Finally! We have software not made by Nintendo that is entertaining on the Nintendo Switch 2. May the Sun God be praised!
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition from Bandai Namco Entertainment has made it to the Nintendo Switch 2, and it’s a good test of what third-party AAA software Nintendo’s little engine that could can handle. If you have seen the PC or PS5/Xbox version of Elden Ring, then you know what type of graphics it sports and the power it demands. Elden Ring’s gameplay comes with rich detail and hardware-demanding specs, especially on PC, where it runs at a locked 60fps. Does the Nintendo Switch 2 version follow those platforms with power and panache? Not at all, but it still does a great job of doing what it can to deliver the same devilish experience with Dark Souls-lite.
Before we begin, just a word of caution about this review. We have reviewed this game several times, and it would be pointless to tell you how wonderful it is, how sadistic the gameplay can be at times, and how magnificent the bosses are throughout. All of that is still very much the same on the Nintendo Switch 2, so don’t expect any real changes on those fronts. It still delivers the entertainment on the Nintendo Switch 2.
That said, this review will focus solely on the Nintendo Switch 2’s handling of the software. What works and what doesn’t, and what to expect as a whole. So, sit back and relax. Kick off those fighting boots and put away that spiritual steed. We’re talking Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Elephant in the room
As far as content is concerned, the Tarnished Edition of this release comes with the Shadow of Erdtree expansion, as well as all the class and item upgrades. It’s the definitive edition of the game so far, and gets the player going with everything right out of the gate. In truth, and please understand I am not the biggest Nintendo Switch 2 fan (I do own two because I hate myself), it’s properly priced for the content it comes with, sitting at $79.99.
It takes everything in my soul to say that because I do not believe base games should be at that price point, especially on the Nintendo Switch 2, a very underpowered piece of hardware that is charging PS5 prices for its games. But this price is justified given the content included. Shadow of Erdtree costs $39.99 standalone, if that helps justify my critique. It’s a good price for the amount of content provided. Even though this game has some mileage on it, standalone versions of this (if they made them on the NS2) would be priced at around $40. Including all the content helps bring that price up and makes sense. I know not everyone will agree with me on this, and my inner voice is shouting at me about it, but mathematically it makes sense.
I just wanted to get that out of the way before we start talking tech, since it’s truly the elephant in the room before the game even begins. Now that we have identified said elephant, let’s move along.
Anyway, as for the game itself, running it on the dock might be the best way to enjoy it. Through the dock, players will get upscaled1080p with what was guaranteed to be a locked 30fps. While I can safely say the game looks like true 1080p in its upscaling, that 30fps is questionable.
From my perspective, the frame rate varies (and do keep in mind this is an early review build — things may change for the release). When there are a bunch of enemies on the screen, that frame rate visually looks like it takes a dip below 30 fps, maybe hitting 25fps at worst. I have seen the stutter with my own eyes, and even experienced a slight slowdown that is noticeable but not disruptive. It reminded me of the old Super Nintendo days when too many characters would be on screen, and the game would slow considerably because the hardware simply wasn’t built to handle it. While not as glitchy or bad as the SNES, the Nintendo Switch 2 struggles a bit when too many enemies are moving around the player’s position. I found this out firsthand when I pissed off all the knights around the Gatefront. I had a whole platoon chasing me, and then I brought the giant into the mix. Again, the frame rate wasn’t unplayable, although PC owners will think it is, but the slowdown was noticeable. Maybe that improves with an update; maybe it gets locked in as soon as it is released, but either way, during this review period it had noticeable slowdown. Of course, I could be mistaken because I am blind as a bat in real life, but I feel confident.
In handheld mode, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition runs around 720p at a locked 30fps, which makes more sense. Lower resolution doesn’t press as hard on the system’s lack of power, and there is no go-between for the game to be delivered to a big television. In a way, if players want a better locked frame rate and a lower resolution that isn’t upscaled, handheld may be the best way to go. For my old-man eyes, I have to play this on a big screen. There is so much of a world filled with enemies and visually hidden secrets that I would miss it all if I couldn’t have them upscaled on a big screen. I cannot do that on a smaller screen, but I am sure people who enjoy that challenge won’t be deterred by a portable version of this game.
Staying with visuals, this surprised me a bit, and in a good way. I was mightily impressed with the character models, environmental details, and effects presented on the Nintendo Switch 2 version of this release. I was expecting a bit more blandness from the hardware, maybe cheapening out on lighting and detailed textures, but the Nintendo Switch 2 did some great heavy lifting with the visuals. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition looked amazing on the small screen and handled those visuals well for a system rated as powerful as a PlayStation 4 Pro. The big screen was equally as good. I mean, it looked really good. For example, that Gatefront giant was grotesquely detailed, with all its yucky innards and defined ribs. It looked almost like it did on a PS5, though not as richly detailed. Even the lands in the distance during the game looked good and didn’t always pop in and out. Everything rendered beautifully and was handled with care. Even the darn enemies looked great with their animations and expressions.
There was a lot to love about the visuals delivered on this system. I wasn’t sure it could pull through with such a big task, but it did so swimmingly. Not as good as the more powerful platforms, but good enough to be in awe of the game. Gamers with only Nintendo Switch 2s will be impressed.
Now, the downer is the controls. The controls in Elden Ring on PC and PS5 are demanding for those uninitiated. Nintendo controls, with buttons in unexpected places, can be a bit of a nightmare. I can’t tell you how many times I drank my potions by accident, or how many times I jumped off my steed unintentionally because I hit the wrong button. The controls add a layer of complexity, and that is even before we talk about the Joy-Cons.
Speaking of which, let me be blunt about this — don’t use the Joy-Cons without their connecting pad. They just don’t feel right in this game when used separately. If you can, get a Pro Controller, an off-brand third-party controller, anything other than those standalone Joy-Cons. It will save you time and frustration. The buttons are way too small for big hands and just don’t offer enough button separation to be comfortable. Using a connected Joy-Con pad or any other controller makes for a better experience. If I could have used an Xbox or PS5 controller during this review, I would have been in heaven. The Joy-Con requirement might be my biggest complaint about this release. Just avoid using them.
Anyway, overall, the Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2 is far more impressive than I thought it might be. It won’t stand up to the PS5/Xbox/PC versions, but if you’re a Nintendo-only player, you will be pleased with what it delivers. It’s certainly a good blueprint for future AAA games from third-party companies. It also gives me confidence that the Nintendo Switch 2 is far more powerful than I give it credit for.
On that note, let’s wrap up this review.
Conclusion
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is surprisingly solid on the Nintendo Switch 2. While it won’t match the resolution or frame rate of bigger, more powerful platforms, it still delivers fantastic gameplay with plenty of extra content.
