DF - Doom Dark Ages PS5/PRO & Series S/X showdown.

648p Series S.

OSnqf8k.jpeg
R652ghN.jpeg
 
By now it's clear that PS5 Pro users can't expect anything from Bethesda games and I'm fairly certain thats on Microsoft not wanting to have their games look better on Playstation. Convince me otherwise.
 
Another disappointing Pro upgrade like Indiana Jones that does nothing with the settings. It's not even using PSSR.

I want something that shows unequivocally that the Pro console is a step above the base - not a $700 eye test.
 
- Technical success 'in broad strokes' with satisfying raw visual feedback
- Single 60fps performance target on all platforms with excellent per-pixel motion blur
- PBR materials, RTGI and high quality environmental materials praised
- DF will do a separate technical review video, this is a quick comparison between platforms

- Series X:
- DRS 1440p with lows of 1080p
- VRS used and can make IQ look soft at times
- RT reflections absent, only present on PC, consoles use SSR
- Some shadow pop-in in larger levels
- Performance is "perfect" in DF testing, no dips from 60fps.
- Cut-scenes can show duplicate frames during camera cuts, but gameplay is flawless
- Object and camera motion blur can be changed or disabled if needed
- DoF, Chromatic Aberration and sharpness toggles present, though DF doesn't think sharpness toggle does anything
- Field of view toggle present but doesn't work properly
- DF wishes there was a toggle to disable film grain

Series S;
- Mostly the same experience with softer outlook.
- DRS 900p to 684p with a lower res UI
- Some visual cutbacks include foliage density and LoD drops
- Some textures see light tweaks but concessions are minor
- RTGI and volumetrics are present but downgraded compared to Series X
- DoF is shallower owing to the lower native resolution
- Other general visual settings are a match
- Performance sees some dips in larger areas with heavy combat, otherwise sticks close to 60
- Some screen tearing present at the top of the screen.

PS5:
- Base PS5 can expect a similar experience to Series X
- Some areas show difference in foliage placement and some trees have animation on PS5 that seem static on SX
- FoV slider works consistently where it isn't consistent on SX
- PS5 uses Software VRS
- Image quality is a little lower than SX overall
- PS5 also drops performance to the mid 50's in open areas where SX sticks to locked 60
- edit: DF says it 'actually feels a little less than Series S', I originally wrote it was better than Series S.

PS5 Pro:
- More or less the same as base PS5 with higher DRS
- 1800p where PS5/SX target 1440p DRS
- High stress areas can drop as low as 1296p
- No PSSR present
- 'One of the less exciting Pro upgrade seen'
- Frame rate is better than base PS5 but large area open combat still shows drops to mid 50's where SX doesn't.

Verdict:
- IQ is reasonable on all platforms besides Series S
- Performance is a little odd: every machine besides Series X suffers drops
- DF thinks the game warrants a patch or two owing to a crash or two and check point bugs noted in their testing.
 
Last edited:
Is it just me, or did this review feel rushed? We get native resolution counts, but no mention of reconstruction to 4K, so if you only took this review at face value, you'd assume 1440p or 1800p was the max resolutions. Additionally, when discussing frame rates, no mention of VRR to smooth out the gameplay? What gives? Also, why no direct comparison to XSX with the Pro? It's XSX/XSS Vs. PS5, and PS5 vs PS5 Pro.
 
rickybooby87 said:
Is it just me, or did this review feel rushed? We get native resolution counts, but no mention of reconstruction to 4K, so if you only took this review at face value, you'd assume 1440p or 1800p was the max resolutions. Additionally, when discussing frame rates, no mention of VRR to smooth out the gameplay? What gives? Also, why no direct comparison to XSX with the Pro? It's XSX/XSS Vs. PS5, and PS5 vs PS5 Pro.
Click to expand...

Full review of tech coming later. I kinda get why they haven't bothered saying anything about VRR, cause they usually get shit on by the "NOT EVERYONE HAS A VRR TV, DEVS SHOULD DO BETTER" crowd.
 
PicoLordens said:
By now it's clear that PS5 Pro users can't expect anything from Bethesda games and I'm fairly certain thats on Microsoft not wanting to have their games look better on Playstation. Convince me otherwise.
Click to expand...
Phil once said first or better or best on xbox. Phil never lies.... He just keeps adding ors to cover all bases.
 
Just like Indiana Jones, I'm calling it, there's definitely an internal mandate to not utilize PSSR and push ps5pro's true capabilities. It only makes xbox look worse in comparison.
 
rickybooby87 said:
Is it just me, or did this review feel rushed? We get native resolution counts, but no mention of reconstruction to 4K, so if you only took this review at face value, you'd assume 1440p or 1800p was the max resolutions. Additionally, when discussing frame rates, no mention of VRR to smooth out the gameplay? What gives? Also, why no direct comparison to XSX with the Pro? It's XSX/XSS Vs. PS5, and PS5 vs PS5 Pro.
Click to expand...

They're gonna do a full tech video with John and the inevitable PC video with Alex.

This video covered the broad strokes, PS5 Pro's only main thing is higher DRS over PS5/SX, it doesn't have any added benefits so not much else to compare.

Looks like unlike Doom Eternal, PS5 also has VRS now so the VRS related softness is present on all Xbox and PS machines, with Pro having it less owing to its higher native average res.
 
adamsapple said:
- Technical success 'in broad strokes' with satisfying raw visual feedback
- Single 60fps performance target on all platforms with excellent per-pixel motion blur
- PBR materials, RTGI and high quality environmental materials praised
- DF will do a separate technical review video, this is a quick comparison between platforms

- Series X:
- DRS 1440p with lows of 1080p
- VRS used and can make IQ look soft at times
- RT reflections absent, only present on PC, consoles use SSR
- Some shadow pop-in in larger levels
- Performance is "perfect" in DF testing, no dips from 60fps.
- Cut-scenes can show duplicate frames during camera cuts, but gameplay is flawless
- Object and camera motion blur can be changed or disabled if needed
- DoF, Chromatic Aberration and sharpness toggles present, though DF doesn't think sharpness toggle does anything
- Field of view toggle present but doesn't work properly
- DF wishes there was a toggle to disable film grain

Series S;
- Mostly the same experience with softer outlook.
- DRS 900p to 684p with a lower res UI
- Some visual cutbacks include foliage density and LoD drops
- Some textures see light tweaks but concessions are minor
- RTGI and volumetrics are present but downgraded compared to Series X
- DoF is shallower owing to the lower native resolution
- Other general visual settings are a match
- Performance sees some dips in larger areas with heavy combat, otherwise sticks close to 60
- Some screen tearing present at the top of the screen.

PS5:
- Base PS5 can expect a similar experience to Series X
- Some areas show difference in foliage placement and some trees have animation on PS5 that seem static on SX
- FoV slider works consistently where it isn't consistent on SX
- PS5 uses Software VRS
- Image quality is a little lower than SX overall
- PS5 also drops performance to the mid 50's in open areas where SX sticks to locked 60
- edit: DF says it 'actually feels a little less than Series S', I originally wrote it was better than Series S.

PS5 Pro:
- More or less the same as base PS5 with higher DRS
- 1800p where PS5/SX target 1440p DRS
- No PSSR present
- 'One of the less exciting Pro upgrade seen'
- Frame rate is better than base PS5 but large area open combat still shows drops to mid 50's where SX doesn't.

Verdict:
- IQ is reasonable on all platforms besides Series S
- Performance is a little odd: every machine besides Series X suffers drops
- DF thinks the game warrants a patch or two owing to a crash or two and check point bugs noted in their testing.
Click to expand...
Very similar and consistent with what was seen in Indiana Jones....which makes a lot of sense being the same tech.
 
Killer8 said:
Another disappointing Pro upgrade like Indiana Jones that does nothing with the settings. It's not even using PSSR.

I want something that shows unequivocally that the Pro console is a step above the base - not a $700 eye test.
Click to expand...
Uh, then go play the countless other games that do.
 
This is a terrible look tbh if MS plans to spread out successfully to PlayStation. Significantly worse performance on PS5 than Series X. Also worse performance on PS5 Pro than Series X.

Good luck keeping the positive talks going here MS 👍
 
Ughh... another bad upgrade for the Pro. Surprised that id would do this, given other MS games like Forza Horizon did a lot more. Sony should create a separate tiered label for these low-effort resolution bumps so they don't get to use the Pro Enhanced label reserved for others who actually do a ton of work.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

LTTP: Doom Dark Ages 2025 via Xbox Series X
16
349
EverydayBeast replied
Doom: Dark Ages… oofff 5000 Series
2 3
110
2K
Unknown Soldier replied
MindsEye - How Bad Does It Get? - PS5/Pro/Xbox Series X|S DF Tech Review
23
368
mckmas8808 replied
DF Retro EX: Doom 1993 To Doom The Dark Ages - Celebrating A Technological Icon
6
110
violence replied
Digital Foundry: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - DF Review - PS5/PS5 Pro/Xbox Series X|S - An Exceptional Achievement
2 3
104
5K
Herr Edgy replied
Top Bottom