XCOMwas one of the first PC games to hook me. I fell in love with its tense moments, challenging tactics, and base building. I felt horrible when my units died, and screamed with rage when they missed high accuracy attacks. In fact,XCOMwas really my introduction into turn-based tactics, a genre that I love and thatXCOM 2dominates.
I’d say thatXCOM 2is undoubtedly one of the best turn-based tactics games of the last decade. Its procedurally generated levels, challenging difficulties, DLC expansions, and themodding scenehas managed to keep players invested in the game long term. WithXCOM 2,one playthrough is far from the full experience; with a difficulty change and procedurally generated levels, each playthrough is entirely different from the last.
Given its level of replayability and intense tactical gameplay, I was excited thatXCOM 2was coming to Nintendo Switch. After all, having a game likeXCOMon the go sounds amazing! Unfortunately,XCOM 2is one of the most lackluster Switchportsthat I’ve played. Although the game is 100% playable from start to finish, and still makes for a solid time, I can’t recommend this port because other platforms offer better value, making the Switch version far from the definitive way to play.
Right off the bat, my first issue with this port is the download size. Now, for others, this might be a non-factor, but my Switch is not my primary gaming device. I typically use it for Nintendo exclusives and for when I am traveling or away from my PC at college. This means I have almost no reason to upgrade the system’s memory card. With that being said, theXCOM 2Collectionfull download size on Switch is around 30 GB, which for me meant uninstalling and archiving all other data on my Switch just to play the game. Even those who buy the physical version will need to download around 24 GB from the eShop to play, as the cartridge only holds 6.5 GB of data. Don’t get me wrong,XCOM 2is a wonderful game to keep me busy on the go, but I didn’t necessarily want to delete Nintendo Switch stapleSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatein order to play it.
Once I got into the game things went relatively well. The prologue ran smoothly, and although it’s obvious that the game is slightly downresed, it still looks great on the Switch’s screen. Missions, in general, run pretty well without much FPS loss, making the classicXCOMgameplay a clear highlight of this port. Tactically sneaking into cover and launching devastating attacks on your alien opponents is where this version shines. After all, the gameplay is king, and it’s clear that Virtuos had that in mind when porting the game; however, not all aspects ofXCOM 2run this smoothly.
The headquarters/base area that you visit between outings is a perfect example of extreme frame loss. Within seconds of my first time loading into the base, I could tell that the game was absolutely tanking. The downresing is even more obvious here making the game look unappealing. At times it also felt like the FPS was cut in half or even slower. FPS isn’t necessarily important in the base, but you still spend a lot of time there. Additionally, I assume the FPS lag only becomes worse as you delve deeper into the campaign and create many new rooms branching off of your elevator shaft.
Now with that, all said, I guess this port isn’t terrible. You could play through the entirety ofXCOM 2on Switch. If you’re a Switch diehard who has been fiending for some turn-based tactics, this could be perfect for you; however, I’d like to take a look at the bigger picture here.
This port is far from the definitive way to playXCOM 2. Aside from the resolution and frame rate issues I mentioned above, the price is a glowing issue to me. TheXCOM 2 Collectionis $49.99 on Nintendo Switch. While under the retail standard of $59.99, it’s a big ask for a game that was released in 2016. Meanwhile, the same collection is currently available in theSteam Summer Saleforhalf the price. Additionally, the PC version has dozens of fantastic mods that can make the game more exciting while adding infinite replayability. Even if you’re not a PC player, you may find the same collection for around $20-$30 for PS4 or Xbox One.
XCOM 2on the Switch is not the best port, but also not the worst port. At the end of the day, you may still beat the game, and have a blast doing so. Just know that you’re not in for anything close to the definitiveXCOM 2experience if you pick this up. If I’m being honest, I enjoyed almost every second I played, but deep down the whole experience just made me want to revisit the game on PS4 or PC instead.
