Summary
Avalanche Software’sHogwarts Legacyhas recently been ported to the Nintendo Switch after a great deal of anticipation, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, the fact that it was even possible to bring the game, which was one of 2023’s best-looking titles, to Nintendo’s hybrid device is impressive. On the other hand, theHogwarts LegacySwitch port is clearly downgradedfrom its PlayStation, Xbox, and PC counterparts, and it’s another reminder of how Nintendo falls short when it comes to hardware.
In many ways, the Nintendo Switch punches well above its weight when it comes to hardware. The Switch’s tech was already dated when it launched in 2017, but it still managed to release some of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed games of that year, includingThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandSuper Mario Odyssey. The console has also been home to a number of so-called “miracle ports” likeThe Witcher 3, which run surprisingly well on the system. That said, Switch owners still miss out on a great deal of third-party games, as many of them simply can’t run on the device. When third-party AAA games do come to the Switch, they are often massively downgraded, with a notable example being thisyear’sMortal Kombat 1Switch release.Hogwarts Legacyis, in some ways, an impressive port, but it’s also a clear sign that Nintendo needs a Switch successor sooner rather than later.
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Hogwarts Legacy Is a Compromised Experience on the Nintendo Switch
While Avalanche Software managed to getHogwarts Legacyplayable on the Switch, it seems to have required a number of sacrifices. The game is, as expected, noticeably less impressive from a visual and performance standpoint, and certain key elements have had to either be altered or removed to make it run on the weaker system. How much these sacrifices hurt the overall experience is a matter of personal preference, but they suggest that Nintendo’s system may be on its last legs, at least from a technical standpoint.
Hogwarts Legacy Is a Visual Downgrade on the Switch
AlthoughHogwarts Legacyhas its problems, most would agree that the visuals of the game are impressive; the verdant Scottish landscapes are a joy to explore, and Hogwarts itself is crammed full of detail and charm that rival its film counterparts. Unfortunately, those playing on Switch won’t get to enjoy the full visual spectacle of the game.
Like with most Switch ports,Hogwarts Legacyhas had to tone down its visuals quite a bit in order to run on the device. The game has had its maximum resolution reduced to meet the limitations of the console, textures are muddier, draw distance has been minimized, and level of detail is generally lower than on other devices. Max framerate is also lower on Nintendo’s device, with many reporting FPS issues in visually dense areas.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Switch Version Isn’t Fully Open-World
A visual downgrade is one thing, and was already clearly telegraphed inHogwarts Legacy’s Switch trailers, but the changes made to in-game exploration are far more disappointing. While the game’s PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S versions all offer mostly seamless exploration similar to other modern open-world games, the Switch version is more compartmentalized, broken up with multiple loading screens. For instance, players will have to sit through a loading screen whenever they enter Hogsmeade, with additional loading screens popping up when they enter individual buildings. This results in an experience that is choppier, less immersive, and more tedious.
Many of those who game exclusively on the Switch are accustomed to the device’s comparatively weak hardware, but things may be reaching a breaking point.Hogwarts Legacymanaged to squeeze onto the console, but only with a number of significant compromises, and many best-selling AAA games don’t make it onto the Switch at all. Nintendo’s first party games are alsolimited by the Switch’s hardware, though the company generally manages to work around these limitations. It’s impressive thatHogwarts Legacyis able to run on Nintendo’s console, but Switch owners deserve more than what the current technology provides.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
