After a few weeks, Digital Foundry has now released a Trials Rising comparison video. While the performance and visual "cutbacks are quite extreme" in the Switch version, fortunately, the gameplay is fundamentally intact.
It's apparently a miracle the game has even landed on the Switch at all. This port uses dynamic scaling in both portable and docked modes and mostly maintains a resolution of 720p. In contrast, the base PlayStation 4 runs the game at 1080p and the base Xbox One version runs at around 900p.
In terms of visual comparisons, it's not hard to tell the Switch is missing a lot of environmental details. Though, the most noticeable difference in the final version of the game is still on the first level containing a lot of fog. A lot of other levels remove shadows, but it's clear the adjustments to each track in this version of the game are done on a level-by-level basis, suggesting there's been a lot of effort just to get the game up and running on the system. Texture mapping and filtering are also toned down and there's no ambient occlusion.
In terms of performance, there are still frame pacing stutters while docked and the game seems to handle 30fps better in portable mode. Other platforms run the game at 60fps, with a few stutters along the way. Overall, though, the Switch release is still "a lot of fun to play" and the differences aren't a serious issue if this is the only version you own.
Are you happy with how Trials Rising runs on the Switch? Tell us below.
[source youtu.be]
Comments 30
You mean to tell me NL made it seem worse in previous headlines to grab clicks?! Say it ain’t so!
The real problem is not only the low resolution and the missing of environmental details but the framerate.
In a game like trial, 60fps is fundamental.
@Racthet916 Of course it is so. Is this the third or fourth article on this game?
Based on my own experience, the game is great fun. I haven't played the other versions, so can't compare how much of a downgrade this version is, but honestly I don't care: the Switch game is a lot of fun in its own right. Could it be improved? Probably. Does it have some problems? Maybe a few, but nothing remarkable, at least in my opinion. Is it a disaster (a narrative that NL contributed to)? No, it's not. Is it playable? YES! Is it fun? HELL YES!
@PCkid Hmm...I think it plays perfectly fine on Switch. Granted, I haven't played the other versions, but you make it sound like it's unplayable by using the word "fundamental". That's not true at all. I'm sure the other versions are better, but the Switch version isn't bad. I'm happy with it.
Edit: After watching DF's video, it seems that going with 30fps was a wise decision for the Switch version, as the other versions occasionally have bigger dips from 60fps than the Switch version has from 30fps. I imagine the Switch version would be a total mess at 60fps.
What I kinda agree with is that the controls aren't the best and it's a shame that the Switch doesn't support analogue triggers. But you'll adapt using the right stick, it just takes a bit more practice.
I’m really enjoying the game and the frame rates and fog don’t bother me it plays really well and who is looking at backgrounds when the game gets quite demanding
I started watching the video then stopped when I realized it’s completely irrelevant to me. The Switch is the only console that I own so it makes no difference how it looks and performs on other consoles.
It was bad judgement of the developers to start the game on the worst (and foggiest) looking level. After NL life posted that scaremongering article before release it influenced a lot of readers to cancel their pre-orders. I was also put off, having loved the series on my Xbox 360, but after reading NL actual review I bought the game. Absolutely love it, so much fun, the graphics are fine and the lack of analogue triggers hasn’t affected my gameplay (I’ve got gold in all events so far).
Oh Digital Foundry say it is a lot of fun so does that mean I am allowed to enjoy it now?
Digital Foundry releases some interesting videos, their retro pieces are fantastic, but there is almost a level of worship from some people who won't go near a game unless their idol Digital Foundry tells them so.
The idiots are losing out as a result.
Been waiting for this video. Seems a solid port for sure.
@SBandy or there is some of us who like to see an analysis on visuals and performance before we spend our money
So yeah thank god DF exists as they do a great job
@PCkid
And yet, I’m doing just as well in the Switch version as I ever did in Fusion on Xbox One. Beating extreme levels, platinum medals, all that. Which is pretty strong evidence that 60fps is not fundamental for a game like this. I’ve heard people say 60fps is needed for just about every type of game out there, and I have yet to play a single one of them where it actually was needed. Because it’s not needed for any game, it’s just nice to have. Even competitive online shooters, the one exception, a fraction micro second of a frame isn’t going to make a split of difference unless you’re like, the top 10 in the world competing.
Analog throttle, now that is fundamental. You absolutely will not beat the later stages without it. Thankfully that’s been addressed also using the right analog stick.
@nmanifold
In case you didn’t know, the right analog stick gives you analog throttle.
@kobashi100
That is fine, but there are others who won't consider games for extremely minor things that DF points out that they otherwise wouldn't even know / notice. And you just have to look at the comments on Eurogamer and youtube to see the absolute plebs that every Digital Foundry video seems to drag out from their caves.
Every game has flaws, as long as they are fun then I am game.
I am having a blast playing this game. I understand the spec differences, but when you are falling 15 stories trying to land a motor bike, it doesn't really matter. This game gets my heart pumping!
“Still looks great” No, no it doesn’t.
This game doesn't even look great and still has performance issues. Low res and trouble hitting 30fps. Mario Kart Switch looks much better and runs at 1080p/60fps.
Just look at the buildings. Those are literally blocks with textures, N64 style.
Trials HD had better graphics than this...10 years ago.
@JaxonH Yep I tried that, just didn't find it very intuitive because you're driving left to right, not into the screen. Last Trials game I played was Trials Fusion on PS4, I found the controls so sensitive it was unplayable. The Switch game is a return to form.
@nmanifold
It takes a little getting used to, but now it feels pretty natural for me. You can also do left and right instead of up and down, but that just confuses me so I use up and down.
Fusion was my first as well. Went to fire it up and realized I sold it when I was converting my PS4 library to X1 after I filled up my hard drive, and never repurchased for X1 (then Sony announced external hard drives would be patched in a month after I did that lol, but its fine, X1X plays better anyways)
Just ordered it again. Arrived yesterday. Will be diving in after I'm done with Rising
@SBandy get what you are saying. I replied to a couple idiotic comments on YouTube last night.
Still though. Without this video I would have not bought the game on switch so I am glad DF put the work in and compared all versions.
Still looks passable on Switch. The 30 fps makes the game look a bit slow motion compared to other versions. At times like this Switch only gamers should avoid videos like this to see how good things could be. I'm thinking ahead to the likes of MK11 and Doom Eternal.
@PCkid No it isn't.
@GingerNinja people who own a Switch should know better what to look for in their games instead of always complaining about what their system can't do. If it isn't able to process certain graphics, there's nothing one could do. And it doesn't prevent Switch from being an excellent game console. Best console I've had since the SNES
Switch is certainly the best way to play Trials Rising on the go!
The game is a blast.
@Shellcore Also the only way to play Trials Rising on the go.
@Quarth My laptop begs to differ.
@Monkeido LOL! 😂 Got me there!
Edit: Sometimes we're so busy comparing the console versions, we even forget that PC is a thing.
Huh. Sounds better than it was previously made out to be. Its cool that they worked level by level to get it the best it could be on Switch. I might get it now.
Still, physic seems outta mobile game.
@SBandy If you're wanting a certain quality for a game and own multiple platforms, Digital Foundry is great for deciding (especially with the Switch where ports get massively gutted) whether the cutbacks there are minor enough for me to think "I'll be fine with the Switch version" or "I'll go with another console/PC for this one".
Especially when it comes to framerates. If there's constant drops on the Switch, I don't want that version. If it's locked at 30fps for a shooter, I'll go with PC. If the resolution has been lowered to a certain degree, I'll go with PC since a low resolution on my TV gives me migraines (though resolution hasn't been an issue YET on Switch ports I've wanted/played).
For something like DOOM, DF did sway my decision not to buy it since a locked 30fps and inconsistent frame rates are 2/3 of the "critical strikes" to whether or not a Switch version is worth it to me. Portability doesn't cancel out a game feeling more unfair due to hardware limitations...Not to mention analogue controls in a shooter, which is a universal default reason against me buying console versions.
One for Trials specifically: shadows. Why they've cut these back is baffling to me since at its core, trials is a platformer, a 2.5D platformer to be specific. If at any point the camera is going to be moving around for 'cool angles', being able to see your shadow massively helps in landing where you want to. Among a couple of things, that adds on to the "not going to bother with the Switch version" list since it's something that fundamentally makes the game harder at certain parts in a way the game wasn't designed to be all due to hardware limitations.
So no, DF doesn't have to say a port is good for me to buy it. All I expect is for them to give me the facts and let me decide whether that port is for me or not...It's not my fault that Switch ports are often downgraded enough for me to not want them.
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