So I pre-purchased Bioshock Infinite, started playing today, and realized right from the get go:
My video card is outdated.
On all the lowest settings and best fit to make it run smoothly, the game is stuttery and slow. However, I still really wanted to give this game a shot, so I pushed on ahead. The game can run smooth at times, but only briefly and albiet for a few seconds. Most of the time, I run about 5-15FPS at best.
At first I was annoyed, the I was less focused on the story and my surroundings and more on the fact I could hardly walk forward without slamming into a wall suddenly. Most, if not all, of my HUD is missing and the menus are completely black for me. I have to guess what I select when I launch the game and hope it is not New Game and overriding my previous save. When I pause in-game, I cannot view any of my selections to choose from. None of the pop-up videos appear on my screen, instead I am left staring at the inside of a viewing machine. And on one specific occasion:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=134350607
After some time pushing ahead, I started formulating techniques to try to combat the lag spikes. Instead of looking forward at all the mist and polygons clogging my screen, I looked down or looked into a nearby corner. The less on my screen at once, the less lag I received. I found myself staring at mundane things that really had no importance to anything, yet due to my now diverted view, I was gazing at. It's here that I noticed the small details of the game.
And, if not by accident, I'd like to think I got a small advantage over regular players through this lag as well. I discovered that on the sky lines, without lag or slowdown the player would wiz through the air at rapid speed, but in my case I had enough time to think, to prepare my assault. It was almost as if Max Payne had lent Booker a few tips on bullet time. My sniper and rifle shots lined up more accurately due to this increased reaction time. Even though I do not fancy myself slow to pick up on things, I actually have come to appreciate the "longer" cut scenes, as the audio still works with the animations of the characters but since the animations are sluggish, the cut scene is dragged out like a soap-opera. I have more time to process what I am hearing (and barely seeing).
I've seen the video reviews, user commentary, and lurked discussions about this game. It's strange, really, but this slowdown has actually given me a completely different take on Bioshock Infinite.
My video card is outdated.
On all the lowest settings and best fit to make it run smoothly, the game is stuttery and slow. However, I still really wanted to give this game a shot, so I pushed on ahead. The game can run smooth at times, but only briefly and albiet for a few seconds. Most of the time, I run about 5-15FPS at best.
At first I was annoyed, the I was less focused on the story and my surroundings and more on the fact I could hardly walk forward without slamming into a wall suddenly. Most, if not all, of my HUD is missing and the menus are completely black for me. I have to guess what I select when I launch the game and hope it is not New Game and overriding my previous save. When I pause in-game, I cannot view any of my selections to choose from. None of the pop-up videos appear on my screen, instead I am left staring at the inside of a viewing machine. And on one specific occasion:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=134350607
This was during the escape scene with Elizabeth, once you hop on the Sky line. The winged creature tears through the sky and rubble crashes onto the bridge nearby, causing the line to snap. At the end of the line, a cutscene is supposed to kick in which you and Elizabeth fall into a floating beach. Instead, I must have phased through and just fell off the end of the line. I continued falling through the map, and out the other side.
After some time pushing ahead, I started formulating techniques to try to combat the lag spikes. Instead of looking forward at all the mist and polygons clogging my screen, I looked down or looked into a nearby corner. The less on my screen at once, the less lag I received. I found myself staring at mundane things that really had no importance to anything, yet due to my now diverted view, I was gazing at. It's here that I noticed the small details of the game.
And, if not by accident, I'd like to think I got a small advantage over regular players through this lag as well. I discovered that on the sky lines, without lag or slowdown the player would wiz through the air at rapid speed, but in my case I had enough time to think, to prepare my assault. It was almost as if Max Payne had lent Booker a few tips on bullet time. My sniper and rifle shots lined up more accurately due to this increased reaction time. Even though I do not fancy myself slow to pick up on things, I actually have come to appreciate the "longer" cut scenes, as the audio still works with the animations of the characters but since the animations are sluggish, the cut scene is dragged out like a soap-opera. I have more time to process what I am hearing (and barely seeing).
I've seen the video reviews, user commentary, and lurked discussions about this game. It's strange, really, but this slowdown has actually given me a completely different take on Bioshock Infinite.
