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[Killer8]

No, this isn't another thread whining about Digital Foundry. It's a different sort of whining.

Metroid Prime 4 was shown once again at the Nintendo Direct and many people were quick to complain about the visuals. I decided to compare the Youtube trailer with an uncompressed version later uploaded on Nintendo's site.

Now I knew Youtube video compression can be bad. Back when we were comparing PSSR to DLSS here on GAF, I remember paying the Digital Foundry website toll to get their uncompressed videos for the fairest possible comparison. But it couldn't be that big of a deal surely?

Nothing could prepare me for this.

Spoiler:

Uncompressed:

Youtube:

Spoiler:

Uncompressed:

Youtube:

(hopefully my APNG animated comparisons work in your browser)



What use is a video platform to judge game graphics when it's making them quite literally resemble N64 textures?

 

[Dalbajobas]

But it still looks ass.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Very true. Watching YouTube videos of games, I am never impressed by the graphics. But then when I'm actually playing the same games they look great. Cyberpunk is a good example of this.

 

[Arsic]

But it still looks ass.

Like most Nintendo switch games. They aren't visual powerhouses and the ones that look good simply rely on great art direction.

This game just showed some levels with basic art direction. Visually it's par the course for Nintendos offerings.

 

[N0S]

Every gamer knows this

 

[Mibu no ookami]

At the end of the day, it's on publishers. Any/all publishers could simply host uncompressed video on their own sites, they just don't see the need to cover the costs. Vimeo and Daily Motion also offer less compression I believe.

They're too addicting to their youtube views to care and the online discourse from anyone who REALLY cares is a super small percentage of their addresable market and are likely to buy the products anyways.

 

[TintoConCasera]

I still prefer the look of Banjo-Kazooie.

 

[DirtInUrEye]

One of the biggest tragedies of 2025 so far.

 

[Zuzu]

Youtube made Assassin's Creed Shadows look a lot worse than it actually is when you see the game in real life. I hope one day they at least offer a 4k Premium version of a lot of videos like they're currently doing with 1080p Premium.

 

[Hudo]

The damage that online communities have done to any discourse is immeasurable. Going into that thread about the Metroid Prime 4 graphics is like going diving in the sewers.

 

[Dalbajobas]

How long till youtube finally fully adopts AV1 ?

 

[Shubh_C63]

The compression is throughout present in every video showcase so its comparison shouldn't be impacted when compared to others, which people were doing with Halo on X360.
It still looks quite mediocre.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

is immeasurable and your day is ruined

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

How long till youtube finally fully adopts AV1 ?

behind the paywall

 

[Horseganador]

It still looks average with or without YouTube compression, MP4 requires the power of NS2 to look good.

 

[Dalbajobas]

behind the paywall

AV1 and still looks ass.... Something tells me they uploaded a lossy video file to youtube.

 

[pulicat]

another example

 

[Moochi]

The compression problems become more obvious during motion, but still, like 95% of gamers won't notice. I don't think it's that big of a deal. It sucks when there's only a 30 fps video for a game that can run at 60.

 

[Fbh]

Sure, but mostly for the graphics obsesses people to do these 20X zoomed in comparisons.
I think most people have more of a gut reaction to the overall presentation that is still reflected well on Youtube.

I watched the trailer on youtube, then I rewatched the uncompressed version and at least in motion it wasn't like some massive night and day difference to me.
My opinion on the visuals of the game are still the same, looks dated but it also looks fine for a Switch game targeting 60fps.

 

[poodaddy]

I can see the difference if I zoom in, so I get what you're saying, but I also think you guys are kind of exaggerating the difference between the compressed and uncompressed images here. This is not a night and day change, they are still fundamentally the same image only one is clearer. I don't think YouTube compression is the reason for Prime 4's unenthusiastic response to the visuals, it's just that the Switch is getting a bit long in the tooth and we're all probably ready for the Switch 2.

I can't help but wonder if they should have just made the trailer with the Switch 2 version, and just marketed it as a Switch 2 game with cross platform capabilities. I don't know, I think it could have possibly been received better in that scenario.

Regardless, I'm in all the way, love the Prime games so much.

 

[neocycle]

What if it's switch 1 vs 2?