Mechanism’s first Switch 2 case is as awesome as I hoped it would be

Mechanism 推出的首款 Switch 2 保护壳正如我所期待的那样出色。

A $49 case that protects your console and offers customization via modularity.

这是一款售价 49 美元的保护壳，既能保护你的主机，又能通过模块化设计提供个性化定制。

Most companies have slowed down releasing new Switch 2 cases, but one of my favorite accessory makers recently debuted its first, after a few delays. The $49 Basecase from Mechanism is a snap-on shell for the console that taps into the company’s modular lineup of mounts. You could already mount the Switch 2 in numerous ways with its $19 Basegrip (to your wall, to its Gaming Pillow, to a monitor arm, etc.). The difference is that this new product protects your console, makes its Joy-Con more comfortable to use, and has some interesting modularity.

大多数公司已经放缓了发布新款 Switch 2 保护壳的步伐，但我最喜欢的配件制造商之一在经历了几次延期后，最近终于推出了他们的首款产品。Mechanism 推出的这款 49 美元的 Basecase 是一款卡扣式主机外壳，可以接入该公司现有的模块化支架系列。此前，你已经可以通过他们 19 美元的 Basegrip 以多种方式固定 Switch 2（例如固定在墙上、游戏枕头或显示器支架上）。而这款新产品的不同之处在于，它不仅能保护你的主机，还能让 Joy-Con 手柄用起来更舒适，并具备一些有趣的模块化功能。

The console shell allows for the full range of the Switch 2’s kickstand, and access to all of the ports, buttons, and fan vents. Notably, it fits more snugly than others I’ve tried because it clamps on near the console’s bottom USB-C port. This is a good thing. You can unlock its rear plate and replace it with a custom 3D-printed version for more fun and/or more utility. Mechanism sent over a couple of printed examples that hint at the possibilities — one that has Lego pegs on it for sticking on some minifigures, and another that has crannies for game cartridges.

这款主机外壳不影响 Switch 2 支架的完全展开，且所有接口、按钮和散热孔均可正常使用。值得注意的是，它比我尝试过的其他产品贴合度更高，因为它在主机底部的 USB-C 接口附近进行了卡扣固定，这非常棒。你可以拆下后盖，换上定制的 3D 打印版本，以获得更多乐趣或实用性。Mechanism 寄来了几个打印好的示例，展示了各种可能性——其中一个带有乐高积木凸点，可以粘上小人仔；另一个则设有存放游戏卡带的凹槽。

The grips that slide onto the back of the Joy-Con protectors are modular, too. The set includes two sizes that add varying degrees of bulk, both of which make them more comfortable to use. Remove any of the grips, and there’s a spot for a game cartridge. It’s a fun way to bring extra physical games. Mechanism included some extra grip types that aren’t for sale to show what’s possible with a 3D printer. I really liked the pair that has a little shelf on each side to let your middle or ring fingers rest.

滑入 Joy-Con 保护套背面的握把也是模块化的。套装包含两种尺寸，增加了不同程度的厚度，两者都能提升使用舒适度。拆下任何一个握把，下面都有一个存放游戏卡带的位置，这是一种携带额外实体游戏的有趣方式。Mechanism 还提供了一些非售卖的额外握把类型，以展示 3D 打印的潜力。我非常喜欢其中一对两侧带有小托架的握把，可以让中指或无名指得到支撑。

You can’t use the Switch 2 in its dock with the Basecase. So, Mechanism includes a dock adapter that takes a different approach — not necessarily better or worse — than Dbrand did with its Killswitch. Instead of cradling the Switch 2, it’s simply a female-to-male USB-C cable that you have to maneuver onto the dock’s video-out port. Installing it isn’t quite as easy as its marketing indicates, but I eventually got it working. Those who use a third-party USB-C dock from Jsaux or Genki won’t need to use this component.

安装 Basecase 后，Switch 2 将无法放入原装底座。因此，Mechanism 附带了一个底座适配器，其处理方式与 Dbrand 的 Killswitch 不同（不一定更好或更差）。它不是将 Switch 2 嵌入其中，而仅仅是一根母对公的 USB-C 转接线，你需要将其连接到底座的视频输出端口上。安装过程并不像其营销宣传的那样简单，但我最终还是成功了。如果你使用的是 Jsaux 或 Genki 的第三方 USB-C 底座，则无需使用此组件。

The Basecase seems designed to address multiple points of failure in earlier Switch 2 cases released by Dbrand, Genki, and others that unfortunately let some quality control issues slip in an effort to launch cases first when the Swtich 2 first debuted. For instance, the Basecase’s Joy-Con grips have a little rubber lip that fits around the top of the controller’s inner colored section. Dbrand revised its comfy Killswitch grip to add this after some users noted their consoles tumbling to the ground when they grabbed it by the controller without supporting the Switch 2’s weight. The Basecase does a good job of preventing this issue.

Basecase 的设计似乎旨在解决 Dbrand、Genki 等公司早期推出的 Switch 2 保护壳中存在的多个故障点，这些产品在 Switch 2 首发时为了抢占市场，不幸出现了一些质量控制问题。例如，Basecase 的 Joy-Con 握把带有一个小橡胶唇，可以包裹住手柄内侧彩色区域的顶部。Dbrand 在一些用户反映仅抓握手柄而未支撑主机重量导致主机掉落后，改进了其 Killswitch 握把并增加了这一设计。Basecase 在预防此类问题方面做得很好。

Also important: the swappable Joy-Con grips attach easily, requiring almost no effort to line up the latch pins to snap on. I could never quite get the feel for the ones included with Genki’s Attack Vector case (we’ll see how Genki’s upcoming Grips fare). Also, while most thin, plastic cases from competitors exhibit ill-fitting sections or flex, the Basecase feels tougher. If you’re bought into Mechanism’s ecosystem of mounts and have a Switch 2, there’s a good chance that you’ve been waiting for this release (and, perhaps, you already own this case). For gamers who haven’t yet tried out the company’s system of mounts, this is a really good place to start.

同样重要的是：可更换的 Joy-Con 握把安装非常容易，几乎不需要费力对准锁扣销即可卡入。我一直无法适应 Genki 的 Attack Vector 保护壳附带的握把（看看 Genki 即将推出的握把表现如何吧）。此外，虽然竞争对手的大多数薄塑料保护壳存在贴合不佳或易弯曲的问题，但 Basecase 感觉更坚固。如果你已经加入了 Mechanism 的支架生态系统并拥有 Switch 2，那么你很可能一直在等待这款产品的发布（或许你已经拥有了它）。对于尚未尝试过该公司支架系统的玩家来说，这是一个非常好的起点。