Nintendo consoles may not traditionally be known for their third-party support, but Switch has made some notable inroads in that area. The console has already received a number of titles that, just a few years ago, would have been unimaginable on a Nintendo platform, with a few other high-profile ports slated for this year--including the remastered version of From Software's brutally challenging RPG, Dark Souls.
Dark Souls Remastered arrives on Switch next month alongside other platforms, and while the Switch edition may not be quite as visually impressive as the other versions, the game is still a marked improvement over the original Xbox 360 and PS3 release. On Switch, Remastered supports 1080p when the console is docked, just as on a standard Xbox One or PS4 (or 720p in handheld mode), and it runs at 30 FPS whether you play it on the television or on the go.
We got our first hands-on opportunity with the Switch version of Dark Souls Remastered at PAX East 2018, and we came away impressed by how well the experience translates to Nintendo's hybrid system. In the video above, you can watch off-screen footage of us playing the opening portions of the game in handheld mode. Despite Switch's comparatively modest horsepower, Dark Souls Remastered looks and feels great on the console, and the fact that it's playable anywhere thanks to the system's portability is especially impressive.
Dark Souls Remastered releases for Switch on May 25. The game also launches alongside an exclusive Solaire of Astora Amiibo figure. Scanning the Amiibo allows players to perform the famous "praise the sun" emote in the game, although it remains to be seen if it has any other functionality besides that. If you're interested in the title, Switch owners will soon have a chance to try it out a little early; Nintendo will hold a network test for Dark Souls Remastered ahead of the game's launch. More details will be announced closer to the test.
In addition to Switch, Dark Souls Remastered is coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on the same date. Each of those versions runs at 60 FPS, while PS4 Pro and Xbox One X owners will be able to play in upscaled 4K; the PC version, meanwhile, can run in native 4K. You can watch us play 30 minutes of Dark Souls Remastered on a PS4 Pro for a better idea of how the upcoming remaster looks on other consoles. Each version also features a number of quality-of-life improvements to make the experience a bit smoother for all players. You can read more about the title in our original Dark Souls review.
NOTE: As mentioned in the video, we did have some audio issues during capture. GameSpot apologizes for the inconvenience.
