Alien Isolation on Switch looks better than PlayStation 4

Minor visual downgrades eclipsed by a big leap in image quality.

[gangsta_red]

Well that's a surprise!

[Ricegum]

I know. Better than Xbox One and PS4. Great stuff from the developers.

[UltraNova]

Great stuff? I mean what were thinking when they were making the game on more powerful hardware?

Well at least Switch users get to experience the game at its best...

[MadLad]

@ultra

That would be on a proper PC, really.

[mikeslemonade]

Just got it free on PC with all the DLC

[MasterCornholio]

"Typical stuff but, with the right choices, the results can still look relatively good given the hardware - but what if I told you that Feral Interactive's Switch port of Alien Isolation is actually better than the PS4 and Xbox One versions? "

Interesting on how they managed to make it better (in some ways) than the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game.

[SIdepocket]

The image is definitely cleaner as the video claims, but in docked mode @1080p this one has a very jarring framerate - even in relatively empty environments.

[Automatic79]

As we move forward in generation more and more developers will take advantage of the Nintendo Switch chip.

[Jman1553]

As soon as next gen starts we will hardly see any 3rd party switch games, just like what happened last gen

[Outlawzz]

There will be plenty of 3rd party games. Playstation and Xbox will get the high end graphics games but 3rd partys will look to make games at a lower budget which may sound bad but can actually be great. That's how we get projects like octopath traveler, astral chain, Mario kingdom battle, etc.

[King_Noctis]

You wanna bet? As soon as next gen starts, the only console that have the most userbase will be the Switch. Surely the developers/publishers would want to capitalize on that.

[JEECE]

Lol if the Lockhart rumors are true, the floor for 3rd party multiplats isn't going to be as much higher than this gen as we initially thought when just considering PS5/Scarlett.

[TK-66]

@Jman1553

Except that the Switch has become the go to place for many 3rd parties. Indies almost always perform better on Switch, often outselling both the PS4 and Xbox One versions combined. We've also seen games like Battlechasers sell the best on Switch.

Your claim is that more powerful hardware will make the Switch obsolete. If there was merit to this logic why hasn't it worked out for the last 3 years? Almost as though theres no evidence to back the prediction...

[battlegrog]

switch is making a pro model next fall which will compete with the next x and p

[jaymacx]

@Jman1553 last time I checked Switch’s 3rd party is filled with games from Japanese devs who don’t push cutting edge graphics and Indy games. Look at how many jrpg games are on Switch. Switch doesn’t really have much AAA third party now so that won’t change with PS5 and next Xbox. What we will see is more exclusive games .

[Army_of_Darkness]

@Automatic79

Take advantage of Nintendo switch chip?! 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 Too hilarious

[Brave_Losers_Unite]

And it'll still have the worst graphics of them all.

[King_Noctis]

“Alien Isolation on Switch looks better than PlayStation 4“

[Brave_Losers_Unite]

@King_Noctis

LOL

https://www.youtube.com/wat...
Nuff said

[Neonridr]

@Brave - thanks for posting a Switch vs PS4 Pro to further bias your argument. You could have at least just posted the base PS4 to make you look like you were less of a troll.

And again, this is Alien Isolation, not the Witcher 3. Thanks for coming out though.

[Xaywhat]

Brave is an idiot. We are just discussing Alien isolation dip shit. No one is saying PS4 isn’t more powerful LMAO

[battlegrog]

and still sell very well

[frank_a]

This is a 5 year old game, people. You're telling me that if the devs had another 5 year old, on top of the already 6 year old development cycle, they couldn't have made the game look better on the more powerful consoles? Seriously? Are we all going to be this obtuse just to pander to Nintendo?

[PlayableGamez-]

I detect insecurity in you.

[Amplitude]

"on the more powerful console?"
The thing is, the Switch isn't the more powerful console. It's significantly less powerful and more than 50% of the time, the cuts to get PS4 generation games running on the handheld are very noticeable. That's why this is so interesting - It's a really impressive port.

[Nitrowolf2]

he was referring to the ps4 there, if the devs had another 5 years extra

[Amplitude]

@Nitrowolf2

ohhhhh i guess i read it wrong. my bad! Thanks man

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

Alien Isolation on PS4 (and XB1) was not a well optimized game. Nor, is Alien Isolation a showcase of the hardware capability of PS4/XB1. There are games on the PS4 and XB1 that the Switch essentially can’t run, for example RDR 2.

[KickSpinFilter]

I would hope so 5 years later

[Abnor_Mal]

Knick knack
Paddy whack
Give a dog a bone.

I'm not a rapper.

[Skuletor]

Here, I'll help

Knick knack
Paddy whack
Give a dog a bone.
This kind of article
makes the fanboys moan

[Abnor_Mal]

https://youtu.be/MeB3eYk1Ze...

[Skuletor]

@Abnor_Mal

Showed that to my nephew earlier today because he didn't get my, I'm about to ruin this whole man's career reference.

[Abnor_Mal]

Well now you you look at that, I'm abnormal and you've been sick since six.

We're just two wild and crazy guys.

[Xaywhat]

That was great Sick lol

[TeamIcoFan]

What sorcery is this?!

[Atomicjuicer]

Cant wait!

[AnubisG]

Well, that'a a first.

[Stanjara]

So the game has better anti aliasing due to the variable resolution on the Switch. Way to make a click-bate title DF.

[manabyte77]

This article is highly misleading. This game came out on PS4 and Xbox over five years ago in 2014. The systems hadn’t even been out a year. If this came out today with all the accrued system knowledge and programming techniques, there wouldn’t even be anything to discuss.

[porkChop]

It isn't misleading. The game visually looks better on Switch. That's true. They explain that it's due to advancements in anti-aliasing techniques and such. There's nothing misleading here.

[VariantAEC]

The only thing that is better is image quality. Most effects and LoD are all paired back and the overall resolution is also much lower.
The game looks cleaner, but overall it still looks worse.

[JEECE]

Somehow I missed that this was coming so soon. I mean this sincerely, Switch is an awesome way to go back and play games you missed the first time around. I almost bought this when it initially came out but ended up passing, but now with the ability to play it portably, I think I'll give it a shot.

Not sure why this machine gets so much hate. It's not like the "but it has no grafficks!" people were really going to shell out for a 500 dollar Nintendo console mid-gen even if it was focused on power.

[Xaywhat]

The fanboys my friend. They take everything as an attack on their console of choice. I’m a PS4+Switch owner. I swear these are the best places for games.

[Sm00thNinja]

Wut

[Sm00thNinja]

It's a little misleading. Really all that happened was the tools got better over time than what was available however many years ago

.. Devs have not suddenly uncovered Switch sauce that can make it a PS4 capable powerhouse.

[chobit_A5HL3Y]

alright lol enjoy the better looking version of a 5y/o game at 720p then i guess?

[Xaywhat]

Take it easy guys. No one is saying Switch is consistently more powerful than PS or Xbox. They are just praising the devs who put in a little more work to make a game look good on a switch. Just take a deep breath. It’s going to be ok. Grab the baby bottle, it’s feeding time. You’re not normal when you’re hungry

[jznrpg]

It’s never more powerful . I own a Switch , but it will never be more powerful than PS4 unless they upgrade the next version a lot .

[rob-GP]

Considering the Xbox One and PS4 versions were almost ports of the 360 and PS3 versions but at a higher resolution, it kinda makes sense.

DF was very clickbaity with the title though - increased AA on the switch to stop shimmer yet a dynamic resolution which drops way below the other consoles based on the action. It also has missing visual effects which they usually scrutinise when comparing PS4 to Xbox One, yet when the Switch is involved, John likes to say "unless side by side, you wouldn't notice". John has a clear bias toward Nintendo, always twisting things to avoid the level of comparisons he usually does.

The game looks great on the Switch, I'm not denying it - I'm really enjoying it and it's true, I wouldn't have noticed the visual differences had they not been pointed out. However, the same can be said about the Xbox One and PS4 in most games this gen, I don't play them side by side yet DF always blows the small details out of the water in other comparisons.

[gold_drake]

i think, people give the switch too much credit. id love to see 3rd party games for the switch in 2-3 years.

[KaiPow]

How well does it fare with the backlight turned up to max? I couldn't imagine staring at a dark screen for too long (same reason why I wouldn't want to play a game like Outlast on Switch handheld mode)

[sampsonon]

so the more powerful console looks worse than the weaker one? strange.

[sampsonon]

Any game that a dev makes look better on a inferior console i will not buy.
people spend the extra money for better performance and graphics. if a dev decides to gimp a game to please a smaller install base using an inferior console for whatever reason, will never get a sale from me.

[MadLad]

The game came out far before the release of the switch. Stop being defensive.

[sampsonon]

then a patch should be in order no? why should i spend $60 for an inferior version on a more expensive and more powerful console? when people can use a way less powerful console for a better experience?

like i said, i will never buy it because of that reason.
maybe when it's a $5 bottom of the bin game.

[MadLad]

The game is now years old. This is the latest release of it, taking advantages of technical advancements that came post release. You can go and grab this game for far cheaper on all other applicable platforms.

You're coming off a bit entitled. How long do you really expect a developer to support a game on platforms that no longer bring them in money?

[sampsonon]

ever hear of a patch?

[MadLad]

Can the plastic box tribalists just appreciate there's a solid, portable version of Alien Isolation without all the "but but but muh stronger hardware" arguments? You can't take your Xbox or PlayStation on the go. Simple as that.

[SeanScythe]

Spider-man PS4, God of War, & Uncharted 4 still crushes anything the switch has to date. Make this a news report since it's true.

[MadLad]

Why so defensive?

[SeanScythe]

You are not the real ted cruz.... I'm just pointing out how stupid this post is, making a post about a 5 year old game looking better on new hardware isn't anything to brag about. Its basically a remaster of the game.

[MadLad]

But you made a point to list games that, obviously, outpaces the Switch's performance capabilities.

All this article states is that this version of Alien takes advantage of more advanced development technology that came out after its initial release. They never said that the Switch, as a whole, can produce better visuals to the Xbox or PlayStation, yet something about simply stating THIS game looks better put you on the defensive.

And just food for thought; when I can get a system based, portable version of God of War or Uncharted 4, the criticism may be applicable.

[SeanScythe]

Not defensive, just stating how ridiculous this was to make a big deal about. Why are you so worried about how people look at the switch running 5 year old games?

[Pixelift]

Translation. The Switch version received better dev support.

[trouble_bubble]

Nice