Visual Fidelity on Mobile
Grid Legends emerges as a standout racing title with captivating graphics and lively environments.
Although it may not quite match the expansive landscapes of Forza Horizon or the detailed ray tracing capabilities of Gran Turismo, its visual charm is undeniable.
With the recent release of Grid Legends for Android and iOS, excitement has grown, particularly in light of the mixed reception that other major mobile titles have received.
After diving deep into the gameplay on the iPhone 15 Pro, I can say with confidence that this is one of the rare triple-A game adaptations for iOS that I wholeheartedly recommend.
When it comes to visuals, the iPhone version impressively parallels the last-generation Xbox One’s graphics.
However, to achieve this level of performance, some compromises were made.
Simplified lighting effects and lower-resolution shadows resulted in noticeable differences in light cascades.
This led to shadow aliasing, where shadows appear quite rough and less lifelike, especially in the cockpit view, where you’re closest to the action.
Moreover, shadows from vegetation remain static on the iPhone—likely a deliberate choice to ease the burden on processing power during shadow map updates.
However, at high speeds and from a typical third-person perspective, these changes become less apparent.
Additionally, some subtle adjustments in lighting can be observed throughout various tracks, such as reduced ambient occlusion effects within truck cockpits and some foliage lacking depth and contrast.
Fortunately, these nuances barely register when the gameplay is in motion.
Performance and Graphics Modes
One notable omission in the mobile adaptation is volumetric lighting, which is frequently absent from the environment on-track.
This absence is particularly striking on certain tracks, although many environments tend to look similar in different settings.
On a positive note, the iPhone version has enhanced real-time cubemaps for vehicle reflections, offering a sharper and less distracting visual experience compared to the Xbox version, which has a lower refresh rate for these elements.
Model detail has understandably taken a backseat, with level of detail (LOD) adjustments made closer to the camera and a decline in texture quality, even with the high-resolution texture pack activated.
Texture filtering is not as refined, crowds appear simplified, and particle effects might be noticeably absent.
The resolution is also reduced; while the Xbox One runs at a dynamic 1080p, typically settling around 900p, the iPhone 15 Pro operates at about 630p without utilizing Apple’s MetalFX upscaler.
Despite these reductions, the visual experience on mobile closely resembles that of the Xbox One.
In fact, it surpasses expectations for adaptations typically seen on the Nintendo Switch, where cuts tend to be more severe.
Performance stands out, especially in the game’s default graphics mode, which strives for a smooth 30fps during regular gameplay.
Frame rates remain stable, although they occasionally dip into the 20s during chaotic moments, like when numerous cars are on-screen.
Such drops, while noticeable, generally occur at the start of races when vehicle density is at its highest.
Rewind features may also affect frame rates, but these fluctuations do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
This performance is comparable to the Xbox One S, which manages to sustain frame rates near the upper 20s with fewer drops.
Conclusion: A Well-Crafted Mobile Title
Besides the default setting, two more graphic options are available, each with unique characteristics.
The battery saver mode takes several compromises, including the elimination of screen-space reflections and smaller crowd sizes, along with minor LOD reductions.
The most significant change is a decrease in rendering resolution, approximately around 360p, but the HUD remains crisp across all modes.
Under typical conditions, this mode still maintains an impressive 30fps.
On the other hand, the performance mode introduces visual compromises while offering a higher resolution, roughly around 550p.
In this mode, real-time cubemap reflections refresh at a limited 20Hz, which is another trade-off to weigh.
Despite the various adjustments, the mobile version of Grid Legends effectively replicates the Xbox One experience.
Notably, in performance mode, the game runs at a default frame rate of 40fps on the iPhone’s 120Hz display—something I hadn’t encountered before on iOS.
Although frame rates may drop slightly during intense racing scenes, they generally remain robust.
If the iPhone is capped at 60Hz, the game settles at a steady 30fps, in line with standard gameplay expectations.
Testing on an iPhone 13 Pro Max did reveal some limitations, such as the lack of high-resolution textures due to RAM restrictions, along with other minor visual adjustments.
Nevertheless, the experience on this device remained impressive.
The differences in graphical performance between the iPhone 13 Pro and 15 Pro are minimal, reflecting the fact that GPU advancements have been gradual in recent times.
To sum it up, Grid Legends stands as a strong mobile adaptation.
The varied visual modes provide flexibility, allowing players to enjoy the game’s essence with only minor compromises—chiefly ones that fade into insignificance on smaller screens.
Performance is commendable, especially when compared to other ports from the last generation of iPhones.
While some trade-offs exist when compared to home console versions, Grid Legends shines as a well-crafted title in the mobile gaming landscape.
This eighth-generation console port runs smoothly on the iPhone, making it a highly recommended racing experience for mobile gamers, including those using older models.
Source: Eurogamer