Playing Halo: Campaign Evolved on a handheld gaming PC without upscaling presents significant performance challenges, according to recent testing. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, a powerful device in the current handheld market, struggled to maintain smooth frame rates when the game was run at native resolutions with its default Temporal Super Resolution (TSR) or FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) settings.
When using TSR in its native mode, the game averaged just 20 frames per second with 1% lows dipping to 14.3 fps. FSR set to native yielded a slightly better average of 22 fps but still saw lows of 19 fps. These figures suggest that neither upscaling technology, when used in this non-upscaling 'native' mode, offers the performance gains necessary for comfortable gameplay.
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor and 24GB of LPDDR5X memory, was tested in performance mode while plugged in, drawing approximately 17W of power. This configuration is considered a strong option for handheld gaming, balancing performance with manageable fan noise.
Finding the Sweet Spot
For those looking to play Halo: Campaign Evolved on the go, upscaling solutions are crucial. The game's testing revealed that FSR set to Medium, combined with the 'Very Low' graphical preset, provides a 'perfectly playable' experience on the ROG Xbox Ally X's 7-inch 1080p display. This configuration achieved an average of 42.6 fps with 1% lows at 34 fps. Lowering FSR to 'Low' offered even higher frame rates, averaging 48.6 fps with lows of 38.6 fps, though this came at the cost of visual clarity.
TSR also showed promise when used as a proper upscaler. On TSR Ultra settings, the game averaged 31 fps with lows of 25.6 fps. While this is an improvement over native modes, the author expressed a preference for lows in the 30s, which FSR could achieve on lower settings.
Visuals and Settings
Surprisingly, the visual difference between the 'Low' and 'Ultra' graphics settings in Halo: Campaign Evolved was described as subtle. The core game experience remains largely the same, with lower settings primarily impacting visual fidelity and adding a slight sheen when upscaling is active. The testing also recommended disabling motion blur, which was described as detrimental to the experience.
While FSR might be difficult to justify on a larger monitor attached to a gaming PC, the FSR Medium setting with very low textures proved to be a viable compromise for handheld play on the ROG Xbox Ally X, offering a balance between performance and visual quality. The game does feature a 'Very Low' graphical mode that was only accessible on the ROG Xbox Ally X, suggesting specific optimizations for this device, though the exact impact on performance outside of the tested upscaling modes was not fully detailed.