The Switch 2 would possibly pack a lot better {hardware} than the unique, however a recreation I’m nonetheless stunned to see working in any respect (a lot much less fairly nicely) on a Nintendo system is Cyberpunk 2077. I spent a couple of days with CD Projekt Crimson’s newest port to get a really feel for the way it runs, the way it holds up, and the way the Switch 2’s fancy new mouse controls work when utilized to a high-octane FPS. The reply throughout the board is spectacular, and when you haven’t had the pleasure of exploring Evening Metropolis earlier than, this looks like a stable means to take action.
However first, let’s look again at what I mentioned in my assessment of Cyberpunk 2077 when it first launched in 2020.
In fact, that was only for the PC model, and the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 variations had been such a infamous mess that we had to return and do a separate assessment with a a lot decrease rating as soon as we bought our arms on it at launch. (And don’t overlook we additionally reviewed its wonderful Phantom Liberty DLC in 2023, which is included within the Switch 2 model.) Fortunately, the Switch 2 port is nowhere close to the catastrophe it was on the outdated console era – actually, it’s fairly dang nice.
Cyberpunk 2077 appears fairly nice on Nintendo Switch 2
All it takes is a fast look to see that Cyberpunk 2077 nonetheless appears excellent on Nintendo’s new console. The distinct neon glows and soiled streets of Evening Metropolis all come by means of alive and nicely right here, even when they aren’t fairly as crisp and clear as you’d discover on PC, PS5, or Xbox Sequence X. This isn’t precisely the “definitive” technique to play this recreation, however it’s greater than ok from a sensible standpoint. This isn’t just like the Switch 1 port of The Witcher 3, which felt like an “I assume we will make this perform” form of final resort technique to play greater than the rest.
The framerate is first rate however not jaw-dropping
You’ll be able to try the technical specs in our story about how CD Projekt managed to get Cyberpunk 2077 working on the Switch 2 – briefly, it’s working at 1080p when docked, and 1080p or 720p in handheld, relying on when you’re taking part in in High quality or Efficiency mode, and it maxes out at 40fps. Your mileage could differ right here, as a result of regardless of my PC gaming background, I’m not an enormous efficiency snob and I’ve no situation taking part in at lower than 60fps. So to my eye, Cyberpunk 2077 runs pretty nicely in docked mode, even when removed from excellent. It has some dropped frames in components and doesn’t run as buttery easy because the Switch 2 Editions of Tears of the Kingdom or Breath of the Wild, however nothing is so distracting that it actively harmed my time with it on this context. When you can’t stand something under a stable 60fps, this could be one you have to skip – anybody who’s used to taking part in video games completely on the unique Switch, nevertheless, needs to be comfy sufficient right here.
Switch 2 mouse controls work surprisingly nicely
One of many largest attracts of the Switch 2 for me was its skill to imitate mouse management with a sideways Pleasure-Con, probably providing you with higher accuracy in a first-person recreation like this. I’m glad to say that’s precisely the case, because it was tremendous simple for me to leap from my PC to this management possibility and get much more headshots than I might have with a daily gamepad. It’s not on the similar stage as a high-DPS gaming mouse or something, however it’s completely my most popular technique to play this recreation each time I sat down to take action, and that’s an enormous win. That mentioned…
The Pleasure-Con mouse isn’t nice for lengthy classes
You see, the issue with the Switch 2’s mouse mode isn’t really the standard of the mouse management itself, however the bodily really feel of utilizing it. The Pleasure-Con is tiny in comparison with a traditional mouse, and my hand was cramping up attempting to get a great grip on it after lengthy play classes – even once I (*2*) to make it really feel higher. That’s as a result of there’s nowhere to comfortably put your thumb whereas nonetheless having the ability to press the best stick, Y button, and A button, all of that are required for numerous actions as you bounce between fight, conversations, and menu administration. So whereas the mouse is healthier than I anticipated, I’m apprehensive this awkward grip goes to cease me from persistently utilizing it sooner or later.
Cyberpunk 2077’s movement help choices aren’t nice
That mentioned, the mouse controls are not less than higher than utilizing motions to shortcut sure actions. The same old technique of aiming with the best stick primarily after which fine-tuning that purpose with movement controls is on the market and works simply as nicely right here because it does in stuff like Zelda, however the movement help choices are fairly ineffective past that. You’ll be able to swing your Pleasure-Con to make use of your melee weapon in a means that gave me unflattering flashbacks to early Wii video games, or twist and flail it to do actions like reload or heal, however doing so virtually at all times made my digicam wobble about on the similar time. It could harm my hand, however I’ll take mouse controls over this any day.
That is nonetheless an superior RPG price taking part in
Lastly, revisiting Evening Metropolis jogged my memory simply how nice this recreation is, particularly after all of the enhancements after launch. The world is moody and harmful, and it does a terrific job of dropping you in and instantly making you’re feeling like part of the tradition. I additionally keep it phases its quest conversations higher than any RPG I’ve ever seen, giving easy chats a cinematic high quality with out ever taking you out of the motive force seat. When you’ve by no means performed Cyberpunk 2077, I can completely advocate you test it out right here.
I’m nonetheless engaged on my ultimate Switch 2 assessment, however you may try our evaluations of Mario Kart World and Welcome Tour within the meantime. And in order for you perception on different ports, we’ve bought a have a look at Tears of the Kingdom, Breath of the Wild, and Hogwarts Legacy.