At the January Xbox Developer Direct, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black was unexpectedly unveiled, and an added bonus was that it immediately became available on Xbox Game Pass. This updated version of the Xbox 360 original isn’t light on system demands, but its requirements aren’t as extreme as some we’ve encountered.
We’re currently examining portable gaming devices and inquiring about their current status. Luckily, they are functional, but keep in mind you might not be able to play for extended periods without having the charger nearby.
The latest version of the game has faced criticism due to its omission of DLSS in the Game Pass edition and issues with AMD’s Frame Generation technology not functioning effectively. However, there is some positive news for systems powered entirely by AMD, such as the ROG Ally, which should also apply to Lenovo’s Legion Go. As for the Steam Deck, while performance will be reduced, it remains playable.
In the case of the ROG Ally, these are the settings I use to play the game at above 60 FPS.
- Operating mode: 25W/30W Turbo
- Resolution: 1280 x 720
- Graphics settings: Light
- AMD FSR 3: Performance
- Frame Gen: Off
- Ray tracing: Off
Using identical settings on the ROG Ally X and Legion Go should produce similar gameplay performance. While aesthetics might not be optimized (it’s still visually appealing), what matters most is a consistent high frame rate that minimizes frustration during gameplay. Unfortunately, cinematic scenes don’t seem to function flawlessly in both devices.
If you’re open to lowering your frame rate, you can also play the game at 15 watts and occasionally reach 60 frames per second, but you’ll typically find yourself in the range of 45-55 FPS. It’s still playable, though. In simpler terms, you can enjoy the game at a lower setting, dipping into the 60 FPS range occasionally, with most of your gameplay experience sitting between 45 and 55 FPS. It’s still fun to play!
What’s most annoying is that despite using only AMD hardware throughout, Frame Gen seems completely ineffective. In other words, it doesn’t function properly. Regardless of whether it’s enabled or disabled, the frame rate remains nearly the same. For handheld devices specifically, this feature could potentially enhance graphics slightly for a more defined look, but an update is needed first before we can see any improvements.
I haven’t purchased Ninja Gaiden 2 Black on Steam and played it on the Steam Deck myself, but rather, I’ve been using the Game Pass version. As for trying it out, here’s a video from TEST GAME on YouTube that demonstrates its performance, which appears to be playable with settings similar to the ROG Ally.
On the ROG Ally, it doesn’t perform quite as well, but if paired with a functioning Frame Gen, it could potentially improve. It functions satisfactorily, and boasts a Platinum rating for Linux compatibility on ProtonDB.
In summary: Ninja Gaiden 2 Black performs well on handheld devices, yet there’s room for improvement. The missing Frame Gen function is problematic, whereas the absence of DLSS in the Game Pass version doesn’t seem to affect handheld performance. Fingers crossed that these issues get addressed soon so we can enjoy improved graphics without compromising frame rate.
Additionally, take note that if you own an ROG Ally, Legion Go, or any other handheld device running on Windows, you can enjoy playing it via Game Pass. Don’t miss out on this offer to accumulate games and even save some money!
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2025-01-25 19:09