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DOOM: The Darkish Ages is a good entry within the DOOM franchise, and I completely adored it. In my assessment, I mentioned how the transfer again to a horizontal focus and the defend mechanic made for some actually superior and chaotic fights that I at all times needed extra of. Sadly, in my pre-release copy, there was an error that stopped me from making an attempt the sport out on the Steam Deck, so I could not check the way it might carry out on the go. Nonetheless, I needed to see if it was even playable on a handheld in any respect, so I made a decision to try it out on the opposite handhelds!
For this check, I needed to give attention to the ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and the AYANEO 3. I selected these three since I imagine they symbolize the handhelds which might be both at the moment launched or popping out quickly. The ROG Ally represents the essential Home windows handheld with the Z1 Excessive (Z1E) or 7840U/8840U APU with 16GB RAM, the ROG Ally X is the upgraded model with the identical APU and 24GB RAM, and the AYANEO 3 represents the subsequent technology with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU, which will probably be related in efficiency to the upcoming Z2 Excessive (Z2E) chips we are going to see within the ROG Ally 2 and Legion Go 2.
Now, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is barely extra highly effective than the upcoming Z2E chips within the CPU sector, having a complete of 12 CPU cores whereas the Z2E can have 8, however the GPU module goes to be the identical in each (Radeon 890M). Nonetheless, it offers a good suggestion on how efficiency could possibly be, and permits us to see what we are able to typically count on from the subsequent technology.
Testing Baseline
Earlier than I started with my testing, I made a decision to set a baseline that I’d use to gauge simply how properly the sport is performing. On this case, I used the Low-quality preset with XeSS upscaling in high quality mode and the decision set to 1280×720. I additionally made certain to check the primary and The Siege Half 1 chapters of the sport with every system, although I did check different areas afterwards.
I additionally need to say that this is not an in depth check, as I did not have the time to play by means of the sport on every system. These are educated impressions based mostly on my expertise enjoying the sport in related situations, and what I believe the efficiency will probably be.
ROG Ally (Z1E / 7840U / 8840U APU Handhelds) (16GB RAM)
First up, I needed to start out with the ROG Ally. This system represents any handhelds which have a Z1 Excessive, 7840U, or 8840U APU and 16GB RAM. Whereas there could also be some particular efficiency variations relying on the system, particularly should you can push extra energy to the handhelds, efficiency must be comparatively the identical.
Taking part in by means of the primary chapter of the sport gave me a little bit little bit of hope initially, sticking above 30 FPS all through the chapter, however it teetered on the sting of dipping underneath. It was undoubtedly playable, although this can be a extra linear chapter. The true check got here from The Siege Half 1, which takes place in a a lot bigger semi-open space with extra enemies, and that is the place issues begin to tank performance-wise. As soon as I acquired into the combating, the framerate dropped to 23 – 25 FPS and it made fight fairly tough.
After the preliminary check, I made a decision to attempt The Siege Half 1 at XeSS on Extremely Efficiency mode to see if I might maintain 30 FPS, however sadly, it did not final. It hit increased body charges, however there are nonetheless some areas within the chapter that may push the body fee all the way down to 26 FPS. This additionally makes the sport look extraordinarily blurry, and whereas it is nonetheless playable, it is not the nicest to take a look at.
If in case you have a tool with a much bigger battery that may push extra energy to the APU, it’s possible you’ll get a greater outcome, however it is going to nonetheless have these elementary points that cease it from acting at 30 FPS on the very least.
From my testing, I’d say it is not one thing I’d play on the ROG Ally.
ROG Ally X (Z1E / 7840U / 8840U APU Handhelds) (24GB RAM or Greater)
After the ROG Ally, I proceeded to attempt the ROG Ally X, which I really feel represents handhelds with the identical chips because the Ally, however with extra RAM than 16 GB. And whereas I had some worries, the efficiency was noticeably a lot better.
Within the first chapter, I used to be capable of play by means of comfortably within the mid-30s to the low 40s. It began off robust, and heading into The Siege Half 1, I used to be optimistic. Nonetheless, it did begin to present some cracks. It might follow the mid-30s for a number of the fights, however there have been others that may drop the framerate to twenty-eight – 29 FPS. Whereas it did nonetheless drop, that is nonetheless utilizing the baseline, which makes me extra assured that the sport will probably be playable on the Ally X.
With this in thoughts, I’d say enjoying on XeSS upscaling set to Balanced or Efficiency ought to make the sport totally playable at 30 FPS. It nonetheless requires some compromise to visuals, however it must be playable on this and different handhelds prefer it. It carried out admirably in a few different eventualities, like flying the dragon and utilizing a turret to demolish giant teams of enemies, and nonetheless would stick above 30 FPS and hit the 40s as a rule.
A part of the explanation this can be performing higher could possibly be the additional RAM, which I might see being the case, although I can not say having greater than 24 would add to the efficiency good points. Nonetheless, I’d take into account DOOM: The Darkish Ages on the ROG Ally X and related handhelds to be playable at 30 FPS with some further sacrifices.
AYANEO 3 (Z2E / AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU Handhelds) (32GB RAM or Greater)
Lastly, I needed to check DOOM: The Darkish Ages on probably the most highly effective handheld that I’ve, and that may be the AYANEO 3. It sports activities the highly effective Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 APU, which has 12 CPU cores and the Radeon 890M GPU module, which makes use of RDNA 3.5 cores. It is a step up from its predecessors on each the CPU and GPU fronts, so I anticipated efficiency to be higher general, and it undoubtedly reveals.
On the baseline efficiency, I used to be capable of maintain above 40 FPS and plow by means of all enemies in entrance of me with ease. There have been even moments that hit as much as 50 or 60 FPS, although these did not final lengthy. Then, in The Siege Half 1, I used to be capable of stick above 30 FPS the complete time, although there have been undoubtedly some drops right here and there when the motion acquired heavy. Nonetheless, it was above 30, and I’d say it’s secure should you had been to cap it there.
I can see enjoying by means of at XeSS on Efficiency for 40 FPS gameplay, whereas maintaining it at XeSS High quality with some settings at Medium might follow 30 FPS and make the sport look nicer. I did attempt enjoying at 1920×1080 decision to see if it could be doable, however even on XeSS Extremely Efficiency and low settings, I’d nonetheless get minor drops. I’d say that is borderline playable framerate smart, however I most well-liked 720p decision with increased high quality over 1080p with lowest high quality.
That is simply going to be the easiest way to play DOOM: The Darkish Ages on a handheld, and it reveals simply how a lot of a efficiency leap the subsequent technology could possibly be. The Z2E chips we are going to see within the ROG Ally 2 and Legion Go 2 are barely much less highly effective within the CPU division in comparison with the Ryzen AI 9, however I’d arguably say it is going to nonetheless carry out equally.
However What In regards to the Steam Deck
As we talked about in our assessment, DOOM: The Darkish Ages at the moment cannot boot on the Steam Deck. We encountered a bug that stopped us from loading into the principle menu, so we will not actually check it. Nonetheless, based mostly on the ROG Ally’s efficiency, we are able to infer how it could be on the Steam Deck, and it is not a very good outlook.
The bottom ROG Ally is extra highly effective than the Deck, and it could possibly barely cling to 30 FPS on the bottom doable settings at XeSS Extremely Efficiency. That is going to be even worse on the Steam Deck, that means we might almost certainly get a sub-30 framerate on the similar settings.
It’s doable that reducing the decision additional might assist get it to 30 FPS, and id Software program might optimize some points particularly for a Steam Deck construct, however I’ve my doubts. We cannot know till we are able to really check it, so I’ll maintain an open thoughts, however I’m not feeling as optimistic about it.
After testing DOOM: The Darkish Ages on these handhelds, I can say that enjoying on the go is feasible, however not the optimum strategy to play. I would not suggest enjoying on the bottom ROG Ally, with framerate drops even on the bottom doable settings, however should you can deal with mid-20 FPS on some chapters and blurriness, it is playable. The ROG Ally X is a step up, and might deal with 30 FPS with nearly the bottom settings, whereas the AYANEO 3 crushes it in efficiency with the next high quality 30 FPS or a decrease high quality 40 FPS.
It bodes properly for playability on the subsequent technology of handhelds, however it might simply be a bit an excessive amount of to deal with for this present technology.
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