The arrival of the Batman: Arkham Trilogy on the Nintendo Switch has been met with anticipation and curiosity. Following a promising announcement earlier in the year, fans of the Dark Knight were eager to see how the popular series would translate to the portable console. While our comprehensive review is still forthcoming, Digital Foundry has stepped in to provide a technical analysis of the game's performance on this platform.
First, let's delve into the most technologically intensive game within the collection — Batman: Arkham Knight. Unfortunately, Digital Foundry's findings for Arkham Knight are less than stellar, with the game being noted as "an absolute disaster on Switch." The performance suffers significantly, often dropping below 30 frames per second (fps). While moving through Gotham City, players frequently experience sluggish gameplay with fps counts dipping between 20 and 25, particularly during gliding sequences. The performance further deteriorates while driving the Batmobile, although it can on rare occasions reach 30fps during certain indoor scenarios. To make matters worse, players can expect to encounter game freezes that completely halt gameplay momentarily to 0fps, as well as occasional game crashes.
When it comes to the game's visuals on the Switch, Arkham Knight's resolution tops out at 810p when played in docked mode and falls to 540p in handheld mode. Despite these drawbacks, Digital Foundry gives a small nod to the game's slight edge when played in portable mode.
Turning our attention to the other two games in the compilation, Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, there seems to be a glimmer of hope. Digital Foundry's evaluation suggests that both games align closely with the visual features of their 2016 re-releases. However, there are still prevalent issues, particularly with the rendering of textures. Arkham Asylum experiences regular frame drops and often struggles to maintain even mid-20fps. Arkham City fares a bit better, achieving a more consistent 30fps performance. In terms of resolution, both these titles present a clearer image on the Switch, offering 1080p while docked and 720p in handheld mode.
It's clear from Digital Foundry's report that the Batman: Arkham Trilogy faces significant technical problems on the Switch. Oliver Mackenzie from Digital Foundry went as far as to label the compilation as "the worst performing game I have reviewed to date at Digital Foundry."
For those looking to make an informed decision before purchasing, Digital Foundry's full video analysis, embedded within this article, offers a comprehensive look at the game's performance issues.
Despite the setbacks outlined by the technical analysis, the ultimate success or failure of the Batman: Arkham Trilogy on Switch will depend on individual player tolerance for these technical issues. While some may be disappointed by the performance, others may find the ability to play these beloved games in a portable mode a compelling enough reason to overlook the flaws.
The technical issues noted by Digital Foundry are certainly disappointing, especially considering the Arkham series' reputation for smooth gameplay and immersive experiences. The impact of these findings on sales and player enjoyment remains to be seen. With our full review still in the works, we hope to offer further insights into whether or not the Batman: Arkham Trilogy on Switch can still provide a gameplay experience that lives up to the Caped Crusader's legacy, despite the technical hurdles highlighted by Digital Foundry.
Here is the video from Digital Foundry for those interested in seeing the performance analysis firsthand:
