So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

[JLaCroix]

I've only had my DS a short while, and I do enjoy it quite a bit. I'm wondering about its hardware potential when compared to PSP or other systems.

Final Fantasy IV made me wonder this. I read on the Gamefaqs board that FFIV pushed the DS to its limits, however the person saying that may be full of crap. FFIV looks great for a DS game, but not as good when compared to other mainstream 3D RPG's on non-handheld systems.

I know that the DS (supposedly, I never played it) handled Mario 64 well, and I know it is capable of 3D graphics, but my question is, has the DS reached its limits graphically?

Also, is the DS actually capable of processing 3D graphics, or is it some programming trick they figured out how to do?

This also brings up the question of whether or not we'll see a remake of FFV and FFVI on it. Hopefully they can top the graphics used in FFIV.

[Valkysas]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

The DS was built from the ground-up to be a 3D capable game system, and mario 64 and metroid prime hunters were the first games they showed off for it. the DS handles Mario 64 better than the N64 did (they upgraded and retextured all the 3D models), and Mario Kart for the DS makes Mario Kart 64 look like garbage. hell the DS Mario Kart game uses some tracks from the gamecube game, and they look pretty damn good.

the DS is better than the N64 and PS1 were, but nowhere near what the PSP is capable of. compare it to the difference between the N64 and the PS2. the current max gamecard size is 256MB, and these larger size cards have slower data transfer rates. That's the main thing holding the DS back. if you want a big big game, the graphics have to suffer a bit so you can fit everything in.

some games to look at to see what the DS can really do:
Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Mario Kart DS
Metroid Prime Hunters
Dementium: The Ward
Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (a port of RE1, but with full 3D background images rather than pre-rendered)

[Zeroth]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

I too, often wonder if the DS is as powerful as the N64. When looking at character models in DS games, they apper much smoother than character models found in N64 games. As far as textures go on the DS, they are nowhere near as good as those found on N64 games. In fact, some PS1 games have better texters than most DS games.

[Valkysas]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

What games have you played on the DS?

N64's textures were muddy as hell. DS textures are nice and sharp, not to mention the DS can handle more texture maps at higher resolutions than the N64.

[Zeroth]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

What games have you played on the DS?

N64's textures were muddy as hell. DS textures are nice and sharp, not to mention the DS can handle more texture maps at higher resolutions than the N64.

I played all the games you mentioned except the last two. If you look at the textures in DS games, you will notice that they are pixelated. The textures in N64 games, while muddy, weren't like that.

[Valkysas]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

they werent pixelated on the N64 because the texture memory was so terrible that they had to stretch out really small, low-res textures to cover the models. then to mask the massive pixelation, they used a technique to blend the pixels together into a big blurry mess. it was an ugly mask on a big problem.

[Zeroth]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

they werent pixelated on the N64 because the texture memory was so terrible that they had to stretch out really small, low-res textures to cover the models. then to mask the massive pixelation, they used a technique to blend the pixels together into a big blurry mess.

Huh, I didn't know that. I'd rather go with blurry textures than pixelated ones, but that's just me.

[Valkysas]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

N64 textures file sizes were limited to 4KB per texture. that is not good. not good at all.

The DS' texture memory is 512 Kilobytes per screen, and the max resolution for a DS texture is 1024x1024.

there's really no comparisson, the DS slaughters the N64 when it comes to textures.

and pixelated is fine, if you can tell what you're looking at. not a big fan of N64-induced headaches.

[Zeroth]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

Something I did not know again! Where did you learn this at? I'd like to see for myself. It's not that I don't believe you, because I do, but I'm just curious.

[Valkysas]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

just look up the system specs online at a site like wikipedia.

[Zeroth]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

I'll do that eventually. Thanks Valk.

[Alex]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

This whole thread could have been avoided with a trip to Wikipedia.

[Zeroth]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

This whole thread could have been avoided with a trip to Wikipedia.

Yeah, but where is the fun in that? Diddlysquat.

[DarkwingChuck]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

John Carmack @ QuakeCon

while Carmack admits that graphics memory could be a limiting factor, he describes the phone's hardware as equivalent to a Dreamcast and almost on par with a PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. He also sees it as far superior, at least in terms of raw specs, than the two big dedicated handheld consoles out there, saying that is "more powerful than a Nintendo DS and PSP combined."

[Chad]

Re: So, just how powerful IS the DS, anyway?

Basically, it sucks balls to program for and can only support 2048 polys. Most DS developers make fancy work of the GBA portion to gain a boost in performance, but I think it has reached it's limit. Guitar Hero On Tour did some nifty tricks and made it look much better, though.