By now many of you have felt TRUE NEXT-GEN POWER, thanks to the recent release of the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. Compared to even the mid-gen upgrade machines, these new consoles are absolute beasts with the hardware that’s powering the games available on them. Existing games look fantastic, newly-released titles are graphical showcases, and I’d bet a crisp Blue Randela note that you’ve been showing off whenever friends or family have visited you.
The common thread with many of these games though, is that they offer a layer of gaming with a compromise. Want a 4K experience with amazing lighting effects through ray tracing features? You can turn on quality mode and get just that albeit at 30 frames per second. A performance mode dials back the graphical extras, but it does provide a beautifully smooth 60fps alternative.
It’s an either/or option. You can only have one, but the choice is there. That being said, after experiencing an interactive soap opera in comparison to a cinematic adventure, can you ever go back to having less frames thrown at your eyeballs every second? Games like Spider-Man Miles Morales, Ghost of Tsushima, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla play especially well with the increased frame-rate, so much so that II ‘ve set my PS5 to default to that option whenever a new game is loaded in.
Demon’s Souls as well, an absolute looker in misery, just plays better in comparison to the equally impressive cinematic mode that it has on offer. And because of that, I just cannot go back. Higher frame-rate directly impacts on how I play a game, oftentimes leading me to attempt greater challenges and run deadly gauntlets.
For example I’m still playing Destiny 2 regularly, but I recoil in disgust at the current-gen offering which still looks gorgeous but shows its age after I’ve come off of a next-gen game. I cannot wait for that next-gen upgrade next month for one of my favourite games. What about you? After having experienced the graphical upgrade, do your tastes lean towards frame-rates uber alles? Or can you still handle a cinematic gaming experience if the visuals justify it?
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Critical Hit as an organisation.
Last Updated: November 27, 2020
BurninZ
November 27, 2020 at 10:52
Must be nice hey…..
Do you enjoy throwing peanuts at us peasants still lagging in the Last Gen domain….. https://media3.giphy.com/media/H6joYRHbUEP4s/giphy.gif
geel slang
November 27, 2020 at 12:22
As a PC gamer I can tell you its 60+ or nothing, Im one of those people that has a permanent counter in the top right..
Recently got into VR, 1832×1920 x2 x 70/90fps. yea…
Btw does anyone from criticalhit own a vr headset? Not seen any reviews.
geel slang
November 27, 2020 at 12:22
As a PC gamer I can tell you its 60+ or nothing, Im one of those people that has a permanent counter in the top right..
Recently got into VR, 1832×1920 x2 x 70/90fps. yea…
Btw does anyone from criticalhit own a vr headset? Not seen any reviews.
Viper_ZA
November 27, 2020 at 10:13
Nope, and once you use 144hz monitors at 1ms GTG response times, everything else seems to be lagging, especially in competitive FPS games.
Morne Nell
November 27, 2020 at 10:22
This is a good one: AC valhalla had an update yesterday so you can select either performance or graphic mode. Graphic mode looks stunning and totally next gen on the PS5, however because the game was on performance mode by default at launch on the PS5 I immediately felt the difference,
I keep switching between the two modes yesterday, Also reason I am waiting for the destiny enhancement and will wait for cyberpunk next gen version.
In short it will depend on the game and the implementation.
What about 60 fps Graphics vs 120 fps for things like multiplayer or racing games. I would probably play the campaign in graphics mode and the multiplayer part in performance mode
DapperWoef
November 27, 2020 at 10:22
To be honest, if you cannot go back to a game because it does not look nice, you are a snob and should have your nose bitten off by Donald Trump.
FPS doth not a fun game make…
Original Heretic
November 27, 2020 at 10:29
Though I am yet to experience the next gen consoles, I can clearly remember going from my Xbox 360 to the PS4.
After playing a few games on my awesome new PS4, I hopped back to my Xbox…and turned it off within 10 minutes.
MechMachine
November 27, 2020 at 13:19
I kinda know the feeling, been playing old games on the PS5, and after the novelty wears off, high frame rates, You feel the depths of meaningless creep in. That’s why I always wonder why people make such a big deal about backwards compatibility.
Original Heretic
November 27, 2020 at 13:23
Yeah, I’m also not one to go back to old games.
SP games especially, once I’m done, I’m done. Too many other things to do.
Seeker
November 27, 2020 at 14:28
Backwards compatibility helped me catch up with some awesome games I missed in the 360 and PS3 gen. I was a poor student them. I could hardly afford food back then let alone a console.
BurninZ
November 27, 2020 at 10:52
Must be nice hey…..
Do you enjoy throwing peanuts at us peasants still lagging in the Last Gen domain….. https://media3.giphy.com/media/H6joYRHbUEP4s/giphy.gif
MechMachine
November 27, 2020 at 12:03
Also, if this makes you feel any better. There is very little you are missing out on in terms of games. Demon Souls and Spiderman are cool, but not console selling products. Sure, the frame-rate is super nice, but it’s something once can easily wait for. I think next year is when the fun starts.
The D
November 27, 2020 at 12:49
I’m sorry, I can’t hear you all the way up here in my ivory tower.
MechMachine
November 27, 2020 at 14:08
Blame them Scalpers.
Mark Treloar
November 27, 2020 at 11:28
I would say it depends on the game. I play mostly on PC and at 60 or above. Ghost of Tsushima however even at 30FPS is an amazing game.
MechMachine
November 27, 2020 at 12:07
It has a nice performance boost now. It feels super nice. Ghost.
Mark Treloar
November 27, 2020 at 12:12
Sure, but that said I didn’t mind playing it at 30FPS it didn’t ruin the experience
MechMachine
November 27, 2020 at 13:19
I should add, it felt super nice before we were privy to such luxuries.
geel slang
November 27, 2020 at 12:22
As a PC gamer I can tell you its 60+ or nothing, Im one of those people that has a permanent counter in the top right..
Recently got into VR, 1832×1920 x2 x 70/90fps. yea…
Btw does anyone from criticalhit own a vr headset? Not seen any reviews.
Llama In The Rift
November 27, 2020 at 12:22
Simply cant do 30 FPS, anything lower than 45 FPS gives me terrible head aches and nausea. Still wana experience 120 FPS though.
HairyEwok
November 27, 2020 at 12:33
NOOOPPEEEEE
Mandalorian Jim
November 27, 2020 at 13:03
It really depends on the game, there are games that works fine with 30FPS, and higher FPS make it feel a bit jarring. There are definitely some games that benefit from +60 FPS, and if you’ve been a PC gamer for the last decade, you know what I mean.
geel slang
November 27, 2020 at 15:07
“There are definitely some games that benefit from +60 FPS”
That would be all games. Might not ‘need’ it, but lets be honest, more frames = better
MechMachine
November 27, 2020 at 13:23
I remember, after going full console….get it. Anyway. I had all but given up on the PC platform for gaming, but I decided to play Fear 3 on the platform, after some years on Console, and it made me dizzy at first.
MechMachine
November 27, 2020 at 14:08
No. Definitely not. Tried to play Last of US 2 and it felt awful.
D W
November 30, 2020 at 09:37
I’m sure that had less to do with the framerate and more to do with the fact that it’s garbage
MechMachine
November 27, 2020 at 14:08
Strangely, one of my console lifer buddies ( He has always been a console guy ) had to go back to 60 for Warzone, I think it is more mind over matter to be honest, because he was struggling to get used to the 120 FPS mode in Warzone on his Series X
Seeker
November 27, 2020 at 14:28
I grew up playing games at 10fps on my potato PC. So the only thing I care for is “real time” frame rate. Which is considered to be around 20 – 30 fps. As long as the game play doesn’t stutter then I’m happy.
Tyler
November 28, 2020 at 00:54
I’ve been playing Call of Duty in 120 FPS and then switching to Spider-Man and it only takes a minute or two to re-adjust to it. So, for me, it’s not a problem.
D W
November 30, 2020 at 09:37
A locked 30FPS with no frame-pacing issues is perfectly playable for many games, but something bouncing between below 30 to below 60 or riddled with frame-pacing troubles is a recipe for a bad time.