Hyrule Warriors is an action-brawler game that draws heavily from the style of the immensely popular Dynasty Warrior series from Tecmo Koei. This studio has effectively adapted its “musou” concept, integrating it with the world and characters of the Zelda franchise. We have previously reviewed Hyrule Warriors when it was released on the Wii U. For a comprehensive understanding of the core game mechanics and content, we recommend referring to that initial review. This assessment will primarily focus on the enhancements and technical differences present in this port to the Nintendo Switch, and whether the game genuinely earns the title of “Definitive Edition.”
1080p is welcome – but not portable
The Switch version of Hyrule Warriors boasts noticeable visual improvements and greater detail compared to its Wii U counterpart. This upgrade is expected, given the generational gap between the consoles. However, the absence of effective anti-aliasing is apparent, which could have refined the presentation. The decision to render the game in full HD (1080p), even in portable mode, negatively impacts the frame rate.
As previously mentioned, the Switch offers more processing power than its predecessor. However, its specifications are still relatively modest when compared to the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. When docked and connected to a power source, the Switch can generally deliver full HD graphics with a stable frame rate, maintaining a minimum of 30 fps and occasionally reaching a smoother 60 fps. In portable mode, to conserve battery life, the system defaults to 720p. While the visual difference between 720p and 1080p is often negligible on displays smaller than 70 inches, Hyrule Warriors continues to render at 1080p even when undocked, despite the screen’s native resolution. This forces the system to work harder without providing a visible benefit, as the image is ultimately scaled down to 720p. Consequently, the frame rate in portable mode frequently drops below 30 fps, which is detrimental to the gameplay experience, especially considering this is intended as an improved version of a title that is now several years old. Koei should address this issue with a patch. Prioritizing a stable 60 fps, even at a resolution of 900p or 720p (both docked and undocked), would be a preferable trade-off.
Regarding content, the Switch version of Hyrule Warriors includes all the additional characters and DLC that were previously available for purchase on the Wii U, making it the most comprehensive edition of the game. The musou gameplay loop remains engaging for shorter play sessions (as evidenced by the numerous iterations of Dynasty Warriors). The Zelda theme enhances the experience with a more compelling narrative, despite the core gameplay consisting of mowing down hordes of enemies in each level, culminating in boss encounters.
“What’s the matter, McFly? Chicken?”
Hyrule Warriors remains a standout title within Koei’s musou catalog. However, the technical performance on the Switch is not entirely satisfactory, although it does not render the game unplayable. To justify a full-price purchase from players who already own the Wii U version, the Switch release needs to offer a demonstrably improved experience. While the Switch version is visually superior and more complete, we strongly recommend that Koei release a patch to address the frame rate issues in portable mode and provide users with the option to prioritize either higher resolution or a smoother frame rate. Only then can this version truly be considered the “definitive edition.”
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