Can the NS2 version of *The World of Illusion and Reality* hold up? Handheld gamers should wait first

Foreign media outlet RPG Site recently conducted an in-depth test of the Nintendo Switch 2 version of 虚实万象, and the conclusion feels a lot like a battle with plenty of firepower but recoil that just can’t be controlled. Docked mode can still hold the line, but handheld mode has become the most obvious weak point of this port. For a game that emphasizes combat rhythm and visual immersion, performance fluctuations are more than just ugly numbers—they directly interrupt the player’s decision-making in combat.

Let’s start with docked mode: it’s not a disaster zone. According to the review, the NS2 version runs at a native resolution of around 540p when docked, and when output to a 1440p display through Capcom’s supersampling technology, the image quality still remains within an acceptable range. The idea is a bit like adding a compensator to a low-caliber firearm—the base specs aren’t high, but technical tricks help pull the overall presentation back up a notch. On top of that, support for HD Rumble, Pro Controller back buttons, and gyro aiming makes the actual combat feedback feel fairly smooth, which is crucial for the feel of an action shooter.

The problem is that the frame rate in docked mode is far from a steady straight line. Aside from a few small enclosed areas, the game struggles to maintain 60fps for long periods, and noticeable stuttering can also appear during cutscenes. For FPS or action game players, this kind of “it can push forward, but not consistently” performance is the most frustrating, because just as you adapt to the rhythm, the camera and frame rate may suddenly dip. RPG Site’s verdict was also very direct: “The review points out that while the docked-mode experience is passable, both performance and visual quality in handheld mode are unsatisfactory.”

Handheld mode is where optimization really needs follow-up fire. Visual quality drops even further compared to docked mode, and the game currently offers no frame rate cap option, causing the image to fluctuate frequently and making the overall experience feel highly unstable. Portability is supposed to be the strongest selling point of the Switch line, but if both visuals and frame rate can’t hold up during mobile play, that advantage gets undermined instead. In particular, the rendering of protagonist Diana’s hair, along with the noticeably grainy scan effects, was specifically criticized in the review for hurting visual immersion.

My buying advice is very clear: if you mainly play on a TV and can accept compromises in image quality, the NS2 version of 虚实万象 is currently in the “worth watching before buying” category; if you’re a handheld-first player and want a stable experience during commuting, in bed, or while out and about, it’s best to wait for future patches. Capcom has already included adaptive details such as rumble, back buttons, and gyro support in this version, showing that this wasn’t a simple brute-force port, but performance optimization still hasn’t fired its final burst. At this stage, it feels more like a version that is “playable but in need of optimization,” and what will truly determine its reputation is whether future updates can bring handheld-mode frame rate and visual quality back into a controllable range.