Over two years after its initial release, fast-paced action RPG Granblue Fantasy: Relink has made the jump to Switch 2 alongside the Endless Ragnarok expansion. How does it hold up on Nintendo’s hybrid console?
On PC and consoles, Granblue Fantasy: Relink has always packed stable performance, though there were complaints about how it couldn’t do more than 1080p at 60 FPS on base PS5. On PS4, of course, it was stuck with 30 FPS, which said something in advance about what we should expect from Switch 2. For the most part, this is an unsurprising port, but we think it’s worth underlining a few points…
Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok Switch 2 performance
Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok on Nintendo Switch 2 is locked at 30 FPS. While it may be disappointing to some, the good news is that, based on my testing during regular exploration and heavy battle scenes, the framerate holds steady. Though the game has dashes and block mechanics, it’s far from being a precise character action game, so your combat performance likely won’t be impacted by the lower framerate.
That said, the frame pacing (how evenly frames arrive on the screen) is a bit wobbly. Anyone with a trained enough eye can see the game’s 30 FPS output could be smoother and less jittery. While this doesn’t really improve or worsen while on the console’s handheld mode, it adds to the blurrier visuals that come with the choice of playing undocked. In visually busy scenarios, this often makes the 30 FPS feel less than ideal.
Considering the cap itself holds steady 99% of the time, it’s clear developer Cygames chose to have extra headroom to avoid drops. This suggests a 40 FPS or uncapped mode could be patched into the game, but players should expect uneven framerates and further visual cutbacks in that case.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok Switch 2 graphics
You can see for yourself the (slight) difference between the handheld (left) and docked (right) modes on Switch 2 above (click on each image for higher quality). Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok, for the most part, looks quite good on Nintendo’s hybrid no matter how you play it.
Graphical settings seem preserved across both modes, with no major changes even to distant detail. Of course, they’re below what you’d get on beefier hardware, but the game’s vibrant art style and cel-shaded models help it remain dashing in movement. 1080p is the target when docked, and though I haven’t been able to verify this, it seems handheld play also tries to push the console’s screen’s resolution.
As you can see in the screens above, however, there’s a small difference to the actual image quality that’s particularly noticeable in finer details like tree leaves, fences, particles like smoke, or character lines. This is more evident during the in-game cutscenes, as aliasing on character details that are smooth otherwise when docked becomes a small issue. It’s not a deal-braker, but you should be aware of it.
More annoying is the fact Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok can get quite blurry when effects and other visual clutter stack on top of each other during heated battles. Mind you, you won’t be paying much attention to the finer details of visuals during such moments, but it’s abundantly clear the internal resolution takes a hit during the busier sections, especially when undocked. It’s unclear if Cygames has used DLSS for upscaling or relies on TAA, but I’d wager improvements could be made on this front based on the stunning output seen in far more daunting ports.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok Switch 2 content & unique features
Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok on Switch 2 is a pretty straightforward port. Local and online co-op play are supported with crossplay, but no platform-specific features are included. That means we’re not getting motion controls or other off-beat Nintendo alternatives.
As for content, it comes with the base game and the Endless Ragnarok expansion, which mainly focuses on delivering far meatier endgame offerings. Regardless, Cygames has put a ton of cosmetics and boosters via DLCs on the eShop, like in other platforms. While Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a focused premium action RPG, the franchise’s gacha roots can be felt in places.
Overall, Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok feels right at home on Nintendo Switch 2 even if the port itself is a little barebones. Image quality and frame pacing-related quibbles can’t drown what’s a pretty fun and streamlined action RPG that reminded me games in the genre can be breezier and much easier to digest. It shines especially during its endgame (the bulk of the game after a fast-paced campaign), with its mission-based structure making it the perfect choice for quick handheld sessions while traveling or after a long day.
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