Benjamin Bartlett
Mortal Kombat 1 on the Switch: A Technical Analysis
Since its release last week, Mortal Kombat 1 on the Nintendo Switch has been a hot topic of discussion among gamers. The internet has been ablaze with comparisons between the Switch version and the next-gen console editions. Now, the experts at Digital Foundry have conducted a technical analysis to shed light on the differences. And the results are not looking good.
Visual Cutbacks and Resolution
In order to make the game compatible with the Switch’s comparatively smaller hardware, certain sacrifices had to be made. The Switch version of Mortal Kombat 1 reduces the bit-rate and resolution of both the story mode cutscenes and the fights themselves. According to Digital Foundry, the game runs at 756p in docked mode and 720p in handheld mode. These lower resolutions result in severe visual cutbacks, including missing mouth and eye animations that have been widely discussed online.
Inconsistent Frame Rate
Another area where Mortal Kombat 1 on the Switch falls short is the frame rate. The in-game cutscenes range from 30 to a shockingly low 10 frames per second. During gameplay, the frame rate reaches a maximum of 60 frames per second, but frequently drops as low as 20fps. Digital Foundry’s analysis reveals that the frame rate takes a significant hit when the new Kameo system is activated, leading to stilted combat and difficulty performing combos.
A Lack of Polish
Despite being a feature-complete port, Digital Foundry concludes that Mortal Kombat 1 on the Switch simply lacks the level of polish needed to justify its price tag. It’s worth noting that the price for the Switch version is the same as the PS5 and Xbox Series S|X editions. This lack of polish raises the question of whether the promised update from Ed Boon is now more necessary than ever.
Have you played Mortal Kombat 1 on the Switch? What are your thoughts on the technical shortcomings? Let us know in the comments!
[source youtube.com]
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