By Michael Higham on Jul 08, 2017 11:44 pm
The New Nintendo 2DS XL
The New Nintendo 2DS XL
The latest revision in the line of Nintendo 2DS/3DS handhelds comes in the form of the New 2DS XL. It adopts the clamshell design of the 3DS, but ditches the 3D capabilities. Several changes were made to its design, many of which are solid improvements on an already-great handheld system. As indicated by the "New" moniker, the New Nintendo 2DS XL features the c-stick, ZL and ZR buttons, and faster processor introduced in 2015's New Nintendo 3DS XL. These features are essential for playing certain games like Super Smash Bros for 3DS and Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, just to name a few. Note that 3D functions are not required for games. The New Nintendo 2DS XL is set to release on July 28 in North America and will retail for $150 USD.
What's In The Box?
What's In The Box?
The packaging comes with the system itself, a 4GB micro SDHC memory card, an AR card pack, and an AC adapter to charge the battery. Yes, the New 2DS XL comes with an AC adapter!
Weight, Dimensions, Design
Weight, Dimensions, Design
Weighing in at 9.2 ounces (260 grams), the New 2DS XL is about 2.4 ounces lighter than the New 3DS XL and the same as the previous 2DS. It's also a bit more compact with slightly smaller dimensions. When closed, the New 2DS XL measures in at 6.3 inches wide, 3.4 inches long, and 0.8 inches tall. The front of the New 2DS XL sports a black textured chassis with diagonal ridges and teal trim.
Triggers And Charging Port
Triggers And Charging Port
The left and right triggers (L, ZL, R, ZR) atop the handheld are soft to the touch and tactile, and they also rock the teal accents. You'll notice that the charging port is off center on the new 2DS XL.
Power Button, Cartridge/Memory Slot, 3.5mm Audio Jack, And Stylus
Power Button, Cartridge/Memory Slot, 3.5mm Audio Jack, And Stylus
There's a lot going on at the bottom of the New 2DS XL. The small teal dot the right is the power button, and the stylus and 3.5mm audio jack is towards the center-right. A significant change in the New 2DS XL is the game cartridge and memory card slot enclosure, now on the left.
Game Cartridges And Memory Sticks
Game Cartridges And Memory Sticks
Here's a closer look at that enclosure. Instead of pulling the back end of handheld to insert the memory card (like the New 3DS XL), it simply goes into its slot on the left. Game cartridges are no longer exposed either, as you can see the game slot on the right.
Super-sized Dual Screens
Super-sized Dual Screens
The New 2DS XL sports screens the same size as the New 3DS XL: a 4.88 inch LCD screen for the top, and a 4.18-inch resistive touch screen below. It also has a built-in Amiibo/NFC reader within the bottom screen. You can spot the front-facing camera which is now located in the center on hinge, as opposed to above the top screen like the 3DS XL.
Face Buttons And C-stick
Face Buttons And C-stick
All the face buttons have the teal accent and a tactile feel similar to previous 3DS systems. Since it's part of the "New" family of 2DS/3DS systems, it comes with the c-stick which works just the same as the New 3DS systems.
Analog Stick And D-pad
Analog Stick And D-pad
The analog stick--or circle pad--remains unchanged from previous models and functions just the same. The d-pad has the same tactile feel, but rocks the teal accent.
Screen Resolution
Screen Resolution
The top screen has a resolution of 400x240 and the bottom resistive touch screen is at 320x240. These resolutions are essentially the same as the New 3DS XL, except that it had 800 horizontal pixels (400 per eye) for 3D effects.
The Slim Profile
The Slim Profile
Although it's not that much slimmer than the New 3DS XL, it still has a thin profile. When it's open, the New 2DS XL extends to 6.4 inches in length.
Stylus
Stylus
It's a bit hard to find the stylus at first as it goes nearly unnoticed when tucked away right next to the audio jack. The stylus has a small notch to take out with ease.
Stylus For Scale
Stylus For Scale
The stylus is also shorter than in previous 2DS/3DS models, and here it is compared to the New 2DS XL's body.
Speakers And Volume Control
Speakers And Volume Control
The built-in speakers have been placed at the left and right ends of the New 2DS XL's bottom portion, as opposed to the 3DS XL's speakers that bookended the top screen. The teal-colored volume slider can also be seen on the left side of the system.
Back End And Forward Cameras
Back End And Forward Cameras
There's isn't really a reason to take out the backplate now that the memory stick inserts at the bottom of the New 2DS XL. But the back end has a sleek matte finish that helps you grip the system. You'll also notice that the dual forward-facing cameras are now placed at the top-end of the handheld's body, rather than the top-end of the flip-up screen.
Yes, You Get an AC Adapter
Yes, You Get an AC Adapter
It's good to know that you'll get a charger for your New 2DS XL (unlike the New 3DS). AC adapters are compatible across the whole 2DS/3DS family of handhelds.
4GB Memory Stick Included
4GB Memory Stick Included
Be careful with micro SD cards, they're pretty easy to lose. Thankfully, this Toshiba 4GB micro SDHC card is already inserted in the New 2DS XL right out of the box.
Next to a New 3DS XL
Next to a New 3DS XL
Now for the size and weight comparison. New 2DS XL: 6.3 in. width, 3.4 in. length (6.4 in. when open), 0.8 in. height, 9.2 ounces. New 3DS XL: 6.3 in. width, 3.7 in. length (6.8 in. when open), 0.8 in. height, 11.6 ounces.
Side-by-side
Side-by-side
While any height difference is negligible, you'll notice that the 2DS XL has a slightly shorter length. The clamshell design of the New 2DS XL also creates a better seal when closed.
Stacks on Deck
Stacks on Deck
The difference in length is much more noticeable when literally stacked against each other.
Top Portions Compared
Top Portions Compared
All the triggers buttons are very much the same in terms of placements, shape, and feel. Again, you'll also notice the off-center charging port on the New 2DS XL
Bottom Portions Compared
Bottom Portions Compared
You can see the exposed game cartridge slot on the left of the New 3DS XL and how its changed on the New 2DS XL. Notice that the New 3DS XL also doesn't have a micro SD slot, you're required to take out the backplate to insert one. A closer look highlights the better seal of the New 2DS XL's clamshell design.
Stylus Comparison
Stylus Comparison
The New 2DS XL stylus is shorter by about half an inch.
Screen And Button Comparison
Screen And Button Comparison
The screens themselves are identical, but the New 2DS XL has a sleek phone-like design to the top screen and a bottom screen that lays flat across the system's body. Button placement is the same, except the Home button is located below the d-pad on the New 2DS XL.
Would You Buy A New Nintendo 2DS XL?
Would You Buy A New Nintendo 2DS XL?
Will you be picking up the New Nintendo 2DS XL when it hits store shelves? Are you going to make the jump from the older 2DS or 3DS? Let us know in the comments!
By Kevin Knezevic on Jul 08, 2017 11:30 pm
The Brawl To End Them All
Super Smash Bros. may have been conspicuously absent from Nintendo's E3 2017 showing, but that certainly doesn't mean a Switch installment isn't coming. Nintendo has repeatedly expressed interest in bringing more Wii U games to its new console. Already the company has released an expanded version of Mario Kart 8 for the system, with a deluxe port of the Pokemon fighting game Pokken Tournament on the way in September. There are plenty of other Wii U titles that deserve a second lease of life on Switch as well--you can see some of the ones we want most here--but Smash Bros. is undoubtedly the most obvious candidate. Nintendo effectively perfected the mascot brawler with the Wii U iteration, and the game would be a great fit for the console thanks to its ability to be taken and played anywhere. As with Mario Kart 8 and the upcoming Pokken Tournament DX, Nintendo will likely include new content when it ultimately brings Super Smash Bros. to Switch. In this gallery, we take a look at some of the features we think the company should add to make the Switch port the definitive Smash Bros. experience.
Previous DLC
Nintendo may have been initially hesitant to embrace downloadable content, but the company certainly shed any reservations it had about the practice last generation. Super Smash Bros. stands as the prime example, as it offers perhaps the most robust selection of DLC in a Nintendo game to date. Nintendo released a wealth of additional content for the title in the months after its release, from new stages and fighters (including surprise additions like Bayonetta and Final Fantasy VII's Cloud), to a huge assortment of Mii Fighter costumes, many of which were based on commonly requested characters like Geno from Super Mario RPG. For the inevitable Switch version, Nintendo should follow the approach it took with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and include the game's entire array of DLC right out of the box. Even if you've already played Super Smash Bros. on either of its previous two host platforms, you may not have purchased every piece of DLC Nintendo released for it. Having it all right from the outset would make the package more enticing to newcomers and veterans alike, and it would give fans a chance to experience some content they may have missed the first time around.
3DS Stages
The biggest distinction between the Wii U and 3DS versions of Super Smash Bros. is the selection of stages in each game. While both titles share the same roster of fighters, each features its own unique collection of levels for players to fight on. Stages based on home console titles, like Mario Galaxy and Skyloft from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, could only be found in the Wii U version, while ones inspired by handheld games, such as Nintendogs' Living Room and Tortimer Island from Animal Crossing: New Leaf, were exclusive to the 3DS release. Along with all the stages from the Wii U version, Nintendo should include the entire selection of 3DS levels in a Switch port of Super Smash Bros. as well. For players who opted to only play the game on one of its previous platforms, this would give them a chance to duke it out on a whole new assortment of levels. Not only would the 3DS stages benefit from Switch's more powerful hardware, including the entire selection would be a fairly quick and easy way for Nintendo to nearly double the number of levels the game has to offer.
Returning Fighters
Even before Nintendo began rolling out downloadable content for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS, the games featured the largest roster of fighters in the series to date. With a few notable exceptions, nearly every character from past installments was present and accounted for, and many of the ones who were absent, like Lucas, eventually found their way into the titles as DLC. Nintendo even resurrected older fighters like Mewtwo, Dr. Mario, and Roy--none of whom had appeared in a Smash Bros. game since Melee--as DLC characters. That said, there are still some veteran fighters who are conspicuously missing from the roster. The most obvious are the Ice Climbers, who had been staples of the series since they debuted in Melee, but were unfortunately cut from the most recent titles due to their inability to work properly on 3DS. They aren't the only fighters still missing in action, however. Snake may not find himself in a Smash Bros. game again due to licensing issues with Konami, but another Brawl combatant, Wolf, faces no such hurdles and most certainly should make a comeback. Pichu is another Melee-exclusive fighter who could potentially rejoin the fray, as could Charizard's former Pokemon Trainer teammates Squirtle and Ivysaur, both of whom could be expanded into their own individual characters just as the Fire-type starter was.
New Fighters
Of course, as nice as it would be for Nintendo to bring the few remaining Smash Bros. stragglers back to the roster, it would be even better if the company also included new fighters in the Switch version. After all, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe featured a handful of new and returning racers when it debuted on Switch, and the same will be true of Pokken Tournament DX, which will include new fighters such as Decidueye when it arrives for the console. With the precedent already set, it's safe to say Nintendo will add at least a couple of new fighters to the roster if and when it decides to port Super Smash Bros. to Switch. The only question is, which characters will make the cut? The Smash Bros. series has always been a celebration of Nintendo's history, and the company has added a few new IPs to its pantheon of franchises since the Wii U version was originally released. Perhaps the most notable is Splatoon; not only is there a new game in the series on the horizon for Switch, the Inklings were two of the new racers featured in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, so it's fair to expect them to appear in a Switch version of Super Smash Bros. as well. Nintendo also hasn't been shy about using Super Smash Bros. as a vehicle to advertise its new and upcoming releases. Such was the case with Corrin, who was added to the Wii U and 3DS versions as a DLC character to promote what was at the time the latest Fire Emblem game, Fire Emblem Fates. With the release of Fire Emblem Echoes, however, it wouldn't be surprising to see Nintendo include either of that game's dual heroes, Alm or Celica, in the Switch release. Xenoblade is likewise becoming one of the company's major franchises, and adding Rex from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to the Smash Bros. roster would be a great way to represent the series and promote one of Switch's marquee titles. Any character from Arms also seems like a natural choice for a new fighter; not only would their appearance give even more exposure to the company's burgeoning IP, their unique abilities would make them feel right at home in the mascot brawler.
Smash Run
Along with their unique selection of stages, the other distinguishing factor between the Wii U and 3DS versions of Super Smash Bros. is each title's exclusive game mode. On Wii U, it's a Mario Party-like board game called Smash Tour. Players take turns maneuvering around a board collecting power-ups and fighters, and when two or more land on the same space, they use the items and characters they collected to battle against each other. The 3DS version, meanwhile, featured a more frantic game mode called Smash Run. In this mode, players explore a massive side-scrolling stage and fight through waves of enemies, picking up items along the way to power up their characters. After a five-minute time limit elapses, players are pitted in a "final battle" against a CPU opponent that features a randomly-imposed battle condition. While it seems all but given that Smash Tour would make a return in a Switch port of Super Smash Bros., we'd like to see Nintendo also include 3DS's Smash Run as an option alongside it. Not only is it one of the handheld version's best features, it's arguably the more entertaining of the two exclusive modes, and its short duration makes it ideally suited for Switch's portable nature. Including both would give players more options to enjoy and truly make the Switch port the definitive version of the game.
New Alternate Costumes
Before Super Smash Bros. arrived on Wii U and 3DS, the series generally treated alternate costumes like an afterthought. While some fighters like Samus had different outfits that were inspired by actual Power Suit upgrades, for the most part, alternate costumes were simple palette swaps meant to distinguish one player from another. That changed with the Wii U and 3DS installments. Not only were there even more alternate costumes to choose from (eight as opposed to four), they were much more elaborate in their design, and many, like Mario's American flag overalls, even referenced obscure games from Nintendo's history. For the Switch port of Super Smash Bros., Nintendo should include a new assortment of alternate costumes for many of its fighters. While most of the company's mascots change very little from game to game, some like Link look dramatically different depending on the title. He and Princess Zelda could both receive new costumes based on their appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Mario also dons some new outfit in his Switch adventure Super Mario Odyssey, any of which would make a fun alternate costume for the plumber. And with another woolly adventure in store for Yoshi next year, the dino could also get a new alternate design based on his yarn incarnation. Not only would these costumes help make familiar characters feel fresh, they would keep the Switch version of Smash Bros. contemporary by featuring content from Nintendo's most recent titles.
Single Joy-Con Multiplayer
Switch's defining feature is its ability to be taken and played anywhere thanks to its versatile hardware design, which is especially beneficial for multiplayer games. While they're still more enjoyable to play on a television when the console is docked, you're no longer required to gather around a TV for a quick race or match against your friends; many games for the console allow two players to play together using nothing but its screen and a single Joy-Con each, allowing for impromptu play sessions literally anywhere. Naturally, this would be a perfect feature to include in a Switch version of Super Smash Bros. More serious players may scoff at the idea of playing the game with anything other than a GameCube or Switch Pro Controller, but ever since Brawl, the series has supported a wide variety of different controller options, including a single Wii Remote turned sideways. Giving players the option to compete against one another using a single Joy-Con would be the perfect way to capitalize on the game's pick-up-and-play nature. Nintendo has already confirmed that a control scheme tailored around a single Joy-Con will be an option in Pokken Tournament DX, and it would be equally well-suited for Smash Bros.
By Kallie Plagge on Jul 08, 2017 08:30 pm
Couldn't make it to Anime Expo 2017? GameSpot has you covered with some photos of the amazing cosplay at the event, from video games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to anime like Dragon Ball Super. Click ahead to check out some of the best cosplayers we saw at the show!
Jason Voorhees (Friday The 13th Series)
Bulma, Bunny Ver. (Dragon Ball)
Muk (Pokemon)
Skeletor
Mipha (The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild)
Ragyo Kiryuin (Kill la Kill)
Yuri Plisetsky, Victor Nikiforov, And Yuri Katsuki (Yuri On Ice)
Korok And Link (The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild)
Pikachu In Magikarp And Gyarados Hoodies (Pokemon)
Overwatch Group
Link, Barbarian Armor Ver. (The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild)
Link, Ancient Armor Ver. (The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild)
Reaper (Overwatch)
Mushroom Kingdom Princesses Group (Super Mario Series)
Batman (DC Comics)
Fire Emblem Awakening Group
Venom Snake (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain)
2B, Bunny Ver. (Nier: Automata)
Fullmetal Alchemist Group
Sailor Moon Group
Dark Magician Girl And Yugi Muto (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Tharja (Fire Emblem Awakening)
Eeveelutions Group (Pokemon)
Beerus (Dragon Ball Super)
By Peter Brown on Jul 08, 2017 07:30 pm
Master of Hyrule
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Master Mode is finally out, and it doesn't mess around. It's painfully difficult: enemies are stronger, their health regenerates rapidly, and you often find high-level enemies in places you never would have thought possible. All of these changes mean that you have to tackle familiar objectives in new ways; charging into battle like you're used to is not a good idea. To get you started, we've gathered nine tips to consider when you start Master Mode. For more about Breath of the Wild, check out our full review, our guide roundup, or our feature detailing everything you need to know about it. And be sure to check out our roundup detailing where to find all the new DLC armor sets and items.
Avoid Combat When Necessary
Enemies in Master Mode are incredibly tough, with higher-level stats and regenerating health giving them the upper hand. To make matters worse: your weapons break more quickly than they do when playing on standard difficulty. Rather than fight your way across Hyrule, consider accomplishing your goals without engaging enemies. All it takes is one or two hits to die, even against red Bokoblins, so it's better to be safe than sorry and find a way around enemies, rather than charging headlong into combat.
Don't Rush!
One of the biggest mistakes you can make in Master Mode is sprinting across the map and accidentally stumbling upon a group of enemies. Be sure to tread lightly and observe your surroundings to find the safest path from point A to point B. Consider every vantage point an opportunity for reconnaissance, and use that info wisely when charting your course ahead.
Focus On Shrines To Boost Your Health
Enemies can kill you faster than ever, so consider focusing your energy on completing shrines to earn spirit orbs so that you can upgrade your health as soon as possible. That way, if you unexpectedly encounter enemies, you can stand to take a hit or two before dying.
Sneak And Steal
It's true that Bokoblins will make quick work of you early on in Master Mode, but that doesn't mean you can't infiltrate their camps and steal their precious weapons; the trick is to run, rather than fight. When you spot a camp of Bokoblins with weapons off to the side, sneak up as quietly as possible and steal their equipment. Even if they notice you, don't worry: Bokoblins will give chase for a while and throw rocks to hit you from a distance, but a clever mix of sprinting, climbing, and dodging will allow you to get away with their weapons unscathed.
Utilize Your Environment For Stat Boosts
Cooking and crafting has always been a core component of Breath of the Wild, but it's imperative in Master Mode. Collecting every resource within reach allows you to concoct meals and elixirs that lend you greater speed, heartier defense, or greater attack power, and thus an essential edge in combat. This should be obvious to anyone who's spent time in Breath of the Wild, but it bears repeating given how even the smallest advantage in Master Mode is worthy of your time and energy.
Head To Hyrule Field For DLC Equipment
Given that enemies are super tough in Master Mode, why not make a beeline for Majora's Mask--one of the new pieces of gear in this DLC--to make it easier for you to walk among monsters without raising their ire? Look to the EX Treasure: Ancient Mask side quest to decipher its location, and while you're at it, be sure to go for the EX Treasure: Phantasma side quest as well: the Phantom Armor you earn carries a defense rating of 8, which is far better than other armor you find early on. To unlock these quests, you'll first need to leave the opening area--The Great Plateau--and subsequently encounter a loading screen before these quests unlock. An easy way to trigger a loading screen is by fast-traveling to a shrine or tower.
Amiibo Are Your Amigos
Once the option becomes available, you can always dive headlong into Amiibo farming to acquire lots of rupees, food, resources, and even new gear. It's not exactly playing fair, but you need all the help you can get to make it through Master Mode.
Look For Floating Platforms With Metallic Treasure Chests
The new floating platforms that dot Hyrule are a great resource for strong gear with stat bonuses. Most items you find within sport significantly increased capabilities, and they may give you a fighting chance against the mode's harder-than-usual enemies.
Use Bodies Of Water To Drown Enemies
If you can knock an enemy into water, there's a good chance they will drown and die instantly. Use this to your advantage and place bombs near the edge of a body of water, lure enemies to the location, and blow them up from behind to send them flying into the air and into the drink. Then all that's left is to harvest their body parts like the sick monkey you are.
By Jimmy Thang on Jul 08, 2017 03:45 am
What is a teraFLOP?
Thanks in large part to Microsoft's upcoming Xbox One X console, we've been hearing a lot about teraFLOPS lately, but what exactly is a teraFLOP? And which consoles have the most? We're going to answer those questions and rank the consoles by their FLOPS in this gallery. What are FLOPS? They stand for floating point operations per second. They're used to measure a console's maximum graphical potential. In this story, you'll see us mention gigaFLOP and teraFLOP. The former represents a billion FLOPS and the latter represents one trillion FLOPS. How do you calculate a teraFLOP? The basic formula for computing teraFLOPS for a GPU is: (# of parallel GPU processing cores multiplied by peak clock speed in MHz multiplied by two) divided by 1,000,000 The number two in the formula stems from the fact that some GPU instructions can deliver two operations per cycle, and since teraFLOP is a measure of a GPU's maximum graphical potential, we use that metric. Let's see how we can use that formula to calculate the teraFLOPS in the Xbox One. The system's integrated graphics has 768 parallel processing cores. The GPU's peak clock speed is 853MHz. When we multiply 768 by 853 and then again by two, and then divide that number by 1,000,000, we get 1.31 teraFLOPS. Imperfections with teraFLOPS While teraFLOPS can provide a relatively good indication of a console's performance, it isn't perfect. TeraFLOPS only measure a segment of GPU performance. For instance, AMD's RX 480 graphics card offers 5.8 teraFLOPS, but is generally a little slower than Nvidia's GTX 980, which offers 4.6 teraFLOPS. This metric doesn't take into account a console's video memory, which can act as a GPU bottleneck. It also doesn't take into account CPU, system RAM, storage speed, thermals, and power limits, all of which can bottleneck performance. Now that we've explained the technical lingo, let's get to the console teraFLOP rankings.
14. Sega Dreamcast
We're starting with the Dreamcast, because it's the first console we have precise FLOP numbers for. Sega's console came out on November 27, 1998, and featured a 100MHz PowerVR2 integrated GPU, which offered 1.4 gigaflops of performance. Notable graphic-intensive games: Jet Grind Radio, Soulcalibur, Shenmue, Shenmue II, Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, Rez
13. Sony PlayStation 2
Released on March 4, 2000, Sony's PlayStation 2 used a 150MHz Graphics Synthesizer solution that offered 6.2 gigaflops of performance, which is 4.4x more than the Dreamcast. Notable graphic-intensive games: God of War, God of War II, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XII, Shadow of the Colossus, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Onimusha 3: Demon Siege, Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Gran Turismo 4, Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner, Jak 3
12. Nintendo GameCube
Released on September 14, 2001, the GameCube's Flipper GPU allowed Nintendo's console to reach 9.4 gigaflops, which is 1.5x the competing PlayStation 2 released a year before it. Notable graphic-intensive games: Resident Evil 4, Star Fox Adventures, Star Wars Rogue Squadron: Rogue Leader, Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2 Echoes, F-Zero GX, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
11. Nintendo Wii
Released five years after the GameCube on November 19, 2006, the Nintendo Wii used ATI's Hollywood GPU clocked at 243MHz. With the Wii, Nintendo opted to go with an innovative control scheme, rather than to focus on processing power. It offered 12 gigaflops, which represents a 1.27x improvement over its GameCube predecessor. In terms of FLOPS, this is the smallest leap between console generations in this list. Notable graphic-intensive games: Red Steel 2, Donkey Kong Country Returns, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Bros. Brawl
10. Microsoft Xbox
Despite releasing five years before the Wii on November 15, 2001, Microsoft's original Xbox offered 1.6x more FLOPS than Nintendo's motion-based console with its Nvidia NV2A GPU. Its graphics solution was clocked at 233MHz, which allows it to break into the top 10 with its 20 gigaFLOPS. Notable graphic-intensive games: Ninja Gaiden Black, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Burnout Revenge, Doom 3, Dead or Alive Ultimate, Forza Motorsport, Chronicles of Riddick, Far Cry Instincts, Halo, Halo 2
9. Sony PlayStation 3
Sony released its PlayStation 3 console on November 11, 2006. With its Nvidia RSX Reality Synthesizer graphics solution, it offered 230.4 gigaFLOPS. That's 11.5x as many FLOPS as the 2001-released Xbox before it. Compared to its predecessor, the PS2, it offers 37.1x as many FLOPS and represents the largest generational jump in graphical performance on this list. Notable graphic-intensive games: God of War 3, Killzone 3, Gran Turismo 5, Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2, Uncharted 3, The Last of Us, Beyond: Two Souls
8. Microsoft Xbox 360
Despite releasing a year before the PlayStation 3 on November 22, 2005, the Xbox 360 has 9.6 more gigaFLOPs than Sony's system with its 240 gigaFLOPS offering. With its ATI Xenos GPU clocked at 500MHz, it offers 12x more FLOPS than Microsoft's first console. Notable graphic-intensive games: Gears of War 3, Alan Wake, Dirt 3, Fight Night Champion, Viva Piñata, Crysis 3, Forza Motorsport 4, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Halo 4, Dead or Alive 5: Last Round
7. Nintendo Wii U
Released on November 18, 2012, Nintendo's Wii U is powered by a 550MHz Latte graphics chip from AMD. It offers up to 352 gigaFLOPS of performance, which is 29.3x as much as the Wii before it. Notable graphic-intensive games: Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Super Mario 3D World, Bayonetta 2, Xenoblade Chronicles X, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
6. Nintendo Switch
The Switch is Nintendo's only console to date that offers a teraFLOP of performance. This makes it 2.8x as graphically powerful as the Wii U before it. Released not long ago on March 3, 2017, Nintendo opted to focus more on portability rather than raw power, and went with a custom Nvidia Tegra mobile processing chip as a result. Notable graphic-intensive games: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Arms, Fast RMX
5. Microsoft Xbox One
Released a few days after the PlayStation 4 on November 22, 2013, Microsoft's Xbox One uses an AMD Radeon graphics solution clocked at 853MHz that offers 1.31 teraFLOPS, which means it offers 310 more gigaFLOPS than the Switch that launched after it. It also offers 5.4x as many FLOPS as its Xbox 360 predecessor. Notable graphic-intensive games: Forza Horizon 3, Quantum Break, Gears of War 4, Titanfall 2, Rise of the Tomb Raider
4. Microsoft Xbox One S
Released on August 2, 2016, Microsoft's Xbox One S received a marginal seven percent GPU frequency boost over the stock model. This was primarily done to accommodate the extra overhead that HDR introduces. This raises the console's overall teraFLOP count to 1.4. Notable graphic-intensive games that support HDR: Battlefield 1, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Gears of War 4, Mass Effect Andromeda, Resident Evil 7
3. Sony PlayStation 4
Despite garnering a top three spot, the PlayStation 4 is actually the first console to break through the one teraFLOP barrier with its 1.843 offering. Released on November 15, 2013, a week before the debut of the Xbox One, its integrated AMD Radeon GPU allowed it to offer 533 more gigaFLOPS than Microsoft's competing Xbox One console. It offers 7.9x as many FLOPS as its PS3 predecessor. Notable graphic-intensive games: Infamous Second Son, Killzone Shadow Fall, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Order: 1886
2. Sony PlayStation 4 Pro
Released on November 10, 2016, the PlayStation 4 Pro represents a mid-generational console jump for Sony that can bolster certain games' frame rate and/or resolution. With its AMD Radeon-based GPU clocked at 911MHz, it offers 4.2 teraFLOPS. This is 2.2x as much as the original PS4. Notable graphic-intensive games that support PS4-Pro enhancements: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, The Elder Scrolls Online, Ghost Recon Wildlands, Horizon Zero Dawn, inFAMOUS Second Son, The Last of Us Remastered, The Last Guardian
1. Microsoft Xbox One X
The Xbox One X is set to release on November 7, 2017. With its custom, integrated AMD Polaris GPU clocked at 1172MHz, it offers 6.0 teraFLOPS. This puts it 1.8 teraFLOPS ahead of the PS4 Pro. It offers 4.5x as many teraFLOPS as its predecessor, the Xbox One.
Console Teraflop Rankings Over Time
Above is a chart that plots out all of our console's FLOP rankings over time beginning with the Sega Dreamcast in 1998 and ending with the Xbox One X in 2017. | Console | FLOPS | Release Year | | Dreamcast | 1.4 GFLOPS | 1998 | | PlayStation 2 | 6.2 GFLOPS | 2000 | | GameCube | 9.4 GFLOPS | 2001 | | Xbox | 20 GFLOPS | 2001 | | Xbox 360 | 240 GFLOPS | 2005 | | PlayStation 3 | 230.4 GFLOPS | 2006 | | Wii | 12 GFLOPS | 2006 | | Wii U | 352.0 GFLOPS | 2012 | | PlayStation 4 | 1.843 TFLOPS | 2013 | | Xbox One | 1.310 TFLOPS | 2013 | | Xbox One S | 1.4 TFLOPS | 2016 | | PlayStation 4 Pro | 4.2 TFLOPS | 2016 | | Nintendo Switch | 1 TFLOPS | 2017 | | Xbox One X | 6 TFLOPS | 2017 |
It's worth reiterating that an increase in FLOPS doesn't translate exactly to a proportional bump in performance. In addition to the bottlenecks we mentioned earlier, with different hardware, software, and APIs, this adds an additional learning curve for developers to overcome. How many teraflops will it take developers to get to "photorealistic" graphics? When we asked revered Epic Games Founder Tim Sweeney that question, he told us, "You know, we're getting to the point now where we can render photo-realistic static scenes without humans with static lighting. Today's hardware can do that, so part of that problem is solved. Getting to the point of photo-realistic dynamic environments, especially with very advanced shading models like wet scenes, or reflective scenes, or anisotropic paint, though...maybe forty Teraflops is the level where we can achieve all of that." Click here for a deeper dive at all the modern console specs. Related
By Kallie Plagge on Jul 08, 2017 02:44 am
Mastered
The first DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, called The Master Trials, is out now. It includes a new quest known as The Trial of the Sword, which challenges you to overcome 45 enemy-filled rooms with nothing but the armor and weapons you find within. It's a rigorous trial, but if you finish it, you unlock the true power of the Master Sword--higher attack without having to worry about the sword powering down as quickly. There are three sets of trials; if you've made it past the first two, click ahead to see how to best handle each grueling floor of the final set. Don't forget to fill your hearts before you head in, and set up a treasure chest tracker on your Sheikah Sensor so you don't miss any loot. If you're just now starting the trials, first check out our survival tips for beginners. For more about Breath of the Wild, check out our full review, our guide roundup, or our feature detailing everything you need to know about it. And be sure to check out our roundup detailing where to find all the new armor sets and items.
Floor 1
Enemies: Stalkoblins Loot: Arrows This first set of rooms puts you in the middle of a thunderstorm. Like in any other thunderstorm in Breath of the Wild, don't equip anything metal and you should be good. There are several Stalkoblins on this first floor, and each one only takes two hits to kill. Use bombs start your attack; if you defeat one, you can steal either its wooden weapons or its arm to take out the rest. Smash open the wooden boxes using the Boko Bat to get the arrows. Note: Although it might seem wise to only collect bone or wood weapons and equipment from fallen enemies, the many rusty weapons on these floors will come in handy later. If you can, try to keep a balance of the two types.
Floor 2
Enemies: Electric Keese, Stalizalfos Loot: Royal Guard Sword (48 attack) Use arrows to get rid of the Electric Keese, since they'll shock you if you try to use melee attacks. Run into the hut and wait for the Stalizalfos to come out, then take them out as you normally would. There's meat in the boxes inside, so if you want to cook it later, don't throw bombs in here--the fire from the explosive barrels with roast the meat, which limits how many hearts you can get out of each ingredient. Use Magnesis to access the treasure chest, which is buried in the ground to the left of the fort.
Floor 3
Enemies: Electric Chuchus, Stalmoblins Loot: Knight's Shield (40 parry power), Knight's Bow (26 attack) You have a couple options here, but if you want to play it safe, use bombs to deal with the Chuchus and Stalmoblins from the tree fort. Grab your loot from the chests; use Magnesis to get the treasure chest off the platform, but be careful not to get shocked if it starts to attract lightning.
Floor 4
Enemies: Stalkoblins Loot: Arrows, cooking ingredients Throw a bomb into the pack of Stalkoblins on horseback and steal a horse. Be wary of the one with electric arrows; hop off your horse and draw your bow to slow time in midair, then take it out.
Floor 5
Boss: Stalnox Loot: Great Frostblade (30 attack), Flamespear (24 attack), Thundersword (22 attack), Ice Arrows Use Stasis to stop the Stalnox in its tracks and shoot it in the eye as you would a regular Hinox. Once you've defeated it, be sure to grab the elemental weapons, which will greatly help you in the coming floors. Use Magnesis to grab a treasure chest containing ice arrows.
Floor 6
Safe Room Loot: Flamebreaker Boots, Ancient Arrows (x3), Knight's Bow (26 attack) The first thing you need to do is sneak up on the Fairy and grab it before it gets scared off. Grab everything from the treasure chests and put on the Flamebreaker Boots. Save the ancient arrows for later (seriously), and don't forget the hearty truffles. Cook all your food before you go. The next set of floors is all fire and lava.
Floor 7
Enemies: Fire Chuchus, Igneo Pebblits, Rock Octorok Loot: Upgrade your rusty equipment. Use bombs to quickly defeat the Chuchus and Pebblits. Then, while avoiding the Rock Octorok's projectiles, ride the updraft to the platform with the Rusty Claymore on it. You can throw it, and any other rusty equipment leftover from the stormy floors, at the Rock Octorok before you kill it. It will suck them up and then return them to you shiny and new (and possibly with higher attack power).
Floor 8
Enemies: Fire Lizalfos Loot: Fire Arrows, cooking ingredients You can use the Great Frostblade to one-hit KO the Fire Lizalfos if you want, or you can preserve that sword and take them out normally. Use a heavy weapon to break the metal crates and get your loot.
Floor 9
Enemies: Moblin, Fire Lizalfos, Meteo Wizzrobe Loot: Meteor Rod Use the Great Frostblade to one-hit KO the Fire Wizzrobe and Fire Lizalfos, then take out the Moblin. Grab the Meteor Rod from the defeated Meteo Wizzrobe and save it for later. Go into the skull hideout and break open the metal crates for some food.
Floor 10
Enemies: Fire Lizalfos, Moblins Loot: Ancient Arrows (x3) Take out the lone Lizalfos first, then deal with the Moblins. If they flank you, shoot at them from far away instead of attacking up close. Use Magnesis to fish a treasure chest containing the ancient arrows out of the lava.
Floor 11
Boss: Igneo Talus If your Great Frostblade is still in good shape, use it to cool off the Talus, then climb onto its back and hack at its exposed ore. You'll have to repeat this process to get rid of the fire effect on the Talus before you can climb on it, but if you move quickly, it shouldn't be a problem.
Floor 12
Safe Room Don't move! There are two fairies on this floor. Crouch and move slowly to sneak up on them, and then grab them--they'll save your life later on. Cook some cold-resistant meals and equip your Flamespear before proceeding to the snow and ice set of floors.
Floor 13
Enemies: Frost Pebblits Loot: A cooking pot! The boxes next to it contain meat. Keep your weapons in good shape by skipping melee attacks and using bombs to take care of the Pebblits. Cook the meat before you move on.
Floor 14
Loot: Ancient Arrows (x3) Keep your Flamespear equipped to deal with the cold. Melt the ice block to the right of the starting area to get the ancient arrows, which you'll need to save for later on. Start a campfire or hold a fire arrow near ice blocks to melt them--it takes a bit of time but uses few resources.
Floor 15
Enemies: Ice Wizzrobe/Blizzrobe Use your Flamespear to one-hit KO the Wizzrobe.
Floor 16
Boss: Frost Talus If you have the Flamespear, Meteor Rod, or fire arrows still handy, you'll be able to make quick work of this Talus. Use the same strategy you used with the Igneo Talus; heat it up in order to make it safe to climb, then hack at its exposed ore.
Floor 17
Enemies: Lynel You can fight the Lynel to get its awesome loot, but can also hit it with an ancient arrow to get rid of it. If you're struggling, check out some of our tips on how to defeat a Lynel.
Floor 18
Safe Room You know the drill. Sneak up on the fairy, grab the loot, and get cooking.
Floor 19
Enemies: Decayed Guardians Only one Guardian will activate at first, but as you defeat them, more will light up. You can manually activate a Guardian by hitting it. Stick to the edges of the floor and use the trees for cover. Save your ancient arrows and instead parry the Guardians' beams. Use ZL to lock on, hold your shield up, and hit A to deflect when you hear the final beep. If you get overwhelmed near the end, you can use an ancient arrow or two, but be sure to save a couple for later.
Floor 20
Enemies: Guardian Stalker Remember to parry!
Floor 21
Enemies: Guardian Skywatcher Aim for the engines on its underside. Once those are done, the Guardian Skywatcher is pretty much useless.
Floor 22
Enemies: Guardian Turret, Guardian Stalker, Guardian Skywatcher Run for cover in the castle, open the chests, and target the Skywatcher first. Use bomb arrows to take out the propellers and finish it off on the ground. Next, lure the Stalker away from the Turret's line of sight and parry its beam three times. Finally, shoot a few arrows into the eye of the Turret and take it out.
Floor 23
Enemies: Horseback Bokoblins (x9), Guardian Turret, Lynel Deal with the Lynel first. Equip an ancient arrow to take care of the Lynel. Next, set fire to some grass and ride the updraft with your paraglider. Pick off the Bokoblins one by one with regular arrows while avoiding the Guardian Turret. Finally, finish off the Turret... and congrats, you're done!
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