Rise of the Ronin - HDR Settings/Analysis - HDR Is Good...The Rest Not

GamingTech
23 Mar 202408:55

TLDRThe video script discusses the reviewer's disappointment with a game they purchased for $125 in Australia, despite its impressive intro and HDR implementation. They critique the game's graphics, animations, and gameplay, which do not meet the expectations for a PlayStation 5 title. The reviewer provides a detailed analysis of the game's HDR performance, including peak brightness, black level floor, and the impact of different HDR settings. They compare the game unfavorably to 'Ghost of Tsushima' and express concerns about the frame rate, concluding that the game feels more like a PlayStation 4 title with a patch for 60 FPS rather than a native PlayStation 5 experience.

Takeaways

  • 💰 The user spent $125 on a game in Australia, expressing dissatisfaction with the price and the gaming experience.
  • 🎮 The game's introduction is visually impressive, but the rest of the graphics, animations, and gameplay do not meet the user's expectations for a PlayStation 5 title.
  • 🌟 HDR (High Dynamic Range) implementation in the game is generally good, with the PlayStation 5's system level calibration being a positive feature.
  • 📊 The game's maximum peak brightness output appears to be higher than the user's LG G2 TV's capability, suggesting some issues with the HDR calibration.
  • 🖥️ The game's HDR Black Level floor is well-executed, reaching almost zero nits, which enhances the contrast and visual experience.
  • 🔧 The in-game setting for screen brightness adjustment does not significantly affect the HDR Black Level floor, and increasing it does not lead to a loss of shadow detail.
  • 🎨 The choice between Dynamic Tone Mapping on, off, or HGH (High Gamut HDR) depends on personal preference and the capabilities of the user's TV.
  • 📉 The game's frame rate is not stable at 60 FPS, with noticeable stuttering, which the user finds disappointing for a PlayStation 5 game.
  • 🏆 The user considers the game's HDR implementation to be better than some AAA games but still feels let down by the overall gaming experience.
  • 🔄 The user suggests a potential comparison between this game and 'Ghost of Tsushima' for a more detailed analysis.
  • 🚫 The user's overall sentiment is disappointment, as the game does not fully utilize the capabilities of the PlayStation 5, particularly in terms of resolution and frame rate.

Q & A

  • What was the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video was to discuss the HDR implementation in a specific game on PlayStation 5.

  • How much did the user spend on the game?

    -The user spent $125 on the game in Australia.

  • What was the user's initial reaction to the game's intro?

    -The user found the intro to be absolutely great and fantastic, but was disappointed with the rest of the game's graphics and animations.

  • What was the user's opinion on the game's performance on PlayStation 5?

    -The user felt that the game's performance was not up to the expected level for PlayStation 5, and was more akin to a PlayStation 4 game with a PlayStation 5 patch.

  • How did the user describe the HDR system level calibration on PlayStation 5?

    -The user described the HDR system level calibration on PlayStation 5 as a great feature that allows for a set-and-forget approach, with only one additional setting in the game.

  • What was the maximum peak brightness output observed by the user?

    -The user observed a maximum peak brightness output of around 2,000 to 3,000 nits, which is higher than their LG G2's maximum peak brightness of approximately 950 to 1,000 nits.

  • How did the user evaluate the game's HDR Black Level floor?

    -The user found no issue with the game's HDR Black Level floor, as it could easily reach almost zero nits, which is beneficial for achieving high contrast in the game's visuals.

  • What is the screen brightness setting in the game, and how does it affect the HDR picture?

    -The screen brightness setting in the game ranges from zero to a maximum of 20. Increasing this setting to 20 does not lift the HDR black level floor, but can make the overall picture brighter. The user recommends using a setting between five and fifteen for a balanced picture.

  • What are the user's recommendations regarding Dynamic Tone Mapping and HDR settings?

    -The user prefers High Dynamic Range (HDR) with a dynamic tone mapping setting on for a brighter picture. However, they also mention that it depends on personal preference and the capabilities of one's TV.

  • What other game did the user compare this game to, and why?

    -The user compared the game to 'Ghost of Tsushima' because they felt that it had better animations and overall world design. They mentioned the possibility of doing a side-by-side comparison in a future video.

  • What was the user's final verdict on the game?

    -The user was disappointed with the game, as they expected more from a PlayStation 5 title, particularly in terms of graphics, animations, and stable performance.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Disappointment in HDR Gaming Experience

The speaker expresses dissatisfaction with a game they purchased for $125 in Australia, noting that the game's intro looks great in SDR but fails to deliver the expected HDR brightness and colors. They mention that the game's graphics and animations do not meet the standards of PlayStation 5 and that the 60 FPS mode is not stable. However, they acknowledge that the HDR performance is acceptable but still not enough to satisfy their expectations. The speaker plans to discuss HDR further in a separate video and compares the game's performance to that of 'Ghost of Tsushima', suggesting a potential future comparison video.

05:00

📊 In-Depth HDR Analysis and Calibration

The speaker delves into the technical aspects of HDR in the game, discussing the PlayStation 5's system level calibration and its ease of use. They share their experience with their LG G2 TV and the game's peak brightness output, which appears to confuse their analyzer due to possible lasing or flickering. Despite this, the game's HDR implementation is deemed good in terms of contrast and black level floor. The speaker also talks about the game's screen brightness setting and its impact on the HDR picture, recommending optimal settings for the best gaming experience. They conclude by reiterating their disappointment with the game's performance, especially in terms of frame rate and resolution, and suggest that it feels more like a PlayStation 4 game with a patch rather than a native PlayStation 5 experience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡HDR

High Dynamic Range (HDR) is a technology that enhances the color, contrast, and brightness levels of video or images. In the context of the video, the user is analyzing the game's HDR implementation on PlayStation 5, discussing its impact on the game's visual quality, such as brightness, contrast, and color depth. The user mentions that the HDR presentation in the game is 'actually okay' and that the game supports the PlayStation 5 HDR system level calibration, which is a positive aspect.

💡PlayStation 5

The PlayStation 5 is a next-generation gaming console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It offers advanced features such as ray tracing, 3D audio, and fast load times. In the video, the user is reviewing a game on this platform, expressing disappointment with the game's graphics, animations, and frame rate, which they feel do not meet the expectations for a PlayStation 5 title.

💡Disappointment

Disappointment refers to the feeling of dissatisfaction that arises when expectations are not met. In the video, the user expresses disappointment with the game they purchased for $125, as they feel the graphics, animations, and gameplay do not live up to the standards they expected from a PlayStation 5 game.

💡Graphics

Graphics in the context of video games refer to the visual elements and design of the game, including character models, environments, and special effects. The user is critical of the game's graphics, stating that they are not on par with what they expected from a next-generation console like the PlayStation 5.

💡Animations

Animations in video games are the movements and actions of characters, objects, and environments. The user mentions that the animations in the game are not up to the level they were expecting, which contributes to their overall disappointment with the game's quality.

💡Frame Rate

Frame rate is the number of frames displayed per second in a video or game, which affects the smoothness of motion. A higher frame rate generally results in smoother gameplay. The user is disappointed with the game's frame rate, stating that it is not a stable 60 frames per second (FPS), which they expected from a PlayStation 5 game.

💡Dynamic Tone Mapping

Dynamic Tone Mapping (D TM) is a technique used in HDR video games to adjust the brightness and contrast of the image in real-time based on the content being displayed. The user discusses the impact of D TM on the game's visual presentation and compares it to HDR Global Illumination High (HGH), another HDR setting.

💡HDR Calibration

HDR calibration is the process of adjusting the settings of a display device to achieve the best possible HDR experience. The user appreciates that the PlayStation 5 offers system-level HDR calibration, which simplifies the setup process for games that support it, as the game in question does.

💡Screen Brightness Setting

The screen brightness setting is an adjustable option in video games that allows users to modify the overall brightness of the game's image. The user discusses the impact of changing this setting in the game, noting that increasing it does not affect the HDR black level floor but can make the picture brighter.

💡Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima is a video game developed by Sucker Punch Productions for the PlayStation 4, which the user mentions as a comparison to the game they are reviewing. They suggest that Ghost of Tsushima has better animations and overall visual quality, and they consider doing a side-by-side comparison to further illustrate this point.

💡1080P

1080P, also known as Full HD, is a resolution standard for video games and video displays, which offers 1920x1080 pixels of resolution. The user criticizes the game's resolution, suggesting it is only 1080P or even lower, which they find disappointing for a PlayStation 5 game.

Highlights

The game's intro is visually impressive and the reviewer loves it.

The reviewer is disappointed with the game's graphics and animations, feeling they do not meet PlayStation 5 standards.

The 60 FPS mode is not perfectly stable, which the reviewer notes in their analysis.

The HDR implementation in the game is good, despite some initial concerns.

The game uses the PlayStation 5's HDR system level calibration, which simplifies the setup process.

The maximum peak brightness in the game exceeds the reviewer's LG G2 TV's capabilities.

Specular highlights in the game are around 1,000 nits, indicating effective HDR system level calibration.

The game's HDR Black Level floor is excellent, reaching almost zero nits.

The screen brightness setting in the game does not lift the HDM black lever floor even when increased.

The reviewer suggests that the screen brightness setting at five or fifteen provides good shadow details and picture brightness.

Dynamic tone mapping should be turned on for a brighter picture, but the reviewer personally prefers HGH.

The game's frame rate is not stable at 60 FPS, with noticeable stuttering.

The game's graphics are considered subpar for a PlayStation 5 title, more akin to a PlayStation 4 game with a patch.

The game's resolution is criticized as being possibly less than 1080p.

The reviewer considers the HDR implementation to be better than some AAA games but is still disappointed overall.

A comparison with 'Ghost of Tsushima' is suggested for further analysis.

The reviewer concludes that the game did not meet their expectations for a PlayStation 5 title.