In November 2017, Bethesda Softworks and port specialists Panic Button performed what seemed like a miracle: They released a Switch port for id Software’s recent reboot of Doom. The game, a famously fast-paced, intense shooter with modern graphics, seemed ill-suited to Nintendo’s handheld and its capabilities, but despite some visual blurriness and a reduction in the frame rate, the game held up well on the hybrid system. In GameSpot’s 8/10 review of the Switch port, Peter Brown praised the game as “an impressive port that begs you to consider gameplay over graphics.”
Doom was the first Switch “impossible port,” a colloquial term that players took to using whenever a third-party game designed for much more powerful hardware arrived on the Switch in pretty good shape. Over the course of the system’s lifespan, it would receive many more so-called impossible ports, including versions of Wolfenstein 2: The New Collossus, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, The Witcher 3, No Man’s Sky, and Ace Combat 7–large, visually-intensive, action-heavy games, all of them translated to the system with immaculate care. Seeing how the Switch handled these games was always exciting–even when the ports were less-than-ideal, there was still something special about seeing them run on a handheld from 2017.
Prior to the Switch 2’s launch this year, Nintendo, in typical fashion, did not tell us much about what the Switch 2 was capable of on a technical level. We knew that the new 7.9-inch 1080p screen was capable of displaying gameplay at up to 120fps and was HDR-compliant. Nvidia announced that the system’s custom chip would allow for DLSS, which is capable of upscaling games regardless of native resolution, and that the new system would be, of course, much more powerful than the old one. For early adopters, though, the system’s first six-plus months of availability has involved a lot of curiosity over what the system can and can’t do, speculating on what games the system could or couldn’t handle, and pondering just how close these ports can come to other console versions.
It’s interesting to see how The Switch 2 has evolved in its first year, especially with the variety of third-party ports. It really highlights the creativity and adaptability of developers. Exciting times for gamers!
You’re right! The variety of third-party ports really highlights the Switch 2’s flexibility. It’s fascinating to see how developers are tailoring their games to fit the system’s unique capabilities, which could lead to even more innovative titles in the future.
Absolutely! The diversity in third-party ports not only showcases the Switch 2’s adaptability but also its appeal to different gaming audiences. It’s interesting to see how developers are leveraging the hardware to bring unique experiences to players.
I completely agree! It’s fascinating how each port brings its own unique flavor to the platform, highlighting the Switch 2’s potential to reach different gaming audiences. The blend of genres and styles can really enhance the overall gaming experience for users.
Absolutely! Each port not only showcases the developers’ creativity but also highlights the Switch’s versatility as a gaming system. It’s interesting to see how different genres adapt to the hardware, making for a diverse library of experiences.