Digital Foundry recently published a comprehensive technical assessment of Kirby Air Riders, a game that has only been available for a short period. Their detailed examination sheds light on the game's technical prowess and visual presentation.
The analysis immediately highlights the game's robust core mechanics, emphasizing its engaging racing experience, reminiscent of classic fighting games, and the intricate design of its new courses. A key technical achievement is the game's lighting system, which leverages Nvidia's RTXGI technology to illuminate dynamic elements, ensuring characters appear fluid and polished. Although this approach foregoes ray-traced lighting for simpler light maps, it significantly enhances overall performance. While individual graphical details might not be groundbreaking upon close inspection, Digital Foundry notes that the game's fast-paced nature means players are unlikely to dwell on such specifics.
The game operates on the innovative 'SOL-AVES' engine, which, despite being in its early stages of deployment, already delivers a visually distinct experience with impressive performance. In terms of resolution, the game largely operates at 1080p when docked, occasionally reaching 1440p in specific modes like Top Ride. In handheld mode, resolutions typically hover around 900p, with variations between 720p and 1080p observed. However, the HDR implementation was critically panned, as it often resulted in a muted and dull visual output, making everything but particle effects appear "unnatural and almost broken." Conversely, the game's performance is commendable, consistently maintaining a near-stable 60 frames per second, with only occasional minor drops, more noticeable in the City Trial mode. While three and four-player split-screen aims for 60fps, it often settles for slightly lower, with City Trial being the most demanding, fluctuating between 40-50fps.
Kirby Air Riders stands as a testament to the fact that even in the face of minor imperfections, a strong foundation and commitment to core gameplay can deliver a highly enjoyable and technically sound experience. The dedication to smooth performance and engaging design elements in such a dynamic genre reflects a positive approach to game development, proving that innovation and player satisfaction can coexist seamlessly.
