The Switch version of Shadow Torch City has shrunk, but it still has the same flavor

Shadow Torch City, a diesel punk style galactic demon city game, was originally released on PS and PC platforms in September last year. I think everyone has heard of this domestically produced independent game Dark Horse to some extent. As for its detailed performance, you can take a look at our previous review [Shadow Torch City Review: Iron Fist Rabbit's Powerful Strike].

After nearly a year, this game finally landed on the NS platform on July 12th. The NS version of Shadow Torch City has some issues with reduced frame rates and long loading times, but we can see that the production team has made efforts to optimize and adapt to the handheld platform. And due to its solid foundation in action and level design, this game is still a masterpiece worth experiencing on the NS.

*All screenshots of this article are taken from the NS version TV mode.

In fact, before officially launching the game, I had already anticipated that the graphics of the NS version of Torch City would shrink. But after actually entering the game, the main interface that was refreshed in batches still gave me a sense of awe.

And when it comes to the opening animation, which is the part where Auntie Lady Q evades pursuit in Torch City, the significantly reduced resolution and frame rate compared to the original game magnifies my displeasure.

The actual entire loading process of lasted for about 4 seconds

Fortunately, this issue has been significantly improved in the practical operation of players. According to the official parameters, the NS version of Shadow Torch City has a maximum resolution of 720p in handheld mode and 1080p in TV mode.

The materials of the scenes and objects in the game are noticeably rougher, and the production team has also made some degree of blurring to the distant scenes. This kind of visual representation may be awkward on a large screen, but it is still acceptable on a small screen in handheld mode. When I focus on the actions of the characters themselves or enter indoor scenes, I also feel that the overall visual experience is better.

Screenshot of NS version

Screenshot of PC version

In addition, Shadow Torch City is a diesel punk style game, and its environment already has a somewhat retro and rugged texture, so in a sense, this kind of visuals echoes the game atmosphere. In my personal opinion, traveling through a dirtier and more dilapidated old city area, or strolling through the misty Xiafei Street while listening to "Night Shanghai" in the background, also has a unique flavor.

  However, in cutscenes or character dialogues, the camera of the game will be zoomed in, and there will be no overall atmosphere to express at all - because I can clearly and intuitively see that each character's supposed furry face has become a ball. This terrible effect caught all my attention and left me completely distracted by whether the background behind was clear.

Can Forrest Control also be ecstatic like

During the gameplay, I can clearly see that the production team has simplified the performance of the NS in terms of combat and environmental effects. However, the feel of playing this game is still very comfortable, and the combat process is quite refreshing.

As a game that focuses on action elements, Shadow Torch City performs quite well in terms of frame rate on the NS platform. Whether in handheld mode or TV mode, most of the time this game can maintain 30 frames per second. Although unable to enjoy a smooth 60 frame experience, it is at least relatively stable and can adapt quickly.

However, in some complex scenes, where there are many elements such as lasers and explosions on the same screen, and when executing some enemies, I still encountered brief but obvious frame drops and even lag.

Compared to the original game, there is an issue that cannot be ignored in the NS version of Shadow Torch City: the various scenes in the PS and PC versions are almost seamlessly connected, but in the NS version, doors that need to be manually opened are added between each area. Players can only enter the new map after choosing to enter the gate and experiencing a period of disk reading.

I understand this approach, perhaps in order to ensure the smooth presentation of various scenes in each large area, the production team had to adopt this design. But having to load for 20 to 40 seconds every time I cross regions is still a bit disruptive to the rhythm - especially in a game like Galactic Demon City where I have to run around collecting things for a long time, making this already long wait particularly torturous.

The NS version of "Shadow Torch City" includes all the improvements and additions that have been released on other platforms so far, including simple mode, Boss Rush mode, album, gallery, etc. It can be said that the content is quite rich.

But the NS version did not make any changes to the mechanism of the original game, which means that "there are fewer save points and transfer points set, and you can easily run 365 miles again". This previously inconvenient point in the PS and PC versions of the game has also been inherited from this NS version.

The situation of diving halfway and finding no way forward or retreat still exists

Overall, the main difference between the NS version of Shadow Torch City and the original game lies in the optimization of the NS functionality, with the production team striving to stay within the limitations and restore the original excellent experience. Although this game has issues with reduced graphics and frame rates, as well as long loading times, these issues have not seriously affected the gaming experience. Moreover, the combat feel and level puzzle design of this game are very outstanding, even if viewed as a pure handheld platform game, it is still worth trying.

If you have already played "Shadow Torch City" on PS or PC platforms before, then this NS version may not be as attractive to you. But if you haven't been exposed to this game before, or if you use NS as the main gaming platform, then the NS version of Torch City is still worth experiencing.