Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart - Compare Fidelity vs. Performance Mode Screenshots

You can find Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Fidelity vs. Performance RT screenshots here…

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart may still be a day away but it’s already garnered highly positive reviews. Our own review praised many of Rift Apart‘s elements – gameplay, pacing, variety – but we have to admit that the visuals are probably the star of the show. We must note that only Fidelity Mode was available for our review period with Performance and Performance RT modes added a few hours before the embargo lifted.

Once we had all three mode available we set to work gathering comparison shots. Fidelity Mode screenshots are on the left throughout this piece while Performance Mode images are on the right.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Ray-Tracing Fideltiy Mode — Fidelity Mode on the Left; Performance Mode on the right throughout this piece. Lovely ray-traced floor in the foreground of the Fidelity Mode image (left)

Fidelity Mode on the Left; Performance Mode on the right throughout this piece. Lovely ray-traced floor in the foreground of the Fidelity Mode image (left)

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Ray-Tracing Fidelity Mode 30fps RT on — It’s just a puddle but Fidelity Mode’s ray-traced reflection is a wonderful detail (left)

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Ray-Tracing Performance Mode — It’s just a puddle but Fidelity Mode’s ray-traced reflection is a wonderful detail (left)

We Three Modes

As you may know, Fidelity Mode runs at 30fps with all bells ‘n whistles chiming. Ray tracing, though not used too often, makes its mark on the image. There are some reflective effects, more accurate shadows and some beautiful examples of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart‘s spectacular colour bouncing all over scenes.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart space gravity puzzle — The more accurate shadows of RT (left) give depth to darker scenes, especially those set in space

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Performance Mode 60 FPS RT off — The more accurate shadows of RT (left) give depth to darker scenes, especially those set in space

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart 30fps Fidelity Mode

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Performance Mode 60fps

In addition, there are some buffs to other visual effects. Crowds, grass and foliage are denser than in other modes. As the scene stretches to the horizon we see a little more haze in Performance Mode; a good attempt at reducing detail without it being particularly noticeable.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Fidelity Mode PS5 vs. Performance — A little extra shrubbery here and there in Fidelity Mode (left)

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart 60fps Performance Mode — A little extra shrubbery here and there in Fidelity Mode (left)

RT on Fidelity Mode Clank PlayStation — A bigger turnout in Fidelity Mode (left)

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Performance Mode PS5 — A bigger turnout in Fidelity Mode (left)

The huge environments seem to stretch to the horizon in all modes, losing little in the way of detail along the way. Fidelity Mode features a little extension of LoD distances. This is easily visible in grass and quite noticeable in that amazing crowd backdrop of the game’s opening.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Ray-Tracing Fidelity Mode 60fps

Ratchet and Clank: performace mode vs. fidelity

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Ray-Tracing Fidelity Mode — A mixture of ray-traced reflections in the foreground and the improved detail at moderate-to-far distance – Fidelity Mode’s higher resolution is also visible in scenes like this

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Performance Mode — A mixture of ray-traced reflections in the foreground and the improved detail at moderate-to-far distance – Fidelity Mode’s higher resolution is also visible in scenes like this

Ambience and Eye-Candy

During a previous Compare series entry, we discussed the use of ray tracing for less obvious visual effects. Resident Evil Village‘s softer shadows, multiple light diffusion effects and global illumination weren’t as eye-catching as the infinite glassy facades of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart combines the best of both worlds in this respect.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Ray-Tracing 30fps fidelity mode vs. performance compare — The ray-traced pool and the greater interaction of light with fog in Fidelity Mode (left) is an incredible sight to behold

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Performance Mode vs. Fidelity mode

We see many instances of alternate light sources and reflective surfaces altering individual elements of a scene. Insomniac also tossed in some ray-traced reflections just to add a little immersion to a scene.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Exclusive PS5 comparison

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Ray-Tracing 60fps performance mode vs. fidelity mode

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Fidelity Mode Ray Tracing on — Sunlight catching the mist washes out contrast but maintains detail in Fidelity Mode (left) on the buildings to the left of centre

Sunlight catching the mist washes out contrast but maintains detail in Fidelity Mode (left) on the buildings to the left of centre

At the beginning of a generation, it’s obviously very tempting for devs to shoehorn the most striking of visual effects into their games. Insomniac deserve immense credit for their rounded approach to using the power and tools at their disposal.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Fidelity Compare PS5 — The ray-traced windows aren’t a central detail of this scene yet it subtly adds visual immersion

Thanks for reading the latest in our ongoing comparison series but we would love to hear what you think. Take a look at our Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Fidelity vs. Performance RT Mode comparison piece. Is Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart the most gorgeous game yet released on a console? Do you agree that Insomniac nailed the subtle application of ray tracing? Let us know in the comments below…

As wonderful as Fidelity Mode looks, the smoothness of 60fps Performance Mode is hard to pass up...

We Three Modes

Ambience and Eye-Candy