- Geometry distance detail looks like Epic's nanite in effect
- Game uses real time dynamic light and day and night system
- Shadows are artifact free and use screen space shadows for smaller things
- No evidence of RT shadows being used
- Water shaders receive significant upgrade over the first game with SSR
- SSR issues are still present but masked effectively
- Multiple different weather effects praised
- Terrain deformation (footprints on sand) inherited from Horizon FW
- Mid-field distance effects shows some lower resolution effects / artifacts with low 'surprisingly' low resolution textures seen. Easiest to see from vantage points
- Ambient occlusion can produce blotchy effects
- Reflections can also produce noisy artifacts
- Some lighting transitions from day to night are also 'odd'
- Character improvements are surprisingly high over the first game
- Skin shading, sub surface scattering, eye and hair rendering praised
- Animation quality, skin deformation and its fidelity also praised
- "Micro details" on character models during game play also praised
- However, game play model does not get shadows on a lot of elements like cut-scenes
PS5 vs Pro
- Core experience is largely identical
- Both offer Performance and Quality mode w/ Performance supports 120hz (60fps cap)
- Apart from some 'camera issues', the frame rate seems to hold well
- PS5: Performance 1440p, Pro: Higher than 1440p with better IQ and a little less shimmering
- On Pro, Quality mode is essentially redundant but on base PS5 some users might prefer the sharper IQ of the Quality mode with its 30fps presentation.
The last bit is about sound but I have to run so can't transcribe.