“Doom 4” Constraints on the Nintendo Switch

Veterans of the FPS genre in video games will surely have heard of the “Doom” series. ID Software developed the first game he first game and released it on Dec. 10, 1993, for the Microsoft Disk Operating System. It was notorious for its violence pushing the boundaries of its time, eventually leading to the founding of the Entertainment Software Rating board.

The latest addition to the series, commonly referred to as “Doom 4” or “Doom (2016)”, was released on May 13, 2016, for the PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One. It featured upgraded aspects that fit modern technology, such as graphics and music, while still having the fast-paced, arena-style gameplay. It also included online-play and the SnapMap Editor, where users could create their own maps for others to play.

“Doom 4” was highly loved by critics and players both experienced and new to the “Doom” series, holding an average score of 85 percent on Metacritic’s website. With the Nintendo Switch’s version of “Doom 4”, released on Nov. 10, 2017, players will be able to experience the game again with the mobility that the Nintendo Switch offers. But due to the technical constraints of the Switch, the game has some alterations.

Bethesda Softworks, the publisher of “Doom 4”, earlier released the specifications for the Nintendo Switch’s port. It runs at a lower resolution and frame rate, making the video quality seem less smooth and clear, compared to the Playstation 4.

Players took screenshots of the game’s trailer running on the different consoles for visual comparison. It’s safe to say the Switch’s version seems less appealing in terms of graphics, but the console’s defining function allows people to play virtually anywhere, making it more mobile-friendly.

However, according to an interview Bethesda Softworks had with Engadget, a blog dedicated to technology and consumer electronics, the Switch’s version does not have the SnapMap Editor due to the limited memory size. The physical copy of the game only has the main single-player mode, while the multiplayer mode is available for download.

From personal experience, my favorite part about “Doom 4” was its music, produced by Mick Gordon. All of the tracks are heavy and fast-paced, much like the in-game action, seeming to fit in with every situation the player is thrown into. He wanted to pay homage to the music from the original “Doom” while still being modern and creative. The soundtrack won the Best Music/Sound Design award at The Game Awards 2016.

“Doom 4” for the Nintendo Switch was released on Nov. 10, 2017.