Resident Evil Requiem, in all of its grotesque, goopy, and gory glory, is obtainable on the Nintendo Switch 2, and also you’re most likely questioning if this model is value your time. After 15 hours of enjoying virtually solely on the Switch 2, I can say that it is–but with a caveat.
Let’s begin with the nice. Resident Evil Requiem on the Switch 2 is an extremely competent port that appears and runs nice on the hand-held. Regardless of the console’s technical limitations in comparison with the beefier PlayStation 5 or Xbox Collection X and S, Requiem retains its moody ambiance and unsettling visuals.
That is partly on account of Requiem’s restricted use of ray tracing and dynamic lighting. Though it’s not almost as concerned as different variations, Capcom has made good use of the Switch 2’s energy right here. Framerates are uncapped and seem to fluctuate infrequently, often when shifting from one room to a different, however in my expertise, the framerate by no means dropped to an inexcusable stage. If the Switch 2 is your solely technique to play Requiem, otherwise you want the portability, you gained’t be lacking out on a lot by selecting this model.
However what precisely are you lacking out on then? Picture high quality and textures take the largest hit right here as proven by a side-by-side look on the PS5 model. The hair, backgrounds, and finer particulars look muddier on the Switch 2. In a method or one other, just about each a part of the picture has been reined in in comparison with the PS5 model.
That stated, Requiem nonetheless appears spectacular on Switch 2. Grace’s sections are supposed to be performed from a first-person viewpoint, and regardless of the hand-held’s drawbacks, the environments nonetheless appear and feel cluttered and gross in an appropriately horrific approach. A whole lot of that is because of Capcom’s artwork route, however there have been just a few moments throughout my play time when the visible high quality took me out of the expertise.
Maybe the largest examples of weakened visuals come within the notes and objects you possibly can study. In basic Resident Evil trend, you possibly can rotate objects you collected to look at them from totally different angles. In Resident Evil 7 and Village, you could possibly actually see all of the small particulars on these objects. That further coat of texture is lacking in Requiem on Switch 2, and a whole lot of objects you decide up have a low decision and lack finer particulars.
The framerate goals for 60 frames per second, and it usually feels fairly easy, however fluctuations are noticeable, particularly whereas the Switch 2 is docked. I can solely go by eye right here, so I can’t break down the framerate adjustments, however making fast turns and shifting by means of bigger explorable areas seem like the reason for framerate drops. There’s a specific space in a later a part of the sport the place the framerate seems to wrestle a bit extra notably while you transfer between indoor and outside environments. These moments don’t final lengthy, although. Your tolerance might differ, however even in these conditions, the fluctuations in framerate by no means hindered my expertise.
Within the Switch 2’s handheld mode, the framerate holds up slightly higher. I nonetheless seen some dips, significantly in these indoor and outside areas, however they’re much less obvious. That is possible because of the Switch 2’s built-in variable refresh charge show.
Most of those limitations don’t have an effect on gameplay in any main way–or not less than, that’s what I believed till I acquired to a piece the place you employ a sniper rifle as Leon. Trying by means of the scope, the visuals change into tough and muddy, and it is fairly troublesome to goal when it is laborious to even make out the zombies you are attempting to hit. Perhaps this is the reason Leon saved lacking in that Nintendo Direct? Luckily, that is the one part the place you’re required to snipe enemies. In later sections, it is as much as you if you wish to use the sniper rifle, and most fight arenas aren’t that large, so it is not important.
I’ve additionally discovered the Nintendo Switch 2’s Pleasure-Con analog sticks to be a bit imprecise total. In a sport like Resident Evil, each bullet counts, and lining up headshots doesn’t really feel as easy on Switch 2 as I’d like. There are not any gyro controls, however there are a pair aim-assist choices within the settings that may assist. I’m too cussed to alter these, however it’s possible you’ll discover use with them. Luckily, the Switch 2 Professional Controller feels significantly better, so I’d suggest utilizing that or one thing comparable throughout docked play.
Is Resident Evil Requiem value your time? I’d say it completely is, and if the Switch 2 is your solely avenue to play it, then you definately gained’t be lacking out on a lot right here. Nonetheless, trendy Resident Evil video games enjoy all these disturbing and gory particulars, and the Switch 2 model is considerably missing on this division. After I inevitably replay this sport, I’ll possible be doing it on my PC.