Advanced PhysX in Metro 2033
Metro 2033 was looking as highly considerable title – post-apocalyptic setting, intense focus on atmosphere and storyline, state-of-the-art graphics engine with DX 11 support, and of course, solid implementation of PhysX SDK based physics.
And after finishing it we can say – Metro 2033 is pretty good game for sure. But following the direction of our site, will leave other game aspects to reviewers and focuse on in-game physics implementation, and “Advanced PhysX” mode particularly.
Overall physics level is looking pretty decent, but anticipated “Advanced PhysX” option may be dissapointing – it’s adds only several hardly-noticeable particle effects (we already saw numerous discussions with same idea “what is Advanced PhysX doing ? I can’t notice anything – is it working ?”).
Surprisingly, but destructible physics objects, particle effects in key scenes and even cloth banners aren’t affected by “Advanced PhysX” switch.
Moreover, additional PhysX content is even somehow optimized for multi-core CPU execution (will use it if Nvidia GPU is not present in the system). Of course, intense firefight with a lot of impact debris particles or several smoke clouds from grenade explosions will result in heavy fps drop (while running all calculations on CPU), but situation is better than in previous GPU PhysX games.
For example, that’s how CPU load is looking while defending the barricade at the end of the Chapter 3 (this scene has lot of impact particles), with Advanced PhysX content running on CPU.
Final Sum: additional PhysX content in Metro 2033 is not nearly so intensive and defiant as in previous GPU PhysX games – one can call it mediocre, other will say it fit in game environment more naturally. But from what we heard, there may be PhysX patch for Metro 2033 – no additional details were revealed yet.
As always, GPU PhysX Info mini-site for Metro 2033 is located here
Update: comparison PhysX screenshots uploaded
nice video
i think best game what use GPU PhysX
and .. its way
multicore optimized for CPU and for peoples with GeForce – GPU aceleration
but i dont understand one think
with Advanced PhysX – CPU ?
without – GPU ?
MicrO (QUOTE)
MicrO
20 Mar 10 at 2:38 am
ah ..i understand now
Advanced PhysX – more particles effects ?
MicrO (QUOTE)
MicrO
20 Mar 10 at 2:53 am
i use GT220 for only physx. 0-4% usage in this game… Batman AA – 40-60% usage…. thats bullshit.
wwenigma (QUOTE)
wwenigma
20 Mar 10 at 6:25 am
MicrO
Right. Adv. PhysX – more particle effects.
It was feature stated by developers – if Nvidia GPU is present, it will calculate complex physics, if not – CPU will do the work (not so effective for sure)
Zogrim (QUOTE)
Zogrim
20 Mar 10 at 9:33 am
ah, ok .. x)
MicrO (QUOTE)
MicrO
20 Mar 10 at 3:26 pm
Sorry for my poor English.
Hey! Great comparison video and screenshots!
I made a short comparaison video too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmB4Z5xZkHI
You can see that advanced PhysX also adds some new objects. And if the advanced PhysX is working on a GPU NVIDIA works better. There are differences between CPU / GPU PhysX.
Anyway, it seems that in that scene from the game there advanced physics problems if Advanced PhysX are running on a GPU NVIDIA. The “paper” moves rare.
It can see on my video.
Bye!
AkRazor (QUOTE)
AkRazor
21 Mar 10 at 5:25 am
AkRazor
but since it was only in one place through whole game and was looking like a clear bug, I haven’t mentioned it)
Yeah, I saw that “mutant living paper” too
Zogrim (QUOTE)
Zogrim
21 Mar 10 at 12:08 pm
no physx means also that some parts of the game are missing
http://www.hardwareluxx.de/community/14230136-post474.html
Scorpio (QUOTE)
Scorpio
22 Mar 10 at 7:46 am
nvidia does it gain Batman no AA and now this crap
tried the game with physx off and indeed some scenes are missing from the game
Scorpio (QUOTE)
Scorpio
22 Mar 10 at 7:47 am
Scorpio
Sorry, I can’t undestand much from you link. What actually is missing ?
Zogrim (QUOTE)
Zogrim
22 Mar 10 at 9:32 am
some game scenes are missing with physx off also some parts in some cut scenes , fighting in the train station is missing
try for yourself turn off physx completely off in game and even in the drivers and play the game
Scorpio (QUOTE)
Scorpio
22 Mar 10 at 4:20 pm
Scorpio
some game scenes
This description doesn’t make any sence.
fighting in the train station is missing
At Depo level ? (Chapter 4-3)
Not this one ? picture link
Advanced PhysX OFF, PhysX disabled in drivers
Upd: In addition, I’ve replayed first three chapters with Adv. PhysX off – no difference.
Upd #2: Resolved. Mr. Scorpio was confused by actual level nonlinearity in Metro 2033
Thus, no differences between Adv. PhysX OFF and ON except those shown in a video above
Zogrim (QUOTE)
Zogrim
22 Mar 10 at 5:47 pm
hey, how u make a screenshot ? i cant make screen with Prtsc, i dont understand it
its my bad ?
u have fraps ?
MicrO (QUOTE)
MicrO
22 Mar 10 at 8:52 pm
MicrO
Yep, I’m using Fraps for both screenshots and video
Zogrim (QUOTE)
Zogrim
22 Mar 10 at 9:20 pm