Kotaku UK: Dark Souls on Switch Runs Fantastically, Even If The Gamescom Build is Weird

[NotLiquid]

Basically the game runs great but the menu prompts are reversed for whatever reason.
http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2018/08/21/...astically-even-if-the-gamescom-build-is-weird

The build we played was a little funky, the A and B button functions on menus were reversed so you had to hit B to confirm and A to back out of a menu, but from what I could tell speaking to the rep this was an issue specific to this build of the game, not a design choice.

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This is Dark Souls on a handheld, with a stable framerate that didn't drop in any of the areas I tried specifically with the aim of making it drop. It feels responsive to control, and looks more than good enough to make the trade off for portability worthwhile.

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[Transistor]

Hmmmm. Sounds good, but I need to see Blighttown before making a judgement

EDIT: Apparently they've already shown it. My bad.

 

[Duffking]

Well that kind of makes sense, even though it's "B", it's positioned where "A" is on the Xbox pad. Would be nice to have it adopt the Switch layout though.

 

[Bandage]

I really wonder what prompted the delay since every demo has been really good.

 

[cw_sasuke]

To be fair it already ran great on the stage demo prior to its delay.

 

[Deleted member 2145]

Hmmmm. Sounds good, but I need to see Blighttown before making a judgement

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we've already seen Blighttown on Switch

 

[Aprikurt]

Is the general feeling that they were withholding it for a more profitable calendar month...?

 

[WestEgg]

Is the general feeling that they were withholding it for a more profitable calendar month...?

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I suppose it's possible they want it to be the "mature" Switch title heading into the Holiday season like Doom and Skyrim were last year. But seems a lot of hype was sacrificed as a result, so not sure if the call was good if the game was running anyway.

 

[theotherMittens]

Probably related to B being where X/A buttons are on PS/Xbox controllers. It makes sense to have B as the select/interact button if they want to keep the same control layout as the other platforms.

 

[Lelouch0612]

Is the general feeling that they were withholding it for a more profitable calendar month...?

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No, or else they would have delayed every versions.

The only probable hypothesis is that they were some networking issues. The Switch version was developped by different people than the other versions. Something could've gone wrong only for the Switch version then.

 

[Transistor]

we've already seen Blighttown on Switch

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Did we? Well, damn. I must have missed that. Between selling my house and a two month old son, I've let some things slip through the cracks :P

 

[Aniki]

It's good to hear that the performance is good throughout the game.

 

[Deleted member 2145]

Did we? Well, damn. I must have missed that. Between selling my house and a two month old son, I've let some things slip through the cracks :P

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it's been a while, this game was shown back at PAX East I believe

 

[Twenty7kvn]

We finally found the reason for the delay. But this has been a problem from since the game was first demoed.

 

[Aostia82]

In any case.. Amiibo pre ordered

 

[Skittzo]

The game has been running great since April, why the hell was it delayed?

 

[GreatestHits]

So is this 60 fps on switch?

 

[Kingpin Rogers]

That's great news, even with all the delays I'm still ready to get this game day one. Portable Dark Souls is too good to pass up.

 

[Shizuka]

So is this 60 fps on switch?

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30fps.

 

[shadowhaxor]

That's how the PAX East build was, so nothing has really changed then. Seems like Bandai and Nintendo just wanted to delay it for some reason. And no, the game is still 30FPS.

 

[Deleted member 24021]

Does the Switch version have the added QoL features from the other versions? Bonfire near Vamos, scalable HUD, etc?

 

[Wander_]

The game has been running great since April, why the hell was it delayed?

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because the switch version was by far the most wanted, so they decided to ensure some sales on other platforms first. in fact, the game bombed everywhere in the west. and no one can prove that I'm wrong Lol.

 

[Alex840]

The build we played was a little funky, the A and B button functions on menus were reversed so you had to hit B to confirm and A to back out of a menu, but from what I could tell speaking to the rep this was an issue specific to this build of the game, not a design choice.

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So same button mapping as on PlayStation and Xbox.

I hope that control scheme is an option as I prefer roll/dodge on the right face button.

 

[Markitron]

Did we? Well, damn. I must have missed that. Between selling my house and a two month old son, I've let some things slip through the cracks :P

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You sold your two-month old son? I hope Madonna gave you a good price for him.

 

[Nostremitus]

Hmm.

Released just in time for Halloween, then carried through the holiday season?

 

[shadowhaxor]

Does the Switch version have the added QoL features from the other versions? Bonfire near Vamos, scalable HUD, etc?

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Apparently, the Switch version doesn't have any or many of the QoL updates.

 

[Transistor]

You sold your two-month old son? I hope Madonna gave you a good price for him.

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Little fucker wasn't letting me sleep at night. I let him go cheap. ;)

 

[GreatestHits]

30fps.

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I need to install joycons onto my laptop and just run run OG+DSfix then to get my portable fix. I haven't played this since it launched... can't wait to play it in portable 60 some day. For now I think I'll pass on a cinematic portable experience.

 

[Skittzo]

because the switch version was by far the most wanted, so they decided to ensure some sales on other platforms first. in fact, the game bombed everywhere in the west. and no one can prove that I'm wrong Lol.

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You can also claim that life is just a simulation and none of us are real and we can't prove that you're wrong. That doesn't make it any less crazy though.

Apparently, the Switch version doesn't have any or many of the QoL updates.

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Source for that? I thought it was confirmed to have that bonfire at the very least.

 

[KtSlime]

So why has my copy which was supposed to ship 4 months ago not arrived yet?

 

[GiantEnemyCrab]

I really wonder what prompted the delay since every demo has been really good.

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Doesn't Nintendo's online service launch later this year, too? Maybe it's because of that?

 

[Wander_]

There are jagged edges aplenty, and the game overall looks a little less impressive, but that trade-off is totally worth it to hold Lordran in your hands.

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this is a bit worrying though....wasn't 720P confirmed?

 

[Markitron]

Little fucker wasn't letting me sleep at night. I let him go cheap. ;)

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More time to play dark souls init?

 

[theotherMittens]

this is a bit worrying though....wasn't 720P confirmed?

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1080p.

EDIT: Oh, didnt realize it was talking about portable. Yes, they've always said 720p.

 

[Deleted member 5167]

The game has been running great since April, why the hell was it delayed?

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A cynic might suspect one of the other hardware manufacturers paid for a delay to make its release less of a big deal. that same cynic might look at which hardware manufacturer From has a particularly good relationship with to guess who.

 

[DrROBschiz]

Apparently, the Switch version doesn't have any or many of the QoL updates.

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Going to need a source since it was advertised to have all the features present in the other versions minus graphical tuning obviously

 

[ILikeFeet]

Doesn't Nintendo's online service launch later this year, too? Maybe it's because of that?

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Unless they are using features like cloud saves or whatever, there's nothing about Nintendo's service that would prevent the game from working online

 

[Niceguydan8]

because the switch version was by far the most wanted, so they decided to ensure some sales on other platforms first. in fact, the game bombed everywhere in the west. and no one can prove that I'm wrong Lol.

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How can you prove that you are right though?

 

[Transistor]

More time to play dark souls init?

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Now we're on the same page.

In reality, I haven't even played a non-mobile game in almost a month :(

 

[shadowhaxor]

Going to need a source since it was advertised to have all the features present in the other versions minus graphical tuning obviously

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Agreed, I'm ongoing of what I was told. Since I haven't had any more interaction with the game I can't be 100% on that. Maybe someone at Gamescom can get that, I didn't make it this year.

 

[Mr. Poolman]

Apparently, the Switch version doesn't have any or many of the QoL updates.

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Switch superior version confirmed.

 

[Deleted member 11008]

So why has my copy which was supposed to ship 4 months ago not arrived yet?

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My bet it's in the online services.

 

[KtSlime]

My bet it's in the online services.

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People keep saying this, but I don't feel there is a huge number of people who will subscribe to the online services just to play Dark Souls.

 

[theotherMittens]

People keep saying this, but I don't feel there is a huge number of people who will subscribe to the online services just to play Dark Souls.

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Even if they would, I'm not sure how it would benefit Bandai Namco to delay it for that reason.

 

[FantaSoda]

I'm ready for Dark Souls on the toilet.

 

[KtSlime]

Even if they would, I'm not sure how it would benefit Bandai Namco to delay it for that reason.

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Yeah, this theory got some holes.

 

[Nuclear Muffin]

So yes, the game was basically done and sat on for months and not for any technical reason...

... yeah, I still reckon it was delayed due to a publishing/funding dispute between Nintendo and Namco.

 

[Deleted member 1413]

It was shown in February to run well even in blighttown so the massive delay always seemed odd. Was likely an online thing

 

[808s & Villainy]

Why are people saying online services was the reason for the delay? Have you guys ever played Dark Souls? Have you ever played a Switch game with online??

 

[shadowsdarknes]

Glad the performance is stable. But at half the frames and at full price with the delay, the other platforms are going to be a better purchase for me.

Just gotta finish Nioh first.