I fundamentally disagree with escapism. It’s unhealthy viewing vidya as an escape from the world, rather than the beauty resulting from the combined passion of its inhabitants. Like game devs, we need to be pour love into our day to day lives. Find beauty in the mundane, even if you don’t immediately see results. Rather than live for the weekend, Live for every day in your life. Sorry for getting all preachey. I just hate escapism because I was once always looking to escape too.
@@HoodedSpidey The world my friend has disease, famine, death, pain, misery, and evil as well. It doesn't hurt to escape its painful reality from time to time. There is beauty in the world yes, but there is also ugliness.
@@AliAbidalkareem it’s just strange to escape to a painful and miserable world such as god of war. I think a world like stardew village would be better
@@thehumblepotatoreborn9313 with cdpr that was after 1 game, Witcher1-2 were a mess and witcher3 was a mess at launch. Santa Monica and insomniac have multiple games that were (in my experience) pretty much flawless
@@thehumblepotatoreborn9313 it was all the gamers fault. How about you stop giving companies money months or even years before you get to see the product? Use your brain sometimes and then we can talk. Look at EA for example. They can even enslave little kids and torture them but people will still buy or even preorder their games. Again, gamers decide with their money
IMO I dont give af that it's technically a "ps4" game, this is the PERFECT balance of graphical beauty and playability/performance. If every PS5 game looked THIS good and ran THIS good, i'd have virtually no complaints. I understand there's differences when rendering massive open worlds, but I feel like smooth performance should ALWAYS be a top priority. Plague Tale looks jaw dropping-ly dense at times, but at the same time I don't think it looks dramatically better than this, and it runs DRAMATICALLY worse
Full.ps5 game will have better graphics and fps than that. Still its extremely impressive after playing it 30h some textures are about the same than demon soul...
This doesn't seem like they held back with PS4... The PS5 version is the most impressive video game performance and graphics wise we've ever gotten, still holding true probably through the entire console generation in my opinion. They'll do it again with the next god of war 😅😅
Thank you Digital Foundry for what you do. I can always count on you guys for quality content with deep analysis on the performance of most major releases. You guys are so chill and always professional.
Let this sink in, Santa Monica Studios (God of War Ragnarok) and FromSoftware (Elden Ring) have the chance to win Back to Back Game of the Year Awards for games released by a single game studio.
@Josue M God of war and elden ring are by far different games not even in the same genre. Both games are masters of their genre but they are like maximum 10% similar
@@aadipie They chose to show only what made them look good and it's too shallow and dumbed down, felt like a TV movie based on a documentary. The Horizon one(not made by Sony) shows the creative aspects, is very detailed, shows most of the development and goes very deep on some cool subjects.
The showcase of vistas and graphics starting around 5:20 mark its amazing. Great geometric environment and character detail and beautiful GI. Great work John! and congrats to SSM for the amazing product. Polished to perfection.
@@Brandywine92 Better. 1860p average using TAAU upscaling to hit 4k at rock solid 60fps. To learn more about how phenomenal TAAU is please watch the digital foundry video for Kena Bridge of Spirits.
@@devonmarr9872 Awesome. Thank you for your comment. I wanted to know this because I found the PS5 update for God of War 2018 amazing. On your info I'd be happy to buy the game. Basically I wasn't blown away with Forbidden West, even after all the patches. It didn't seem like an upgrade to Zero Dawn in my opinion.
I know there's a spoiler warning at the beginning but after seeing other reviews of the game that managed to keep it pretty spoiler-free I honestly wasn't expecting to see THIS many spoilers in this video, especially for a tech review....kinda pretty bummed right now:(
That 1440p 80-90 fps mode with VRR is extremely attractive. Honestly, the current gen hardware + 120 Hz TVs with with VRR support is becoming a game changer for console gaming. It is also remarkable how good this game still looks in the 80-90 fps HFR mode.
Thank you for this comment, you saved me from potential spoilers. I was curious how this was going to run and see if I should snag it for the PS5 or wait for possible PC release.
@@Harvester88 You are welcome and it does seem like a good idea to go into this game blind. I suggest liking this video regardless as digital foundry deserves all the engagement for this awesome technical analysis. As a side note I have learned elsewhere that the game also supports gyro/motion aim for axe throws. That feature was also a game changer for me particularly in Last of Us 2, made me feel like John Wick playing that game XD
@@Amhoj1 Ever played on a Mid/High-Tier PC-Setup? GoW:R is so hardly mid on PS5.... it has to run in 4K on a system that has the stats of a 5 year old system as comparison.
Great video! I always appreciate Digital Foundry’s detailed and thoughtful review and analysis. I love hearing about the technical aspects and achievements of different game developers. There are some really skilled developers out there. Thanks!
John, your narration and descriptive language is just wonderful. The time you put into writing is as valuable as the crazy attention to detail on the technicals. Hands down one of the best games journalists ever
@@sellingacoerwa8318 Why? He's right. John is the ONLY person I come here to listen to and why I'm still subbed - especially with his old school PC developer interviews, something Alex (the "PC expert") should be doing/joining but doesn't. John's talent, knowledge and history in gaming tech is hard to match on youtube.
Nah... they are sellouts. Look how they praise DLSS3 for "performance"... but fake Frames are no raw performance. Imho this upscaling crap is not good at all... just because neither nvidia or amd are capable to make 4K - 60FPS cards that normal human beings could afford.
Warning for everyone wanting to watch this: Digital Foundry included some massive story spoilers in this review, that are a really weird choice even with the warning. These definitely aren't some minor spoilers.
So good to see the devs putting in the effort to allow the player to decide how to play the game. 30/40/60/120hz is an amazing amount to choose from and everyone will be happy. Some recent games have been locked 30hz and it's unplayable, lazy and unplayable
@@MasDouc wtf fuck man, why would you do that? what joy does it bring to you to spoil others experiences, i feel sad for you, i really do, i hope you find peace in your life some day. Take care
Ha, right? Gorgeous graphics with nice frame rates even though it still has to run on last-gen hardware, whereas GK is current-gen only, looks like a game from 2010, and is capped at 30 FPS. Pathetic effort on WB's part.
@@visceraeyes525 Arkham Knight, a game released 7 years ago, manages to look substantially better than Gotham Knights and is also open world; and it was made for last-gen consoles. They have no excuses
40hz mode will be my goto option. I want all the graphical bells and whistles (even if they're a minor improvement over performance mode) but still want the game to feel responsive.
If you want to avoid most of the spoilers just listen to the video and don't watch it. And 60 fps performance is the recommended mode on PS5 with 60 Hz display.
What about 40+VRR (unlocked quality) mode? It is listed in the officials docs, and sounds like a very interesting choice for 120hz VRR capable displays.
@@heroicsquirrel3195 If you are prepared to wait a year (which I am). HZD, Mafia collection, Yakuza1-6, Cyberpunk, Plague Tale, Deathloop & KIngdom Come should see me through the year.
@@Leaddevo I’m definitely waiting, would rather play it on my 3070/i5-12600k than my ps4 slim😂, Im gonna chill with MW2, tekken, sf6 won’t be too far away, CP2077, plenty to do but I’m a big Norse fan and have played the previous title 4 times so there will be tough moments I’m sure lol
Great tech video again, John. I especially enjoy your developer interviews, and hoping for one for GoWR. Its clear how much you understand in this technical art form, not just posting the typical "spot the difference" comparisons from "analysis" tubers, while having deep insights into the most impactful development techniques. Your talent, knowledge, and history with gaming tech is hard to match anywhere and keeps me coming back. Appreciate the hard work.
This is the video i was waiting for! I might have to go for the 60FPS mode because my tv setup but man im hype for the game. This and Elden Ring are my GOTYs.
Sounds like they added an extra performance mode maybe through day 1 patch. It's the high quality preset at unlocked 40fps for HFR and VRR. Would be interesting to see how this one performs.
Exactly cause they dont show it here. I am also very interested in it because i got an 120hz vrr device. If it runs at almost 4k and a nearly stable 50 fps this is probably the mode to pick.
@@snippi1785 I did the same. Felt strange not using the HFR and VRR option my TV is capable of using haha, but it does seem the performance 60fps dynamic 4K is the best..
I watched this when the game came out but I decided to watch it again as I may go back and play the game again. Wow, you guys do incredible work. Seriously great video.
16:28 maybe you don't understand theres not just one way to do motion blur. Its more realistic when higher framerate doesn't try to look as blurry as a movie.
For anyone curious, yes, if you're worried about any type of spoiler, heed the warning at the beginning of this video. I am happy to watch this as DF videos on new games I'm excited about interest me, but there are a few things here I wish I didn't see, but I'm guessing it's stuff mentioned in previews and reviews.
Thank you bro , ur a life saver Was about to ignore the warning and as someone who didnt even watch any trailer to not spoil anything , I appreciate the heads up
It’s not stuff mentioned at all, some of the things shown should not be seen. Why in gods name they decided to release this vid six days before release, even with a damn spoiler tag, when literally NO ONE has played this game yet, is quite frankly maddening. Not one single person that has watched this hasn’t been spoiled. At least now I know to avoid this website and channel at all costs in the future. I don’t want anything to do with amateurs with zero respect for the games they are reviewing. I know DF know their tech stuff, but they clearly dgaf about gamers or games. This video should’ve been released a week or two at least after launch. No sooner. Or just put out a tech vid without spoilers! The spoilers were COMPLETELY unnecessary. And I only watched 5 minutes, god knows what else is in there. Avoid entirely people.
A couple of times, the 40fps mode randomly jumped down to 30fps, usually after going to a dwarven shop. Doesn't happen very often and maybe was fixed in a recent patch (if there's been a patch). It's a noticeable difference and I'm not sure if it's happened to anyone else. It's also slightly disappointing that there's no big visual benefit to playing on PS5 over PS4 pro. But TBH, the game itself and the cutscenes (!!!) are so extraordinary that it doesn't matter. Such amazing characters, acting, music, design and cinematography so far.
@@jamescooper2932 yeah, I noticed that it would dip in while 40fps mode. it was fine when it was not bumpy. I just opted for the high-performance mode since it helps substantially better- even with the dips.
I just tried playing with High Frame Rate (Performance) mode and it looks blurry on my 50” Samsung AU9000. If I leave it off, the game looks great. Weird.
I don't care about goty, being able to enjoy Elden Ring, Horizon FW and GoW Ragnarok and such a great catalog in general in one year is just fantastic. I also hope both PS exclusives are available soon for PC gamers to enjoy.
I waited 3 years to play God of War 2018 because I knew it would take a chunk of time to finish and I had such a backlog to get through already, while fitting it all in with work. Plus, if I am being honest, I just didn't get the hype in the beginning. So I kept pushing it off. But man, late or not, what a journey! The story is top notch, the graphics were incredibly well done and the sheer amount of immersive detail in every environment left me speechless on several occasions. I simply was not expecting so much depth in the details. It truly makes the experience amazing. I was also glad I waited to play it on the PS5, with the graphical updates. And from everything I have seen, Ragnarok takes all that detail to an even higher level. Not to mention, all the options in gameplay output, is just impressive. Considering so many new games are all over the place performance wise. So with all that said, I am very excited to jump back into this world!
Yes exactly but at least they are fixing theyr games after a while instead of other developers, but for my part i am just buying most of the games some months later after release because of that and i have a huge backlog.
This is a great tech review as usual. There really isn't anyone else out there that deep dives into graphics and gameplay performance like you guys do. My only complaint here is in the future try not to post gameplay spoilers. I don't remember them announcing that Atreus would be playable so it would've been great to go in blind.
They miss lots of important details regarding the textures between 2018 and ragnarok. After playing 600 hours at 2018 gow and 30 at ragnarok I can tell you metal and rocks textures are significantly improved
I got the LG C2 specifically to have good VRR support on a TV, plus I don't buy TVs very often. I feel like any gamer buying a TV today should make sure that the TV supports VRR. Even with VRR I don't expect games to have hugely fluctuating framrates. What I do hope happens is that games can target non-standard framerates. For example, a dev could target 75fps and know that the TV will be able to display every frame.
nah, as long as the frames keep above 85, you'll barely notice them drop. below 85 it starts to become kinda jarring, but it's still okay up until 75 as long as it's only brief drop that doesn't stick. going down from there REALLY hurts. i will take unlocked frames over a locked 75 every time (with vrr, i mean)
"This video contains some spoilers. You have been warned". How about you mark the segments in the video as chapters and name it "spoiler"? Come on guys. Still didn't delve in, but if this game puts itself in the position to steal GOTY from Elden Ring, I'd be satisfied already. EDIT: I don't know, lighting, even with all the improvements, still looks off to me. Look here 12:41, what even is that. No AO, look at the base of the pots, on the ground and on the shelves. There's a source of light on the left, but models have no shadows, the enemy falls into the wall, no shadow whatsoever. To go back also to the 30/60 fps topic of DF Direct, I think game devs are tackling the wrong things: in the case of GOWR, less model detail but better lighting will be always superior to a shit ton of model detail and average lighting. The same way upscaled resolutions at 60 fps will always be superior to native at 30 fps. Need to get some headroom to push lush visuals? Upscale 1440 or even 1080 to 4k and stay at 60 fps. Console games gets played on TV at a distance, the tiny upscaling artifacts will be imperceptible. 30 fps on the other hand... It's psychovisuals, I don't make the rules.
Can you post a spoiler-free executive summary? Maybe a quick recommendation of settings based on what features your hardware supports and what matters to you? I'd love to watch this, but I stopped at the spoiler warning.
I wouldn't mind 30 fps in a game that looks like that Matrix demo. When devs finally start next gen and push the graphics, 30 fps is gonna be much more prevalent than it is now. 30 fps in something that looks like crap, cough Gotham Knights, is much more unacceptable
Just get a PC if you feel that way, consoles have held graphics back far too much as it is and games only now passing the level of graphics Crysis had years ago is not a good thing.
why i'm not that radical with this idea and i'm totally willing to try 30 (40? please, at least 40) fps games if they're good, i would vastly prefer it too.
@@coolsteve1342 demon souls is overrated in the graphics department. It's almost on rails game so pretty average to me. The only game that's impressed me is Rachet & Clank, mainly due to the art style where it can really shine.
Technology has improved pretty significantly if we are saying this game is not a technical marvel. Amazing looking games are just seemingly expected at this point which speaks to how much we have become spoiled about graphics without even realizing it.
It is crazy that in 10 or 15 years these graphics will be considered bad. I remember playing games in the PS3 era thinking games looked so ‘real’ and how could they top that with the better looking games of the era. Gaming has come a long way in a relatively short period of time.
@@mandrews6282 I feel like this is somewhat different situation in that even back then I got annoyed at things like low resolution textures and certain assets that looked like soup, and 7th gen games had issue with detailed character models up close outside of very late PS3 games. With PS4 generation assets have been refined to the point where you can't really see the flaws in them just looking at general scenes
@@FEWGEE1 hold on, he even mentioned this in the video, Horizon Fotbidden West gives you a full open world game with same visuals as the smaller areas god of war creates, specially when combat is involved. That’s something you can not ignore as it is the main difference that makes this game possible in PS4, look at what happens if you don’t do it: Cyberpunk. So, I love both games, and I think this was an excellent work but I do see the trade off in order to make it Cross gen
This is a perfect example and a masterclass of how modern games should be: Epic story, ultra engaging gameplay, stunning visuals and perfect performance, truly a game that cannot be more polished. This is a single player game and it appears to be one of the best games of the generation, no live service crap, no forced coop, no season pass, no multiplayer, just plain epic single player. Even with a modest budget I'm sure Santa Monica would have delivered a great experience but this is also a slap to the face to developers that waste big budgets in mediocre games, Santa Monica showed how to properly use it by having a great plan from the beginning and carefully executing with so much care.
I tried playing on Resolution mode, but for some reason it looks WAY choppier on my TV compared to what I see in your video which is a little weird. Turning the camera (no matter what speed I do it at) feels so choppy that I can't even make out what I'm looking at (compared to 16:43 where it looks WAY smoother here).
Stunning work from Sony Santa Monica. Four years is a good, solid chunk of time to iterate on what was already a fantastic baseline experience with the original game. I'm honestly blown away at how little difference in image quality there is between the Performance and Quality modes. Kind of makes 60 fps seem like a no-brainer.
@@fall-neckthetallneck2977 Nah, from the way the image quality holds up with the temporal upsampling, I think it makes a lot more sense to get those extra 20-30 frames.
I was lucky enough to get my cracked OLED tv screen replaced recently so I'm definitely gonna be playing this at Fidelity + 40fps. That mode worked well in Miles Morales & Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves collection. VRR really is a game changer for consoles.
11:40 And that's why 30 FPS will return on PS5 sooner or later, except if You buy a PS5 pro. If You want a true graphical leap, it needs sacrifices. But because now nobody wants 30 FPS anymore, we will not have a graphical leap. PS5 games are like PS4 graphics at its 100% potential, with some minor fidelity boosts, but now at 60FPS instead of 30. You cannot cheat on technical progress : PCs can evolve each Year, but consoles are evolving every 5 Years and the hardware of the PS5 will get old very quickly.
Thank you for the warning. But I wasn't expecting that many spoilers to be honest. I think you could have made it with parts of the first hours. The second player part for example. But I had to see it to know what mode to play on.
@@omensoffate no it’s quite literally their fault. Literally everyone who’s watched this has been spoiled. There was absolutely no reason for this spoiler filled vid as the entire tech review could’ve been done with footage not filled with spoilers, with ease. 95% of websites would never even release this video… for goddamn obvious reasons! I mean Jesus, why tf does this even need to be explained.
Scummy mate, really scummy. Most websites wouldn’t Do this for obvious reasons. No one’s played it, so everyone’s been spoiled. VERY amateur from this arrogant site.
i take precalculated and carefuly crafted lighting over dynamic time of day, specialy in linear games, for me it only makes sense dynamic lighting in open world games as it definitely needs to have a day and night cycle, the improvement here is goergeous to the point that even on youtube it impresses
Great, video and I appreciate the effort. But for some reason you guys keep forgetting about the Quality Mode unlocked option. I'd like to see what I can push above 40FPS since I have a VRR display. If it can hit 50-60 that would likely be my preferred option.
@@dhammalama this mode will be the obvious use for C2 42” owners like my self. Sitting close to my TV - I can notice the lower pixel density of 1440p. However I don’t want 30 fps. I think the quality + vrr + frame rate mode is the one to go for. I imagine 40-50 fps - which feels much better than 60. The resolution advantages alone make it better than the other modes. I just feel 1440 90+ is too low for a 4K display. The best mode is either quality + vrr uncapped or the regular 60 mode. But personally I’m going for that uncapped 40
Looks good but I'm waiting on a PC release. I learned my lesson about buying a console for a handful of exclusives when I picked up a PS4 Pro. It's a decent enough console if you don't have anything else but game performance was underwhelming pretty much across the board.
I attempted to run the quality mode after playing performance for a couple hours. It did not run smooth, and also did not look all that much better (to me, obviously). Performance mode works perfectly for me, and I'll finish the game this way. Also, playing as Atreus is a blast. I'm glad they added this feature.
Maybe its because Plague tale Requiem from a graphical perspective is superior to this game, it's a true next-gen looking game like Horizon FW, GOW Ragnarok on the other hand is graphically a ps4 game, even running on PS5 it barely looks better than GOW 2018 on PC
@@fortunefiderikumo plague tale while good is an indie game it does blur out at times and the frame rate isn't great and has awful lip syncing it just isn't at the quality of a god of war or the last of us it is a good game though.
I really hesitate between the performance mode + hfr + vrr and the quality mode + hfr + vrr. to see controller in hand if there is a big difference between the unlocked 40fps and the unlocked 60fps.
I do have a 2.1 oled, and I find using performance high frame rate mode, there is too much of a delay on the earc sound. This is not a problem with normal performance mode, so I do prefer that one.
It kind of makes me sad that Santa Monica delivers this gorgeous, thoughtful, fun, and technically solid game and I can only give them the same price that other companies charge for buggy, unfinished, cynical, scam-filled, time-wasting crap. I hope they put out a DLC if only so I can give the team some more money! Everyone who enjoyed God of War 2018 should pick this one up, It is well worth the price.
Why include spoilers? There’s really no need to show cut scenes/story sequences to talk about the tech of a game 🙃 I’ll have to watch this after I’m done with the game. Thanks for the warning tho.
I wish it came with a 4K +fully unlocked framerate for forward compatibility. Great analysis, but I wish some scenes were omitted or cut away from earlier. It's not exactly spoilery, but I could've done without seeing Odin's entrance and dialogues or knowing about Atreus being playable.
@@MrAlswizzo That's the good (and annoying) thing about this TV. It still rocks, but I wish it had some bells and whistles like HDMI 2.1, VRR, etc. At least I can wait until something truly amazing comes out.
@@bibowski i don't mean to rain on your parade, but that tv compared to a high end oled with all the "bells and whistles" doesn't at all "rock". it's a decent screen for the price, good value for the budget-oriented person, but nothing much more. I'd say it's a suitable living room tv for consuming living room content. for gaming, it lacks. source: I have it, plus 2 oleds to compare it to, and even a 2010 plasma tv to boot, which i would also generally prefer to it (for dark room use) because of the vastly superior motion performance and better dark performance, even though it doesn't compare to an oled with its raised blacks)
I am not sure if God of war 2018 used pre-baked lighting or lightmaps for their game, a developer expo talk stated that all the lighting was dynamic and the only thing that was pre-baked was the GI volumes.
That's all just in your head after 'others' brainwashed you that the game was so bad. While the reality is that everything is fine. Plus they've released 2 patches that will silence most of you whiners. According to a large number of those whiners, there are no or hardly any performance issues and fps drops anymore. I was not bothered or bothered at all by it. I did not recognize myself in the complaints at all. Most of you whiners were just hating on this game just for the sake of it. In your own opinion you have repeated what another said to you and believed it to be the truth. While there are also a large group of people who had no problems with the game at all. Nevertheless, I'm happy with those new patches so that Gotham Knights will only get better. Amen!
@@xenuCS Elden Ring is a phenemonal game too! My money's on Ragnarok, I'm assuming yours on Elden Ring. Let's see who'd be richer come game awards (except Geoff Keighley :D)
For those that came for the performance review and none of the spoilers, it starts at the 13:20
What was a spoiler?
Thank you
@@willie123213 Do you really want to know? I was the one that sacrificed myself so you don't have to. But if you really want to know let me know.
I didnt even notice that this vid had any spoilers and i just finished it 😂
@@prizmoe5608 exactly.
Thats why I was in still in love with single player linear games.Immersion, story, graphics, environments. Just a proper escapism entertainment.
Hear hear!
I fundamentally disagree with escapism. It’s unhealthy viewing vidya as an escape from the world, rather than the beauty resulting from the combined passion of its inhabitants.
Like game devs, we need to be pour love into our day to day lives. Find beauty in the mundane, even if you don’t immediately see results. Rather than live for the weekend, Live for every day in your life.
Sorry for getting all preachey. I just hate escapism because I was once always looking to escape too.
@@HoodedSpidey The world my friend has disease, famine, death, pain, misery, and evil as well. It doesn't hurt to escape its painful reality from time to time. There is beauty in the world yes, but there is also ugliness.
I *was* in love for God Of War III. Not for 2018 one. Game became to different from PS2 masterpiece it was back in the day.
@@AliAbidalkareem it’s just strange to escape to a painful and miserable world such as god of war. I think a world like stardew village would be better
Santa Monica and insomniac have earned the benefit of the doubt on everything. They put love in their games
I mean people said the same thing about CDProjectRed...
@@thehumblepotatoreborn9313 with cdpr that was after 1 game, Witcher1-2 were a mess and witcher3 was a mess at launch. Santa Monica and insomniac have multiple games that were (in my experience) pretty much flawless
@@thehumblepotatoreborn9313 CD Project Red does not have a track record as good as Santa Monica.
@@thehumblepotatoreborn9313 it was all the gamers fault. How about you stop giving companies money months or even years before you get to see the product? Use your brain sometimes and then we can talk. Look at EA for example. They can even enslave little kids and torture them but people will still buy or even preorder their games. Again, gamers decide with their money
@@thehumblepotatoreborn9313 nah 1 game being witcher 3.
IMO I dont give af that it's technically a "ps4" game, this is the PERFECT balance of graphical beauty and playability/performance. If every PS5 game looked THIS good and ran THIS good, i'd have virtually no complaints. I understand there's differences when rendering massive open worlds, but I feel like smooth performance should ALWAYS be a top priority. Plague Tale looks jaw dropping-ly dense at times, but at the same time I don't think it looks dramatically better than this, and it runs DRAMATICALLY worse
Full.ps5 game will have better graphics and fps than that. Still its extremely impressive after playing it 30h some textures are about the same than demon soul...
This doesn't seem like they held back with PS4... The PS5 version is the most impressive video game performance and graphics wise we've ever gotten, still holding true probably through the entire console generation in my opinion. They'll do it again with the next god of war 😅😅
Thank you Digital Foundry for what you do. I can always count on you guys for quality content with deep analysis on the performance of most major releases. You guys are so chill and always professional.
Well said man
Let this sink in, Santa Monica Studios (God of War Ragnarok) and FromSoftware (Elden Ring) have the chance to win Back to Back Game of the Year Awards for games released by a single game studio.
God of War taking it easily from Elden Ring. Does everything Elden Ring does just as good with a better story.
Is it metal or porcelain?
The PS hypetrain has left the station!! ChooChoo!
@Josue M God of war and elden ring are by far different games not even in the same genre. Both games are masters of their genre but they are like maximum 10% similar
@@josuem7398 Completely different games, wtf are you talking about?
Can't wait for the development documentary for this game. The first one was awesome.
Horizon's documentary was much much better and i don't even like that game.
@@MaxIronsThird nope? Raising Kratos is easily one of if not the best VG docs I've seen.
@@aadipie 2018's GOW doc feels very artificial and fabricated.
Why do you think so? Interested to know why, it felt pretty genuine to me considering they interviewed a ton of low level and top level devs.
@@aadipie They chose to show only what made them look good and it's too shallow and dumbed down, felt like a TV movie based on a documentary.
The Horizon one(not made by Sony) shows the creative aspects, is very detailed, shows most of the development and goes very deep on some cool subjects.
This is the God of War Ragnarok video I've been looking forward to the most, happy to see you had it ready for the review embargo
The showcase of vistas and graphics starting around 5:20 mark its amazing. Great geometric environment and character detail and beautiful GI. Great work John! and congrats to SSM for the amazing product. Polished to perfection.
But is it as good as God of War (2018) running at native 4K 60fps 🤔
6:42 really blows me away
@@Brandywine92 Better. 1860p average using TAAU upscaling to hit 4k at rock solid 60fps.
To learn more about how phenomenal TAAU is please watch the digital foundry video for Kena Bridge of Spirits.
@@devonmarr9872 Awesome. Thank you for your comment. I wanted to know this because I found the PS5 update for God of War 2018 amazing. On your info I'd be happy to buy the game.
Basically I wasn't blown away with Forbidden West, even after all the patches. It didn't seem like an upgrade to Zero Dawn in my opinion.
@@Brandywine92 much much better. No comparison
I know there's a spoiler warning at the beginning but after seeing other reviews of the game that managed to keep it pretty spoiler-free I honestly wasn't expecting to see THIS many spoilers in this video, especially for a tech review....kinda pretty bummed right now:(
Lol
I didnt read, I just assumed they wouldn’t be like oh here’s Odin like immediately lol. Whatever. That’s what we get for our curiosity
Thanks for the heads up! I'm not going to continue
@@danieladams5379 hahaha
@@danieladams5379 🤬🤬🤬
That 1440p 80-90 fps mode with VRR is extremely attractive. Honestly, the current gen hardware + 120 Hz TVs with with VRR support is becoming a game changer for console gaming. It is also remarkable how good this game still looks in the 80-90 fps HFR mode.
Thank you for this comment, you saved me from potential spoilers. I was curious how this was going to run and see if I should snag it for the PS5 or wait for possible PC release.
So Performance HFR VRR is the one?
Agreed. Console gaming has forever changed
@@Harvester88 You are welcome and it does seem like a good idea to go into this game blind. I suggest liking this video regardless as digital foundry deserves all the engagement for this awesome technical analysis.
As a side note I have learned elsewhere that the game also supports gyro/motion aim for axe throws. That feature was also a game changer for me particularly in Last of Us 2, made me feel like John Wick playing that game XD
@@grxxg Yup
This is how you released a game polished everything to perfection both visually and performance
It's mid as fuck graphics wise. But that's all it needs to be.
@@dougr8646 mid AF? U blind or something. People expectations these days. Geez
@@dougr8646 mid?? No i guess its at least 8.5/10
Have you played the whole game? Cybercrap was said to be "polished" to perfection both visually and performance vise by the reviewers too.
@@Amhoj1 Ever played on a Mid/High-Tier PC-Setup? GoW:R is so hardly mid on PS5.... it has to run in 4K on a system that has the stats of a 5 year old system as comparison.
Great video! I always appreciate Digital Foundry’s detailed and thoughtful review and analysis. I love hearing about the technical aspects and achievements of different game developers. There are some really skilled developers out there.
Thanks!
They kinda keep room for perfect seamless performance, not a single hiccup
I'm a lead game developer, and I watch these reviews religiously... they serve as a lesson about tech art. Thank you so much for this content.
John, your narration and descriptive language is just wonderful. The time you put into writing is as valuable as the crazy attention to detail on the technicals. Hands down one of the best games journalists ever
Dial it down a few notches swimfan, it's a video game review
@@sellingacoerwa8318 Why? He's right. John is the ONLY person I come here to listen to and why I'm still subbed - especially with his old school PC developer interviews, something Alex (the "PC expert") should be doing/joining but doesn't. John's talent, knowledge and history in gaming tech is hard to match on youtube.
Mmm, those lisps sure do sound great to my ears. And I wish he could work in the word bespoke even more.
Well said man
Digital Foundry is one of the most important reviews I’ve been looking forward to! The tech behind it is amazing!
Acg, sKU then Digital
Nah... they are sellouts. Look how they praise DLSS3 for "performance"... but fake Frames are no raw performance. Imho this upscaling crap is not good at all... just because neither nvidia or amd are capable to make 4K - 60FPS cards that normal human beings could afford.
Wish they didn’t spoil a bunch of this game thou wtf
You guys are the top notch option when it comes to graphics/performance game reviews, keep up the good work!
Warning for everyone wanting to watch this: Digital Foundry included some massive story spoilers in this review, that are a really weird choice even with the warning. These definitely aren't some minor spoilers.
They have a very clear spoiler warning at the the start stfu
I was so excited to watch it and then I saw that warning and was like ok nvm lol
What spoilers?
Kratos being a calm and reasonable person?
Boy kicking ass?
Old man?
Witch?
I didn't see much.
This tech review should have come after the game release. I wont watch it, because I want to experience game first hand.
Goddamn it foundry
So good to see the devs putting in the effort to allow the player to decide how to play the game. 30/40/60/120hz is an amazing amount to choose from and everyone will be happy. Some recent games have been locked 30hz and it's unplayable, lazy and unplayable
Unplayable?
@@Ghost-Zilla12 yep, my eyes literally burn at 30fps gameplay, it's like wading through mud
For me I can’t stand 60 fps for some games lol. Spider-Man and horizon and god of war I legit can’t play 60 fps. I only play 30 or 40 fps
How is it possible to think that
Trying to reply to Jewish mafia gang lord lol
@@ayourmum8521 as you grow older you will realize not everyone is like you and people have different opinions, guy
someone else saw the rainbow formation with the splash of water at the 23:41? man the amount of detail that they putted in this game is amazing!
That is crazy! Good eye!
The tiny details man, Santa Monica Studios one of the best developers today 👏👏👏
Kratos dies
@@MasDouc wtf fuck man, why would you do that? what joy does it bring to you to spoil others experiences, i feel sad for you, i really do, i hope you find peace in your life some day. Take care
@@kardoso75 he doesn't die. It's fine...carry on :)
Awesome stuff. Great work as always! ❤
Flawless performance. WB games take notes 📝
Ha, right? Gorgeous graphics with nice frame rates even though it still has to run on last-gen hardware, whereas GK is current-gen only, looks like a game from 2010, and is capped at 30 FPS. Pathetic effort on WB's part.
but this is not an open world game? its linear af
@@visceraeyes525 Arkham Knight, a game released 7 years ago, manages to look substantially better than Gotham Knights and is also open world; and it was made for last-gen consoles. They have no excuses
@@pooticus2087 facts!
@@visceraeyes525 🎻
“Oh yea baby! This is what I’ve been waiting for…that’s what it’s all about!”
Not only a fantastic game, with stunning visuals and polished through and through. A showcase of how a game should be released! Respect Santa Monica!
Santa Monica studios have proven to be the best developers from sony, and yes even better than naughty dog
40hz mode will be my goto option. I want all the graphical bells and whistles (even if they're a minor improvement over performance mode) but still want the game to feel responsive.
If you want to avoid most of the spoilers just listen to the video and don't watch it. And 60 fps performance is the recommended mode on PS5 with 60 Hz display.
Thanks for this I dont want do watch it so 60fps better than 40fps with vrr?
you are a hero
He recommends using the HFR mode if you have VRR/120Hz
@@DanielLealpara you would prefer 80fps with vrr
@@DanielLealpara If you are playing on PS5 with a 120+ Hz display then use the VRR performance mode which runs on average around 80-90 fps.
Excellent analysis as usual. You guys are really something else. Cheers for the fantastic video!
MY God this game looks absolutely gorgeous! Even at 1080p.
Can only imagine what Sony Santa Monica studios would produce on ps5 only. Can't wait to play this game !!
What about 40+VRR (unlocked quality) mode?
It is listed in the officials docs, and sounds like a very interesting choice for 120hz VRR capable displays.
It’s beautiful, use it
Feels nice to be able to play one of the biggest releases of the year in the best way, will definitely go for the high framerate mode.
Pc will be the best way tbh
@@heroicsquirrel3195 If you are prepared to wait a year (which I am). HZD, Mafia collection, Yakuza1-6, Cyberpunk, Plague Tale, Deathloop & KIngdom Come should see me through the year.
@@Leaddevo I’m definitely waiting, would rather play it on my 3070/i5-12600k than my ps4 slim😂, Im gonna chill with MW2, tekken, sf6 won’t be too far away, CP2077, plenty to do but I’m a big Norse fan and have played the previous title 4 times so there will be tough moments I’m sure lol
@@Leaddevo really think itll be one year and not four?? Dont get my hopes up for nothing
@@heroicsquirrel3195 sure but waiting for atleast 1-2 years is crazy when you have a PS4 or Pro in general
Finally, a game gets released that's actually finished and runs flawlessly 💯🙏
Great tech video again, John. I especially enjoy your developer interviews, and hoping for one for GoWR. Its clear how much you understand in this technical art form, not just posting the typical "spot the difference" comparisons from "analysis" tubers, while having deep insights into the most impactful development techniques. Your talent, knowledge, and history with gaming tech is hard to match anywhere and keeps me coming back. Appreciate the hard work.
Kratos dies
5:44 the B-word we all waited for
Never clicked faster in my life....
I'm so ready for this to drop!!
Why? It's a PS4 game and can guarantee its just a glorified DLC.
console warriors are so lame.🥱
@@Sheen334 Coming from a guy that probly doesn't even own a PS5 lol
@@Sheen334 the salt is strong with this one
This is the video i was waiting for! I might have to go for the 60FPS mode because my tv setup but man im hype for the game. This and Elden Ring are my GOTYs.
Sounds like they added an extra performance mode maybe through day 1 patch. It's the high quality preset at unlocked 40fps for HFR and VRR. Would be interesting to see how this one performs.
Exactly cause they dont show it here. I am also very interested in it because i got an 120hz vrr device. If it runs at almost 4k and a nearly stable 50 fps this is probably the mode to pick.
@@snippi1785 Agreed. I'm in the same boat.
@@snippi1785 Which one did you end up picking?
@@nonameddog i picled the performance 60fps mode without hfr. The mode with 40fps and vrr wasnt working well
@@snippi1785 I did the same. Felt strange not using the HFR and VRR option my TV is capable of using haha, but it does seem the performance 60fps dynamic 4K is the best..
I watched this when the game came out but I decided to watch it again as I may go back and play the game again. Wow, you guys do incredible work. Seriously great video.
16:28 maybe you don't understand theres not just one way to do motion blur. Its more realistic when higher framerate doesn't try to look as blurry as a movie.
Man….. this game looks insane… x.x
For anyone curious, yes, if you're worried about any type of spoiler, heed the warning at the beginning of this video. I am happy to watch this as DF videos on new games I'm excited about interest me, but there are a few things here I wish I didn't see, but I'm guessing it's stuff mentioned in previews and reviews.
Thank you bro , ur a life saver
Was about to ignore the warning and as someone who didnt even watch any trailer to not spoil anything , I appreciate the heads up
How spoilery we talking ? 1 hour in ? 10 hours in ? Story stuff ?
I figured the comments section was riskier than a tech review. But you were right, so here's a like and comment to bump yours a bit.
It’s not stuff mentioned at all, some of the things shown should not be seen. Why in gods name they decided to release this vid six days before release, even with a damn spoiler tag, when literally NO ONE has played this game yet, is quite frankly maddening. Not one single person that has watched this hasn’t been spoiled.
At least now I know to avoid this website and channel at all costs in the future. I don’t want anything to do with amateurs with zero respect for the games they are reviewing. I know DF know their tech stuff, but they clearly dgaf about gamers or games. This video should’ve been released a week or two at least after launch. No sooner. Or just put out a tech vid without spoilers! The spoilers were COMPLETELY unnecessary. And I only watched 5 minutes, god knows what else is in there. Avoid entirely people.
@@Tom-bv1sc you right, not even 5 minutes and I saw something I didn’t wanted to see. Goddamit.
A couple of times, the 40fps mode randomly jumped down to 30fps, usually after going to a dwarven shop. Doesn't happen very often and maybe was fixed in a recent patch (if there's been a patch). It's a noticeable difference and I'm not sure if it's happened to anyone else. It's also slightly disappointing that there's no big visual benefit to playing on PS5 over PS4 pro. But TBH, the game itself and the cutscenes (!!!) are so extraordinary that it doesn't matter. Such amazing characters, acting, music, design and cinematography so far.
Was happy with 40fps mode but I literally just experienced what you did so that's why I'm here! 😅
@@jamescooper2932 yeah, I noticed that it would dip in while 40fps mode. it was fine when it was not bumpy. I just opted for the high-performance mode since it helps substantially better- even with the dips.
I just tried playing with High Frame Rate (Performance) mode and it looks blurry on my 50” Samsung AU9000. If I leave it off, the game looks great. Weird.
A friend of mine was having issues with the HFR mode on his TV (also Samsung). He had to turn it off as well. Hopefully will be fixed in a patch.
as mentioned in the vid, I think AU9000 does not support 120 hz and VRR. Should just turn off HFR, then stick to the traditional mode
You just admitted your TV is shit
@@kellen4854bad display. Your TV is HDMI 2.0 and doesn’t have good 1440p scaling. So like buddy said, you just admitted your TV is sh**
Love how they fixed the reflections. They were really distracting in the previous game especially in Alfheim with all that shiny marble.
John I so glad you back. Keep the good work and I sure to support your job.
I don't care about goty, being able to enjoy Elden Ring, Horizon FW and GoW Ragnarok and such a great catalog in general in one year is just fantastic.
I also hope both PS exclusives are available soon for PC gamers to enjoy.
Elden Ring GOTY
Horizzzzzzzzzzzzzon
Just got done watching SkillUp, in which he recommended watching DF for a tech review. Perfect timing, I say.
I waited 3 years to play God of War 2018 because I knew it would take a chunk of time to finish and I had such a backlog to get through already, while fitting it all in with work. Plus, if I am being honest, I just didn't get the hype in the beginning. So I kept pushing it off. But man, late or not, what a journey! The story is top notch, the graphics were incredibly well done and the sheer amount of immersive detail in every environment left me speechless on several occasions. I simply was not expecting so much depth in the details. It truly makes the experience amazing. I was also glad I waited to play it on the PS5, with the graphical updates. And from everything I have seen, Ragnarok takes all that detail to an even higher level. Not to mention, all the options in gameplay output, is just impressive. Considering so many new games are all over the place performance wise. So with all that said, I am very excited to jump back into this world!
You guys do incredible work! Always cant wait to see your tech review. Thank you!
Can't wait to play this on my PS5!
Massively polished game as expected.
That's one perk you can rely on for the huge AAA first-party Sony titles from their top teams.
Not allways horizon forbidden West performance mode on ps5 had a terrible graphic glitch and it took them 4 months to fix it
Exactly, thats why I got ps5. Sometimes I just want no brainer high quality games to have fun with.
@@digitalgehn you called scorn "a visual masterpiece" enough said 😂
@@killerklinge52 days gone ain’t launch great either and returnal had crashing issues
Yes exactly but at least they are fixing theyr games after a while instead of other developers, but for my part i am just buying most of the games some months later after release because of that and i have a huge backlog.
This review came out fast, can't wait to play GOWR.
They probably had it ready to go for a little bit, just couldn't show anything because of the embargo
I’ll be playing this on my 1980’s 27 inch CRTV! 😁👍
This is a great tech review as usual. There really isn't anyone else out there that deep dives into graphics and gameplay performance like you guys do. My only complaint here is in the future try not to post gameplay spoilers. I don't remember them announcing that Atreus would be playable so it would've been great to go in blind.
They miss lots of important details regarding the textures between 2018 and ragnarok. After playing 600 hours at 2018 gow and 30 at ragnarok I can tell you metal and rocks textures are significantly improved
94 on metacritic. The masterpiece we all waited for.
I got the LG C2 specifically to have good VRR support on a TV, plus I don't buy TVs very often. I feel like any gamer buying a TV today should make sure that the TV supports VRR.
Even with VRR I don't expect games to have hugely fluctuating framrates. What I do hope happens is that games can target non-standard framerates. For example, a dev could target 75fps and know that the TV will be able to display every frame.
nah, as long as the frames keep above 85, you'll barely notice them drop. below 85 it starts to become kinda jarring, but it's still okay up until 75 as long as it's only brief drop that doesn't stick. going down from there REALLY hurts. i will take unlocked frames over a locked 75 every time (with vrr, i mean)
You shouldn’t be buying a TV for gaming. TVs are for movies, monitors are for gaming.
@@Khloya69 It's 2022, not 2012.
@@xShikari and TVs still suck
@@Khloya69 LG OLEDs are better than any monitor you can afford.
"This video contains some spoilers. You have been warned". How about you mark the segments in the video as chapters and name it "spoiler"? Come on guys. Still didn't delve in, but if this game puts itself in the position to steal GOTY from Elden Ring, I'd be satisfied already. EDIT: I don't know, lighting, even with all the improvements, still looks off to me. Look here 12:41, what even is that. No AO, look at the base of the pots, on the ground and on the shelves. There's a source of light on the left, but models have no shadows, the enemy falls into the wall, no shadow whatsoever.
To go back also to the 30/60 fps topic of DF Direct, I think game devs are tackling the wrong things: in the case of GOWR, less model detail but better lighting will be always superior to a shit ton of model detail and average lighting. The same way upscaled resolutions at 60 fps will always be superior to native at 30 fps. Need to get some headroom to push lush visuals? Upscale 1440 or even 1080 to 4k and stay at 60 fps. Console games gets played on TV at a distance, the tiny upscaling artifacts will be imperceptible. 30 fps on the other hand... It's psychovisuals, I don't make the rules.
2:35 Lower shoulder pad has light leaking through the first shoulder pad layer, there should be a shadow there which it has not.
Can you post a spoiler-free executive summary? Maybe a quick recommendation of settings based on what features your hardware supports and what matters to you? I'd love to watch this, but I stopped at the spoiler warning.
I'll happily accept graphics at this level for the entire generation as long as it's 60fps. All 30fps titles need not apply on my consoles
That’s without using VRS and mesh shaders and other recent tech. Plenty of room to grow.
40 fps hfr vrr 😏
I wouldn't mind 30 fps in a game that looks like that Matrix demo. When devs finally start next gen and push the graphics, 30 fps is gonna be much more prevalent than it is now.
30 fps in something that looks like crap, cough Gotham Knights, is much more unacceptable
Just get a PC if you feel that way, consoles have held graphics back far too much as it is and games only now passing the level of graphics Crysis had years ago is not a good thing.
why i'm not that radical with this idea and i'm totally willing to try 30 (40? please, at least 40) fps games if they're good, i would vastly prefer it too.
This game looks insane. Looks like a playable CGI movie. This is what i thought ps4 games were going to look like when we transitioned to 8th gen.
Bro, it literally looks the same as GOW 2018 wtf lol. So i don't understand the second comment
We will be blown away by true ps5 exclusives as time goes on, just look at demons souls, it's mind-blowing
@@coolsteve1342 or ratchet rift apart
@@Superschemer34 It was okay… Returnal was better though
@@coolsteve1342 demon souls is overrated in the graphics department. It's almost on rails game so pretty average to me.
The only game that's impressed me is Rachet & Clank, mainly due to the art style where it can really shine.
Pre-ordered this game, can't wait
Same.
Is there any visual difference between 60 hz RGB Color mode and 120hz YUV Color mode? Generally I prefer a best depth of color. What do you suggest?
Waiting for the base PS4 analysis before deciding on whether to buy it or not.
Technology has improved pretty significantly if we are saying this game is not a technical marvel. Amazing looking games are just seemingly expected at this point which speaks to how much we have become spoiled about graphics without even realizing it.
I think it looks way better than Horizon Forbidden West, and reviewers creamed themselves over the visuals in than game.
It is crazy that in 10 or 15 years these graphics will be considered bad. I remember playing games in the PS3 era thinking games looked so ‘real’ and how could they top that with the better looking games of the era. Gaming has come a long way in a relatively short period of time.
@@mandrews6282 I feel like this is somewhat different situation in that even back then I got annoyed at things like low resolution textures and certain assets that looked like soup, and 7th gen games had issue with detailed character models up close outside of very late PS3 games. With PS4 generation assets have been refined to the point where you can't really see the flaws in them just looking at general scenes
As they pointed it out - its a pretty game and a triumph overall but it just doesnt use more modern technologies and cross gen
@@FEWGEE1 hold on, he even mentioned this in the video, Horizon Fotbidden West gives you a full open world game with same visuals as the smaller areas god of war creates, specially when combat is involved. That’s something you can not ignore as it is the main difference that makes this game possible in PS4, look at what happens if you don’t do it: Cyberpunk. So, I love both games, and I think this was an excellent work but I do see the trade off in order to make it Cross gen
This is a perfect example and a masterclass of how modern games should be: Epic story, ultra engaging gameplay, stunning visuals and perfect performance, truly a game that cannot be more polished. This is a single player game and it appears to be one of the best games of the generation, no live service crap, no forced coop, no season pass, no multiplayer, just plain epic single player. Even with a modest budget I'm sure Santa Monica would have delivered a great experience but this is also a slap to the face to developers that waste big budgets in mediocre games, Santa Monica showed how to properly use it by having a great plan from the beginning and carefully executing with so much care.
Oh it could've been a lot more polished had it been designed solely for PS5.
@@sean70729 It already looks better than 99% of next gen games
lame story, terrible fight mechanics shit ending and past gen graphics....
I tried playing on Resolution mode, but for some reason it looks WAY choppier on my TV compared to what I see in your video which is a little weird. Turning the camera (no matter what speed I do it at) feels so choppy that I can't even make out what I'm looking at (compared to 16:43 where it looks WAY smoother here).
You likely had high framerate mode turned on.
Stunning work from Sony Santa Monica. Four years is a good, solid chunk of time to iterate on what was already a fantastic baseline experience with the original game.
I'm honestly blown away at how little difference in image quality there is between the Performance and Quality modes. Kind of makes 60 fps seem like a no-brainer.
It would be anyway for me, action games at 30 fps aren’t very fun imo
i completely agree
Now the question for me is would I rather have it be 1440-2160p or have the extra 20-30fps. 🤔🤔🤔 Both of them are kind of diminishing returns I think.
@@fall-neckthetallneck2977 Nah, from the way the image quality holds up with the temporal upsampling, I think it makes a lot more sense to get those extra 20-30 frames.
@@HorseheadNebula85 OH okay. I didn't know that they upscaled it 4k. That makes my decision a lot easier then. Thank you very much. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I am just amazed at how good your videos are. Lots of work! Thank you!
Keep up the good work guys!
Love the content!
Thanks for the absolutely comprehensive comparison video. I'm definitely going to go with the 40fps render option when I get the game.
I was also set on going with the 40fps mode, but after this video I am considering the 120fps. Cant decide :/
@@Kevin00- beat the game on normal/hard on 40fps to enjoy game and graphics, then do new game plus on hardest difficulty with 120
honestly 40fps has always felt like such a nice compromise. I find 30 too low
It's a bummer he didn't talk about the unlocked 40fps mode with VRR May be it could reach 50fps...
60 fps is my minimum on a large tv screen.
I was lucky enough to get my cracked OLED tv screen replaced recently so I'm definitely gonna be playing this at Fidelity + 40fps. That mode worked well in Miles Morales & Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves collection.
VRR really is a game changer for consoles.
11:40 And that's why 30 FPS will return on PS5 sooner or later, except if You buy a PS5 pro. If You want a true graphical leap, it needs sacrifices. But because now nobody wants 30 FPS anymore, we will not have a graphical leap. PS5 games are like PS4 graphics at its 100% potential, with some minor fidelity boosts, but now at 60FPS instead of 30. You cannot cheat on technical progress : PCs can evolve each Year, but consoles are evolving every 5 Years and the hardware of the PS5 will get old very quickly.
Thank you for the warning. But I wasn't expecting that many spoilers to be honest. I think you could have made it with parts of the first hours. The second player part for example. But I had to see it to know what mode to play on.
Lol your fault
@@omensoffate no it’s quite literally their fault. Literally everyone who’s watched this has been spoiled. There was absolutely no reason for this spoiler filled vid as the entire tech review could’ve been done with footage not filled with spoilers, with ease.
95% of websites would never even release this video… for goddamn obvious reasons! I mean Jesus, why tf does this even need to be explained.
Scummy mate, really scummy. Most websites wouldn’t Do this for obvious reasons. No one’s played it, so everyone’s been spoiled. VERY amateur from this arrogant site.
@@Tom-bv1sc you clicked
@@omensoffate congrats. Try reading the rest of my comment.
i take precalculated and carefuly crafted lighting over dynamic time of day,
specialy in linear games, for me it only makes sense dynamic lighting in open world games
as it definitely needs to have a day and night cycle, the improvement here is goergeous to the point
that even on youtube it impresses
That problem is mostly solved by high end ray tracing though, just need the tech to catch up
WHY did you have to mention that story and gameplay spoiler just to talk about the no cut camera???
Great video, and I love that you switched between modes fast so it’s easier to compare them. Well done!
One word PlayStation
@@machinefannatic99 Another word: tomato 🤷♂
What mode do you recommend for someone who has a black and white CRT?
Definitely the 30fps mode
Dude this game looks absolutely amazing
Great, video and I appreciate the effort. But for some reason you guys keep forgetting about the Quality Mode unlocked option. I'd like to see what I can push above 40FPS since I have a VRR display. If it can hit 50-60 that would likely be my preferred option.
Yeah I wonder why this mode wasn't mentioned
@@dhammalama this mode will be the obvious use for C2 42” owners like my self. Sitting close to my TV - I can notice the lower pixel density of 1440p. However I don’t want 30 fps. I think the quality + vrr + frame rate mode is the one to go for. I imagine 40-50 fps - which feels much better than 60. The resolution advantages alone make it better than the other modes. I just feel 1440 90+ is too low for a 4K display.
The best mode is either quality + vrr uncapped or the regular 60 mode. But personally I’m going for that uncapped 40
Looks good but I'm waiting on a PC release. I learned my lesson about buying a console for a handful of exclusives when I picked up a PS4 Pro. It's a decent enough console if you don't have anything else but game performance was underwhelming pretty much across the board.
Give it few years also watch out for spoilers
I attempted to run the quality mode after playing performance for a couple hours. It did not run smooth, and also did not look all that much better (to me, obviously). Performance mode works perfectly for me, and I'll finish the game this way.
Also, playing as Atreus is a blast. I'm glad they added this feature.
16:32 isn't this intended? You can't keep the same shutter speed when increasing the framerate. It has to drop for it to look accurate.
Ragnarok looks incredible and makes games like plagues tale look like a blurry slideshow.
That's quite a statement. Plague Tale Requiem looks stunning
The frame rate isn't the best.. I'll wait till there's a 60fps mode
Maybe its because Plague tale Requiem from a graphical perspective is superior to this game, it's a true next-gen looking game like Horizon FW, GOW Ragnarok on the other hand is graphically a ps4 game, even running on PS5 it barely looks better than GOW 2018 on PC
@@fortunefiderikumo I can only advise you not to leave comments while sleepwalking buddy.
@@fortunefiderikumo plague tale while good is an indie game it does blur out at times and the frame rate isn't great and has awful lip syncing it just isn't at the quality of a god of war or the last of us it is a good game though.
They did an amazing job with this game
There should be a 1080p mode that has maximum settings and maximum frame rate. Not everyone has a 4k display.
Then they shouldn't have bought a PS5 🤷
I really hesitate between the performance mode + hfr + vrr and the quality mode + hfr + vrr. to see controller in hand if there is a big difference between the unlocked 40fps and the unlocked 60fps.
I do have a 2.1 oled, and I find using performance high frame rate mode, there is too much of a delay on the earc sound. This is not a problem with normal performance mode, so I do prefer that one.
It kind of makes me sad that Santa Monica delivers this gorgeous, thoughtful, fun, and technically solid game and I can only give them the same price that other companies charge for buggy, unfinished, cynical, scam-filled, time-wasting crap. I hope they put out a DLC if only so I can give the team some more money! Everyone who enjoyed God of War 2018 should pick this one up, It is well worth the price.
Why include spoilers? There’s really no need to show cut scenes/story sequences to talk about the tech of a game 🙃 I’ll have to watch this after I’m done with the game. Thanks for the warning tho.
11 months later did you come to finish the video?
@@RokkieSparrow yeah a few days after when I finished the game 🤣
@@Tectosaurus woooo
I wish it came with a 4K +fully unlocked framerate for forward compatibility.
Great analysis, but I wish some scenes were omitted or cut away from earlier. It's not exactly spoilery, but I could've done without seeing Odin's entrance and dialogues or knowing about Atreus being playable.
I would like a bit more explanation and demonstration of the stutter mentioned with 120hz displays without VRR
that 1440p 120fps mode was definitely made with a future PS5 Pro in mind
Looking forward to the Evil West Review.
Can’t help but be blown away still with a cross gen game! 60 FPS mode on my PS5 still rocking my KS8000 👍🏼
Hey I have the same TV! I'm pretty stoked
@@bibowski haven’t had the need to replace it just yet.
@@MrAlswizzo That's the good (and annoying) thing about this TV. It still rocks, but I wish it had some bells and whistles like HDMI 2.1, VRR, etc. At least I can wait until something truly amazing comes out.
@@bibowski i don't mean to rain on your parade, but that tv compared to a high end oled with all the "bells and whistles" doesn't at all "rock". it's a decent screen for the price, good value for the budget-oriented person, but nothing much more. I'd say it's a suitable living room tv for consuming living room content. for gaming, it lacks.
source: I have it, plus 2 oleds to compare it to, and even a 2010 plasma tv to boot, which i would also generally prefer to it (for dark room use) because of the vastly superior motion performance and better dark performance, even though it doesn't compare to an oled with its raised blacks)
@@GraveUypo k
I am not sure if God of war 2018 used pre-baked lighting or lightmaps for their game, a developer expo talk stated that all the lighting was dynamic and the only thing that was pre-baked was the GI volumes.
The review I have been waiting for.
It was worth the wait, especially after the Gotham Knights debacle.
That's all just in your head after 'others' brainwashed you that the game was so bad. While the reality is that everything is fine. Plus they've released 2 patches that will silence most of you whiners. According to a large number of those whiners, there are no or hardly any performance issues and fps drops anymore. I was not bothered or bothered at all by it. I did not recognize myself in the complaints at all. Most of you whiners were just hating on this game just for the sake of it. In your own opinion you have repeated what another said to you and believed it to be the truth. While there are also a large group of people who had no problems with the game at all. Nevertheless, I'm happy with those new patches so that Gotham Knights will only get better. Amen!
@@--PaZuZu-- Or maybe the game is just straight awful. No excuse for a game to cost 70USD and running at sub performance.
@@DarkJustin87 Nope. It's all in your head dude. Game running fine on my ps5. Especially after the two patches. Sorry dude. Cry some more dude.
@@--PaZuZu-- its trash cope
Ragnarok is coming...and winning GOTY!!!
Nah, The Last of Us part 1 will win every game award despite being a low quality remake 😑
*may could have won GOTY if there wasn't Elden Ring
@@jonahbrown5669 it’s very high quality. unnecessary, but not low quality
@@xenuCS Elden Ring is a phenemonal game too! My money's on Ragnarok, I'm assuming yours on Elden Ring. Let's see who'd be richer come game awards (except Geoff Keighley :D)
@@xenuCS Elden Ring is trash compared to the other soulsborne games.