Look, we know how this is going to go. We’ve been around the blocks more than a few times, and we’re old enough to have been using the internet when people still gave their emoticons noses (and still called them emoticons), so at this point, we don’t have to be soothsayers to know what’s going to happen here: some of you are going to look at the screenshots on this page, look at the number at the bottom of the review and go straight to the comments to ask how we could possibly be doing our job properly.
Here’s the thing, though. Much like a can of Coke, DOOM Eternal is not supposed to be enjoyed when it’s still. Hit the screenshot button on your Switch while you’re playing it (especially in handheld mode) then jump to your gallery and you’ll probably think: “Really? I mean, I could tell it was blurry but it didn’t look that bad.” That’s because the warlocks at Panic Button Games have employed all manner of tricks and sorcery to make sure the thing still looks decent in motion. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. We’ll get to the game’s performance in a bit.
Firstly, for those not yet familiar with it, DOOM Eternal is the sequel to the 2016 DOOM reboot, and once again puts you in the surprisingly durable armour of the Doom Slayer as he comes back to Earth and discovers that it’s been taken over by demons while he’s been away. To be fair, he was off fighting more demons, so it’s not like he was on holiday or anything. While there’s a plot in there that DOOM aficionados will no doubt take great interest in, let’s face it: it’s just elaborate window-dressing for the actual plot, which is ‘kill everything that has a pulse, and some things that probably don’t have pulses but look dangerous anyway’.
Like its predecessor, DOOM Eternal revolves around a principle its creators at id Software refer to as ‘push forward combat’. While most other first-person shooters are best played by keeping your distance, attacking only when the enemy is exposed and (in some cases) taking cover to replenish your health, DOOM Eternal actively encourages the player to run straight towards the enemy, all guns blazing.
Your health doesn’t recharge automatically in this game, and health pickups are few and far between. The best way to restore your health, then, is by shooting your enemy enough until they’re nearly dead – at which point it’ll stagger around while flashing – then run right up to them and push in the right stick to perform a ‘glory kill’, a grimy execution move that also results in some health pick-ups. Similarly, if you’re running low on ammo and there isn’t a lot around, your best bet is to chainsaw enemies, which makes them drop a rainbow of ammo. In this way, the game is constantly pushing you forwards, forcing you to tackle enemies head-on because that’s the best way to stay alive. The result, naturally, is non-stop action (accompanied by a sensational heavy metal soundtrack, we should add).
To make sure the combat stays varied, the game introduces all manner of upgrades and new abilities as you make your way through the campaign. Your new shoulder cannon is eventually able to shoot grenades or flames at your enemies, while regular upgrade points let you add new attachments to your ever-growing arsenal of weaponry, turning your shotgun into a grenade launcher, or converting your machine gun into a sniper rifle. Add to this the fact that some of the more powerful enemies have weak points that can be exploited (the irritatingly dangerous Cacodemon can be killed quickly by aiming a grenade into its mouth, for example) and there’s a lot more to this one than just 'shooty-shooty-bang-bang' stuff.
The sequel has a greater emphasis on movement, too. While much of your time is spent engaging in epic battles with hordes of demons, when a section is cleared you still need to make your way to the next one, and DOOM Eternal tries to make it interesting by opening up its environments and forcing you to get properly active. You’ve got a double-jump, which is later accompanied by a chargeable dash: combine these two and you can leap over entire chasms, with the likes of horizontal bars and wall climbing making you feel like the game should be called DOOM Raider at times (though never in a bad way).
It’s a great game in its own right, then, but anyone who’s played the previous DOOM game on Switch (or, indeed, looked at the screenshots on this page) will know that some serious concessions have been made to get the thing running on Nintendo’s console. The big question, then, is how severe the downgrade is compared to other systems, and how much does it affect your enjoyment of the game?
Let’s not beat around the bush: put this next to the Xbox One or PS4 versions and it’s obvious that the reduction in quality is severe. While anyone playing the game on those systems will end up with something close to 4K resolution (on the X/Pro versions) at 60 frames per second, we’d be surprised if the Switch version ever comes close to 1080p. Like the last game, it uses an adaptive resolution, which means it’s constantly increasing and decreasing the detail to keep everything running smoothly (usually decreasing, to be fair).
Adaptive resolution isn’t an uncommon trick; loads of games use it (even Super Mario Odyssey drops down to 720p at times when things are getting chaotic). This is by far one of the most severe examples of it, though, and what this means in practice is that you can literally see the picture getting blurrier in certain scenes, almost as if the Doom Slayer has suddenly taken his glasses off. What’s more, all the enemies you encounter have also been severely filtered, which is why they look so rubbish in the static screens you see on this very page.
Play the game in handheld mode and these issues are increased significantly. People’s faces on Google Street View are less blurrier than DOOM Eternal can sometimes get in handheld, and it can be a little disappointing when you reach one of the game’s numerous vast, open areas – which were clearly originally designed to be jaw-dropping when you first encounter them – and everything looks softer than a plush Kirby.
“Why the score, then?” we (pretend to) hear you ask. “After all, the screens speak for themselves, don’t they?” Well, they actually don’t. Panic Button has used every trick in the book (and invented some new ones) to make sure that DOOM Eternal still looks decent when the thing’s actually in motion. Crucially, while the frame rate has dropped from 60 frames per second to 30, that 30 is rock solid and a game like this lives or dies by how satisfyingly constant its ‘rip and tear’ action is.
The fact the game’s frame rate is so solid helps ensure that some of the filters and blur tricks that have been applied to the enemies are almost indistinguishable in motion. This is such a fast-paced game that you don’t really have time to sit back and study the detail (or lack thereof) on a demon’s face because, before you know it, you’ve already punched that face into such a mess that you could probably make a lucrative second job selling it to young kids as slime.
The reality is that most of this game is spent running around large areas filled with demons as you dash, double-jump, shoot, detonate, stomp, punch and singe swarms of scum, all while the most glorious heavy rock score belts out in the background. You genuinely don’t have time to stop and count the pixels; everything’s going so quickly and the action is so relentless that your brain fills in all the details along the way. So yes, some of these screens look awful. But when you’re actually playing it, it looks so much better, and the fact they’ve got it running on the Switch at all, with such a stable frame rate, is impressive beyond belief.
This reviewer has played through DOOM Eternal three times now: a review of the PS4 Pro version at launch, a casual playthrough of the Xbox One X version when it came to Xbox Game Pass, and now this Switch version. While we'd be lying if we said the Switch came even remotely close to the other two in terms of visual quality, we'd also be lying if we said it wasn’t still just as much fun. If you don’t have access to the game on other formats – or you just want to be able to take DOOM Eternal out of the house so you can gib on the go – you’re still going to have an absolute blast.
Conclusion
DOOM Eternal has undergone one of the most severe visual downgrades we've ever seen in order to get the game running on Switch – which is a portable console, lest we forget – but the fact that it runs at a solid 30 frames per second and, most importantly, is still fantastically good fun means this 'impossible' port is nothing short of a miracle. The looks may have taken a hit, but the non-stop action, incredible soundtrack and sheer satisfaction in taking out hordes of demons all add up to a game that is just as pure as it was on other formats.
Comments (209)
I think games like this perfectly showcase what the Switch is all about.
Take the same games you've played with all the PC/dedicated console like bells and whistles, and retool that to the point where you can still have mostly the same experience in the palm of your hands when you want to.
Games like this show what the Switch is all about IMO and it's still kinda impressive thinking about it.
Will be downloading this one sooner rather than later.
Every other review I’ve read says that handheld is better than docked?
Including the graphics in the Cons column is completely out of place in my opinion - this is among the most impressive graphics you'll ever see on the nintendo switch - should be on the Pros column, honestly. This is the absolute benchmark in terms of ports to switch.
"Hitting R3 so many times can be slightly uncomfortable using the Joy-Con" That's precisely why I played the previous one with a Pro Controller, and it looks a little better on a TV screen anyway.
What a fantastic review. Obviously I've not played it yet - on any format - but I love how this addresses the primary concern of any potential purchaser. I don't have a PlayStation or Xbox so I'm happy to get this on Switch, as I really enjoyed the 2016 port. As Chris points out, if you're not constantly in motion; running, ripping and tearing, you're playing it wrong!
shame its not on a cart.
Wow, for the Switch, this is incredibly impressive. This version might even be more playable than the Stadia version.
Silly not making it physically
This looks considerably worse than DOOM 2016 to me, both in stills and in motion. On top of the long delay and deciding last moment to release it digital-only; I'm happy I didn't bother.
Just my opinion, but the graphics in this game are the best possible conversion of the game. It seems that the devs put a huge amount of work to get to this. I don't understand why such graphical achievement is a con. That's what the console can do. An we're talking about extremes here.
Almighty hit translates to butchered!! Still a great game to play on the switch!
It's a shame all of the screenshots used for this review 'look' really quite bad, as that'll give fuel to the ignorant naysayers who don't appreciate what a technical achievement this port is.
Holy hell those visuals really did take a hit. I got the game on PS4 during black friday and its amazing, easily one of the best shooters i've played and a big reason why is the sheer speed what sadly will be lost on Switch without that sweet 60fps. I'm happy its on Switch for those without a PS4/X1 or gaming PC but i could never recommend this version over the others.
Good read! Maybe using animated gifs would have been better since we're talking about how it looks in motion?
It’s a small thing, but I really really do not like excessive R3 usage. I hate clicking sticks.
Split Pad Pro.... on the go solves the R3 button issue because the joycons are trash👍
Having enjoyed the first game on Switch I have faith that this will also run well enough to enjoy playing portably. However, I just can’t bring myself to spend £50 for a download only game.
Also can’t you change the Glory Kill button from R3?
Great review, Chris. Sounds like an amazing game, but the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced I should pick this one up on PS4.
Portability is fantastic, but over the last few months, I’ve been doing the vast majority of my gaming at home on the TV, so playing only.. say 10% (max) of the entire game in handheld mode just isn’t worth the payoff in my particular circumstances. Especially with the PlayStation version costing around a third of this new Switch port.
[EDIT]:
You know what, the more I think about it, the more likely I am to pick this up on Switch. This is clearly another miraculous port by Panic Button, probably their best yet, but the reason for my change of heart is simple; GYRO CONTROLS.
Whether playing docked or handheld, I always, always use gyro aiming – which is especially important to me in FPS games – and the PS4 version just doesn’t support this feature. Therefore, I’ll almost certainly go with my trusty Switch for DOOM Eternal after all.
I already bought it, so it's good to see it get a good score. I was waiting for this version because of the gyro aiming but I haven't started it yet because I decided to re-play Doom 2016 last week in preparation and still haven't finished it yet! 🙄
All hail, Panic Button! These programming wizards pulled it off once again. I have nothing but the utmost respect for these people and their simply amazing porting skills.
I must be off...because I think the screenshots look just fine? I'm definitely jumping in.
I do hope Nintendo sends pizza to Panic Button's office from time to time. They really put a lot into this port and it shows. If only other developers did the same the Switch would get even more "impossible" ports.
Trying to get a post in before the majority of the "played it already better and cheaper" crowd turn up....not interested in getting this game, but I always like to see how well these tricky ports turn out. Looks like it plays fast and smooth.
I don't care that it's digitally only this is a must buy.
I always take the Switch version of multiplatform games as if they were the handheld version of a game in previous generations (the mobile version is not a fair comparison because mobile is powerful). You don't expect it to be exactly the same as the other consoles because you know it's on a less powerful device, but you still appreciate it gets its own version. Yes, the big difference between DS and Switch is that Switch versions are the same as others but you still can't remotely expect a portable console to perform or look the same as others.
This isn't the version for me but what a great technical achievement. No in the review.
I am thankful for having a PS5 and never having to worry about an inferior Switch port again. My Switch is officially a Nintendo and indie game machine now.
@WiltonRoots "Trying to get a post in before... "
An effort worth applauding, but probably an exercise in futility, my friend, seeing as more and more of these, shall we say, graphics "enthusiasts" are already crawling out from under their rocks...
No physical, no bu....
Looks to me like a 10/10 switch game but 8/10 if you’ve played it elsewhere. I have waited for this version so it’ll be 10/10 for me. It’s only downside is no physical copy 🤷🏻♂️
Been playing the game nonstop since yesterday. Playing it at work now lol. It's so good on Switch! The gyro feels perfect, and it actually looks and runs better than Doom 2016. I'm floored. This game is so much fun on Switch Lite. Your daddy's DS couldnt do this 😉
@maulinks
That's the problem with reviews that subscribe to the "compare to another version" methodology despite other versions not being handheld. Because the handheld version will ALWAYS come up short by comparison.
If the expectation is that Switch games will look like PS4 games, then yes, it's a con. But... that's irrational. If the expectation is that Switch games will actually look like Switch games (think portable PS3) then no, it's not a con. It's a huge plus. This game definitely exceeds the that standard of expectations.
Man, amazing they pulled this off....looks killer...instabuy!
@Crockin @FX102A change control config to Knuckles - I did this in doom 2016 too. Puts Glory Kill on R while shoot is on ZR
I do this on xbox too with the controls, I just find it easier to press that so often than
It looks fine 🤷🏻♂️
@ThanosReXXX not really, they probably will now though so bravo.
Bought day one - love it.
Fantastic conversion on the Switch it seems. Nicely done. I think it's one of the very few games I'd actually prefer to play on the tv as opposed to the handheld.
Cheers for the review
@sandman89
I have an Xbox One X version, but I'll put more time into this one BECAUSE of its portability. Chew on that, haters.
Screenshots are fine but you guys should be doing your job properly!
I like the "hitting R3" con. This is the reason I always in nearly every FPS on console, remap melee to an actual button, whoever first put melee on R3 full stop (on any controller), needs meleeing. Solid enough review, will look out for a nice sale after I free up a little space or get an new SD card.
@WallyWest
speed what sadly will be lost on Switch without that sweet 60fps
Thankfully it's not. Games dont run half speed just because they're 30. And as mentioned in the review, the framerate is rock solid and feels incredibly smooth. I'd estimate it feels 90% as good as 60. Which is plenty good enough for the benefits gained.
I'm happy its on Switch for those without a PS4/X1 or gaming PC but i could never recommend this version over the others.
I could. I have the game on Steam, but I'm not playing it, I'm playing on Switch. There's more factors to consider than just graphics/performance when choosing a version. IF you value those things more than anything, then to that person, yes, I would agree. But only if you're that type of person. But if you value getting a competent TV and handheld version combined with gyro aiming... I absolutely recommend Switch version, and no other.
10 years ago we were playing DS and PSP games. Today, we're playing Doom Eternal with gyro and a full button set. To many, that's far more appealing than just better graphics, especially since, as mentioned in the review, in motion it looks basically just as good anyways.
Well, it’s all fine and good (and this game is a must-have), but it certainly begs the question: if Doom: Eternal looks and runs almost perfect on Switch, why the hell do Serious Sam 3, Empire Of Sin and many others look like crap?!!!
@NightBeast that's easy: lazy ports.
£49.99 for a digital-only version of a game I've already 100% completed.
No.
@ThanosReXXX I don't know what these people expect, there's no medals getting dished out for sneering at the Switch...
@Lordplops No, they were already out, as @WiltonRoots already noticed as well.
You know what solves the R3 Stick issue. "Bumper-Jumper" If you're playing Doom 2016 or Doom eternal with a controller always Bumper-Jumper.
It maps grenades to R3 which are not used quite as often as Melee & Jump.
@John_Deacon
It's a "con" because if a movie was first released on 4K BluRay and looks incredible, and the same film is released later on VHS, it is going to look objectively worse. Any honest review should take this comparison into account and not pretend than the VHS version looks better or even as good as what people were already used to.
It might be a great port, I'm perfectly happy with how it looks, but the gameplay in every version means I won't be buying it. Push forward combat isn't for me, it just doesn't feel like Doom any more.
The M rating will make my dad say no
This is one of those Switch ports where you really gotta want the portability or simply have no other choice. As for me I just don't want this game that badly on the go. The vitual hit is just massive but then again it's amazing how they got it to work. Still looks like a PS2 port to me compared to PC.
@WiltonRoots Yeah, well, it probably won't stop them from trying, regardless.
It is not an "imposible" port. Some old PCs can run the game on low detail just fine. Stop exaggerating pls.
@ThanosReXXX then don't encourage 'them'.
@ThanosReXXX actually looking at the thread it seems that you two are actively trying to stir things up - don't become what you say you hate.
Not my cup of tea but happy PB worked their magic.
@Lordplops No, we're not. But if you're missing the point, then there's no need or use for me to try and explain. As long as @WiltonRoots gets it, I'm fine.
I have the PS4 version but play Doom 2016 more on Switch because of gyro aiming & sleep mode. These two things improved the experience enough to offset the lower resolution and fps for me, also the thrill of playing such a game on the same system as Zelda!
@Dethmunk I'm sorry if the reviewers you trust think the handheld version looks better but I make a point of never reading other reviews when I'm writing my own, and I can only go with what my own eyes are telling me. The reality is that playing it docked (even blown up to my 65" telly) looked sharper to me than playing it handheld, and I think the screenshots further illustrate this.
Also, to the numerous people asking why the visuals are a negative when it should be praised: the game is praised in the actual review text itself. The pluses and minuses at the end have no impact on the final score, they're just a summary of the main text, and it would be just wrong to pretend that the fact it looks worse than on other consoles is anything other than a negative. That isn't the fault of the hardware or the developer, but it's a reality and should still be addressed. The game hasn't been marked down for it: I gave the PS4 version a 4/5 (i.e. an 8) for another publication when it launched.
The wizards at Panic Button are amazing. The game runs sooooo smoothly and looks absolutely amazing. When I jumped out of tutorial temple and saw the hell on earth landscape with walking giant my jaw dropped.
Huge improvement on the map and navigation... everything is very obvious where to go with colored highlights to help navigation so you don't get lost. THANK YOU!
@NightBeast
They were not ported by Panic Button.
I'll pass. It looks great, but while there isn't a physical, I'm not going to bother. Plenty of other games and with the size of my backlog, i can't justify it.
The review here is mostly decent. That's better than most of the reviews here and does deserve credit.
However saying the graphics are a con is 100% ignoring the fact that this is a Switch game. The reviewer is saying "worse than PS4, there for con". Totally doesn't understand what the Switch port is.
"proof of concept" is the better term. The fact this port exists at all is amazing. Playing DOOM Eternal on the train or plane or crapper, that's huge. Panic Button worked their magic yet again.
@scully1888 I've been waiting a long, long time for a NL review as thoroughly MARINATED in quality as this one.
Thank you. Absolutely magnificent writing.
These games are PC through and through. Playing with jigglesticks would be a nightmare. May as well get punched in the crotch for 8 hours.
@NightBeast That's easy, and it's not the reason @Lordplops gave. Porting, like all programming, is incredibly difficult, and not only do the skills of the team doing the work matter, but the resources they have available, primarily how much time and money, make a huge difference. Like with any product at some point you have to stop spending, put it on the market, and start recouping your investment. It's simple economic reality that applies to software no less than any industry. Anyone who gives you a lazy developer narrative is ignorant, not to mention insulting to the developers themselves.
Play this with the hori split pad pro and you'll be good. I have to assume handheld looks better in motion because those screens are pretty pathetic. I would say it's a good job and maybe one of the last games of this caliber to be ported on the system.
@scully1888
We all know that almost every video game review score is meaningless as they rarely match up with the content of the review. It's the meat of the reviews that matter more.
Most of the time I just ignore the final review score as I don't want that to bias me to the rest of the review that might be good. A single number doesn't make a review good or bad, it's the review content that does this.
Also the review summary should reflect the content of the review. What many reviews fail to understand is compromises are not a con. As an example, more aggressive dynamic resolution scaling existing so the Switch port is even possible is a fair compromise.
Saying the graphics are bad - that's a con is totally wrong.
However letting people know that the portability comes at the cost of heady dynamic resolution scaling and other comprimises is the better way to go. People have the choice, on a fixed screen and looks great OR portable abd lower resolution. Neither choice is a con because both options are a compromise. Neither option has top notch graphics AND portability.
Your review compared the Switch port too much to the PS4 port instead of trying to understand why the Switch port exists in the first place and what compromises needed to happen.
A compromise that needed to happen so something exist is not a con. It's a compromise.
In the review you say:
"The fact the game’s frame rate is so solid helps ensure that some of the filters and blur tricks that have been applied to the enemies are almost indistinguishable in motion."
How in hell is that not a "joy" in the summary?
A solid frame rate for an FPS game is a literally what people look for and it existing is easily a pro and should have been listed in the summary.
That's why I read entire reviews, not just the end summaries because often the summaries either mistakenly or intentionally leave out many of the pros and cons the games actually have.
I press R3 on my Joy con when playing on my TV and Table top mode and it's not that big of a problem. Maybe they can add motion to the left Joy-Con for melee attacks, like on Duke Nukem 3D. I regret getting Hyrule Warriors, I wanted to play DOOM Eternal so badly on launch day. I'll have to wait until this weekend.
I had a blast with DOOM 2016 on the Switch. I'm very excited to pick this one up. As a Switch only gamer who doesn't just want Nintendo exclusives but a way to play a variety of all games at home or on the go, this will be perfect for me and I will support Panic Button for their amazing work on this.
Great review, glad u mentioned about r3 button. If it was up to me I would get rid of l3 and r3 buttons, they are so unsatisfying on any controller! I hate clicking l3 to run in games it’s awful. Anyway great achievement but the fact is for me even if this game was free, I still wouldn’t get it because of the gb space x x x
@John_Deacon Lowering graphics settings and frame rate isn’t an achievement.
Can anyone confirm the graphic options from the other versions are here? Motion blur, film grain & chromatic aberration should be turned off for a cleaner image. Also do we still have fully customisable controls?
@sword_9mm Right? Playing something that requires this much precision on sticks ruins the experience. PC Master race lol
@Kayvoo It’s maddening when features like that are excluded from reviews.
@Rodan2000 No way. Handheld resolution is very low compared to docked. Best comparison is the title screen. Since its a very simple image (just doom slayer standing against the backdrop of earth) its very noticeable how blurry and jaggy his model is in handheld vs on tv.
@TG16_IS_BAE Yeah, pretty major stuff to omit, especially considering the criticism of both graphics and controls...
Personally won't be picking it up on Switch. It takes way too much of a hit and I have other options to play it on without the huge compromise (portability isn't a factor for me for this game).
Regardless, Kudos to Panic Button for getting this to even run on Switch, and with a solid framerate to boot.
Pretty good that resolution is the only thing that didn’t make it a higher rating! Oh yeah, and if you go on to the shop in North America (I don’t know if this happened in other areas) they forgot to put a age rating on the game, so anybody can buy it now. Just a neat little thing I wanted to point out.
The graphics taking an almighty hit, is still a understatement. I thought i was looking at doom 3 for a second.
Still glad people who don't have another console can finally play it, if you have another console, why?
@the8thark Thanks for finally explaining to me how reviews should work: I wish I'd had you around for the past 14 years I've been doing this.
Seriously, though, my review does actually address a number of the points you seem to be implying that it doesn't. I do address the dynamic resolution and make it clear that it's not necessarily a bad thing (I even point out that Mario Odyssey uses it too, as a way of driving the point home).
You suggest that one of the cons I wrote is "the graphics look bad": that's not what I said. I said the visuals have taken a huge hit. That's different, and it's irrefutable. The Joys / Cons section is simply a "these are the good bits, but it's a shame that..." situation. And it IS a shame that it doesn't look so great, no matter how you want to spin it.
The review itself explains that the game looks significantly worse than the other console versions, but that it's still thoroughly entertaining despite this. That's why there's an 8 at the end of it, that's why the strap says its "a Hell of a conversion", that's why I refer to it as "nothing short of a miracle".
Despite this, this is a port whose graphics have been the biggest talking point ever since it was confirmed to be coming to the Switch, and so it would ridiculous to 1) not address them in the summary, and 2) pretend they're anything other than a massive downgrade. The overall point remains, though, that despite this it's still a great game.
Hope that explains how my review process differs from yours, and I hope you can agree to disagree.
@Mince You can play it while you 💩
Kidding though, some of these top end games are pointless on this system. It’s amazing to me that people will pay the same stiff price for severely downgraded versions of these games. The least they can do is knock the price down to reflect the lower quality.
@JuiceMan_V It will be even better when the Switch Next/2 comes out in a couple years, the next generation will be leaps and bounds more powerful and it will be far easier to port games to.
@KillerBOB No one is pretending here. Everybody knows what it is
A VHS movie would obviously look worse than a 4K copy. That's what the media is capable of, nothing more than that. Wanting an inferior platform to perform as good as a superior one sounds crazy to me. That's why I think hardware limitation should be taken into account
@TG16_IS_BAE The system can't run the fully optimized version. The hardware can't run it. That said, there's just a simple question: is it worth trying to release the best possible version for Switch or is it better to prevent some people from enjoying it? Some people only have a Switch.
This is the kind of game I prefer playing on my Xbox One, but not everyone has this option
@the8thark can you read?
For those interested. The story in this game is really good. The lore you find ties all the doom games together. Except 3 I think. You find out that doom slayer is the doomguy from the original games.
@John_Deacon Nobody is preventing someone from playing this game. It’s available on three other platforms. If you don’t own a particular system, that’s your choice. I already offered an alternative: charge the customer less money for the inferior product.
I would have been day one if it was on cart. Hopefully if they do a complete edition (when the DLC is done) we’ll get a physical copy at that point.
@Kayvoo you know the ps4 has rest mode which is the exact same thing as Switch sleep mode right?
@Jbuggydroid All the doomslayer stuff is kinda cheesy, I prefer the simpler stories from the originals. Doom 3 was...a good game, but uh, yeah. That story : (
I have a ton of games as it is, so this is not a priority, especially at this price, but will eventually get this for sure...
@Anguspuss reason why im holding off if bethesda changes their mind plus if the sales do poorly the blame will go to them for screwing over gamers who prefer physical copies.
@HammerKirby Yeah I sometimes use it but it's so much faster on Switch. Also with multiple uses it tends to mess with my PS4 & require a reset occasionally, whereas the Switch is happy to start - stop constantly. Plus I sometimes grab it & carry on in portable.
@WallyWest can't take my PS4 on the train to work so yeah switch version is an easy buy over the PS4 game for me. Portability suits my gaming needs perfectly!
@TheLightSpirit you really have forgot what PS2 visuals look like then.
Cyberpunk next then
I'm just wishing I could play more of it instead of having to work.
Also, with games like this, does anybody else like just blitzing through on the easiest difficulty, unlocking all upgrades and optional collectibles, and then playing on the harder difficulties once you have all the upgrades? I've found myself doing that a lot with like this and Sniper Elite 4. It allows me to quickly unlock everything that has a bearing on gameplay and then enjoy the game at its toughest difficulty with my character fully armed. I also already played through on nightmare on PS4 so I don't feel too bad playing on the easiest difficulty. I'll probably do a proper from scratch nightmare playthrough of this on Switch later on down the line.
@Rodan2000 It depends person upon person, I personally don't mind any of them, and I found handheld mode to be particularly better looking
I want to get physical with Doom Eternal.
Also, looks like the ground textures were not fully loaded yet in that second screenshot. At least, I dearly hope that's it.
@HotGoomba___Rebrand You mean IS more playable than the stadia version.
Always knew it would not be worth waiting if you have a Home Console or PC.
Not playing the same game at Home and on the GO if it means playing it like this. I can do something else on the Bus.
Stop with the "impossible" claims. The Doom games among other demanding but successful ports show what CAN be done on Switch with a talented team.
The graphical hits are fine when you consider not only the portability but the simple size of the console. If you gutted a PS4 you could probably fit 6+ Switches inside it.
Did well making this game and then completely mess up by not releasing it on cartridge
And what price is it on download 50 pound hahaha no
I went to my local Home Depot and asked the guy behind the counter if they have Doom Eternal. He looked both ways before reaching down and handing me a cartridge of the game. If you want it physical you should try your local store, though your results may vary.
Impressive port. Looks really fun. The original game made me a bit nauseous though, due to the frenetic movement, so I can't play it. Also I'm not a fan of the gross kill animations - I just want to shoot stuff, not stop everything to watch the same eye-ripping play out that I've seen a hundred times before.
@wetstuffsmash best item i ever got for the switch build to last and real comfortable.
@Mince
Yes
(Your sarcasm noted)
@scully1888
Just because people have done reviews for years, they can still make mistakes. Many long term reviewers have zero clue on how to write proper reviews. It's an issue within the industry.
Secondly we both agree the graphics have taken a substational hit. No one is denying that. What we disagree on is the context. Should compromises be listed as cons? That's an agree to disagree situation.
Also you failed to mention that one of the most important "joys" which you mentioned in the review (yes I read it all) was not listed as a joy - the frame rates. I guess we agree to disagree how important frame rates are in first person shooter games.
I did say your review here is one of the better reviews on NintendoLife and I stand by that. I do thank you for taking the time to write it.
You did mention technical things like graphical quality, frame rates and how the game actual plays in motion in the body of the review. This information is rarely spoken about in any review and most here don't have this information. So you actually mentioning it is a good thing and that's why (in part) I think your review overall is pretty good (apart from the summary at the end).
"Let’s not beat around the bush: put this next to the Xbox One or PS4 versions and it’s obvious that the reduction in quality is severe.."
True. But let's compare handheld/undocked versions. I'd rather have this, portable switch version, than streaming xcloud/ps4 remote play version. But kudos to panic button! Developers like them and saber interactive, do the hard work, which allow us to enjoy more great games on the switch.
@the8thark sorry could not resist.
Just to weigh in on the topic, I see your point regarding compromises, especially when The game on switch would simply bot exist without it.
That said, the price should reflect the compromise, in my opinion. I do not think the dev/publisher were clear the quality would be compromised either.
While i knew it would i personally think the game looks quite bad on switch.
This reminds me of mutant year zero. That port took a substantial hit graphically.
@Agramonte Seriously, why do you insist on typing "go" in all caps? Or, for that matter, capitalizing "home console", "home", and "bus"? Are you parodying yourself in some sort of metacommentary that only Magritte would understand?
@lumothesinner this is true. Also I forget that you can remap and save controllers now on switch
@JimmySpades Seriously... you take the time to read a review and 106 comment and that is what you focusing on?
I tHink you shOuld care About what is in cAps (OR not) in my commeNts as much aS I do.
@TheLightSpirit
I'm nothing special. I'm just stating the obvious. They should know more than me. That's why they are the official reviewers and I am not. However a little feedback never goes astray.
@Mince
It's all cool.
I'm sure Panic Button realised this but I'm not so sure bethesda/iD did. The game on Switch is not pretty graphically. I think everyone here agrees on this.
I think DOOM Eternal really asks one important question.
How much compromise is too much just to get a game on the Switch?
A proof of concept is a cool thing, from a geeky developer point of view and from us going wow, the impossible port. But in reality there should be a limit where the compromises are just too much and the porting team just says, "we can do it but the level of compromise required makes it not worth it"
allright, time to rock all these demons with 7.1 sound.
I don't know why people even discuss things like this. It's impressive. Some people have clunker PCs that they have to set the settings low, and get something similar. I'll get this on PC at some point simply because I've put a lot of work into my PC for the past few years. Love my Switch, but I save some games for PC.
Putting graphics downgraded as a con is glaringly out of context I reckon.
An 8/10? Did you even look at your own screenshots?!? How could you possibly be doing your job properly??
@the8thark it depends on the price, should a game that has to make so many compromises cost the same as the other versions?
The problem here is that a lot of people are really precious about the switch and view everything with rose tinted spectacles.
Let's compare it to something non gaming related and see if it makes sense in that context. You have two bowls of trifle - one full of fruit, jelly custard and whip, and the second is exactly the same but lacks the custard and has been dropped on the floor so looks much less appealing. Would you be happy paying the same price for the second one, just because you get to eat it from your favourite bowl?
Ouch, the graphics have taken a tremendously hard hit! I think the screenshots of Doom 2016 on Switch looked better then this. This is just terrible.
Only buy for the dlc and nothing more as they charge full physical price for cheap digital releases.
This game is amazing.
Play it for free on XBOX Gamepass. You will be torturing your tiny analog sticks on handheld, and you will not be able to enjoy the game, with the thought of future drifts and 60€ for new joycons. Plus the better graphics on XBOX.
@ChaosBadger777 you have chosen to ignore the work put in to develop a switch version. There isn't some magic button you press called 'switch port' and everything is done for you. People had to put in hours of there time.
My brother bought it and said it was great. Wanted to hear it from a hardcore doom fan. Bought it myself and it is damn good. Portable mode kinda looks better than 2016 HOWEVER docked its a huge difference. These screenshots absolutely do not do the game justice. Plus its solid framerate is so surprising. Then again its panic button.
@kobashi100 It's still an inferior product and shouldn't cost the same as the other versions at retail.
People put hours of work into indy games as well but that doesn't mean they should cost the same as AAA games.
And of course $60 lmao
@ChaosBadger777 nah it is perfectly okay to be the same price. If the customer doesn't feel it's good value then they have the option not to buy.
@JimmySpades I find them extremely condescending at times
@kobashi100 which it sounds like a lot are saying for one reason or another (price or lack of physical etc), if it doesn't sell well we likely won't get many publishers rushing to port bigger games across because it wouldn't be financially viable.
Lower price and more sales would be the better option but thats just my opinion
@JaxonH games are not graphics.
I'm buying today. I don't have a PS4 or Xbone.
I don't want to upgrade to a New 4k projector, I have 1080p projector that does 13 milliseconds. 4k is not anywhere near that in the projector world unless want to spend thousands of dollars.
So I will stick with Xbox 360, retro consoles and switch. Switch is good enough, however I do want a switch pro.
@TheLightSpirit
This looks infinitely better than the PS2 version of this game.
@TheLightSpirit I'm not one to completely talk myself, since I've done it just the same before, but you should at least read the review, not just the comments. The reviewer even stated inside the review itself that he already knew people would do this. Your just repeating the main fact that the reviewer focuses on.
Massively impressive port, and one I intend to have a go of at some point when it’s cheaper. Seems like the Switch is pretty much at its boundaries now though.
New 3D games are on Switch like a GBA port from N64 or better hardware. It shows how weak it is. 4gb doesn't cut it either. Well next!
@ChaosBadger777 If that's the only bowl I have or I can eat from that bowl whilst I'm away from the TV and the other bowl would only allow me to eat from it when I'm tethered to the telly then probably yes.
@the8thark
But for people who ONLY have a Switch and care about portability or don't have 4K TV ... this is an insta-buy. It runs super-smooth IMO.
I don’t wanna delete everything on my Switch to play this... and I don’t wanna miss the limited goodies. I need this physically. I don’t wanna upgrade my microSD (again) and then buy this.
Definitely downloading this once my queue is cleared up. Got some catching up to do.
Love every minute of it and it really looks good in motion. The screenshots are genuinely crap. Love it that it take 1-2 hours per level to find everything or I am bad at exploring .
This is a super impressive port, ill be getting some eShop credit for Christmas and I'll be putting towards this.
I’m just going to play it on Game Pass PC for the grand price of my ongoing subscription but good to see that it doesn’t look too much worse and is playable. Still have no idea why you’d play this with joy-cons though, it’s bad enough trying to play BOTW or Mario with them!
@JuiceMan_V i disagree. Games like Doom Eternal do not showcase what the switch is all about. People aren't going out buying switches in droves to play games like doom eternal on it. They just aren't. Go look at the sales numbers for AAA 3rd party ports on switch. Now look at how those games sell on playstation and xbox.
Switch is what every nintendo console before it has been, a nintendo 1st party game machine. People are playing Mario, Zelda and animal crossing on it (and fortnite but that game is an anomaly and i think is being played on refrigerators and toasters too).
Plus, playing doom eternal or doom 2016 at anything less than 60fps is a cardinal sin.
@RustedHero i think the 8/10 final score is them sending pizza rolls to Panic Button.
Hell of an effort, but this version is what it is once you remove the nintendo glasses of bias.
@Rodan2000 it is I’m playing it on handheld and it runs great.
@SpaceKaren
Hard disagree.
Nintendo will always do what they do on their consoles, but regardless of sales, games like Control, The Witcher 3, and Doom Eternal on Switch bolsters it's proof of concept.
Also, what you consider a "cardinal sin" is purely subjective.
Use a pro controller in handheld mode. It runs great and you can change your buttons so you don’t have to hit R3 so much.
@SpaceKaren here we go. Another guy lecturing others on which console they should play there games on. GTFO with that elitist BS.
I'll grab it soon enough
So, this is one of the best looking games on Switch, but hey, the graphics are in the "cons" section... Unbelivable. I don´t know what´s going on with the reviews in the website lately, but unless it´s a Nintendo game we are talking about (or indie games like A Short Hike, for any reason, that easily gets a 10/10), the reviewers tend to be extremely harsh.
Look I have xbox one x and i am still getting this for the switch. I am also supporting panic button because they deserve it after putting all their heart and soul on making this game very playable on the switch.
Playing it now and it’s amazing! And my switches fan is the noisiest I’ve ever heard it. Docked mode.
@the_beaver
The game looks significantly worse on Switch then it does on PC or other consoles.
It's okay to say that the graphics are good on Switch, but are still pretty crappy compared to how everyone else has been seeing the game for almost a year.
In my opinion the video review could be cut at least in half because he says the same thing over and over about the graphics, blurriness and action roughly every two minutes.
It also seems a bit disingenuous at this point to fault the Switch version for poor graphics with this port when just a couple of years ago NL and many owners were crying about the lack of AAA games from outside the Nintendo traditional franchises. I have the last version of Doom on Switch and in handheld it is quite difficult to see certain fonts and objects. The programmers though did a hell of a job porting it and keeping the frame rate stable. I never expected the graphics to look as good as they did. To now fault the Switch for being unable to render even better frame rates and graphics with an even larger game gives me the impression that either NL has lost its sense of reality or the reviewers simply do not understand Nintendo's core, and long standing, philosophy and approach to creating toys, games and consoles.
Holy crap what a well-written, engaging, informative and fun review to read. Thanks Chris!
Also... "8?! Why the score?! WTF are you even doing your job?!" 😬
@KillerBOB no shirt Sherlock! We all know the switch that is at least 4x less powerful has worse visuals. Nobody looks at doom on switch wondering why it looks worse than other versions
It would be interesting to know how this game would review if there were no other versions for comparison?
Looks awful (judging screenshots only). It’s like I’m looking at something from two generations ago.
The Switch is almost four years old and we still get posts about how the Switch is weaker than the competition. Uh, of course it is, who's claiming otherwise?? That horse has been beat to dust already.
Want my physical copy
It's amusing people can't comprehend that a game can look better when playing it than just looking at screenshots. Did y'all miss the entire 3DS era? Literally every 3DS game I swear looked SO much worse in screenshots than playing it. This happened every single time. And the game does look way way better in the gameplay footage I've seen than these screenshots, by far, so I already believe this.
Though it also helps I almost never played the previous Doom in handheld mode admittedly. Just be a normal person and decide if you want to play a video game on X system or Y system.
@KryptoniteKrunch Wait until the next big cross platform game comes out, we'll get it all over again. Groundhog Day.
@kobashi100
So if you know and admit it has worse visuals, why are you (and others) so upset that this reviewer pointed that out as a "con"? 🤡
@TheLightSpirit
That’s not the whole story.
The fact that this game, which is chaotic as hell, looks as decent as it does (it’s basically PC at low settings, which isn’t awful) and runs at a nearly locked 30FPS on a console as compromised as the Switch is an amazing achievement. Just like the first one was.
The Switch is a heavily compromised piece of hardware. It has to be portable with more than 30 mins of battery life. So developers can’t even fully tap into everything the Tegra offers. Even in docked, it’s not 100% because of heat transfer limitations.
So the fact that they are working around that so well is absolutely amazing.
I’m going to pick up the native PS5 version when it releases. I don’t play fast action games on my Switch in handheld mode. But this is an achievement that should be celebrated.
@KillerBOB never mentioned the review in one single post in here.
@TheRedComet I don’t think it’s an achievement to put a compromised version of a game on a pedestal. They made graphical concessions For an under-powered console. Wow, what a crowning achievement in the history of humanity.
Nice, glad this exists for the people that want it. I tried the first one on Switch and it isn't really my thing anymore. Love seeing that they made it happen though. If I were going to play it I'd definitely do so on Switch.
so many people in denial here!
@TheRedComet you sir are talking straight rubbish your a switch fanboy obviously but in no way is this technical achievement its severely downgraded in every category. Your obviously easy to please.
Downloaded it last night. This game is a 9 or higher no matter what system you play it on.
@JimmySpades uh huh. Because laziness is never the issue. Don't kid yourself or other people. Submitting shoddy work and hoping for the best has been around since time began. Nice ad hominem in your argument btw, thanks 😁
@FatHedgehog my switch been a Nintendo and indie only machine. This is heavily downgraded from the ps4 and bone versions. I can’t do it
@Tonyo Nintendo fanboys are easily pleased. That’s true
@JimmySpades so they should get a pat on the back and we turn a blind eye to an 8 month late port charging full retail $60 because its portable and its on switch huh. Your logic is ridiculous.
@NintendoArchive what do you mean
@the_beaver I’m as confused as you are. Especially the con for pressing the right stick ,what’s that all about 🤷🏻♂️. This game is amazing. It’s ok saying a screenshot is a bit blurry but actually playing it is amazing. I love it.
@TheRedComet
Great post. Someone who understands that getting games running well on hardware that is under powered for that purpose is hugely impressive. It takes good optimisation, time and effort. If you’re into Gaming it’s fascinating to see Tech get pushed to its limits.
@Mgene15
You don’t need the word ‘Nintendo’ in post #183
@Tonyo
Congratulations on post #179. It’s only 9.37am here and you’ve already won ‘stupidest thing I’ll read today’
@SpaceKaren
2 points.
1) The third party ports keep coming. They may not be the systems biggest sellers but somebody is buying them. Given that Switch is a huge seller with adults having games like this, Skyrim, Witcher, Resident Evil, LA Noire, Alien Isolation, Borderlands, Bioshock, Diablo etc on it are a fantastic supplement to the first party output and add variety Nintendo wouldn’t supply.
2) “ Plus, playing doom eternal or doom 2016 at anything less than 60fps is a cardinal sin.” I played 2016 on a One X and in portable mode on the Switch. The latter would only be possible at 30fps and, given that it’s perfectly serviceable and great fun, that’s a very acceptable sacrifice.
Ah you can see the same usual suspects can't handle another switch port getting praised all over the place. So salty!!
The "miracle" of downgrading graphics and resolution until it hits 30fps on Switch.
@electrolite77 This game has really brought some bundles of joy to the comment sections hasn't it? I imagine they're the life and soul of any social setting...
@Mgene15 Why are you still even here? You're supposed to be in absolute gaming heaven with your PS5? Power and graphics and all that goodness. Or has it been taken away because you haven't been doing your homework?
@WiltonRoots
It has, and all the same names as usual. Makes me feel old. Historically it’s always been fascinating and creditable to see Gaming Tech pushed to its limits.
Now we’ve a whole generation that just think “It’s got worse grafix Dan dat udder version so it’s rubbish.” Where did it all go wrong?
So in short, it sounds like if you have means to play this elsewhere on a more powerful console you will get a better visual spectacle. If all you own is a Switch, then this is still a good, enjoyable game for the console, and why care about how it looks on something you do not own?
@electrolite77 and your a nintendo bootlicker go pound sand.
@Anguspuss Exactly! Bethesda really wants an excuse not to sell this. I'm sure it would still have a 5 GB or so download if it was on a cart, but that's still less than the 19 or so GB downloaded that it probably is right now (according to Bethesda).
@RootsGenoa I only ever set R3 as my grenade button on Switch. A for melee/use, left bumper for jumping. I change the heck outta the controls, and thankfully Doom Eternal lets you remap the controls however you like.
On PC I've modified all the weapon keybinds so they're easily accessible in a fraction of a second, it helped me beat the game on Nightmare and shred through all the Master Levels and everything. On XB1 I'm using an Elite 2 controller, so I have jumping, dashing, flame belch and chainsaw mapped to the paddles, but I may change out chainsaw for grenade swap. I highly, highly recommend trying out the Super Gore Nest Master Level in Classic Mode, it's SUCH a thrill! Possibly the most hardcore Doom experience I've yet had.
I would've snagged a Switch copy if they released it on cartridge, but for now I'm either gonna wait for a big sale or for a limited physical release. I really dig having 2016 on the go, but I ended up regretting not having a DRM-free cartridge. Bought it for like $30 on a sale. ;{
@Tonyo And yours in nonexistent, if that's the conclusion you think follows.
@Lordplops Nice labeling of a statement in an attempt to passive-aggressively get me to retract, a typical ploy of people who argue using bad faith techniques. I'm not in the mood. You were insulting, simple as that.
@Facelord You are right, but I admit I tend to avoid remapping controls, because most of the time I end up realizing later on there was a good reason they were like this by default... And since it happens when I'm used to my custom controls, it's a little too late to change back. ^^'
This only adds to my convictions that gameplay is significantly more important than graphics. That's why indie retro games are so popular. If a game looks great, but plays like a sloth in molasses, why bother? As long as I can tell what is happening on the screen, if it's fun, who cares what it looks like? Besides, it's DooM, and DooM runs on everything.
@JimmySpades I wouldn't dream of getting you to retract it - unlike you I don't really care about people's opinions now off you go, get back to your dissertation on the follies of modern man.
@silverthornne i have it on gamepass for xbox but would buy it for playing handheld and travelling but only on cart
@HotGoomba___Rebrand Stadia is such a joke. I can't even play SteamWorld games without lag and I has a solid Internet connection.
@sandman89, assume the most negative connotation and you have the sum of it.
@WallyWest Where else can you play this on portable mode again?
I have been gaming for 40 years and 30fps vs 60fps still makes no difference to me whatsoever. I enjoy gameplay a heck of a lot more than graphics. What the heck´s wrong with me?
@VeneBoy as long as it’s stable it doesn’t matter. Some pathetic comments here and some YouTubers are really not helping with their bitchy videos
@VeneBoy Yeah, I've been gaming since '86, a lot of modern gamers don't realise that NES, SNES, Megadrive, Dreamcast, GameCube etc.. had games at 60fps 30 years ago. 30fps became standard as graphics & AI became more complex & as long as frame pacing is spot on it feels fine.
@Tonyo
Maybe I was hasty in saying #179 was the stupidest thing I’d read today. Post #198 is a contender too. Grow up.
@electrolite77 what the helll does 'go pound sand' even mean? I'm getting too old for this crap.
@Tonyo
I’m actually a Playstation fan first and foremost. I love my Switch but it’s my first Nintendo console since the GameCube and Nintendo DS.
@maulinks Have you played Rogue Company? The graphics are incredibly impressive. They look exactly like the XBOX graphics.
@Lordplops You're actually too young for this crap, because "'go pound sand" is nearly 100 years old.
My initial grievance with "Doom 2016" was the slowdown. The framerate and low-resolution were hardly a game-breaking deal, but I found the chugging at certain points to be a real pain that definitely hampered the ports playability.
"Doom Eternal" eliminates that aspect right from the get-go! It's an amazing achievement, and I'm really happy with my purchase (I double-dipped seeing as I already own it on Xbox One X).
Now, what Id' REALLY like to see, is future patches for "Doom 2016" and "Wolfenstein." I have a feeling they can still hone those titles, considering the landmark work they've accomplished with this...
@HotGoomba___Rebrand been working my way through it on stadia, and it’s great. Loved doom 2016 on switch but doom 2016 and doom eternal on stadia are incomparably better.
Still love the switch though.
Good review, but why put controls in the cons in a game that lets you freely remap them as you like?
Unless the feature is absent from the Switch version, of course, but that would be super weird!
I too loathe R Stick for interacting and melee, and I made my control scheme based on the Knuckles scheme from 2016.
I'm 60 hours into the game and Imm still debating changing some mappings lol
@scully1888 Why are you greedy for graphics?
I absolutely love this game.
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