Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Supports the Switch 2 Ace Its Biggest Test Yet

It's surprising, yet we're nearly at the new Switch 2 console's six-month milestone. Once Metroid Prime 4: Beyond debuts on Dec. 4, we can provide the console a detailed assessment thanks to its strong lineup of first-party early titles. Major titles like Donkey Kong Bananza will headline that review, but it's Nintendo's two most recent games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and currently Age of Imprisonment, that have helped the Switch 2 overcome a critical examination in its initial half-year: the hardware evaluation.

Tackling Power Issues

Prior to Nintendo publicly unveiled the successor system, the primary worry from gamers regarding the hypothetical device was concerning hardware. When it comes to technology, Nintendo trailed competing consoles in recent cycles. This situation became apparent in the Switch's final years. The desire was that a successor would introduce consistent frame rates, smoother textures, and industry-standard features like ultra-high definition. Those are the features included when the console was launched in June. At least that's what its specs indicated, anyway. To really determine if the new console is an improvement, we'd need to see major titles performing on the hardware. We now have that evidence in recent days, and the assessment is favorable.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A as an Early Challenge

The console's first major test came with October's Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Pokémon games had well-known technical problems on the initial console, with titles such as the Scarlet and Violet games debuting in downright disastrous states. The console itself didn't bear all the responsibility for those problems; the underlying technology driving the developer's games was old and being pushed past its limits in the series' gradual open-world pivot. Legends: Z-A would be a bigger examination for its developer than anything else, but there remained much to analyze from the title's graphics and performance on Switch 2.

While the game's restricted visual fidelity has initiated conversations about Game Freak's technical capabilities, it's undeniable that Legends: Z-A is nowhere near the technical failure of its preceding game, Arceus. It performs at a smooth 60 frames on the upgraded system, but the older hardware tops out at thirty frames. Some pop-in occurs, and you may notice many low-resolution elements if you look closely, but you won't encounter anything resembling the instance in the previous game where you begin airborne travel and observe the whole terrain beneath become a uneven, basic graphics. That qualifies to give the system some passing marks, but with caveats given that the developer has separate challenges that exacerbate restricted capabilities.

Age of Imprisonment as the More Demanding Tech Test

Currently available is a tougher hardware challenge, though, because of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, released November 6. The new Zelda spin-off tests the new console due to its Musou formula, which has gamers battling a huge number of enemies constantly. The franchise's last installment, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, performed poorly on the original Switch as the hardware struggled with its quick combat and numerous on-screen elements. It often fell under the intended 30 frames and gave the impression that you were pushing too hard when fighting intensely.

Fortunately is that it also passes the hardware challenge. Having tested the title extensively over the last few weeks, completing all missions it has to offer. Throughout this testing, I've found that it's been able to deliver a more stable framerate versus its earlier title, maintaining its 60 frames target with better regularity. It can still slip up in the most intense combat, but I've yet to hit any situation where I'm suddenly watching a stuttering mess as the framerate chugs. A portion of this could be because of the reality that its short levels are careful not to put too many enemies on the battlefield concurrently.

Notable Limitations and Final Evaluation

Present are foreseeable trade-offs. Primarily, splitscreen co-op experiences a significant drop closer to the 30 fps range. Moreover the initial Nintendo-developed title where I've really noticed a major difference between older OLED technology and the new LCD display, with notably in story sequences having a washed out quality.

But for the most part, the new game is a night and day difference compared to its predecessor, just as the Pokémon game is to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Should you require confirmation that the upgraded system is delivering on its tech promises, despite some limitations remaining, the two releases demonstrate effectively of the way the new console is significantly improving series that struggled on previous systems.