After the release of Overwatch, the community wondered what type of game next big thing from Blizzard will be. One of the answers is likely to be revealed at the end of June when the next game, titled…
…Spyro 2? lands on Nintendo Switch.
The original Spyro the Dragon was released all the way back in 1998. It was originally an arcade game developed by Toys for Bob and published by DreamWorks Interactive. The game was a massive hit and spent over a decade on the top of the sales charts.
Since then, the franchise has grown to include several mobile and console iterations, as well as a Disney Infinity installment. But it never really left its golden era behind. The Switch is the perfect hybrid console with a controller that can be used both in handheld mode and plugged into the TV. It’s a natural fit for the game.
That being said, how does the popular franchise adapt to the Switch? Let’s take a closer look.
The Good
Let’s get the bad out of the way first. While the Switch is a perfectly suitable host for the franchise, it isn’t perfect. The same can be said for its predecessors, the Wii and the PlayStation 4. They are both perfectly capable of delivering top-notch performance in terms of hardware, but there are some small nuances that can interfere with gameplay.
For instance, the N64 didn’t support HD quality TVs back in the day, and the original PlayStation was not exactly the easiest console to work with when it came to overheating. Both of those issues were corrected in later iterations. Still, even with those issues there are no parts of the game that feel outdated or obsolete.
Then there’s the price. At $80, the Switch is on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to video game consoles. Add in the fact that it comes with a controller (as opposed to the typical dual shock setup of cheaper rivals) and it quickly approaches the $100 mark. If price is a concern, there are cheaper solutions out there.
On top of all that, the Switch isn’t very portable. By default, it’s designed to be plugged into a TV for use. You can grab it by the handle and carry it around like a standard video game console, but that’s about it. If you want to take it on the go you’ll need to bring along your TV as well.
Despite all of that, the Switch is still the best choice for the franchise. It offers the perfect combination of form factor, price and performance. Of course, none of this really matters if you don’t own a Switch.
…But it’s also worth mentioning that while the Switch is a great choice when it comes to gaming, it isn’t totally useless. It also doubles as a home console, which many people already have. This is especially convenient for multiplayer sessions. When combined with a screen and some wireless adapters, it becomes the perfect home theater experience.
The Bad
Once you get past the hardware and price there are still a few annoyances that could pop up. Although the Switch has been well optimized for gameplay, it hasn’t been completely cleaned up for display. There are still some rough edges and glitches that can ruin the smooth operation of certain features.
For instance, when using certain palettes (effectively colors or visual styles used in your game) it is possible for some of the text to appear jagged. This can spoil the effect of having a sharp font on a TV screen. While the issue is minor, it’s worth noting.
Another issue that can crop up is when playing in TV mode, the image can look a little fuzzy. This is mostly an aesthetic choice and is something that can be easily fixed with an HDTV.
One of the Switch’s major selling points is the quality of its screen. Unlike most other consoles, the Switch doesn’t use a TV as its display. Instead it uses something called an “HD TV display”. It isn’t quite as good as true HD, but it gets the job done.
It should also be noted that unlike other consoles, the Switch doesn’t need to be connected to the internet to work. This can be a real plus for users that want to play offline. Unfortunately, this also makes it more susceptible to hacking. While the issues are very rare, it’s still something to consider.
The Reasons
Let’s talk about the good now. We already went over the reasons why the Switch is the best console for the franchise. But there are still additional perks that make it a great choice. One of the reasons is the variety of games available. There are hundreds of games already released for the console, and new games are being added all the time.
It should also be noted that while the Switch is a perfect hybrid console, it also has enough internal storage to act as a fully functioning standalone console. This means that users don’t necessarily need to purchase games from the Nintendo eStore to play them. It also means that users can carry over their saves from one game to the next. This can save you time when playing in the middle of nowhere.
Now let’s talk about the reasons that the Switch is the worst console for the franchise. Because it’s not quite as good as the others when it comes to display, the text in many games can look a little blurry. This is especially noticeable in online forums and chat rooms where lots of text is being displayed at once. It would also be wise to avoid certain game modes in multiplayer as they don’t work as well due to technical issues. While the console is extremely reliable and stable, it still has some quirks that can cause problems.
In spite of all that, the Switch is still the best option available. It combines all the perks from the previous two and throws in a few more. If you’re looking for an all-around perfect TV console, look no further.