Mighty No. 9, it's fair to say, wasn't exactly greeted with glowing recommendations and open arms when it arrived recently. After an extended and troubled development the final result underwhelmed, and we decided it was more like Mediocre No. 9 in our review. Playable and with some good moments, it also has flaws that aren't easily ignored.
Though it has its issues on PS4 and Xbox One too, on Wii U the title has some tough spots where framerate and bugs can be a problem. Digital Foundry has now taken a look, showing the fluctuations in the uncapped framerate and demonstrating a neat option setting that can eke out a small improvement in performance. It also kicks off with a funny riff on the widely panned pre-launch trailer for the game, too.
Check it out below.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 45
It's sad but the Wii U version is atrocious. 12FPS, 20 second load times between deaths, glitches, etc. Hadn't seen the PC version running before this video and it's like night and day. Still not great but it smashes the Wii U version into oblivion. The Wii U version could have been just as good had they even tried instead of the slop plop port they farted out.
The beginning of the video is absolutely brilliant.
I played this game on Wii U... because you know, spiritual successor to Mega Man on the great-great-grandchild of the SNES just seemed, well... like a no brainier to me in 2013. ;-; but I guess I'm the one with the no brain for playing it on there now!
I was going to get this on Wii U and call it done but now I think I may have to pick up a copy on Steam as well. Sigh....
so good
Still going to play it on Wii U. When I get my download code. Still waiting, Comcept.
Wow. Nice jab at the anime fan/prom night trailer.
I expect 3DS version to run at nearly stable 15 fps. So smooooth...
@DiscoGentleman @Li_Bae Indeed. Especially since Unreal Engine doesn't have the lengthiest and most positive history with the Wii U as it is. I don't know if there's a single Unreal Engine game on Wii U that doesn't have notable framerate issues. Somewhere between the choice of game engine and lack of optimization, this was likely to be the case. I'm a bit surprised as even fully 3D titles (Arkham titles, for example) in Unreal seem to run a bit smoother than this, so a lack of optimization is almost surely part of the problem as well.
The Digital Foundry folks have a sense of humor. Who knew?
@Li_Bae the wiiu can handle xenoblade and not this. Are you claiming this title is more demanding? This is obviously poor programming with an unsupported engine.
As a child Mega Man was my hero and my favorite game series, I even made home movies based on the games hah.
@faint I am right with you if Xenoblade and if Fast Racing Neo isn't programming evidence enough.. I mean I was excited for this game but it looks like a game I would expect a game cube could run!! But the Wii U runs at 12fps what happened here? Optimization for unreal games has also been done better in the past as mentioned so there is not much excuse and the Wii U is not to blame.
All the hallmarks of an unoptimized, shoddy port. They never should have tried to make the game on so many platforms all at once. Even large companies would struggle to handle that kind of workload. The funny thing is, Comcept announced doing so on the 9th day of their Kickstarter campaign... That was the beginning of the end. Keiji Inafune is washed up.
#HidekiKamiyaWasRight
I got the PC version it was a buggy mess, not trusting the guy in the video. It's no excuse when the Metroid (Axiom Verge) and Sonic (Freedom Planet) ripoff plays and runs better than this.
Also the terrible stage design that doesn't accomodate the new signature dash move combines really awfully with these frame rate and death loading issues. I haven't been so mad trying to play a game do not buy this version unless you are masochistic.
Still waiting for the Did You Know Gaming video about Mighty No. 9...
It's worse when you consider that the Xbox 360 version has a lot better performance, and about half the loading time.
@retro_player_22 Except those use completely 2D graphics... And they at least mix up the formula a bit. MN9 really is a total ripoff.
Also, haven't watched the video yet, but I hope they tested the mine level where you have to outrun a drill. That section feels like it drops to 5 fps.
The last gen consoles and portable versions is going to suck, isn't it.
What is with the devs,there are plenty of other indie games that run fine on Wii U.
I wonder who the people are who shoveled out $60+ on this game's Kickstarter.
This is what happens when greed gets in the way, all the different platforms looked like ÂŁÂŁÂŁ signs to them.
Wow that is some poor optimization. I can't imagine how the backers/megaman/inafune fans must feel. I don't have a franchise favorite that has gone through this...but I do feel bad for them.
There is a reason Capcom had not made a mega man recently: that era is gone, very short difficult games are a thing of the past...
We expect more these days.
@Li_Bae Perhaps you should play Bayonetta 2. That game runs fine on the Wii U. A game like Mighty No. 9 runs like crap because it is crap.
@Xaessya egoraptor shelled out 3 grand. 🤑
I disagree - I think there are a lot of gamers who would like a new Mega Man game otherwise Mighty No 9 wouldn't have gotten so many supporters. At least, I am still enjoying Mighty No 9 on the Wii U
For comparison.
Rayman Legends runs at 1080/60 on Wii U.
Mighty No. 9 fps
@faint Ooo
Would love to see the thoughts and reactions to the finish game.
I deleted my Wii U download, along with my save file, so I wouldn't be tempted to try it again. What an abject failure! Truly a horrendous mess!
Boy the pc version looks amazing
Has anyone gone into the options menu? I thought the game had crashed as it took so long for it to load. I was really looking forward to this game, but I've played it for about an hour and won't be revisiting it. Life's too short for shoddy games.
This is why it was delayed for so long. They had to polish the game to run as smooth as possible before release.
I spy a grump head.
This game isn't even a Wii U problem. Games WAY more intensive than this run at a higher resolution with WAY better frame rates. This was just sloppy development.
Maybe if this game is 60% cheaper I might consider it. I don´t know why isn´t cheaper if they already won 4million.
I cant understand how a game like donkey Kong country tropical freeze can hold a perfect 60fps frame rate and it looks infinitely superior and this struggles to even hit 25fps
I've actually re-purchsed this game on the PC and it plays so much better. It's actually very good, and while you can enjoy the Wii U version it's not the game it could have been. If I'd known I'd have picked PC as my preferred platform for the game...
I believe the 3DS version is being handled by a different team using a new engine, so hopefully it will play a lot better than the Wii U version...
Some of the fire effects in this video look like they came straight out of Doom from the 1990's. Like when barrels explode or when the fire comes out of the background to destroy part of the stage, like at the 2:30 mark. What a mess...
@3MonthBeef LOL! There could probably be a list of "screw up-commandments" for every day of the MN9 campaign.
Always have to roll my eyes at the people trying to make this a failure on Nintendo's part.
Uhm, you do remember what a colossal mess this entire endeavor has been from day one?
Clearly this is Inafune and his team being in way over their heads. Just compare Super Mario 3D World and Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze at a rock solid 60fps to this poor port.
https://youtu.be/RLDSO--Rc4Q?t=6m1s
@Li_Bae
Never mind all the other wiiu games that run just fine. Let's just use one poorly made game to prove a non existent point.
@Tempestryke
Point taken. I retract my comment.
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