But in my case, it's more for health reasons due to a disability. Using a mouse absolutely Fs up my rheumatoid arthritis.
@larryisaman
"I can’t see an optical sensor adding much cost to these controllers at all, it’s ancient tech at this point"
that's true but we pay for more than just the cost of materials when we buy their products.
I see pros and cons with the mouse. It is not only optical sensing but also tracking gyro, which means you can rotate the “cursor” unlike computer mice. I’ve only seen that functionality on something like a drawing tablet. That has a lot of potential for placing things in something like Mario Maker, menuing, maybe some other creative uses. The bullet hell in Welcome Tour looked fun. Funny enough the start of the Drag x Drive trailer made me think it was a DJing game.
What I’m not sold on is the use in shooting games, over gyro aim. Gyro is already good for this and gives you natural access to the R stick, which mouse mode doesn’t. In Splatoon this means strafing is in the L stick, quickly pivoting is on the R stick, and the gyro is on aim. You don’t want to be dragging your mouse to the edge of the screen to pivot - that is tank controls. Maybe a twisting motion can be used to replace that, but I’m skeptical.
@-wc-
Yep, considering how many remakes/ remasters we get, I think it is quite likely, that we will get some older PC games too.
@legend_of_zaleda
*"Overpriced system + This gimmick + My current backlog =
Notify me when Switch 2 Lite is released."*
I wish I'd just said what you said ✌️👍 or not bothered because your math is correct, and I've got people @ing me that the mouse feature was free to develop and implement. 😂
@Jhena
broadly, im sick of the rehashters, but there are plenty of 90s pc games id love to play on a nintendo console! 👍
@FreasurePlanten
"The analogy was pretty bad too. Even if you race in GTA games (have no idea), participating in car races is not something you're doing constantly in GTA, but in Metroid you shoot at enemies and to unlock things pretty much always."
you didn't understand my analogy, and you literally "have no idea" what you are talking about. respectfully ✌️🖖
Lol Nintendo fans. The Switch 2 is too bland and iterative where's the Nintendo weirdness? The mouse is too weird who asked for this I don't want to pay for a gimmick.
Also funny all the speaking for what Iwata may or may not have liked. The man is dead and gave his life for Nintendo. Let him rest.
@Coalescence
"The mouse is too weird who asked for this I don't want to pay for a gimmick."
I've seen no one complain that a mouse is "too weird." it's a boring idea from Nintendo, plainly awful implementation (joycon mouse is the "side talkin" of 2025,) and certainly not the sort of blue sky "gimmick" I learned to love Nintendo for over the first 30 years of my life.
(okay the mouse was cool and weird on SNES roughly 30 years ago so youve got me there 😂 ✌️)
#sidemousin
Mouse mode for me will be good for Pikmin 5 eventually.
But I really hope they will put Mario Paint out so I can play the fly swatter game again. That and it being used for Superscope games too.
@OldGamer999 Yeah, I went physical for resale value. I'll probably pick up Mario Party Jamboree and Donkey Kong the month after. Looking forward to it – assuming my preorder comes through okay.
I am. And almost everyone who tried it said it feels amazing, and just as precise as a real mouse. The fact it instantly switches back and forth in and out of mouse mode without any button or system setting is incredible.
It's definitely going to be a gamechanger for me. But I get not everyone is into it.
Chances are we'll get a mouse accessory for Switch 2...not a big fan of joycons either because of the size.
and drift of course. >_>
...and it seems like the new ones seem like the same exact size basically...so, I dunno.
I'm shocked they kept them thin like that, rather than copy the Legion Go and design them to have a similar shape. They're actually happy they kept the Switch 2 thin, as they said. What a mistake. Having it a bit thicker means more comfortable grip, better Joy-Cons, bigger battery, more powerful system, better cooling.
Wii U was comfortable to hold, Wii remotes were okay'ish though. Switch Joy-Cons are horrid to hold, Pro controller is comfortable. They never get everything right. They could have though.
I am still very happy that they added mouse mode since we can't play with a mouse and keyboard like on the Xbox and PC.
@-wc-,
The OLED Switch was $349 at launch and the Switch 2 is going to cost $449... so it's a $100 more. The Switch 2 is a lot more powerful, has a dock with a cooling fan, has a larger screen and more memory.
If anything it's the Switch OLED that's a little overpriced imho..
I don't think the use case for this joy-con feature will improve outside of certain games where the change-up is useful for certain actions (menu navigation in Cyberpunk is going to be so much better with this), but for mouse heavy games like strategy, point&click and shooters, people that really care will just hook up a proper mouse to the Switch and use that.
No interest in mouse controls, I’d play with pro only and docked only
@FantasiaWHT Detachable joy cons is actually not a gimmick. It has some actual gameplay boon applications besides just being an alternative way for one person to play.
For example it lets one person with one Switch still play local multiplayer with another person on the same machine since the joy cons can act as two “controllers”. That gives the system extra versatility if you and a family member/friend/whatever waiting for a flight or whatever and want to play multiplayer despite owning one system. I seen people play Smash Ultimate that way. It’s obviously not “optimal” compared to if two switches was present, but it’s nice to have the option then not at all.
Joycon stick + gyro = better than mouse
It feels niche, but I'm glad the option is there
I had reservation about the ‘thin-ness’ and worried that the mouse /controller would tilt and lose contact. The case idea is the perfect solution.
Watching the Metroid prime demo though, it’s almost like they expect you to Witcher mouse only for brief periods.
Could also be total gimmick / Nintendo being Nintendo. On paper it’s a great idea!
Found me both USBC mouse and a BT Mouse Logitech. When I do get a Switch 2 I might try these and find with works but the BT mouse looks like a good option to free up the USBC ports.
It's just this consoles gimmick but it maybe useful for Super Mario Maker 3
@AG_Awesome I was thinking the same thing. Perhaps, a joycon attachment, like infrared sensor, could be released for additional accuracy. We can only hope. I miss pointer controls.
I don't get people this mouse will be useful for Fortnite, COD and likes and then Minecraft or any other PC games that use mouse feature. It's not limited to NS2 games - PC games are coming CrossGen and this will only benefit NS2 consoles.
@-wc- this is how I felt watching the entire C-button/gamechat pitch. I instantly started wondering how much of the console I’ll be paying for that I’ll never use.
@-wc- The mouse feature is not a Homer-Simpson-car-feature. It's useful, a lot of people want it, even if they're not the majority. It is good for RTS games, for Mario Maker, for FPS games. It's useful for Metroid! It's not for you - fine. But it's so far from being a useless feature or just a gimmick.
Needs a mouse shell grip accessory-thing attachment. Blown away that Nintendo doesn't have something like that available for launch as a separate accessory. I personally hate mouse based aiming for anything in first or 3rd person, but i can imagine dual mouse controls being used in neat quirky ways for an upcoming WarioWare game.
I want my PC mouse to work instead of the joy-con. I'd love to use my MX Master 3S instead of an uncomfortable tiny controller.
@geshem
if the mouse was a good mouse, it would be a proven, utilitarian and conventional input method for gaming, though not one that i want to use with my TV or handheld.
But it's that, and also a horrible implementation of that. holy god, even a well shaped "conventional" ergonomic mouse can and will mercilessly debilitate you within years of regular, "normal" use. That's what makes it a Homer Simpson car feature: just because you can, doesn't mean you should. 👍
and, of course, this is all just my opinion and i hope we are all having fun here ✌️😄
I'm cautiously optimistic about this.
My issue is.. why not just use a mouse?
Why not just make a mouse for Switch 2?
Why shoehorn it into the joycon?
It doesn't even look comfortable..
Unless they eventually port Kid Icarus or make a new Mario Party I highly doubt I'll ever even try out this mouse thing. It just seems like an inconvenience.
Since the switch uses keyboard and mouse anyway I expect that support won’t change for S2 so I will probably continue to use that except for games that use two mice joycon2s. I am excited as a built in mouse means more devs will turn on mouse controls for games that need it. (Nobunaga’s ambition for one, I hope).
If there is a 3rd party comfortable mouse that will be compatible then I may give it a try with Metroid Prime 4. I may try it as is but I don’t expect it to be comfortable. I also could see myself designing and 3D printing a grip to make it larger and comfortable if I want to use it. I suppose the chances of me playing with mouse mode are probably low since I mostly play in handheld mode though.
@-wc- No, he got your analogy, the problem is that you don’t seem to. Racing and Driving are two different things, and are very easy to differentiate. There is no equivalent difference between Shooting in the Metroid Prime series vs other FPS games. Thus, the analogy doesn’t hold up. (Admittedly, if there were no enemies in the MP games, you might have something to argue, but that isn’t the case, especially in 2 and 3)
Furthermore, while you can’t call GTA a racing game because it isn’t built around racing, you can call the Metroid Prime games (especially 3) FPS games, because they are built around Shooting in First Person. They might be part of a subgenre (or sub-subgenre, since FPS is itself a Shooter subgenre)but that’s about it.
————
*sigh * and here I was thinking this might be something interesting, but based off the article and comments, it sounds like another case of “here’s a cool novel feature that no-one can be bothered to use”, further highlighting why Videogaming is becoming increasingly safe, and digital.
@FullMetalWesker
"There is no equivalent difference between Shooting in the Metroid Prime series vs other FPS games. Thus, the analogy doesn’t hold up."
Gameplay in Prime is more equivalent to an adventure/rpg game than a first person shooter, and combat in Prime is more like Z targeting than aiming a la FPS. the similarity in perspective to the FPS genre is really the only strong semblance. this has been my point all along. the analogy has become a distraction at this point. thanks for replying ✌️
people will 3D print pokemon flavored shells for the mousemode and it'll be all the rage
@-wc- - Sorry, but you’re clutching at straws here. The gameplay in all three Prime games is built around shooting, and how often you use the game’s lock-on feature doesn’t really factor into it.The fact is, at the end of the day, the only thing you need to be a FPS is to be in first person, and be built around shooting. All three games in the Metroid Prime series fit this criteria, therefore, that’s what they are. If you think otherwise, then you’re simply mistaken, that’s all.
The problem is the joycon isn't as ergonomic as a mouse, it's too thin and there's no screen wheel, and playing game with (the joycon) mouse but with the other joycons instead of keyboard is a bit weird.
I was never bothered about mouse to be honest, handheld gamer anyways. Soon as it was shown you could tell it wouldn't be too great on extended periods and will need some sort of grip to prevent claw hand
I don't think that mouse controls will be a big deal for Switch 2. Especially with the shape of the joy-con probably becoming very uncomfortable to use for longer gaming sessions. But I do appreciate Nintendo for trying.
I'd much rather have all consoles support K+M as inputs by default. And the games to support is too of course. I would ditch PC gaming in a heartbeat if they did. I'd love to play Metroid Prime 4 using my Razer Tartarus V2 keypad and Basilisk mouse, for example.
@FullMetalWesker
"The fact is, at the end of the day, the only thing you need to be a FPS is to be in first person, and be built around shooting"
Duck hunt is a First Person Shooter, then. Agree to disagree. 👍✌️
Nah. Quoth wiki:
"Since exploration takes precedence over combat, Nintendo described the game as a "first-person adventure" rather than a first-person shooter."
oh hey look I found the exact article on IGN i remember reading at the time. 😆
https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/02/24/metroid-a-first-person-adventure
IN SUMMARY: Metroid Prime 4 doesn't need a side-talkin joycon mouse because Metroid Prime is not a FPS series but a 3D adventure game in the first person, built around using the gamecube controller (and then the wii mote after that.) The Idea that "hey 💡 lets just give it mouse support and turn it into a generic FPS because all games with the same perspective are the same game" is strictly wrongheaded and exposes a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Prime games were meant to be. IMO. thanks 👍✌️
Oh my god yall the human brain just melts down the moment we start attaching labels to things. Hot dogs qualify as sandwiches but if I pay for a sandwich and you hand me a hot dog, I'll be pretty sad. If your friend says "let's play an FPS" and you pull out Metroid Prime Hunters and a couple of DSes they may look at you funny, but it's still technically what they asked for. There's a lot more nuance to what things are that these labels are not really concrete enough to have semantic debates over. I believe Metroid Prime is an FPS, Action-Adventure, and Platformer. I believe Dead Space is a TPS, and Horror game. I believe someone who plays Wii Fit every day is a gamer. If you don't believe in those labels, totally chill. As long as your use of labels doesn't hurt other people, use context clues. Feel free to call your hot dog a sandwich, while understanding that if someone says "I want a sandwich," they're probably picturing something on square bread with condiments, greens and a protein.
I'll give it a go but as someone who has had a pinched nerve from work in forearm likely aggravated by bad posture this seems a bad idea. I am especially not liking the idea some people have to put it on their thigh as that seems a recipe for carpel tunnel syndrome. Just try placing your hand on thigh and clicking with index finger. For me it feels a more awkward and uncomfortable than when arm is out front. Imagine compounding that 1000 fold. It's not a good sign.
I tried the Switch 2 at the NYC Switch 2 experience and wholeheartedly agree with the size of the Joy-Con as well as the buttons not translating well as a mouse. When playing the Metroid Prime 4 demo, I often found myself being slightly off target because although I was locked on to an enemy, I maybe moved just a smidge to the right or left and instead of my shot landing on the space pirate, I shot off to the side. It also felt weird mapping the visor to X and morph ball to Y. The entire experience for the most part felt clunky with the exception of the boss fight which is when I found the mouse control to be of use with very few errors on my end.
As for Drag X Drive, I REALLY wanted to like this game but even after doing the tutorial and feeling as if I got a hang on the show setup, there were many key moments where I would move the right Joy-Con forward and it didn't register. Perhaps the Joy-Con was slightly tilted without me knowing, perhaps I was just a little above the table, I don't know but in the heat of the moment I found that it was very easy for motions to be missed. For me, it reminded me of the motion controls in the soccer game in Switch Sports. When it worked and the situation called for it, there was a sense of satisfaction that came with it but when it didn't register a motion / gesture, you were left feeling foolish despite the fact that it was no fault of your own.
Lastly, the mini games for Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition felt right with the mouse controls. They didn't require that much knowledge or input and because the length of the games were relatively short, at no point did it feel out of place such as the air shell hockey game or pull back race car game.
I'm glad there are other folks who have had and similar experience in regards to Nintendo's Joy-Con mouse controls. I think it's a spiffy idea and as time progresses, perhaps third party companies or maybe even Nintendo will figure out a shell that the Joy-Con can fit into so to alleviate feeling of the thin Joy-Con slipping out of one's grip and/or accidentally pressing one of the face buttons.
this is an opinion written by a person who already doesn’t like PC gaming, so take it with a grain of salt, but it is also optional to not use mouse mode so 🤷
I like this option. If this opens up for Total War etc. on Switch, I'll gladly take it.
I don't think it's groundbreaking and got a slight fear of Nintendo pushing the gimmick where it's not necessary (e.g., Mario Party showcase doesn't look like games that are necessarily better with a mouse), but more options are welcome.
Mouse control is largely an unnecessary gimmick, like HD rumble. When a conventional controller works wonderfully well with Metroid Prime, why ever use a mouse? Where would you rest it while sitting on a couch? Perhaps your lap or the side arm. Either way, whatever! For something like Mario Maker it will likely be more useful.
@Baker1000 The Switch 2 devs specifically said they designed the mouse mode so that you can use it on you pants.
For strategy titles, mouse should be the right analog stick, left click should be the right bumper and right click should be the left bumper. I've been using the Steam Deck like this for years, works well. Games like Heroes of Might and Magic or King's Bounty are as good to play like this as with a real mouse.
I agree that holding a joycon like that for a longer period of time is probably not convenient. But I still hope that because of this new control, my favorite strategy games (HoMM, Disciples, any RTS from Command & Conquer, Warcraft etc. to Age of Empires) finally appear on the Switch 2.
It sounds like it's not Jer-Con-omic.
If they don't simply add mouse controls to Mario Maker in a free update, perhaps it would come with an upgrade pack that includes a SMB Wonder theme and elements.
@Chlocean
I share your point(s) of view, except for the fact that when I picture a sandwich, it starts with a fresh third of a baguette. 🇫🇷
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