If you own a Nintendo Switch, you’ve probably heard some of the concerns that other owners and the media have raised surrounding its durability, and lack of day one capabilities. If not, allow me to quickly recap. Firstly, there are reports that the Switch’s docking station will actually scuff your screen over time. There are numerous reports online regarding the dock rubbing against the screen, especially when taking the console in and out of the dock. Over time, this is likely to cause minor scuffs. Secondly, the Switch will not allow you to transfer game saves currently. It means that if you break your console and it needs replacing, you have to start all over again with your game. These are issues that I am sure Nintendo will address going forward, but in particular the former cannot be solved for early adopters unless Nintendo send you a new dock free of charge, which is highly unlikely.
Fortunately, the solution is very simple: buy yourself a well-crafted case and screen protector. EGL was able to get its hands on the Venom starter kit, which currently retails for just under £14.99 and is all you need to keep your Switch and your favourite games safe. It’s worth noting that at the time of writing this review, I have also used the officially licensed Nintendo Switch case and there is no doubt that the Venom package is superior due to a variety of reasons that’ll be covered later.
Firstly, the Venom Nintendo Switch Starter Kit comes prepackaged with everything you need for the console. Firstly, it comes with the purposefully designed Nintendo Switch EVA case, providing the high level of durability that you’d expect from a carrying case. It’s probably no more bullet proof than the average case; the outer shell is definitely durable enough to absorb any shocks and protect the Switch within it. The starter pack however also comes with a fantastic screen protector, a microfiber cleaning cloth and also a pair of stereo earphones. Considering you’re paying less than £15 for all of that, the Venom starter pack becomes a very attractive option.
Of course, the EVA case is the main attraction of the show. As mentioned before, there is no doubt in my mind that it’s durable. The case will house your entire Nintendo Switch with the Joy-Cons attached to the screen. There is no separate compartment if you want to house your Joy-Cons elsewhere, but I cannot think of why you’d want to do this in the first place. Inside the case, the differences between the Venom and the official Nintendo case are made clearer. Firstly, the Venom’s case contains two elastic straps. I cannot emphasize how important these are. It means that when you open your case, even if you accidentally open it the wrong way or sideways, there is no chance for the Switch to slip out, as it is protected by the elastic straps. The elastic straps also keep the Switch more firmly in place in case you drop the case. One of the issues I have faced with my previous case is that I’d be extra conscious when unzipping it to ensure that the Switch wouldn’t slide out. It had nothing but the case’s rim protecting it, but often that wouldn’t be enough if I opened it the wrong way. Secondly, the case also contains a pocket for your game cartridges. It’s something that I expect all cases to have, especially due to the size of the games, and the Venom EVA case is no exception.
The screen protector is perhaps the surprising attraction, not because it’s a screen protector, but because it’s made of extremely high quality. I didn’t expect it to be made out of tempered glass. High quality tempered glass protectors aren’t cheap, and the fact that the Venom starter pack comes with a tempered glass protector, makes this an even more attractive buy. When applying the protector, I ran into issues early on because of the little speaker air holes at the bottom of the screen. It’s important that the screen protector (which is perfectly cut and shaped for the Switch design) doesn’t even slightly overlap these speaker holes, else you’d get some very large air bubbles. Fortunately after a second attempt, the screen protector was on perfectly. You only get one protector with the starter pack, so it’s important that you do a good job of applying it. The screen protector will do more than a good enough job to ensure your screen stays perfectly scratch-proof when taking it in and out of the dock.
Finally, the starter pack comes with a set of stereo earphones. If you’re looking for the best quality sound, you won’t find them here. These are really just for the casual gamers who could do with an extra pair of earphones that can be put away in the case. Considering the Nintendo Switch’s USP is that it can be carried around, giving us earphones as part of the starter pack is a fantastic idea and for this price, a working pair of earphones is all I would ask for. In fact, these earphones also have the extended tips for additional comfort, which is an added bonus.
With all of this in mind, the Venom Nintendo Switch starter pack is really a must buy for anyone who has recently purchased the console. I cannot see how spending £14.99 for a case, tempered glass screen protector, cleaning cloth and earbuds is anything but value for money. Most importantly, you’re spending the money on a set of accessories that are made by a company that has plenty of experience in this sector and make accessories for a living. Kudos to Venom for getting this out of the door quickly after the Switch launch. That tempered glass screen protector really was a nice touch!