SINCE its launch, the Nintendo Switch has grown quite the library of games to either play at home or on the go. This includes a selection of AAA titles only seen on home consoles and PC. The idea of being able to take large games of a higher quality on a plane/train/automobile, in bed or, for some, in the bathroom was a gamers dream come true. So it’s a no brainer for 2K to deliver a selection of their previously released most popular titles to the handheld device. BioShock: The Collection, XCOM 2 Collection & Borderlands Legendary Collection are all coming to Nintendo Switch this Friday and are sure to deliver the same quality we’ve come to know and love.
Now this isn’t the first time some of these titles have been re-released and Borderlands has the most amount by a long shot. Since its debut in 2009, some entries of the popular FPS-RPG franchise have been re-released multiple times over through many different iterations. Borderlands, Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, all of which are featured in the Borderlands Legendary Collection, have been given the re-release/remaster treatment on current generation consoles in the past. But its most popular entry amongst gamers is Borderlands 2 and the developers/publishers listened to their fans and delivered more ways to play. In 2018, Borderlands 2 VR was released for Playstation-VR and then onto Steam the following year for select VR headsets.. Borderlands 2 is also no stranger to becoming a handheld release either. In 2012 it made its way over to the then popular Playstation Vita. However, this version received poor reception due to its in-game presentation. Because of the Vita’s technical specs, the handheld just couldn’t deliver the same quality as it showed on PC, Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. Luckily, the Nintendo Switch has proven in the past that games of a high caliber can seamlessly run on their hardware. Even though I’ve played through the Borderlands series until the cows come home (except The Pre-Sequel which is still in my backlog) I’d be keen to see Borderlands 2, or any them for that matter, redeem themselves on a portable gaming device. Plus they come with all their DLC packs which means many many hours worth of entertainment on the go. Just don’t forget to carry a portable battery pack.
BioShock is another popular FPS released back in 2007 which was followed by BioShock 2 and Bioshock Infinite. But the series has been quiet since its last entry in 2013 and it wasn’t until earlier this year that confirmation of a new entry to the franchise was in development. However we did receive remasters of all three BioShock games in 2016 for PC and current gen consoles. Releasing BioShock: The Collection on the Nintendo Switch is new territory for the franchise and a pretty exciting one at that. Unlike Borderlands, BioShock never had as much versatility. Personally, the next best thing would be turning one of the BioShock games into a VR experience but being able to play BioShock while laying in bed comes a close second. If you’ve never experienced BioShock and you’re a fan of first-person shooters and complex storylines this collection is definitely worth your buck. The BioShock Collection isn’t as large as Borderlands in terms of length. But they’ll definitely have you playing them more than once just to understand the complexity of its plot, particularly BioShock Infinite.
Last but certainly not least is XCOM 2, which personally is going to be a huge test of patience. And there’s a large chance I may eventually have to play through XCOM 2 Collection using my Pro Controller to save any damage done to my Switch. For those unfamiliar with the tactical turn-based strategy title about alien invasion, the XCOM franchise is best known for its highly stressful situations. Originally released in 2016, I wouldn’t say XCOM 2 is my favourite after playing through the recently released XCOM: Chimera Squad, but I’m still excited for it’s launch on the Nintendo Switch. There have been other games released on the Switch in the past that have almost cloned the same form of tactical gameplay. But there’s something about the XCOM franchise that stands out from the rest. Apart from XCOM: Chimera Squad where you have a permanent team to choose from, XCOM 2 requires you to try and stay afloat as much as possible with the disposable squad members you’re given. This makes every choice you make extremely important which is where a lot of the anxiety stems from. So having a game like XCOM 2 Collection available on the Nintendo Switch makes it handy to tackle these stressful situations in more versatile relaxing environments. Lots of zen is required and I find my zen places either relaxing on the recliner or laying in bed. But while you may not be going to bed angry, chances are you might end up falling asleep angry. If you end up making it all the way to the end, XCOM 2 Collection packs in all the DLC’s including the expansion War of the Chosen. XCOM 2 Collection is sure to give you plenty of hours of entertainment, whether they’re enjoyable or not. While a single enemy move can induce loads of stress there’s no better feeling than the satisfaction of successfully completing a mission.
While all of these titles have their pro’s for launching on Nintendo Switch, one of the larger downfalls is the physical releases for each. Obviously these are very large games and the cartridges can’t fit everything on them. And whether it’s on Nintendo Switch or even PC, this now seems to be the reality of purchasing some games in physical format. The Borderlands Legendary Collection cartridge contains Borderlands: Game Of The Year Edition but also requires a 6.6GB download on top of it. The remaining two entries however require full downloads for each at a total of 35GB. BioShock: The Collection and XCOM 2 Collection however only contain the very beginnings of each game on their respective cartridges and require you to download the additional content. It’s uncertain how much space is needed for BioShock: The Collection when purchased physically but XCOM 2 Collection is said to require no more than an additional 24GB. Before buying any or all of these games either physically or digitally I highly suggest investing in either a Micro-SD Memory Card and/or making a lot of space.
Borderlands Legendary Collection, BioShock: The Collection and XCOM 2 Collection are all available for pre-order and each will set you back $89.95 AUD/$99.95 NZD. Of course the large price point might be a bit of a setback for some. Especially when XCOM 2 Collection only contains one game + All DLC/expansion while the others include three games + their respective DLC content. These 2K Switch releases for the moment might only attract those who are collectors and/or gamers wanting more game options for the Switch, don’t own a PC/other consoles or fans who are eager to play any of these popular titles on the go.
I’ll be able to give a more in-depth look at each collection when they drop on May 29.
