Switch 2 Oblivion Remastered: A Technical Marvel or a Frustrating Experience?
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has finally made its way to the Nintendo Switch 2, a year after its initial release on other platforms. With the Switch 2's less powerful hardware, concerns arose about the game's performance and visual fidelity. But does it live up to the hype? Let's delve into the details and explore the intricacies of this port.
A Smaller Footprint, But at What Cost?
The Switch 2 version of Oblivion Remastered comes in at a manageable 58GB, half the size of its counterparts on PlayStation and Xbox. This is a welcome change, especially for those with limited storage space. Additionally, the inclusion of mouse support via detachable Joy-Cons is a game-changer, offering a more precise aiming experience for bow users and improved menu navigation.
DLSS and Visuals: A Mixed Bag
Oblivion Remastered utilizes Nvidia's DLSS upscaler, which seems to be a more advanced implementation than the TSR used on other consoles. In docked mode, the game targets a 1080p final frame reconstructed from a native 960x540 resolution, delivering decent visuals. However, in portable mode, the DLSS target drops to 900p, resulting in a noticeable loss of clarity.
The game shines in close-up environments like dungeons and towns, sometimes even surpassing the Xbox Series S in crispness. However, when it comes to open-world spaces, DLSS struggles. High-frequency details on elements like trees suffer from flicker, shimmer, and noise, pushing the technology to its limits. Occlusion artifacts and stair-stepping in the Imperial City further highlight these issues.
Visual Settings and Draw Distance
Visually, the Switch 2 version lags behind the Xbox Series S. Foliage density is reduced, and certain trees are removed from the map. Draw distances are more aggressive, with LODs (Level of Detail) cutting off castle structures and shadows at a distance. While this might be a necessary compromise for performance, it results in a noticeable difference in visual quality compared to the dedicated home consoles.
Texture quality is generally on par with the Series S for road signs and brickwork, but higher presets exist on PS5 and Series X. Interestingly, some materials, like mud pathways, are replaced with different assets on Switch 2, making them harder to distinguish. The most significant visual downgrade is in tree shadows, which are reduced from defined leaves to simpler blobs of shade.
Lighting and Performance
On the positive side, Lumen reflections and GI (Global Illumination) are implemented effectively. SSR (Screen Space Reflection) is used as a fallback at a lower resolution, but the hybrid setup works well. Indirect light bounce is accurately simulated across dungeons and towns, matching the Series S in most scenarios. However, there is slightly less scattering accuracy than the Series X.
To optimize performance, decimated animations are employed. NPCs at a distance animate at 15fps, which can be distracting in the open world. The Switch 2 targets a 30fps cap, but it still suffers from frame pacing issues, causing camera judder as frame times fluctuate between 16ms and 50ms. Traversal hitches are also present, with hiccups exceeding 230ms during galloping or encountering multiple enemies.
Stability and Degradation
Surprisingly, the Switch 2 version shows better stability compared to the PS5 and Xbox versions, which experienced performance degradation over time. We found no significant degradation after an hour of play, but this might be due to the 30fps cap, which hides potential issues that an unlocked 60fps would reveal. A camera bug and a reproducible crash were encountered, but overall, the game remains more stable than its counterparts.
A Technical Marvel, But with Frustrations
The hybrid rendering setup, which runs the original Oblivion logic beneath an Unreal Engine 5 layer, is a remarkable feat. It ensures authenticity to the 2006 original's systems, bugs, and NPC behaviors. While the UE5 eye candy, such as improved models and Lumen GI, translates well, the technical frustrations like uneven frame pacing and hitching hold it back.
In conclusion, Switch 2 Oblivion Remastered is a fascinating technical achievement for a handheld console. However, it is not without its flaws. The game's performance and visual fidelity are a mixed bag, with some impressive moments and frustrating hiccups. It remains a testament to the power of technical innovation, but players should be prepared for a potentially frustrating experience.
