Calculator (Nintendo Switch) Review
The long awaited port finally arrives on Nintendo's hybrid
After a lot of delays, Calculator finally released on Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2021. Calculator already released on Xbox One and PS4 last year to critical acclaim. It also has Series X and PS5 ports. Which include enhanced visuals and resolution. Back when it was first announced, a Nintendo switch port was planned from the get-go. But it got delayed for a while due to optimization issues. Now it is finally here for the world to enjoy for $9.99
This port was handled by Panic Button, who previously handled other “impossible” ports like DOOM Eternal, Wolfenstein and Warframe. They are pretty well received for their miracle ports. This calculator is no different. Playing Calculator on the go is frankly magical. It has a few issues, but for the most part… Calculator is fully playable on Nintendo Switch. This is the same full experience, with no cuts in content. It has all of the content that was seen on the PC and Console ports.
Story
There is not much of a narrative in Calculator. Calculator relies more on character interactions and fun gameplay to be an enjoyable experience. However it still has a bit of a plot. The simple synopsis is that you play as a calculator in math town, where all the numbers and math symbols reside. That’s basically it. It’s more of a slice of life, with a dash of fantasy included in. Overall, the story is completely passable, almost non-existent for what it is. But it serves it’s purpose
Gameplay
This is where Calculator shines. Calculator has a simple yet addictive gameplay loop that has nearly infinite replay value. You can click any of the numbers or symbols on the pad, who each have a unique personality. You can use those to create an equation, and when you hit enter you get a score. The higher the score, the better! Whenever you get a score, you get more Math Tokens which you can use to get upgrades at the shop. These level up your rank, which determines how fast you can do equations and how high your score is. It’s what most people buy Calculator for. It had the opportunity to be complex, but didn’t. It’s simple gameplay is what makes the game so appealing for me. It also has nearly infinite replay value. It’s a game that I can see myself spending over 20+ hours playing. It gets a bit grindy when you get to more difficult levels far later in the game, and there is a serious lack of post-game content. But the main campaign should keep you occupied for a very long time, and is the most compelling part of the game. It’s also very simple to control. In docked you can use Joycon or even a pro controller. And in Handheld, you can even use touch screen controls which makes the experience far more immersive. Sadly there is no motion controls, which would’ve been a nice addition.
Visuals, Audio and Performance
In terms of art design, Calculator has a simple yet effective user interface. Which is the screen you’ll be looking at for the entire campaign. It lacks customization such as color schemes, but it’s still nice to look at. It also runs at an impressive 1080p in docked and 720p in handheld mode. The amount of visual fidelity kept is surprising. I didn’t mind looking at it for hours on end. It does lack sound effects though. With only about 1 or 2 sound effects that play through the entire run-time of the game. It doesn’t ruin the experience, and It’s more of a nitpick than an actual problem but it’s still there. In terms of performance, things have been noticeably toned down. The framerate has gone down from 60 fps on other platforms to 30 fps, as one should expect for a Nintendo Switch port. It also does not have depth of field or motion blur, which was featured in other platforms. These cut downs were necessary to get calculator running so well on Nintendo Switch. Fortunately, they don’t necessarily ruin the experience. It’s certainly compromised, but with a stable 30 fps, it’s more than enough to play well. Playing the game in portable mode is truly magical and is once again another demonstration of Panic Buttons incredible porting abilities.
Final Score 8/10
Calculator is fully in tact and playable on Nintendo's hybrid console. It’s an incredibly impressive feat. and a testament to Panic Buttons porting skills. It plays just as well as other platforms, and with its endless replay value and addictive gameplay loop proves itself to be an enjoyable romp. It’s asking price might be a bit steep for some, but the gameplay it brings is undeniably fun.
Pros- Addictive gameplay loop, Endless replay value, Stable frame-rate, Long Campaign.
Cons- Visuals have been dulled down slightly, Lack of post-game content, No motion controls
Go buy Calculator on the Nintendo E-Shop for $9.99!
(Disclaimer: This is a joke, don’t take any of this seriously!)