Better than Xbox 360, comparable to PS4.
The 1080p docked presentation is the highlight though.
Immediately then we’re off to a good start with the Switch release.
In fact, at 1080p we’re in essence matching the base PS4 version’s native resolution already.
But native resolution isn’t the only factor for image quality.
As you might imagine though, other visual enhancements over the original Xbox 360 code are limited.
Even adding ambient occlusion under grass would have gone a long way to give the scene some depth.
So, is the Switch build a match for PS4 in visual prefs, beyond the anti-aliasing limitation?
In comparison, the texture filtering limit on Nintendo’s machine shows up visibly.
Generally though, pop-in across geometric elements - the rocky outcrops - are an exact match with PS4’s.
There are no surprises here.
A huge bulk of play runs at this 30fps line, too, though there are some notably exceptions.
Firstly, just arriving at the Armadillo saloon at night drags the performance to below 30fps.
And more noticeably, I spotted a farm battle on Switch drop into the high-20s.
High levels of NPCs congested in one spot gives the impression of the recurring culprit here.
There’s also a very occasional sign of uneven frame-pacing at 30fps, prompting frame-time spikes to 16ms.
It’s not perfect, but it’s mostly stable.
Overall, the turnout in performance is a success.
And for perspective, this is a huge upgrade on the original Xbox 360 version.
Looking at some older analysis footage from our archives, the 360 version struggled with an early graveyard mission.
And all round, these extreme cases shows the 1080p target is a sensible, very achievable one.
As for portable play, Switch again holds out perfectly at 720p and 30fps.
There are a few caveats here.
Firstly it’s running in portable mode at a native 720p, so 1080p is off the cards.
In the end, the Switch release only highlights how much more ambitious the PS4 version should have been.
Textures, draw distances are all intact.
Equally, it offers the game in portable form.
It’s by no means a luxury treatment though: a game of this high esteem does deserve more.
Improved textures, an upgraded HUD, and even perhaps 60fps support on higher-end consoles.
Especially for the high asking price, what we’re getting here is surprisingly stripped to only the essentials.
