Gaming Dead Cells is awesome but runs like crap on the Switch

[DocAmes1980]

Seriously. I know the Switch is weak, but it should be capable of running this game at 60 fps. As it stands (v1.0.1) the only time it holds 60 fps is in indoor areas when there are no enemies. The scrolling is jerky and it hitches at times. When I say hitch I mean the game freezes for maybe .25 - .5 seconds and you appear to teleport when it unfreezes. Apparently the developer is aware but says that he is happy with the current version. If enough people complain he says he will work on low level optimizations.

From the Kotaku review:

...so I asked the developers whether the Switch version might have its performance brought up to a solid 60fps sometime soon. “We’re happy with the version that is out there right now,” Motion Twin’s Benjamin Laulan told me in an email. “While we’re aware that there are moments where you drop down to 40-50fps on certain levels with stacks of enemies on the screen we think that the vast majority of people will be ok with this as it is.” He said that if they hear from players that the current Switch performance isn’t good enough, they’ll go back in to get it more solid, adding that the only reason they hadn’t done that from the outset was that it would’ve required a lot of low-level optimization work that would have delayed the game’s launch. He also said they’re currently focusing on the game’s first batch of free DLC, and that they’d turn to further optimization after completing that.

 

[Undi]

Apparently the developer is aware but says that he is happy with the current version. If enough people complain he says he will work on low level optimizations.

Wut? We have to complain to have fully optimized working game now?
I was thinking the money we spend to get a game was used for that already.

What a shame. If I can, I will complaint without buying the game just to make things change.

 

[Oschara]

Game runs great. Looking forward to sinking may hours into it

 

[DocAmes1980]

Game runs great. Looking forward to sinking may hours into it

Obviously "runs great" or "runs like crap" is subjective. However, it's hard to argue that dipping to 40 FPS or lower with occasional game freezing hitches is running great. A 2D game should be able to maintain 60 FPS on a current generation console. It's not just aesthetics, inconsistent framerate and especially hitching/freezing affects gameplay.

 

[isoboy]

Hell of a game. Tried it a bit on switch. Tempting to buy it on Steam. The developer are aware of the Switch performance.

 

[xYuunax]

https://kotaku.com/dead-cells-developers-say-improving-switch-performance-1828194147

 

[DocAmes1980]

https://kotaku.com/dead-cells-developers-say-improving-switch-performance-1828194147

Thank you. I will buy the game on Steam. The game is very fun and addictive. I don't want to wait four months for a Switch version that runs properly.

 

[Zumoly]

Thank you. I will buy the game on Steam. The game is very fun and addictive. I don't want to wait four months for a Switch version that runs properly.

You really should give the current Switch version a go.
It's quite surprising to me that someone thinks this runs poorly on Switch.
I've been playing it quite often and I can tell you it runs great.

 

[DocAmes1980]

You really should give the current Switch version a go.
It's quite surprising to me that someone thinks this runs poorly on Switch.
I've been playing it quite often and I can tell you it runs great.

I have given it a go. That's why I created the thread. I love the game. However, the jerky scrolling bothers me. Worse is when it hitches. It hasn't cost me a death yet, but it inevitably will. I'm definitely not the only person complaining about performance on the Switch version.

 

[DKB]

Yeah, I thought it was running slow by design or something. Good that it's being worked on. This game though is damn good.

 

[Captain_N]

Optimization would solve the issues

 

[SnAQ]

The game doesn't need 60fps, the game runs great even in portable mode.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S9 via Tapatalk

 

[Kadji]

Give us an option to lock the FPS to 30 (until a real sollution is found) and i will buy it.
The problem is not "omg its running at less than 60fps, HOW DARE IT!!!" but more that the FPS changes all the time making everything "choppy".
A locked 30fps would at least fix those hickups.

Disclaimer: I have not bought the game but seen it in action on a Switch in TV Mode.

 

[mranonymous]

Seriously. I know the Switch is weak, but it should be capable of running this game at 60 fps. As it stands (v1.0.1) the only time it holds 60 fps is in indoor areas when there are no enemies. The scrolling is jerky and it hitches at times. When I say hitch I mean the game freezes for maybe .25 - .5 seconds and you appear to teleport when it unfreezes. Apparently the developer is aware but says that he is happy with the current version. If enough people complain he says he will work on low level optimizations.

From the Kotaku review:

...so I asked the developers whether the Switch version might have its performance brought up to a solid 60fps sometime soon. “We’re happy with the version that is out there right now,” Motion Twin’s Benjamin Laulan told me in an email. “While we’re aware that there are moments where you drop down to 40-50fps on certain levels with stacks of enemies on the screen we think that the vast majority of people will be ok with this as it is.” He said that if they hear from players that the current Switch performance isn’t good enough, they’ll go back in to get it more solid, adding that the only reason they hadn’t done that from the outset was that it would’ve required a lot of low-level optimization work that would have delayed the game’s launch. He also said they’re currently focusing on the game’s first batch of free DLC, and that they’d turn to further optimization after completing that.

Agreed. Amazing game, love it. But I get a ton of those freezes. If I recall, they seem to happen mostly when rolling or when the game scrolls into a new area. I actually can’t think of any other games I have that have this issue quite as bad. Then again, I only have about 30 games so I’m sure there are others.

Side notes, I do still recommend this game though for those interested, as long as you like rogue-lites. The fact that you can build toward permanent upgrades (more health flasks, keep more gold upon death, weapon unlocks etc) is something I greatly appreciate, much as I did in Rogue Legacy.

I really wish a game like Gungeon would have had more useful permanent unlocks. Many love the difficulty, but I had to give up on that game because I’m not good enough at bullet hell games without some kind of useful upgrades.

 

[DocAmes1980]

Give us an option to lock the FPS to 30 (until a real sollution is found) and i will buy it.
The problem is not "omg its running at less than 60fps, HOW DARE IT!!!" but more that the FPS changes all the time making everything "choppy".
A locked 30fps would at least fix those hickups.

Disclaimer: I have not bought the game but seen it in action on a Switch in TV Mode.

I agree. Locked 30 would be better.

 

[TheZander]

I guess i am fortunate enough that i lack the keen sense to notice things such as frame rates. How can you tell?

 

[jahrs]

Hello first world problems how have you been oh what is it. your games that you play for fun arent running at 60fps thats a shame. Ive been over here dealing with hunger,war,famine and death but i think ill drop all that and fix the way more serious problem of your unnecessary gaming console not being up to your delicate sense of perfection. in the meanwhile why dont you go play minecraft at 120fps on your master-race computer. signed ~the rest of the world

But seriously be happy with what you get afterall they didnt need to port it to the switch and you dont have to play it on the switch.

 

[the_randomizer]

Wow, another case of devs half-assing, what a surprise.

 

[Mark McDonut]

it's weird that they aren't addressing lock-ups. I'd avoid till they take more pride in their work.

 

[asnka]

Hello first world problems how have you been oh what is it. your games that you play for fun arent running at 60fps thats a shame. Ive been over here dealing with hunger,war,famine and death but i think ill drop all that and fix the way more serious problem of your unnecessary gaming console not being up to your delicate sense of perfection. in the meanwhile why dont you go play minecraft at 120fps on your master-race computer. signed ~the rest of the world

But seriously be happy with what you get afterall they didnt need to port it to the switch and you dont have to play it on the switch.

I haven't tried the game yet. But it's $20 on steam and $35 on switch.
$15 more for a lesser EPX..
'I'm sorry, you have to deal with all that war and famine in New Jersey tho..."

 

[izy]

Hello first world problems how have you been oh what is it. your games that you play for fun arent running at 60fps thats a shame. Ive been over here dealing with hunger,war,famine and death but i think ill drop all that and fix the way more serious problem of your unnecessary gaming console not being up to your delicate sense of perfection. in the meanwhile why dont you go play minecraft at 120fps on your master-race computer. signed ~the rest of the world

But seriously be happy with what you get afterall they didnt need to port it to the switch and you dont have to play it on the switch.

Yikes careful he has an edge