Mortal Kombat 1 is currently available in early access and will be released on September 19 for all players, including those on the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, players who have already purchased the Switch version have noticed a significant difference in the game’s visuals compared to the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC versions.

This difference is to be expected to some extent, as the Switch is not as powerful as modern gaming PCs or current-gen consoles. However, fans are surprised by just how different the game looks on these two different types of machines. Despite the noticeable drop in visual quality, the Switch version still carries a price tag of $70, the same as other platforms. What’s even more confusing is that Mortal Kombat 1 on the Switch appears to be a step down from Mortal Kombat 11, which was released on the Switch in 2019.

As Johniibo explains on Tiktok, “It feels like I’m playing Clayfighter or a game from the PlayStation 1 era. It’s just terrible.” Johniibo also shared videos showcasing various visual glitches and a slow cutscene frame rate.

Other users on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) have shared side-by-side comparisons of the Switch version with its Xbox and PS5 counterparts. One user even called it “disrespectful” that the Switch version is priced at $70.

This is a far cry from the response in 2019 when Mortal Kombat 11 was released on the Switch. As the analysts at Digital Foundry noted at the time, Mortal Kombat 11 on the Switch, despite its scaled-down visuals, performed surprisingly well from a technical standpoint. Many of the complaints about Mortal Kombat 1 on the Switch revolve around the lack of facial expressions or animations, which was not an issue in Mortal Kombat 11. A detailed technical analysis by YouTuber ElAnalistaDeBits describes Mortal Kombat 1 on the Switch as having overall visual cutbacks, an unstable frame rate, and long load times between fights.

Above all, fans are disappointed that Mortal Kombat 1 is one of the most expensive games on the Switch despite its technical shortcomings. As the Fighting-Games Daily X account succinctly puts it, “It was expected that the Nintendo Switch wouldn’t be able to handle Mortal Kombat 1 after MK11, but there’s something off about the game being priced the same as other platforms ($70).”

For what it’s worth, players who have purchased Mortal Kombat 1 on the Switch have mentioned that the actual gameplay is fine. “The sad part is, it doesn’t actually feel terrible to play,” Johniibo mentioned in a follow-up video. “It just really strains my eyes.”