Opinion

The Nintendo Switch frustrates me

22/5/2023

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Nintendo has created some of the best games of all time. This includes the recently released «Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom». However, it and many other games could be even better if the Switch weren’t on its last legs.

Nintendo has created something brilliant in the Switch. A full-fledged console that’s also a handheld and can handle the Wii’s motion controls on top of that. Over 120 million copies sold speak for themselves. Nintendo has done everything right in the eyes of many fans.

Just not in mine. The console was already technically outdated at launch in 2017 and overtaxed with «Zelda: Breath of the Wild» – a bad omen. Concessions are also made in «Tears of the Kingdom». Frustrating, as this doesn’t have to be.

Don’t get me wrong, «Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom» is a marvel, both in terms of gameplay and technology. The fact that such a monumental game runs on the Switch at all speaks volumes about the developers’ abilities. But even these cannot hide the fact that the hardware was already outdated when it entered the market six years ago. The installed Nvidia Tegra chip roughly corresponds to the performance of smartphones with Snapdragon processors at the time, like the Galaxy S8. This results in washed-out textures, edge flickering and performance drops in «Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom». It’s not so bad in handheld mode, but I primarily play on the TV.

The water in Waverace 64 on the Nintendo 64 looks nicer.
Source: David Jaffe

The new «Zelda» doesn’t look ugly because of that. At times, it’s even really pretty. But the low level of detail doesn’t succeed in creating the illusion of an immersive and lively world. I never get that comforting warm feeling deep inside when a spectacular view or an imposing monster makes my jaw drop. In my 40+ hours of gameplay, I’ve heard several joyful comments about the gameplay, but not a single peep about the graphics.

As a counterexample, there’s «Elden Ring», itself heavily inspired by «Breath of the Wild». From Software’s open-world game doesn’t offer high-end graphics either. But the engine, or rather modern PCs and consoles it runs on, are powerful enough to create an eerily beautiful world that gives you goosebumps. Why can’t Nintendo deliver that to me? Why do I have to game on hardware from the stone age?

An end to hardware arms races

The last time Nintendo tried to keep up with the competition in terms of performance was with the Gamecube. However, the purple box couldn’t hold a candle to Sony’s PlayStation 2. To date, it’s still the most successful console of all time, with nearly 160 million units sold. This is probably due more to the success of the PS2 than the failure of the Gamecube. Nevertheless, Nintendo has since focused entirely on the gaming experience instead of opulent graphics.

«Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom» is permeated by a milky haze
Source: Nintendo

The decision paid off – at least most of the time. The Gamecube was followed by the Wii, which dominated the console market. The subsequent Wii U was a flop, managing to only sell about a tenth of that. With the Switch, Nintendo finally merged the handheld and console business and bundled development work onto a single device. This results in a console that’s still expected to sell 15 million models this year, despite dusty hardware.

The success proves Nintendo right. Creative gameplay with mediocre graphics will be better received than an unimaginative game with dreamlike landscapes. But that doesn’t excuse holding a console hostage with exclusive titles and continuing to squeeze a long-outdated piece of hardware just to maximise profits. I don’t expect a «Zelda» in Unreal Engine 5 with 4K resolution and ray tracing. But there’s a middle ground between a PC Master Race graphics fetish and muddy potato visuals. I can only imagine what the talented game designers at Nintendo could do with more potent hardware. The fact that this may consume more time and money can hardly be an argument. Even Scrooge McDuck and the Monopoly Man would gaze in awe at the sight of Nintendo’s money hoard.

Cutscenes are more detailed, but the bitrate is low, leading to plenty of artefacts.
Source: Nintendo

To be fair, Nintendo is said to have tried releasing a faster Switch. However, the mythical Switch Pro was apparently discontinued in favour of the Switch OLED, or the Switch 2 respectively. The latter is expected for 2024. I’m tremendously hyped for it. Thanks to modern upscaling technologies like DLSS 3 and AI Frame Generation, a huge performance leap should be possible, even with moderate hardware. The potential that Nintendo could exploit graphically, but also in terms of gameplay, seems limitless.

Until then, I’ll continue to grumble to myself and look enviously at the emulation scene. There’s even a razor-sharp version of Zelda in 4K with 60 frames per second. At least there’s a hint of nextgen somewhere.

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Philipp Rüegg

Senior Editor

Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.

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