The full Lego City Undercover comparison and frame-rate test - you'll be surprised by how the Switch manages to punch above its weight on this one. Subscribe for more Digital Foundry: bit.ly/DFSubscribe
The Switch Docked mode is higher res but lower detail, the XBONE version is PS4 detail but lower res. At Switch settings the XBONE would be able to hit 1080p easily
I'm really impressed by how much better the Switch version is better than the WiiU version considering that it's portable. Nintendo released a console not only more powerful than the last one, but can be taken anywhere. Of course it fell short to the PS4, but as a handheld it's quite awesome.
Kinda surprised that you guys didn't talk about the load times at all. The wii u version was infamous for it's awful load times and I want to see if they're better on the next gen systems.
Yep I watched the whole video waiting for load times to come up and it didn't, surprised. It was a killer for the Wii U version, I got so fed up of two minute pauses after cutscenes I gave up.
I seen a different video at least compare the Switch and Wii U loading times. Long story short, Switch loading times are only a couple seconds faster at best. So still pretty bad, so I wonder how the PS4 hold up.
Seacliff My load times on PS4 are short and I'm using physical as well. They are maybe around ~15 seconds for load times in some spots. I did notice a few longer load times which didn't feel that much different
so wait... they dropped the resolution for Xbox One to hit better framerates... but the Switch version still runs at a full 1080p? why not use the same resolution the Xbox version has and try to get a locked 30fps? is it a CPU issue? sometimes I don't get certain decisions developers make
Kevboard Arts yeah doesn't make much sense, I'm guessing the Devs wanted to have parity with PS4 in terms of FPS and graphics settings, and lowering the Resolution slightly makes that possible!
sure but seeing that the Switch version is dropping frames and still runs at 1080p, while they dropped the resolution down slightly on a more powerful system is really odd imo. Xbox One resolution and a more stable 30fps would have been the better solution on Switch imo
+oneofthegoodguys This doesn't change the fact that the Switch itself is a Handheld with all the components in the portable aspect with the dock allowing higher clock speed & TV output.
Almighty Nintendo Pharoh of course its a handheld, but according to nintendo itself, its still a home console first. and as a home console, its pretty underwhelming. as a handheld, its barely better than a 3ds with shorter battery span.
+oneofthegoodguys How is it barley better than a 3DS? and the battery life is on par with *Original* 3DS and half an hour less than the Vita.Not to mention Power bank support.
Almighty Nintendo Pharoh the size of the switch doesnt exactly make it pocket friendly. i have the 3ds xl and i find you can still slip it into your top pocket. also the 3ds folds so you can put it in your backpack/bag where the switch can get scratched. also battery life on average on 3ds with 3d turned down can last up to 5 to 6 hours. the switch with settings on low and playing zelda is 2 and a half hours.
Not only DigitalFoundry is awesomely cool and incredibly in-depth, but unlike whole mass of similar channels, you can learn a lot of technical stuff and whole range of geeky things, with mine favorite being these graphics / visuals and how things work in that particular department.
Everyone forgets the fact that this game is on PC too. It's really the case. Everyone says stuff like: 'Lego City Undercover is now available on PS4, XBOX One, and the Nintendo Switch'. TBH I don't blame anyone, the PC port is said to be pretty shit.
The energy player Yeah, that's what I'm planning on doing. I wanted to buy this on PC, then I considered buying it on Switch seeing as how shitty the port is. The price difference is pretty big though, 59,99 on Switch while it's only 29,99 on Steam, and even cheaper on stores such as Green Man Gaming.
Pim Nelissen you can buy it for pc ..playing it for days without a single Problem. Day one patch already fixed everything. ..15 euro on instant gaming. .you are welcome
I do have a problem with the PC version at all. I have had it since release and there has been no problems with frame rates, controls, antialiasing and pop in at all. I am running it at maxes settings in 1080p
While watching the stills I could notice the difference in image quality but during gameplay I would mistake PS4 for Switch a couple times. Only the framerate is clearly inferior on the Switch, which considering the image quality reached is still impressive.
For a portable device the Switch keeps holding its own against the PS4. Quite impressive indeed. Before idiots comment, No the Switch is a handheld you can play as a home console and not the other way around. Home consoles can't be handhelds but handhelds can be home consoles.
Elvick Nintendo is saying one thing but advertising it as something else. Most of the marketing footage focuses on the Switch's portability. People playing on a basket ball court, in a van, bus, plane, at work, in class, around the house etc. Yes they also show you can dock it and play on your TV but most of the messaging is that this is a portable device. Even the slogan “Play anywhere, anytime with anyone" doesn't sound like a home console. By design and functionality the switch is a handheld. You literally can hold the entire system in your hands thus it is a handheld system. Handhelds can be used as home consoles but home consoles cannot be used as handhelds. This is very simple. Nintendo calling it a home console is a marketing spin. We're talking Scientific facts here. The Switch is a handheld device and like ALL handheld devices can also be a home console by extension.
I've been rather lucky so far in that most of the ports the Switch has gotten I happened to have missed... it's basically like a new game to me :) Of course, even having played the heck out of Mario Kart 8 I can't wait to try the new battle system.
I guess digital foundry isn't much interested in changed assets. anyone else notice that some of the vehicles got a redesign, like that police cruiser?
I normally hate these comparrison videos. But what I personally have taken from this is how much of an improvement over the Wii U version the Switch version seems to be. That is what needs to be regnognised here and it poses very good news for future games for the Switch.
Curious if the load times are better on newer platforms despite upped texture resolution/etc. The load screens were pretty damn frequent and long on WiiU..
Really impressed with the Switch. I was hoping for some info about load times which I heard really plagued this game. Which system has the shortest load times? ***Update*** Rather than get this for the Switch I decided to get it for the Xbox One X during Xbox's Count to 2018 sale. It is downloading right now but knowing how much better games run on the Xbox One X hardware I know this will be the definitive way to play the game :) Thanks again for the video.
its a garbage ass port and you rejoicing? LMFAO can your little switch run shadow of war? watchdogs 2? red dead redemption2? uncharted 4? horizon zero dawn? state of decay 2? oh wait.....
I noticed later in the game that sometimes Switch use considerably lower res textures than Wii U. For the most part Switch use PS4 like textures but sometimes some are even lower quality than Wii U. The 4GB of RAM still does limit Switch compared to PS4 / One.
What an odd choice to have a variable frame rate of PS4. They should have just kept it at 30fps. Switching between 30 and 60 so often sounds like it'd be be awfully jarring.
I agree, I'm fine with a locked 30fps, but seeing the game at 60 then seeing it at 30 makes the 30 look worse than it would if it was just 30 all along
Kevboard Arts wow, they sacrifice frame-rate to realistically light Legos, which I know are not natural! Resourceful! p.s. never trust an edited comment
Just curious: Why is there a 60fps footage in the beginning of the video? :o I already got hyped that the lego games will feature 60fps on consoles in the future and then got dissapointed looking at the fps comparison afterwards :D EDIT: I guess it's from PC? Didnt know a port for PC exists, just saw it in the comment section^^
This proves that, if you know what you're doing, you can get the Switch to perform almost as well as the PS4 (minus the 60fps portions) without sacrificing image quality and resolution.
Jan-Niklas Roth the titanfall devs were pretty stupid they had hillarous problems with their games taking them seriously is like taking hello games seriosly example capcom is porting re7 and witcher 3 even it wouldn't release because it didn't sell could run it the titanfall devs were the only ones saying that and the pc still is crap so they don't much about the switch
Its an actually interesting scenario this generation has gotten itself in... If you got yourself a Switch, PS4 and PC there's NOTHING the PS4 actually has over the other 2 versions. Want raw power? Go PC. Want portability? Go Switch. I commute a lot, so my train of thought usually goes: "Does it run *fine*? Get it on Switch. I can play it on the bus/office. Does it not? PC is better than PS4, so I'll get it there. I get better performance and have mod support."
Let's not forget that we're comparing a full home console to what is essentially a handheld here. In that sense, it's incredible that they're this close in fidelity.
Rob Taylor It's just a lazy port on PS4, if Horizon: Zero Dawn can look the way it does and at a solid 30fps then this game should look much better than it does.
Alan Meals Don't be deluded. You hold the entire system in your hands thus it is a handheld. Home consoles stay at home because they aren't portable. This isn't rocket Science. Being able to output to the TV doesn't change the fact that it's still a handheld.
Xerzix Xerperius This is what mystifies me. The XO is supposed to be more powerful than the Switch, yet the Switch performs _ahead_ of the XO in some areas. Maybe the Switch isn't as underpowered as we thought?
Sam Rod Some areas are toned down, yes. Doesn't explain why the game runs at full 1080p and has a higher draw distance than the Xbox version, though. Perhaps some odd decisions by the developer? Or are there specific areas in the hardware that the Switch somehow excels over the Xbox? (From a technical perspective, not a general "compare GFLOPS" direction).
So how about the loading times? Are they noticeably better than the Wii U at all? Also, does the Switch version still have the Nintendo Easter Eggs that the Wii U version had? Because I will assume that they are removed in the PS4 and Xbox versions.
I’m really impressed by the switch here, I could barely tell these games apart, if at all, unless it was super zoomed in or side by side compared. Also the resolution being higher than Xbox was crazy! Also, the framerate issues aren’t great, but it’s still a really good switch port and much better than the original game.
I have never understood why people like shadows so much. It is the first thing I turn down if I want a little performance boost on PC, and I never really notice the difference while playing. :)
XBfan Xboxbestbox wait I don't understand your logic here. Just because a small part of the game is 60fps makes it better. I love 60fps but that in it's self doesn't make the game better.
To be fair, we are talking about a Wii U port that was only enhanced but so much. However, this does make me feel better about future Switch ports and multiplats. Really curious to how Fate/Extella on Switch will hold up. (Even though it looks like a port of the Vita version)
It's incredible that Switch pretty much matches PS4 for visuals and turning in decent performance. It really hits home when I look at the size difference of the two consoles on my table side by side. This bodes well for the future of the Switch.
The last thing I would do, is defend the Bone, but TT was always an incompetent developer, with performance issues, since the freakin' PS2 era (screentearing/fpsdrops)
Jay Y yes, this bodes VERY well for the Switch I agree :) (i also own a ps4 and switch, and xbox... i'm very impressed with what the tiny Switch can do... looks to continue as huge success :) and with ARMS looking more promising and Splatoon 2... If Nintendo reveal a new Metroid at E3 that blows minds, that's it... the Switch's future success in my opinion is pretty much in the bag. Everybody loves it and i couldn't be happier for Nintendo. It's a good thing for all gamers, the haters should realize that all of this is only good for the video game industry in general!
They're all a Wii U port, and there is nothing special about lego graphics. It's all shit. The PS4/Xbox One is probs using 40-60% of their power on this game then the switch is probs using about 70-80%.
I have never played a Lego game before and would like to try this one out. Lego City is currently on-sale for both Switch and PS4 at $6. Should I just buy both versions at that price? Why not have the best of both worlds?
DeadPhoenix86 60 fps in enclosed segments. Not really anything worth bragging about when you'll be spending most of the time in the open world at 30 fps lol. Reduced effects aren't noticeable when portable either and even when docked, the visual quality is so close to other versions that it's not even noticeable unless you're sitting very close to the TV. Anything else? :v
Interesting analysis. Switch ports, so far, are getting by with less downgrages than I expected. I initially suspected that the PS4 was CPU limited in open-world sections, seeing the GPU can hit 60 fps in select areas. However, between the PS4's occasional dropped or torn frame in 30 fps areas, and the fact that the XB1 - with slightly faster CPU AND reduced resolution still suffers frame rate drops in those 60 fps areas, does seem to indicate that some of the outdoor areas may still be too taxing for those GPUs to stay at/near 60fps - on a consistent enough basis - even if they had more capable CPUs. Switch having a higher resolution than XB1 definitely caught me off guard, but the need for XB1 to "match" the PS4's 60 fps mode was probably the reason for that. It was probably less work this way. That said, I like how the Switch has been holding up so far. I'm anxious to see how Yooka Laylee and Dragon Quest XI runs, but I'm more optimistic than I was prior to/near the Nintenso Switch launch.
Zyle Rayner Holy shit if this happened. Altus could take all of my money if that was what it took. I spent a good chunk of my time playing P5 over Remote Play; having a native portable version of the game would be sublime.
Nice coverage on that PC version though. I mean, it's a Lego game sure, but I still would've liked to know if there is any difference between console and PC versions of the game.
Perhaps Lego is a good example where low-to-mid spec hardware like Nintendo Switch could benefit greatly from the "less is more" philosophy. Instead of visible shimmering and jaggies all over the place, why not go with a reduced number of on-screen objects but with a much much cleaner presentation? At least that's my personal preference after all, the less visible imperfections, the better!
I think there was a different team that made the switch vs ps4 and/orxbone. Different priorities on resolution, framerate, draw distance etc.. This is why you see switch team focusing on FOV
LMAO SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE SONY PONIES CRYING IN THE COMMENTS. THE SWITCH VERSION LOOKS BETTER AND IS THE DEFINITIVE VERSION OVER THE BORESTATION SNORE. DEAL WITH IT 😂😂😂😂😂
Khaled Taha you're the same guys who are saying xbox scorpio has no games/ its all about the games but all of a sudden when xbox one runs a bad port at lower res its all about resolution again. can the switch run gears4 gta5 watch dogs2 .... at the same quality no it can't
Kooper Gaming I don't play on either... and I was actually on the Xbox 360 side last gen. Xbone however is a major disappointment both in performance and games (exclusives weren't as good and multiplats suffered in resolution and visual quality). And yes, scorpio has no exclusive games coming up to support it and to convince people to get it (aside from Sea Of Thieves, assuming it won't get cancelled/delayed)
Kooper Gaming no one cares, Gears is crap, Watchdogs 2 is crap and GTA is never on Nintendo's consoles because Rockstar and Nintendo don't get along, it COULD run GTA 5 but it can't because Rockstar and Nintendo don't get along
I have a GTX 1070 PC, PS4 Pro, Xbox One, and a Nintendo Switch. I have honestly found myself buying games like this and Snake Pass on the Switch for the mobility. I know everyone is going to have differing opinions, but for my situation of traveling for work a fair amount the switch have been fantastic.
The only problem I have with this game is the Frame pacing on the Switch is bad. It's playable for the most part but i hope a patch comes out soon hopefully
I think Microsoft would love that as well. I wouldn't be surprised if they launched a new Xbox generation in 2019 correcting all the hideous mistakes that they made in 2013. Its really sad how all the hardwork they did during the Xbox and Xbox 360 days was ruined by a single launch event of Xbox One. The industry needs competition so that Sony does not get too cocky and pulls off a new PS3 again in the future. Xbox 360's success was a wake up call for Sony and their arrogance the same way how Wii U's failure was to Nintendo.
I'm going to assume reworking WiiU's code took a hit on PS4, Switch and XOne. Would. e nice to see a version built from the ground up. Great overview. still not getting it. those load times suck.
Walther Penne PS4/Xbox One uses a weak ass 2010 laptop processor, not surprised Switch can keep up fairly nicely with their Nvidia Tegra chip. But what sells the Switch is its size/portability and being able to have the same console experience in such small form factor.
Xerzix Xerperius No matter how you slice it, the PS4 and Xbox One versions look and run better. Oh, and PS4 and Xbox One are CHEAPER than the Switch. So while you scratch your screen and lose syncing playing on TV remember how portable it it, because that's all you have. And also that games will soon cost more on the Switch lol
Matthew Gonzales You sound pretty salty, seems like my comment triggered you lmao, no need to be so salty son, chill. I'm a PC gamer myself and Switch continues to impress many of us for what it can do. I'm not saying that is better than PS4 btw, idk where you got that from, I simply stated that it holds extremely well against PS4 and far better than Xbox One than I was expecting for it's form factor. Also, the sync problem was already fixed, and a screen protector makes the job done. So.. GG I guess, nice try.
Has WB Games said anything about fixing the crashes on Switch? The damn game keeps crashing when it has to load mission or inside of buildings. I just bought it digitally to play with the nieces and nephews... waste of money so far... I heard nothing about these in reviews so I thought I was good...
Felipe M. lol ,,, maybe they can make the next comparison using the PS4 PRO vs XBOX CLASSIC ,or PS4 PRO vs NINTENDO 64 😂😂😂😂,, and if DF want to go NUCLEAR they can make the comparison against PS4 PRO vs ATARY 😂😂😂😂
