The Nintendo Switch has accomplished things thought impossible. Companies that have traditionally not worked with Nintendo have come on board and brought with them some amazing games. One of these is a port of 2016’s DOOM. But how does a powerhouse game hold up on Nintendo’s hybrid system?
I was excited for the port of DOOM from the beginning but was worried about how it would perform. The Switch is not as powerful as the PS4 and Xbox One, let alone high end PCs, so there was reason to worry. However, I am delighted to say that the game proves what I said at the very beginning: Nintendo Switch accomplishes things thought to be impossible. DOOM is a technical marvel on the Switch, both in docked and handheld mode. While sacrifices have been made to ensure optimal performance, the game is still here and still feels as fast paced and smooth as ever. It may be half the FPS of the other versions, but still retains the feel of intensity.
There are some issues I do have, mainly that Snapmap is not included. This was my favourite part of the original release, and the improvements that were made on it since release made it even better. It is sorely missed in this version, and I hope it can eventually come later. What I do like however, is that the multiplayer was not gimped in any way. This ensured that the Switch would have a great multiplayer shooter and I feel DOOM has performed well in that regard. The Switch seems to allow the multiplayer to stand out more for now, mainly due to the lack of competition in the market, but I was shocked how well fans took to it. It seems the improvements made over the original release were appreciated by making a new first impression.
DOOM is a great game and an amazing port on Switch. It may not have Snapmap but it has everything else and it plays great. Even the arcade mode just works well when you want to play for a few minutes while on the go. Portable DOOM wasn’t thought to be a good idea, but Bethesda and Panic Button proved everyone wrong. I highly recommend this!