Growing up with the 3DS and Wii U I really miss those times of the highly immersive systems. For me this was what made Nintendo so great.

I know that nowadays everything seems to be optimized for efficiency and practicality in this highly connected world where everyone has a smartphone and is seeking this quick pleasure.

But I’m craving these small things that made life so great. I miss these times so much of collecting StreetPass points, finding strangers Mii’s in Mii Plaza when going to a mall or connecting with friends, having all these mini games like Camera, AR games and even the immersive Mii makers where I spend hours creating Mii’s and watching them walking around. And of course, the customizable home menu with music and all these responsive animations.

It was like there was an entire world inside the 3DS and Wii U that could suck you in where you could spend your lifetime in without a sense of time and it was amazing. It gave you a home environment where you could feel comfortable, secure and relaxed. And I’m wondering where this went.

My thought is that Nintendo in a way might’ve intentionally made the Switch’s UI so soulless and depressing to have a bigger differentiator with the Switch 2 since they can only do this much in terms of hardware. Cause they didn’t even give us something as simple as an internet browser with some update which even the DSi had (and I think even the DS with some cartridge expansion. And not forgetting that the Wii U had YouTube and Netflix etc.). Because so far all we’ve seen is a slightly bigger Switch with magnet Joy Cons and a new Mario Kart.

I’m really hoping that they will go back in that direction cause this really was Nintendos DNA and I miss it so much. What are your thoughts on this?

  • TAGEnglish
    1•23 hours ago

    I would not mind if they kept the quick, efficient UI but still included all of the fun bundled software. I love transferring my Miis from one system to the next and seeing all the friends I played with (shame more Switch games don’t use them). I fondly remember commuting by light rail and collecting Miis in Street Pass Plaza.

    With the Switch, I assume that the development cycle was rushed and the software devs churned out the OS but did not have a chance to develop any fun apps. It is a shame that they never went back and added them. With how well the system was selling, there was no need for them. Hopefully with the S2 having plenty of development time, they will do better.