Since we are dealing with a port of a well-known game, we will not dwell on the qualities and defects of the adventure itself. A rich and lively universe, hundreds of quests and more or less controlled bugs are the hallmarks of The Elder Scrolls series. For more details on the strengths and weaknesses of Skyrim in particular, we refer you to our test of the original version of 2011, and that of the "Special Edition" released in 2016. We can also reassure you right away Switch owners, it is this special edition that serves as the basis for the version that interests us today. The Nintendo console is therefore entitled to graphics on the page, especially in terms of lighting. Obviously, we are very far from what the properly modded PC version can offer, but this is also the case for all other versions of Skyrim. At least the fluidity is there, and the Switch supports this open and living world without flinching. The opposite would have been surprising, and deplorable, since the original game is still six years old. We also remember that in 2011, some naive players were hoping for the game to be released on the Wii. In the end, even the Wii U won't be entitled to it… But patience is a virtue that is sometimes justly rewarded. Thus, the Switch version immediately offers the three official extensions Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn, released in 2012. You will therefore not have to pay a penny to obtain any downloadable content. If you want to open your wallet a little more, you can always buy Amiibo figures in order to obtain additional loot boxes. The highlight of the show is provided by The Legend of Zelda Amiibo, which give access to a sword, a shield and an outfit modeled on Link's equipment. Fan service that will certainly please some, even if it puts a little knife to the immersion and coherence of the universe.
DRAGONS & DRAGONNES
As we know, Nintendo and motion gaming is a great love story. The Switch is no exception to the rule, and Skyrim therefore offers us, fortunately completely optionally, movement controls. After attaching the straps of your Joy-Con to your wrists, you can raise your shield or perform an attack by "swinging" the left or right controller. In the case of a weapon, a stronger movement will then achieve a more powerful attack. In the same spirit, picking operations can be carried out by turning the levers rather than using the sticks. Unsurprisingly, the precision is lower as soon as we try to play the game of motion gaming, and we quickly return to the classic controls, which are much more effective. This feature exclusive to the Switch version is therefore more of a gadget than a real asset. Good point, however, for the quick save function, which is almost instantaneous, which therefore makes it possible to regularly test more or less daring or eccentric actions. In general, the loading times are very bearable, since they are much more comparable to those of the PS4 and Xbox One versions than to those of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, of sinister memory. On the other hand, the Switch version ignores the management of mods, which is particularly regrettable for an Elder Scrolls. As we know, Skyrim has a frenzied community, which over the years has developed a slew of crazy or useful mods.
In terms of defects, we can also simply mention the weight of the years. Exceptional when it was released, Skyrim has had time to age on many points over the past six years (graphics, animations, artificial intelligence, variety of quests, etc.). Other open worlds have set the bar very high since, and it's bound to be a little frustrating to go through a 2017 adventure at the end of 2011, especially on a brand new console. To compensate for this, it would have been logical for the publisher to make an effort on the selling price. Alas it is not so, since you will have to pay 60€ to browse Skyrim on the Nintendo console. The deal is therefore clear: if you have a PC or another modern console, there is absolutely no need to favor the Switch version, because the other versions are at least as good and will cost you much less. On the other hand, Nintendo purists can dive into Skyrim without too much hesitation, because the original adventure is still just as rich and the porting is of high quality.
