The Outer Worlds for Switch Rating: Port tariffs bad
“The Outer Worlds is a fun game. It's just a shame that the switch port doesn't run better. "
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Great world exploration
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Well-written dialogue
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No content is cut out of the game
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Terrible step in the graphics
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Bad frame rate
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Sputtering and pop-ins
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Long loading times
Just when it looked like the horde of badly rushed switch ports was behind us The outer worlds proves that there is always room for more.
News that The outer worlds would come to Nintendo's hugely popular switch console, cautiously optimistic. I thought it might have the polish that other switch ports were missing as no attempt was made to make up for the console's success. While this version is not an unplayable bug, which is more than can be said of some other ports, it is certainly not well made – and does not do justice to the original game.
A nice mess
The outer worlds wasn't the most visually impressive game when it came out in 2019, but it had stunning aesthetics. What he lacked in character models or high-resolution textures, he made up for with wonderfully detailed planets and a coherent appearance that underlined his snarky capitalist dystopia. When I played on an Xbox One X, I was amazed by the living foliage, the blinding sky, and the lovable rust buckets that were used as spaceships.
On the switch, I felt like I was playing a completely different game. The switch port has not met my expectations in many ways, and more importantly, it does not do justice to the unique style of the game.
When I took my first steps on Terra 2, the introductory planet was in The outer worlds I could immediately say that this port would be rough. Still, I made my way and was convinced that I would find the psychedelic fields that I fell in love with when I first played on Xbox One X. Then I realized that I was in these areas. And they weren't psychedelic at all.
Obsidian
Textures look amateurish, and anything outside of your immediate area is a blurry mess. Not only is the bad graphics a big disappointment, it also makes it more difficult to engage in ranged combat. The almost constant pop-ins often took me out of the game and I was frustrated.
To make sure, I briefly revised the game on Xbox One X and PC to see if I remembered wrong. That was not me.
In fact, it was worse than I thought. Entire objects and details such as bricks, bushes or paths have completely disappeared. It's not just about looks. Missing objects change the overall feel of the game, as I now walked through a barren landscape rather than a lush planet. I have lost the feeling of wonder associated with exploring a new world.
Looks bad, plays worse
Play The outer worlds on the switch should be impressive. With more than 10 GB, it takes up more space than many other switch titles, and there are seemingly endless loading screens that indicate that a game is being created that deserves such a long wait. You can easily wait up to 30 seconds every time you enter and leave your ship or building and when you are traveling. There is also a lot of sputtering and lag, especially when it's outside.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and BioShock Infinite done. So why not? The outer worlds?
After a while I wondered if a game of this kind with reduced graphics would ask too much. Maybe this just goes beyond what the switch can handle. But The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and BioShock Infinite managed to make the leap to an acceptable level of quality. So why not? The outer worlds?
The switch port targets an inconspicuous 30 frames per second, but even that feels spotty. This is particularly problematic during combat, in addition to the rendering problems removed. In hand-to-hand combat, I swung wildly against enemies who had just dodged a hair, while long-range combat was difficult due to the unresponsive frame rate. If you wait 30 seconds to reappear when you die in the middle of this mess, the experience will get worse.
It's a shame
The technical problems are indeed insurmountable. They make it impossible to recommend the port.
Still, it's worth remembering The outer worlds is a great game. It's not the best game I've ever played, even within the genre, but it's a solid choice that delivers a decent story and doesn't go beyond the greeting. Fallout fans, especially those who love it Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegaswill love it. Obsidian, the developer behind it The outer worldshas worked on these two Fallout titles and the relationship is easy to see.
Obsidian
The outer worlds brings biting wit in small details and dialogues, an abundance of characters that you can love and hate with the same passion, and an open world that is ripe for exploration. The world or worlds are smaller than the maps of other popular open world games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the wild and Witcher 3, they're both on switches. But planet hopping is fun and I enjoyed seeing the worlds differ.
Even though I often wanted to run through my run because of the confused graphics and technical problems, I couldn't help exploring every detail. What does this terminal say? What does this message reveal about a character who has not been around for a long time and whom I will never meet?
Among the porting problems, The outer worlds remains solid and the port offers all the functions and story beats of the original. It's just a shame that things are not going better.
Our opinion
The outer worlds is a great open world first person shooter with well written dialogue and building the world. However, playing on the switch is a disadvantage for the original game. It often feels like a chore.
Is there a better alternative?
Yes. The outer worldson literally any other platform. It is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows.
You can play under switch games The Witcher 3 or Breath of the wild, However, these titles differ greatly in tone, style and many gameplay elements. There is nothing like it The outer worlds on the counter.
How long it will take?
This can vary a lot depending on how far you want to go in side quests. If you stick to the main quest, you can easily measure 20 hours, but a predecessor will spend closer to 40 on the game. I played for about 30 hours and was picky about which side quests and companion quests I wanted to accept.
Should you buy it
No, you shouldn't buy the switch port from The outer worlds. Unless, and this is a slightly special exception, the Switch is your only gaming device and this game is your alley. If you don't have a PC to run the game on, a PS4 or Xbox One – and many players don't – then for sure. The problem is not there The outer worlds. It's like the game is so much better wherever you can play it. For Fallout or FPS fans who only rely on the Switch, however, it's a good title to add to the library. Just be prepared for an imperfect game.
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