The folks over at Digital Foundry have taken the soon-to-be released Star Fox Zero for a spin and have come away satisfied with the results. As you probably already know, Platinum Games and Nintendo were always aiming for a solid 60fps with Star Fox Zero, but Digital Foundry says that it’s more in the range of 50-60fps. However, they say that the game’s overall quality makes it easy to forgive this dip in performance.
Star Fox Zero thrives on some brilliantly orchestrated levels – an arcade-style experience with unique, well-worked controls. Visually, it may be built on relatively simple geometric designs for aircraft and terrain, but it’s a clean, practical style that meshes well with its rapid pace. The fact its frame-rate is in flux is a shame though, and as a result, controller response isn’t quite as solid as we had hoped. Much like the developer’s earlier work on the excellent Bayonetta, it’s essentially a 50-60fps range in performance, but the quality of the game makes its shortfall easier to forgive.
In all, Star Fox Zero brings something unexpected to the table, and we’ve enjoyed our time with it so far. Due for release on April 22nd, it’s one of the last major Wii U releases on the calender, but ranks alongside Super Mario Maker as one of the best uses of its unique GamePad. It’s a great send-off for a system that now appears to be on its last stretch. Looking to Nintendo’s plans for the NX though, it’ll be interesting to see how backwards compatibility is handled – or not – for games so tightly woven into the design of its current machine.
-||59fps||-
Wasn’t that what they said for Mario Kart 8?
-||Something like that||-
Good controls but unstable framerate? Sounds like bizarro impressions time to me.
Nevertheless, 50fps is still acceptable. We’ve been playing games at 50Hz for years in Europe without much of an issue.
on dual screens no less
Yeah, it’s quite a feat. I’m sure it’ll be a non-issue.
For sure, I don’t necessarily see those frame rate drops, unless it is very noticeable. Very excited to see how this game plays even if it was made for “babies” ;)
You know it’s digital foundry, for them, unstable means “10 fps less than usual”. It’s no big deal.
Yeah, I don’t think fluctuation between 50 and 6fps messes with your inputs too much. I can see the argument of why having a stable framerate (even if it’s capped at 50fps) would be better, but it’s more of a preference thing.
So, the great sue of the Gamepad would be . . .
Or use.
Meanwhile on PS4 and Xbox One, a lot of games are 30-45 fps.
A lot of them even see frame drops as much as 10-20fps which is a shame because the PS4 is considered fairly powerful.
It was fairly powerful when it released. The PS4 was the equivalent of a mid range PC when it launched and only costed $400. Nowadays, it’s not as impressive. A newer mid range PC outperforms it easily. But just like any other console, it makes up for that lack of power with its low price point and exclusive games. The PS4 would have been way more impressive if it had launched in 2012, but I doubt it would have the same $400 price. It probably would’ve been maybe $500.
It was 500$ when it released, and it was 100$ cheaper than the Xbone and more powerful. I seriously don’t know what Microsoft was thinking there.
The Xbox One with Kinect launched $500. The PS4 was $400.
Are you sure? Because im 95% sure it was 100$ more each in my area atleast.
PS4- $399
Xbox One- $499
Those were their launch prices. I’m sure.
Hmm… Maybe they were charging more because of stock issues. It was REALLY bad here. Like 4 PS4s per store. It was stupid.
Halo 5 runs at 60fps, and my god that game looks and plays amazing! And just because a game runs at 30 fps, it doesn’t make it unplayable. Some games on XB1 and PS4 have to render high res textures on large open worlds with hundreds of NPCs and objects. It’s easier to control the frame rate on an on-rails shooter where the movements of all NPCs are for the most part predetermined as opposed to something like, AC Syndicate where you have random variables that can cause the framerate to fluctuate.
Those games run with higher graphical settings than Wii U games, so it’s not a fair comparison. Both the PS4 and Xbox One aren’t anywhere near high end PC performance, but they would easily run any of the Wii U’s exclusives at 60 fps. The Wii U can’t do the same with their games because you’d be looking at like under 20 fps even at 720P if it ran games at the same settings.
It is a fair comparison when speaking about how good or bad each dev optimizes their games for each system, though.
THEY SAID LOL
AS IF ANY INTELIGENT PERSON GIVES A FUK WHAT THESE IDIOTS SAY
between Pokken and now this i’m really digging that nintendo is releasing arcade style games, i hope this trend is implemented even more so with the NX (Luigi’s Mansion Arcade i’m looking at you especially) ^^
“it’s one of the last major Wii U releases on the calender,” Uhhh says who? Nintendo said no such thing. There is still Paper Mario Color Splash, Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem (North America doesn’t have it yet), Pikmin 4, Zelda U, and Retro’s game. (Cough Metroid U cough)
Oh, Yooka-Laylee to is a sleeper title.
I think you misunderstood him, one of the last can still include the 5 you mentioned. He’s not saying it’s THE last major release. Also, I don’t think that fire emblem crossover game is a major release, I can’t see that doing too well here in the states. And I don’t think Pikmin 4 and Retro’s game are going to make it to the Wii U, given that all sources and rumors point to a Fall 2016 NX release. Metroid Prime 4 on NX would be amazing, and honestly I wouldn’t mind it skipping the Wii U for something more powerful.
Getting stoked for Star Fox!!
Pikmin 4 better come to the wii u!!! I want a Pikmin game built from the ground up on a console like sequels 1 and 2. I dont want some last generation Pikmin game on a next gen system anymore.
Good luck with that.
when does Star Fox come out for the Wiiu?
“Looking to Nintendo’s plans for the NX though, it’ll be interesting to see how backwards compatibility is handled – or not – for games so tightly woven into the design of its current machine.”
Easy, backwards compatibility for the Gamepad. Just like how the U supports the Wiimote.