As previously mentioned in my review of The Sinking City, the American author H.P. Lovecraft, born in 1890, and his seminal works, Necronomicon and Call of Cthulhu, have profoundly influenced the horror genre. The game Call of Cthulhu initially launched in October 2018 on other platforms and has now been ported to the Nintendo Switch.
Players assume the role of private investigator Pierce, tasked with venturing to the enigmatic Darkwater Island to uncover the truth behind the Hawkins Family incident. Upon arrival, it becomes apparent that the island harbors a sinister presence and is plagued by various malevolent forces.
Immediately upon launching the game, it becomes evident that its technical demands may exceed the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch. The loading times are notably lengthy. Initially, I suspected a crash and restarted the console, only to experience the same delay. After a subsequent attempt and considerable patience, the game finally initiated. However, performance issues persist. In the opening scene, audio imbalances are apparent; character dialogue volume fluctuates drastically depending on the character’s proximity to the camera. When using headphones, I found it necessary to quickly adjust the volume to prevent potential auditory discomfort. Furthermore, Call of Cthulhu suffers from a common problem in Nintendo Switch ports: the text is excessively small, making it difficult to read on the handheld screen.
Having addressed the drawbacks, it’s important to acknowledge the game’s strengths. The narrative is intricate and requires careful attention to detail. Players must remain observant and resourceful to solve the mysteries and survive the island’s numerous perils. The game’s atmosphere is compelling, enhanced by quality music and voice acting. In docked mode, the experience is more enjoyable, although the aforementioned audio inconsistencies remain. Loading times are marginally improved in docked mode due to the console’s increased power availability.
In conclusion, the port achieves a respectable score (a six), but the Nintendo Switch’s limitations are evident in both loading times and overall performance. On a more powerful platform, where loading times are less obtrusive, the game would warrant a higher recommendation.
