Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@Knuckles-Fajita I dunno, I think Crash is the kinda game where minor visual downgrades don't really matter, as long as it performs well. Which it does. There's too much going on to pay attention to minor details.

Wolfenstein 2 looks incredible on the handheld! Like... really, I'm blown away here. It's much better than I was expecting. It just looks... really good!

I need to call into work today and play Wolfenstein 2. You guys need to check it out. It looks better than my GPD Win 2 could run it, of that I'm confident. They really optimized here.

@Buizel They'll pay attention to even the smallest dot they could find, don't be surprised

I've had it with people comparing visuals with other systems, especially on the bigger 3rd party offerings e.g. Crash Bandicoot, Wolfenstein etc.

These games are going to dry up if all we do is ***** that they don't look as good on Switch. Just take the Switch version on it's own merits, ffs.

@gcunit Let's take the Switch version of WWE2K18 on its own merits.

Its portable.
Its missing content.
It makes an excellent screensaver.

Other versions:

Full content
Not as good a screensaver

@gcunit
I agree. It's like people have been conditioned to think anything less than PS4 or Xbox One level visuals is unacceptable, not worth playing, yada yada yada.

I dont remember all this hogwash every time a game came to Nintendo Wii. Or the Vita. Or even the 3DS.

I think it's a narrative driven by those who realize there isn't much reason to buy any other version now, so as much emphasis as possible must be placed on how "lesser than" these Switch games are.

For goodness sakes, different systems run different games at varying levels of performance and fidelity. Judge each and every game as if no other version existed in the universe. That's how each game should be judged. On it's own merits. What would reactions be if Wolfenstein 2 was a Switch exclusive? Probably amazing. But the minute you start comparing a system in the minor leagues of power with major league power systems, of course there's gonna be 1,000 little things that are better elsewhere.

You wouldn't watch a college game of football and constantly opine about how each player just isn't as strong or fast as Emmit Smith, would you? No! Because they're not expected to be. What they ARE expected to be, is as strong as fast as other college players.

Likewise, Switch games shouldn't be constantly compared to versions running on power setups. Compare it apples to apples. Compare it to other Switchgames, other handheld games, etc.

The conversation shouldn't be how lesser than a Switch game is compared to PS4 or X1, it should he how amazing it is compared to 3DS and Vita.

Wolfenstein 2 is the most graphically impressive FPS released on a handheld in gaming history. THAT should be the narrative.

@Knuckles-Fajita Did you really bring up a messed up port of the game as an example of it? I agree with @gcunit, we need to stop judging the game solely on graphics and look at its features and gameplay.

I'll always go for whatever version has smoother gameplay. That's the disappointing thing about Dark Souls Switch. It both runs worse and comes out later, I was really looking forward to it. Hopefully it's worth the wait for those waiting on the portability

@Azooooz Hey, I am looking at its features and gameplay.

It makes an excellent screensaver. But we DO have to judge Switch games on their own merits compared to the fuller versions.

In Crash's case you get a visual downgrade that, preference depending, you may find too much of a downgrade, and thats fine, but you get portability.

In other cases, you get downgrades so severe the game barely runs with missing content, but you get portability.

@gcunit @JaxonH amen to that
@Knuckles-Fajita no, you get an awesome game for an awesome device. And don't forget that A LOT of gamers don't even own more than one console... But of course, you are free to decide what you find more important if you have the choice to buy the game on different consoles: price, release date, portability, performance, preferred controller (e.g. motion control), friends to play with online, etcetera. So yes, base your own decision on what you find important, but don't try to objectively classify a game as inferior, based on your personal preferences.

Nice to see all the positive reactions. I'll probably pick this up later in a sale or 2nd hand; it's not worth full price to me (not a huge fan of FPS, only occasionally).

Any chance this paves the way for future high-end games to be ported to/released on Switch?

Well get this. Just went to see if I can nab a copy of Ys VIII, a new release, releasing TODAY on Nintendo Switch, from our only remaining games dedicated retailer here in the UK and...well...

They dont have it. Doesn't show up on the website. Hell the PS4 version doesn't. Just Vita.
What is this chicanery.

@toiletduck I think it'll depend on how well these games sell. If these do well enough you're more likely to see more of it. Like DOOM sales will probably factor into whether Switch gets DOOM Eternal for example. If Wolfenstein II does badly, you're probably not going to see the upcoming Wolfenstein game (sure there was that retail "leak" but it may not be true, see Splinter Cell appearing in the Walmart leak for example).

I'd pay more to get the whole of Wolfenstein 2 on a game card. Wish that was an option. The forced download is what's stopping me getting it yet.

Okay so...ShopTO HAD Ys VIII. The only other place is...

Amazon...

Okay given Crash isn't arriving until Monday (Because of course it is!!!!) and half the time they deliver to the wrong p***ing street, they are the absolute last resort!

@JaxonH "I agree. It's like people have been conditioned to think anything less than PS4 or Xbox One level visuals is unacceptable, not worth playing, yada yada yada."

Marketing works, I guess. I see the point. If you can get the same actual game for much less money on a system that runs it better, the only argument for the Switch version is because you want it portably (or of course because it's actually playable on switch with motion controls versus sticks, but I digress....) I imagine most of the people complaining about the visuals are people who do not undock their switch - ever. And there's plenty of the "I don't want a handheld I just want a home console from Nintendo" crowd....which is fine, Switch is meant to be that, (and in the US specifically promoted as a home console first and foremost, that just has the option to take it outside the home, even if we know it's bull.) For that crowd...well..yeah, why would you pay twice as much for a worse looking version of the game (ok..again...motion controls....but work with me here )

Maybe Nintendo shot themselves a little by doubling down on the "home console you can take with you" thing. They don't do that in Japan.

Plus keep in mind the industry group survey that showed, overwhelmingly, by far, the #1 important factor to game consumers is graphics. The majority of game consumers don't buy games to have the best gameplay or story or potability, most buy games to look the prettiest. It's stupid and it's frustrating, but such is the people who keep the lights on at the studios.....and we get these arguments as a result.

For me, I own all 3 consoles. Portability wins on this title. Motion REALLY wins on this title. but if I didn't actually use the Switch portably, yeah I doubt I'd pay twice as much for a worse looking version so they have a point. (well, ok, motion controls for shooters....I really struggle with shooters on sticks these days...my mouse instincts have returned thanks to Splatoon.)

"I dont remember all this hogwash every time a game came to Nintendo Wii. Or the Vita. Or even the 3DS."

Oh, I remember it on Wii. Vita had such few games and got such little discussion, but it did get a pass on the crossplay games (Sony fandom FTW!), and 3DS didn't really get any console crossovers so it was sort of immune

" What would reactions be if Wolfenstein 2 was a Switch exclusive? Probably amazing."
I'll choose, "Endless whining" for 500, Alex.

@NEStalgia
It's only less money though because its been out half a year. And anyone looking at choosing between the 2 clearly doesnt own the game yet, which means they waited until now and still haven't bought it.

Which means they should have no problem waiting for Switch to likewise drop price. If they're willing to wait for a lower price on another system, why wouldn't they do the exact same thing for the Switch version?

At the end of the day, its slightly better looking TV only version vs TV + handheld + portable console version with motion that still looks 95% as good. It's not even a choice for me. Switch every time. As long as the game isn't averaging 15fps, we're good.

I run Assassins Creed 4 and Alan Wake in GPD Win 2, and they dont look or run as good as Wolfenstein 2 on Switch. But they still look good to me, even on very low settings they look excellent on a small screen.

Can someone help me? Whenever I dock my Switch it starts lagging in online games such as Rocket League or Fortnite. Works flawlessly on handheld mode so it can't be because of bad connection. Any ideas?

Edit: Solved it by connecting to a 5Ghz Wifi band. Still find it weird how it worked fine on handheld but not docked.

@JaxonH Yeah, heck people complained about Xenoblade 2 on handheld mode versus TV mode....I'm playing it and it looks great to me, even compared to TV mode. Maybe I haven't hit the bad parts yet, but I don't see the complaints (or it's been patched since they played it which is possible.) The art style lends itself to look kind of like Gravity Rush on the Vita.

If I were playing only on the TV, if I didn't care about motion controls, sure I'd buy the X1 version and have it look its best. So I can see why some people wouldn't be pleased, but, yeah, Bethesda didn't port this because they thought Nintendo shouldn't be left out of the home consoles getting the game, they ported it because id Software games on a freaking handheld is awesome, and is only possible for the first time now, plus it doubles on TV duty too.

@NEStalgia Maybe you'll never have a problem. I completed Xenoblade 2, spending a lot of time in handheld mode, and never had a problem myself. Resolution drops are noticable, but IMO the game is so damn beautiful anyway that a bit of blur doesn't bother me too much - especially on such a small screen. It's still higher than Xenoblade 1 resolution, afterall.