Digital Foundry Takes Issue With Hyrule Warriors' Portable Performance On Switch

Yes, the option to lower the resolution in portable mode to increase framerate should be standard! I've not picked up Hyrule Warriors yet (budget issues...), but that problem makes me wary of it.

Shut up, Digital Foundry.

As someone who's played dozens of hours of it on my TV in co-op. No, I haven't noticed much lag or graphical errors. It runs just fine and fun thank you. Be quiet and go enjoy the game Digital Foundry. Not everything needs to be locked at 60 fps.
Edit my bad, this was in response to Nintendolife's closing questions. Digital Foundry can continue their maths regarding games.

Making the handheld mode run at 1080p makes absolutely no sense. Unless I'm forgetting something, doesn't the switch have a 720p screen? Why cap the resolution at over the screen's resolution for handheld play? I'm confused lol.

@Alikan Any action game does or it's a failure

Processing 1920x1080 pixels to display on a screen with 1280x720 pixels would be a terrible decision, if done deliberately.

Musou games never interested me, but when Hyrule Warriors came out, I learned something: I will never like Musou games. I rather hated the experience.

Why in the world would the developers set the default resolution in handheld mode to 1080p when the Switch’s screen only has a 720p resolution? Seems like an idiotic oversight. Don’t worry, there will be a 5GB patch to rectify that in the future.

Really want this game and this issue has been putting me off to the point I probably won't get it which is pretty disappointing. Anyone with a lot of experience in both docked and undocked that can say how playable it is? I'd mostly play docked anyway but I just can't handle these half-assed ports. Hope a patch will put the handheld mode down to 720p but this should have been common sense from the start.

@Alikan Well you said "on my TV" and this article is clearly about the handheld version so that explains that. Also Digital Foundry are just commenting with their technical knowledge, don't shoot the messenger. Below 30FPS for this game in handheld mode is absolutely pathetic, let's be real. You're saying "not every game needs to be solid 60fps", already a dubious claim when you're talking about action games with simple graphics and a focus on combat, but this game isn't even managing half that.

I mean does it really matter if it's not pixel perfect 1080p 60fps?! We've played for probably close 50 or 60 hours both handheld and docked and haven't noticed any problems. Perhaps my eyes are bad but if I hadn't read this article I wouldn't have noticed either way. This imo is just nitpicking. The game runs fine and is fun to play. No, it's not face melting perfect in the graphics department but it's not a deal breaker.

@Alikan Digital Foundry literally exists to critique games’ performances on an intricately technical level. Telling them to relax and enjoy the game is like telling a renowned food critic to stop obsessing over quality and just eat McDonald’s.

Docked mode is fine but I agree about the handheld mode being a mess.

I've been playing the game a ton, and the framerate is noticeably much worse in handheld mode, though far from unplayable (it actually appears similar to the Wii U version's framerate to me, but that may be because I mostly played that game co-op, which caused a performance hit).

It's just silly to have the handheld mode render in 1080p when that extra resolution isn't causing any actual visual difference. Even if it doesn't bring the handheld mode up to 60fps, I'd really appreciate a 720p patch to bring the framerate up.

I have played 15 hours so far and about half that in handheld and some of it in docked co-op as well. I guess maybe I am blind? I seriously havent seen any fps drops or anything in any mode. I mean, i am sure the FPS does drop at some points but I guess i havent noticed? I hear it is still WAY better then the Wii U though.

@AcridSkull "Even in docked mode that 1080p resolution causes issues. It's clearly too much for the console to cope with and this results in a wildly variable performance level. Would Nintendo have been better to go for a lower resolution such as 900p and thereby obtain a solid FPS?"
I admit calling out Digital Foundry was wrong, since clearly it was Nintendolife that asked me to write this comment to their question. I'll edit my original post.

Still prefer the Wii U version, it's asymmetric gameplay is so awesome, when one plays on GamePad screen and another on TV, completed all difficulties with my wife. Wish all those additional maps to have a co-op, also I really would prefer to have FE Warriors on Wii U, split-screen is not so good, we've dropped this game for now on Switch.

@redd214 The framerate issue isn't about looks (though if you can't see the difference between 60 and 30 in the same game I don't know what to say). It's about responsiveness. FPS is not an issue in turn based games, but in action ones like Hyrule Warriors? Very noticeable. I would definitely prefer lower resolution over lower performance.

@Menchi187 I can think of so many failures at 30fps: Bloodborne, all Souls games, Destiny, GTA, etc. Phenomenal failures the lot of them

@thesilverbrick agreed. I failed to recognize Nintendolife's opinions for what they are. Digital Foundry is fine.

@oji splitscreen is great, what are you talking about? The Wii U version runs like crap.

@SmaggTheSmug haven't noticed sluggishness or lack of responsiveness at all. Guess I'm easy to please

@gortsi All technical failures on consoles

@PorllM I could be out of touch with how simple graphics are in Hyrule Warriors. Looks nice to me. Nintendolife also asked of we'd noticed performance drops on the TV, which I hadn't. Locked 60 will never be a requirement for me to enjoy a game, but I guess I may be too easy to please when I'm having fun.

@Menchi187 lol find a new hobby you have no idea what you're talking about

I played over 40 hours so far and havent noticed any drops in docked mode. Undocked has issues but its still very responsive (unlike dark souls 1 framerate drops that introduces input lag).

However one question... how the heck can they know for sure the native resolution in undocked mode? It runs on a 720p screen, how do they know that theres some downscaling going on?

@gortsi They all failed on a technical level, don't be mad you proved my point.

I thought the game was running fine, so this is kind of a dissapointment. I own the original version on the Wii U which I still have to finish and maybe complete. Might pick it up later if it's on sale.

@gortsi You should try playing any of those on PC, running in 60. The difference is stunning and will make you regret playing on console all this time.
This is why I keep PC as my big name titles machine and Switch as my indies/Nintendo exclusives one.

I like the docked resolution bump but am disappointed in the unstable frame rate. Its distracting. I'd prefer a stable 30fps. Still a great game though!

@SmaggTheSmug minus the fact that some of these have never been on PC, consoles are by default closed ecosystems and obviously PC will always be better for performance. However, many of us don't play on PC and this is not about PC Vs console anyway so I don't see the relevance of your point.

@Menchi187 find a new hobby, your point is irrelevant and dumb

They should really patch this. And this is something they really should have noticed before release.

I havent noticed any issues playing solo on the TV, but my experience in handheld has been spotty. Mainly a lot of choppiness (not that kind) and stutters. Notice them most in the characters victory scenes.

Not soured my experience at all. Heading towards 100 hours and still barely scratched the surface of Adventure Mode.

@gortsi Classic NDF behaviour. Can't handle being wrong when hit with facts so resorts to irrational insults.

@Menchi187 there's nothing factual to what you said, just the usual drivel. Find a new hobby

Goshdarnit this is why it consumes so much battery. They need to fix it!

Well I am truly surprised that a Koei Tecmo warriors game has performance issues. Honestly, never would have expect that from a Koei Tecmo title.

Next you will be telling me that it has repetitive gameplay...

@gortsi Stay mad

I wknder why a patch for this Koei Tecmo developed and published game wouls be Nintendo's decision...

I don't notice it at all. I have played it alot both docked and handheld, I enjoy it alot at it has a really good flow.

I rather have better resolution than have better fps that I don't notice anyway.

Edit: Maby my Switch is better than everyone else's Some say they experience slopyness and Lagg in handheld, that is absolutely nothing I experience. And I am quite picky about stutter and lag.

@Varkster you sure showed them

@Orpheus79V I'm an absolute madman, I know.

On a serious note, pointing out the math aspect in games seems low to me. Games aren't my life, I have plenty of calculations in my life when I'm looking at my bank account or how much I need to pay for my bourbon and coke at a bar — GAMES are NOT something I want to look into with calculations in mind. I find Digital Foundry to be a dumb channel that only promotes fanboy wars over GAMES, something that was meant to be ENTERTAINMENT in the first place. This new obsession with specs and what runs what better just seems meaningless and demeaning to me. I have a gaming PC, do I care about the frame rate in my games? Sure, I do. I care about whether they run fine and visually pleasing. Whether a game is 4 frames below another person's PC is meaningless to me. I find games to be my everyday relaxation routine. Want to pass time? Play games. Want to de-stress? Play games.

Want to check some frame rates and resolution numbers? Shut up, Digital Foundry.

I'm glad I held off on this, it just seems like a lazy port. A 1080p resolution on a 720p screen is a very basic oversight. I mean it could easily get patched, but that should have never happened to begin with.

Most people skipped buying this anyway. This was always going to be a bargain bin filler - Not A Switch showcase.

I rather publishers focus on the handheld experience. I have tons of gaming options at home - Switch is the only on the go system I am using right now (until GPD Win2 drops in price). Just get handheld right.

You people amaze me... i mean, Digital Foundry is pretty much all about technical analyzing. If you don't care about that part of the game then maybe don't read such articles?

I find them quite interesting, regardless if the game runs great or not.

@Varkster

Then I find it odd you watched the video to begin with if you don't care about that stuff. That's fine if you don't want to bother, but I always find this stuff fascinating. It kinda gives you an idea of what the development was like for the game.

There usually are "reasons" for any decision regarding the development of a game. And I'm sure that's what you don't appreciate about Digital Foundry. They just analyze and say, "this and that are wrong. Why would they do that?" So sure, I get what you're saying there, but saying "shut up digital foundry" is neither helpful and just plain rude to be quite honest with you. This is what they do, they analyze. Some people like learning about this stuff. The Switch makes it even more interesting by jumping from docked to portable modes.

Seriously though, porting a game to Switch and having portable mode running at 1080p on a 720p screen is a pretty bad oversight that should have never happened — the performance obviously suffered because of it. Even a rushed port shouldn't have a mistake like that.

@SmaggTheSmug if you like the genre, do it. I noticed a bit of chop when I first started, but after five minutes or so, I literally notice no slowdown at all. Yeah, it’s smoother docked, but totally worth playing handheld.

@Kneppy18 I have no experience with the genre, which is another problem.

@Joker13z

Yep you are correct, the Switch screen is 720p. The only conclusion that makes any sense on that is that it is an oversight, but that's a pretty bad oversight. It will probably get patched, but still, should have never happened to begin with.

@MoonKnight7 Then that's definitely a real bad oversight on their part. You can do better than this Nintendo

@MoonKnight7 While you have a point as to what is wrong with this version and how it has been overlooked by the developer for pure rushing reasons which shouldn't have happened in the first place, Digital Foundry doesn't sit well with me because they are notorious for bashing on every single port made on Nintendo systems with saying it is inferior to other versions without pointing out any of the positives and just plainly blaming it on the hardware specs.

I consider myself slightly tech savvy and I do find fascination in what hardware can actually run visually. I keep up to date with graphic cards, what's new in trend, etc. I, however, do not really condone comparing systems just for the sake of getting views on their channel and having a clear bias towards certain systems for attention.

I don't honestly recall what it was that made me dislike DF in the first place, this happened long ago, I believe when the Wii U was just released. They were just bashing the system for shoddy ports when it really was the developers' faults, and had nothing to do with the Wii U's specs. It has nothing to do with my interest towards this kind of thing, neither am I bashing people for having an interest towards it. I just find it demeaning to find every small flaw in a game and not point out positives for pure marketing reasons. I have never seen a channel so gravitated towards bashing on the specs of a console which KNOWS it's inferior to its competitors when you're comparing pure horsepower.

To put it simply, I just don't think a system which isn't going for "power" should be a part of Digital Foundry's analyses. This is one of the rare cases where they do actually point out a genuine flaw, sure, but there have been plenty others where they were talking out of their rear just trying to bash the game presented, simply because it appeared on "inferior" hardware. My knee-jerk reaction of "shut up, Digital Foundry" is kind of a joke, but at the same time it's a mocking statement.

I think if a game is great, this kind of content should not hinder anybody's experience. But let's be real, this kind of content CAN hinder a lot of peoples' experiences simply because it exists. If a flaw hasn't been pointed out, I don't think anybody would care.

I play mostly in hand held mode and haven't run into any issues.

I played Co-op at a friends’ and it wasnt bad but it is atill disappointing. At least its not as bad as the Wii U, especially when playing multiplayer; the perfmance there was bad.

From what I've seen, while the performance definitely isn't bad in handheld mode, this sort of lazy optimization is worrying. Even putting aside any potential framerate bumps from correcting the issue, what about the drain on the battery life?

Still better than the lack of optimizing of XC2 for handheld mode, though. As much as I absolutely adored that game, the way handheld mode was gimped is still infuriating to me.

Koei-Tecmo's own Knights of Azure 2 is even worse. I'd call it borderline unplayable in handheld mode due to the framerate issues.

@Tokiwa The "Digital Foundry Retro" series is fun and really interesting. Definitely my favorite part of the channel.

I will probably get this eventually, but also doesn't seem like a game i'd play in handheld anyways, most of my gaming is done docked either way.

@Varkster

But it does have a flaw, that's kind of the point of what they do. That's like saying I want as little information as possible so it doesn't ruin it for me. If we took that same kind of mentality towards say, fast food, then a lot more people would die of heart attacks. Dramatic comparison, I know, but you are still free to buy whatever your heart desires, and information on such matters (hopefully) gives you a more informed decision. That's not a bad thing.

I'm sorry, your critique makes absolutely no sense to me. Hardware is what drives the bus, so when Nintendo has the weakest hardware, of course they're going to say so. Of course they're going to compare with other systems. That's like saying a Ferrari is nicer than a Pontiac. Of course it is, but they both drive so it's up to you on what to buy. It depends on your needs and wants.

And them constantly bashing games on Nintendo hardware is just not true. I even remember a video on BotW that said the Switch is the most powerful handheld console on the market. That's not a hardware bash. Even this very video praised Fire Emblem Warriors!

Things of course, get a little more complicated when talking about other developers and ports cause a lot of times there's optimization problems if it wasn't intended for said platform at first (like Hyrule Warriors). And for me, I'd like to know that. But even the Doom port was praised because they said Panic Button did an incredible job bringing it to Switch, but the hardware had some "compromises." How is that a bash? It's stating the obvious. It's stating the truth. Did they say Doom on Switch was the worst version? You bet. Because it is. Is it a bad port for a mobile console? Nope — and they said so.

@SmaggTheSmug Well, I'd say if you love Zelda as a series and mindless action, you'll like the game imo.

Wish there was a performance mode like FEW too, but this video did skimp on a lot of the technical differences between the Switch and Wii U version of the game.
-New Lighting Engine.
-25% More enemies.
-Double the draw distance.
-Little to no spawn lag. (I remember running into enemy keeps on the Wii U version and waiting several seconds for the enemies to spawn).

Individually little stuff, but added together makes the attempt to reach 1080p 60fps a bit more impressive.

Though they REALLY need to patch undocked mode running at 1080p.

Well considering Nintendo didn't develop the game, they're not going to be the ones to fix it. That aside, the portable resolution really needs to be patched. Regardless of personal opinions on the performance, it could be better for a relatively small visual tradeoff. As for the docked mode, I don't think it's a huge deal, but the fact that they've given the option in Fire Emblem Warriors, it seems odd to not have a choice here.

Yes, the option to allow players to choose whether they want to prioritize frame rate or resolution is always the best option.

That said, there isn't really a reason to have the game's resolution above the screen's maximum resolution in the first place, this just seems like it was rushed out.

You can see issues in some places but it never stops the game being fun.

They take issue with everything.

I have the game. Seems fine to me. [shrugs]

There were so many improvements TK made between the release of HW on the Wii U and now with their Musou games, but it's kind of sad that they never bothered to implement them in this definitive edition.
I loved the game at launch on the Wii U, but every time I pick it up now on the Switch I play one level and then get exasperated with it and put it down again. I just can't find the joy in the game anymore, which maddens me.
At least I can go back to FEW and OPPW3 and get that joy back, so that's nice. Can't wait for whatever TK creates next for the Switch. Apparently Warriors Orochi 4 is being revealed at E3? Or at least soon.

@Menchi187 on consoles? 30 FPS was a lucky day ceiling in GTA SA back when I played it on a rig well younger than the game itself. Somehow the game was still more than playable through roughly 98 per cent I cleared of it.

That's a really weird decision. Why would they even do that? After some soul searching I was thinking of getting this, but now I'll wait to see if they patch it out.

A selection of modes would be best. I mean, even back on psp Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep let you choose the colour depth (16 vs 32bit) and the system clock (222 vs 333 MHz) so that you could get the quality, performance and battery life balance you wanted.

Cya
Raziel-chan

DF likes to take the piss and has made flat out erroneous statements in the past. I'm not one to believe them on the first pass until someone else confirms or debunks their findings. That being said, if true, I would hope for those who like the game to get a patch to optimize the game a bit and take handheld down to 720p. I think an option in this regard for for docked mode(1080p 900p and 720p) at minimum would be a nice change of pace for switch games that are more demanding, but I doubt console games will ever have real performance options.

I definitely haven't noticed any issues in docked mode and the game looks fantastic. I haven't had any excuse to play it in portable mode though.

Seems like a massive oversight or more likely a very poor decision regarding the undocked mode. That said MS/Mojang initially had issues with Minecraft and dealing with the dynamic resolution changes due to how the engine was built so perhaps that’s a similar issue here given the game was ported from the Wii U rather than developed for the Switch. It’s still sloppy, especially when unlike other ports nothing really new has been added this time around, just existing DLC bundled.

Also the same game that had major issues on the non ‘new’ 3DS systems.

Mind you I’ll likely still grab it, but maybe I’ll get Bayonetta first given I mostly play undocked.

I did not have any issue with hyrule warriors undocked. it was fine for me.

Whoever says the framerate is fine is an absolute liar. It's unacceptable. Playable, but really lazily made. Love the hell out of the game, but how come Pirate Warriors 3 runs so much better?

So does Fire Emblem Warriors run better in handhold than Hyrule Warriors then? If so, that's pretty much all need to know to finalize my purchasing decision.