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[kevboard]

Btw i also appreciated the good effort post you made and you have a habit of making them which i do like tbh so ty for that seriously man. And i just mean it's not generational when compared to the ps5 and series X. When i think of generational i think of the overall picture but yes if we're just counting the switch 1 than it is a generational leap agreed.

I wouldn't expect PS5 quality from a tablet sized console.
but also the artstyle of mario kart makes it really hard to make really impactful changes to the overall graphics to make it look instantly "next gen" I feel.

people looked at the initial videos and even said the characters look the same as in 8, but in fact the detail is significantly increased, but mario started looking basically perfect since the Wii I feel, any additional detail to his model is only really impactful upon really close inspection.

 

[MacReady13]

I don't know why, but it feels a little pointless for DF to do a deep dive on a game like this. It's an exclusive, so there's no real comparison to make and... more importantly, I look at it, it looks good, and it makes me happy. But that's not really one of their metrics.

You mean to tell me that if Mario's face doesn't have 50 billion pixels in it, you don't give a fuck? How dare you not care that the light from the front rim of Luigi's kart isn't a real time light reflection? Are you even a fucking gamer?

 

[kevboard]

I don't know why, but it feels a little pointless for DF to do a deep dive on a game like this. It's an exclusive, so there's no real comparison to make and... more importantly, I look at it, it looks good, and it makes me happy. But that's not really one of their metrics.

it's nice to see certain aspects highlighted.
I am always interested in the tech side of games... it's fun.

for example, for me seeing planar reflections being used makes me happy as someone who loathes screen space reflections that all but replaced basically any other form of realtime reflection method... unless a game uses RT, but even then Screen Space Reflections are often slathered on top of them to "add detail"... all they add are occlusion issues where there could and should be none.

 

[LordOcidax]

Wave Race vibes

 

[YeulEmeralda]

Certain people here will instantly dismiss a game if it doesn't have photo-realistic graphics like Hellblade 2 or TLOU2. They get more excited over the detail of a characters beard or a 2 second uber realistic animation over actual gameplay. Its fucking bizarre.

Yeah people are acting like this is the new Gran Turismo or Forza lol.

 

[tr1p1ex]

I am willing to pay $0.000000963855422 per 120hz pixel and nothing more.

 

[kevboard]

Wave Race vibes

and no Screen Space vomit in sight to ruin the look of the water

 

[lordrand11]

I don't agree with that.

The moaning over Paradise was always cringe. They already made Burnout 3 twice (Revenge) and didn't want to make it a third time. Who can blame them, and they made a great game with a ton going for it.

Similarly here, I don't see how they can make a traditional kart racer that tops MK8D. They had to try something different.

I played pretty much all of them and thoroughly enjoy Paradise for what it was.

 

[Vaquilla]

Mario Kart World isn't really trying to push visual boundaries, it's aiming to look colourful, stylized and simple.

Also, if there is indeed a 120fps mode, then the assets would be authored with that in mind, meaning extravagant tech would be off the table.

Last time Nintendo made a generational leap in graphical power, going from Wii to Wii U, their early games were fairly technically conservative and it took a while for them to start really pushing the hardware, the same could be true for Switch 2. They are probably also wary of the ballooning costs and dev times associated with pushing graphical fidelity.

 

[REDRZA MWS]

This game looks so beautiful. Modern tech in the hands of the best game developers in the world will do wonders for gaming this generation.

Nintendo are wizards.

"Modern"? It's a portable PS4. (Which released in 2013).

 

[Vaquilla]

"Modern"? It's a portable PS4. (Which released in 2013).

The T239 chip in Switch 2 is a 2020s design, with features like raytracing, DLSS, mesh shaders, etc that PS4 didn't have.

 

[GigaBowser]

Wave Race vibes

i hav been esploded by hype

 

[AeonGaidenRaiden]

Yeah people are acting like this is the new Gran Turismo or Forza lol.

You are missing the point. MK8 isnt a Switch title, its a Wii U title...game is over 10 years old and they barely moved an inch in graphics. No. nobody is expecting GT or Forza leaps in graphics but I do expect a 2025 game not to have blurry decals, unreadable leters, low poly gas tanks and wheels with not enough polygons where you can see lines in curvature instead of a perfect circle. On top of that they are charging a premium for this $90. And if rumors are true, they only used about 10GB of space on the catridge, out of 30+GB available. No excuse for the things I mentioned, its a simple looking graphical game, the issues its having is what DooM 3 had in 2003 lol.

Whoever says THAT is too much expectation from a handheld, needs to go and see what FH4 or 5 look on Steam Deck,, a 3 year old device now with infinately more details and bigger open world.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

 

[blacktout]

I'm going to be completely honest: Sometimes I see footage of this game and I'm like, "that's just Mario Kart 8; guess all the extra processing power is going into the big open world and increased resolution" and then other times, I'll see a clip where the sun is setting or the waves are breaking and foaming under a cart and I'll think "Christ, that's beautiful." It's like that optical illusion where sometimes you see the haggard old woman and others you see the attractive young girl.

 

[bitbydeath]

I don't agree with that.

The moaning over Paradise was always cringe. They already made Burnout 3 twice (Revenge) and didn't want to make it a third time. Who can blame them, and they made a great game with a ton going for it.

Similarly here, I don't see how they can make a traditional kart racer that tops MK8D. They had to try something different.

It did however lead to the end of the franchise.

 

[iHaunter]

This game looks so beautiful. Modern tech in the hands of the best game developers in the world will do wonders for gaming this generation.

Nintendo are wizards.

Alright settle down.

 

[Danjin44]

Alright settle down.

How dare anyone try to praise Nintendo!

/s

 

[diffusionx]

It did however lead to the end of the franchise.

probably inevitable because EA wanted them to work on NFS.

 

[Mozza]

DF for some reason is quite against the Switch 2.

I think their 1.46 million subscribers have been told the Switch 2 is a PS4. Now that looks incorrect they are in damage limitation mode.

 

[Mozza]

This video is interesting. Perhaps Digital Foundry are not as reliable as we thought.

 

[Mozza]

Only if you need glasses or are in denial.

 

[Davevil]

Only if you need glasses or are in denial.

 

[Physiognomonics]

The T239 chip in Switch 2 is a 2020s design, with features like raytracing, DLSS, mesh shaders, etc that PS4 didn't have.

Are there any RT or DLSS in Mario Kart World?

 

[AeonGaidenRaiden]

Are there any RT or DLSS in Mario Kart World?

Obviously not lol. I doubt any game on Switch 2 will ever utilize any RT when modern consoles struggle with it at 30fps.

 

[Mozza]

Still sticking to this I see....

 

[Vaquilla]

Are there any RT or DLSS in Mario Kart World?

Not in this particular game; for years now Nintendo has favoured a "raw" presentation in terms of image treatment, and something like raytracing may have been at odds with their performance goals.

Nonetheless, the hardware supports both.

 

[Physiognomonics]

Not in this particular game; for years now Nintendo has favoured a "raw" presentation in terms of image treatment, and something like raytracing may have been at odds with their performance goals.

Nonetheless, the hardware supports both.

So then at least for Nintendo games, this is like a PS4 machine, games that could run on a PS4 using 2013 tech. Nintendo didn't needed those fancy features (probably too expensive to use at 60fps) and this game will be the best selling game on this machine.

 

[Radical_3d]

Mario Kart needing an open world was just as pointless as Burnout Paradise needing an open world

In Burnout Paradise's case it made the game less enjoyable, so it will probably be the case here as well

THIS.

But we're here to discuss graphics.

 

[MrJangles]

 

[Stafford]

As good as it looks and as impressive as Switch 2's hardware clearly is, I can't shake the feeling that 8 looked better, even on Wii U. Obviously the open world aspect is going to eat into the available horsepower, and the vehicles and characters are clearly more advanced, but despite the inferior resolution, 8's tighter course layout permitted it better lighting and composition imo. It was just a really phenomenal looking game for its time.

I expected to be really blown away visually by a sequel to MK8, and it's just merely very good rather than amazing.

Agreed. That's how I see it too. I didn't need it to be open world, but who knows, maybe it works great. But visually, yeah, at times I don't find it that great looking at all. The colors in some bits during the footage looked...dull, I think is the right word especially compared to 8.

The characters and karts indeed have more detail but it's far from a huge leap, unfortunately.

 

[RCX]

DF has become obsessed with the smell of its own farts. Its all number-wank these days

MK8 looks good. MKW looks somewhat better, I doubt that means it will be a better game. Nitpicking about baked lighting in a game that has never been known for its graphical prowess is stupid as fuck. The game succeeds based on its gameplay and multiplayer elements.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

A open world kart game sounds pointless.

Give them a break, they pushed the same gimmick for 8 games, at least this is something new.

 

[Vaquilla]

So then at least for Nintendo games, this is like a PS4 machine, games that could run on a PS4 using 2013 tech. Nintendo didn't needed those fancy features (probably too expensive to use at 60fps) and this game will be the best selling game on this machine.

Not necessarily; it's too early to make any sweeping assumptions about how Nintendo will utilize the hardware.

 

[Shaki12345]

The water in MK World looks better than almost all modern games with water because of the lack of SSR and smart use of planar reflections.

Yes, Nintendo are wizards.

 

[LordOcidax]

You are missing the point. MK8 isnt a Switch title, its a Wii U title...game is over 10 years old and they barely moved an inch in graphics. No. nobody is expecting GT or Forza leaps in graphics but I do expect a 2025 game not to have blurry decals, unreadable leters, low poly gas tanks and wheels with not enough polygons where you can see lines in curvature instead of a perfect circle. On top of that they are charging a premium for this $90. And if rumors are true, they only used about 10GB of space on the catridge, out of 30+GB available. No excuse for the things I mentioned, its a simple looking graphical game, the issues its having is what DooM 3 had in 2003 lol.

Whoever says THAT is too much expectation from a handheld, needs to go and see what FH4 or 5 look on Steam Deck,, a 3 year old device now with infinately more details and bigger open world.

Lol, if you think that this game looks barely better that MK8 you need glasses ASAP…

 

[Leopold]

MKW looks good and absolutely is an improvement from MK8, originally a Wii U game. It is much more populated with details and it looks very lively. Surely it is not the jump from MK Wii to MK8, but yeah, it isn't the same game.

 

[LordOcidax]

I think their 1.46 million subscribers have been told the Switch 2 is a PS4. Now that looks incorrect they are in damage limitation mode.

DF crew doesn't like to admit when they are wrong, even the comment section on their channel are pointing it out, and i don't get that kind of behavior. According to then Nvidia is wrong with the 10x statement, Sega is wrong when it comes to Yakuza 0 4K60 information… Everybody is wrong except then with their Switch 2 = Base PS4 docked prediction.

 

[Mozza]

DF crew doesn't like to admit when they are wrong, even the comment section on their channel are pointing it out, and i don't get that kind of behavior. According to then Nvidia is wrong with the 10x statement, Sega is wrong when it comes to Yakuza 0 4K60 information… Everybody is wrong except then with their Switch 2 = Base PS4 docked prediction.

They are pretty niche to be honest. And most people that will buy a Switch 2 will simply not care. Or even know they exist in the first place.

 

[Mozza]

Lol, if you think that this game looks barely better that MK8 you need glasses ASAP…

Pure denial. I watched the five minute trailer on the Switch 2 direct. The small details are amazing on this. You could see birds flying in the sky and even the clouds evaporate. And we have seen so little thus far.

 

[kevboard]

The water in MK World looks better than almost all modern games with water because of the lack of SSR and smart use of planar reflections.

Yes, Nintendo are wizards.

it's less that Nintendo are wizards and more that most other devs are lazy fucks that just flip the SSR switch in their materials settings in UE5 and leave it at that.
adding planar reflections adds complications for the rendering budget of areas that use it that most devs don't want to deal with... meanwhile SSR is just a literal mouse click away and works out of the box.

Sea of Thieves is another game with amazing water (arguably still one of the best looking oceans ever), which is also in part due to the fact that they use planar reflections on it instead of SSR... probably because they very well knew that with SSR their water would look like ass. which would be a big issue in a game where you are constantly looking at the ocean...

the same apparently didn't cross the minds of the Ubisoft devs that made Skull & Bones, another pirate game with lots of water... that uses SSR and looks like absolute diarrhea

 

[Shaki12345]

it's less that Nintendo are wizards and more that most other devs are lazy fucks that just flip the SSR switch in their materials settings in UE5 and leave it at that.

Sea of Thieves is another game with amazing water (arguably still one of the best looking oceans ever), which is also in part due to the fact that they use planar reflections on it instead of SSR... probably because they very well knew that with SSR their water would look like ass. which would be a big issue in a game where you are constantly looking at the ocean...

the same apparently didn't cross the minds of the Ubisoft devs that made Skull & Bones, another pirate game with lots of water... that uses SSR and looks like absolute diarrhea

And because of all you said I call them wizards. They do what others don't. I don't really care about the reasoning behind it.

Their games feel magical and will stand the test of time because the decisions they make are in the interest of making the game better instead of saving money.

 

[Calverz]

It does look amazing. Looking forward to it.

 

[GoldenEye98]

Have they confirmed if this game does 120fps?

For a lot of Nintendo's cartoon-style games I would way rather them try for 120fps than higher graphic details.

 

[Abysse]

To be impressed by such water, you have to be living in a cave. lol

 

[simpatico]

I didn't play much Forza horizon, any of the later need for speed games, or any of "the crew" entries, are they also open world racers? Is that what MKW is going for as well.
(not a race fan so I have not looked into the game details at all, just trying to get educated without doing any actual research.)

Forza Horizon really might be the greatest racing game of all time. Perfect mix of arcade style races with just enough sim weight in the handling. If they've really structured this new Mario Kart like Horizon it has a legit shot at GOTY

 

[Mozza]

Not necessarily; it's too early to make any sweeping assumptions about how Nintendo will utilize the hardware.

I wouldn't bet against it.

 

[Shaki12345]

*

 

[rodrigolfp]

but also the artstyle of mario kart makes it really hard to make really impactful changes to the overall graphics to make it look instantly "next gen" I feel.

Not really. MK Wii to MK8 felt impactful.

 

[Mozza]

Not really. MK Wii to MK8 feet impactful.

Those pesky diminishing returns.