Okay, so Cyberpunk 2077… a game that’s, like, been around through a whole mess of tech shifts. Remember when it first dropped on PS4 and Xbox One? Yeah, not great. I mean, I tried it on my PS4, got a bit into the story, then just… meh, dropped it. Fast forward to when I snagged an Xbox Series X. Decided to give it another whirl. Surprisingly better! Then the Series X patch landed, and I even messed around with it on the Steam Deck. Context matters, you know? Especially when you’re talkin’ about the Switch 2 version. I mean, it’s no Series X or PS5, but it got me curious—can it hold its own against last-gen hardware and the Steam Deck?
Before diving into the Nintendo specifics, let’s clear the air a bit. Cyberpunk—think open-world, first-person, action RPG chaos. Like a weird mash-up of The Witcher, Fallout, maybe a sprinkle of GTA. You’re V, a character you cook up. Design ‘em, stat ‘em, pick a backstory. Whether you roll with the nomads, the city elite, or the streets, it sets the stage for your journey and dialogue options. And yeah, you can tweak stats for even more dialogue choices or actions.
Where Cyberpunk shines? Character freedom. I mean, it’s based on a tabletop RPG, so there’s depth. You level up, nab skills from a tree, mess with cybernetic implants. Honestly, I’d get lost in upgrades, completely forgetting cybernetics. Some might say it’s complex, but hey, it gives you wild freedom to build your character. You can totally see the tabletop influence here.
The gameplay loop? Kinda basic. Drive, chat, sneak, hack, fight—rinse and repeat. The main story’s meh, but the characters? They’re the juice. Side quests pull me in way more than the main plot. If you’re into distractions and ditching the plot, Cyberpunk’s your jam. So much to see, so many quests that drag you far beyond the city limits.
Now, Switch 2 itself—mostly impressed, with some quirks. Docked mode? Matches up to high-end stuff better than expected. You get a pseudo 1080p, thanks to DLSS, and it’s sharper than last-gen gear. Framerate and textures surprise too. Switch 2’s got some modern chops. And in handheld mode? Beats the Steam Deck on several fronts. The Deck does load faster, though. Battery-wise, I’d squeeze out about two hours, give or take, which isn’t too shabby.
Not all sunshine, though. Exploring’s fine—till you drive through Night City. Framerate takes a hit. Out in the desert, all good. Combat’s the real test. Indoors or small skirmishes are okay, but big outdoor fights? Framerate drops hard. I even transferred a save from my Xbox to stress test it. Took it to a tough area, stirred up a fight, and ouch, not pretty. Switching to performance mode helps—drops res, aims for 40fps. On handheld, it’s a choice; docked needs a 120hz TV. Fun.
Running Cyberpunk’s always been tough. It still doesn’t play great on its original systems. It’s a performance stress test, really. Switch 2, while making compromises, often outdoes mobile hardware at similar prices. Docked mode feels like it’s caught between two eras. It’s the best handheld version at this price point. An impressively deep RPG with memorable characters, even if the plot’s not magnetic right off. Despite some hitches, it’s a solid way to play Cyberpunk 2077 when you’re on the move.
