The Nintendo Switch has always been a console with great potential but hampered by its hardware. From day one, it struggled to match the performance of its competitors. The launch title, *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*, was a technical marvel, but it was held back by a less-than-optimal 30fps and inconsistent performance. 
Fast forward to *Tears of the Kingdom*, and the Switch was pushed even further to its limits, with frame rates sometimes dipping as low as 20fps.
With the arrival of the more powerful Switch 2, the iconic Zelda games have been re-released in updated versions that promise improved visuals, performance, and new features. These updates bring both *Breath of the Wild* and *Tears of the Kingdom* into sharper focus, offering a noticeable bump in resolution to 1440p in docked mode and 1080p handheld. While the resolution improvements are welcome, the visual enhancements are subtle-higher resolution simply renders the original assets more clearly. However, the real game-changer is the performance boost. On the original Switch, the framerate struggled to hit 30fps, but on the Switch 2, these games run smoothly at a rock-solid 60fps, even in the most demanding areas like the Fire Temple in *Tears of the Kingdom*.
But the most surprising feature isn’t just the visual upgrade or the performance improvements. It’s the addition of *Zelda Notes*, a mobile app that pairs with the Switch 2 versions of the games to provide in-game guidance and useful tools. While I wasn’t initially excited about using a phone while playing, I was quickly won over by the app’s features. It includes an interactive map that syncs with the Switch, allowing you to track your coordinates and mark key items, enemies, and locations. For players who, like me, don’t have the time to meticulously search for every hidden collectible, *Zelda Notes* is a huge help. I used it to find the *Depths Armor* set in *Tears of the Kingdom*, something that would have taken hours of frustrating searching otherwise. Additionally, the app includes features like voice memories, Autobuild creations, and even the ability to fix broken weapons.
Overall, these updates are a solid improvement over the original versions of the games, offering better performance and a useful mobile companion. While the visual upgrades aren’t revolutionary, they help to polish the games, and the performance boost is much appreciated. The inclusion of *Zelda Notes* makes this a worthwhile upgrade for players who want a little extra help, and it’s clear that this mobile companion app has the potential to become a useful tool for future Nintendo games.
The *Switch 2* versions of *Breath of the Wild* and *Tears of the Kingdom* are available now for $10 each, or for free with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. If you’re looking for a performance boost and some helpful new features, it’s definitely worth considering.