#The ascent directx 11 or 12 series#

Xbox Series X rests firmly at the top of the console pile - it targets a maximum of native 4K and uses dynamic resolution scaling to keep the frame-rate up.

I should start by noting that, visually speaking, it looks great in all cases - the core presentation does shine through no matter where you play but there are serious advantages for the newer machines that we'll get to shortly.įor those curious about the basic image quality metrics, Unreal's temporal image treatment is applied to each version with variable starting resolutions.

#The ascent directx 11 or 12 Pc#

Xbox One, Xbox One X, both Series consoles and even the PC receive a version of The Ascent and the differences are fascinating. The Ascent is a gorgeous game but what surprised me even more is that this small team has managed to release it across so many platforms. The art team has crafted so many objects and scene meshes - and the way in which everything is assembled expertly sells the busy, dystopian metropolis look the studio is aiming for. Really, though, it's the sheer volume of geometric detail that impresses the most. Attention to detail is also impressive - right down to the way the rippling water interacts with excellent ragdoll work on downed foes. You fight your way through a wide range of environments during your time with the game and many of these areas exhibit real damage modelling, adding to the sense of mayhem and destruction in the core shooting. Watch on YouTube Here's the Digital Foundry video breakdown for The Ascent, tested on all Xbox consoles - and PC.Īnother element that helps the game feel satisfying lies in its pyrotechnics and attention to detail. As a result, it almost feels like a living diorama - it harkens back to the old days of pre-rendered isometric PC games, but everything is rendered completely in real-time. This world is presented primarily from an isometric angle with some occasional camera flourishes in specific sequences.

The size and scope are remarkably impressive - yes, there are loading screens but they're few and far between.

The game world is made up of numerous extremely large maps populated with a range of NPCs and enemies alike. The game's gorgeous bokeh depth of field and physically-based materials work beautifully with the gorgeous lighting - and there's a pleasing surfeit of particle effects to catch the eye. The Ascent is a game built primarily by a team of 12 people along with assistance from support studios, but despite the small team, the quality of the experience is impressive, the futuristic cityscapes crammed with detail, backed up by an expert deployment of Unreal Engine 4's post-process pipeline. It might sound strange to put it like this, but The Ascent is mostly decent on the last-gen consoles while at the same time demonstrating in spectacular style just how much of a leap the latest waves of games machines truly are. And yet, at the same time, it's also a cross-generation title - and one that works to varying degrees of success of older Xbox One hardware. Revealed last year during one of the first Xbox Series console showcases, The Ascent is a stunning testament to the power of Unreal Engine in the hands of smaller studios - and a genuine showcase for what the new wave of consoles can offer.