Is Madden NFL 26 On Switch 2 A Dumpster Fire? Already On Deep DISCOUNT
472I know a lot of people have had different takes on Game Key Cards vs full games on a cartridge; some have said some of the more taxing games don't play as well as on other systems. One such game is Madden NFL 26 on the Nintendo Switch 2, marking the first return of the franchise since I believe Madden NFL 13 on the Wii U. It's on sale right now on the eShop for under $40, and as often happens, it is also on sale for $49.99 at Target, Walmart, or where I got mine, Best Buy. I had $45 worth of Best Buy gift certificates about to expire, so I pulled the trigger on this deep discount, meaning with tax, I paid about $8 out of pocket. But did I waste my money? Is Madden on the Switch 2 a dumpster fire? Let's check it out.
Key Cards vs Game Cartridges
One of the biggest complaints, which I share in, is that the game isn't on the cartridge; it's just a physical license to download the game. When I put the game in the system it took over an hour to download with 1GB fiber internet. That wasn't cool.
There are a few subtle differences between the cases for cartridges and game keys, the biggest being the white strip at the bottom of the case stating that it was a game key card. It also indicated the size of the download file; You're gonna want an SDXC card for sure! Also, on the cartridge itself, the Game Key Card has a literal key on the label, indicating it as such.
My System Settings
I know, this is a 4K system and Madden is a 4K game, but I actually prefer running my system at 1440P or 1080P 120HZ, I think the games just look better. Since my TV in the game room doesn't support 1440P I have it set to 1080P. It also doesn't support HDR, so I turned that off as well. I also went through the rest of my settings, and at least for me these seemed ok.
Fans Losing Their Heads
It took me a little bit to get from the preseason menus to a game, and when it loaded the fans in the stands were missing their heads!!! Like what in the world?!?!? This was the biggest graphical glitch, and looking at what others had said, the crowds did seem to be a consistent pain point and issue.
You've seen what I've been playing, and now it's time to get into the details. Is Madden 26 a good fit for the Switch 2?
I'm giving you my first impressions of the game, and let me tell you, it's a mixed bag. The visuals are decent, but the performance is where things get shaky. I've noticed a few glitches, and the framerate seems all over the place. I can't tell if it's running at a constant speed, and a lot of other people have been saying the same thing.
Given that I only paid about $10 for it (thanks to gift cards!), it's not a terrible deal, but it's definitely not the best gaming experience I've had.
So, what's your take? Let me know what you think of Madden 26 on the Switch 2 in the comments below!
#Madden26 #NintendoSwitch2 #Switch2 #GameKeyCards #DumpsterFire #DaBears #Gameplay #GameGlitches #NFL #LetsPlay #Madden