In this episode of Level With Me, the hosts critique the recent DLSS 5 leak, highlighting its impressive visual enhancements but significant performance and animation issues, while also discussing the highly detailed and immersive GTA 6 and various upcoming games like Rainbow Six Tactics and Star Wars Zero Company. They further cover current gaming news, including War Dogs, Star Citizen delays, and the Modern Warfare beta, before sharing personal updates and entertainment recommendations.
In this episode of the Level With Me podcast, the hosts dive into the recent DLSS 5 leak, discussing its impact and the mixed reactions from the gaming community. While DLSS 5 promises hyper-realistic visuals by applying an AI filter to game graphics, it comes with significant drawbacks such as a 50% frame rate hit and uncanny animation issues, especially with older games like GTA 5. The technology enhances still images impressively but struggles with motion, leading to a disjointed experience where hyper-realistic faces clash with outdated animations. The hosts express concerns about DLSS 5 potentially homogenizing game visuals, making every game look similar and losing unique artistic styles.
The conversation then shifts to the highly anticipated GTA 6, praised for its next-level visuals, dense, interactive world, and impressive animation quality. Despite running at 30 FPS on PlayStation 5, the hosts understand the trade-offs made to achieve such a detailed and immersive experience. They highlight the game’s rich environment filled with dynamic NPCs and realistic interactions, which contribute to a highly engaging atmosphere. However, they also note minor immersion-breaking moments and express disappointment that the game isn’t launching simultaneously on PC, where higher frame rates and better performance are expected.
Following GTA 6, the hosts discuss several upcoming and recently announced games, including Rainbow Six Tactics, a turn-based tactical game reminiscent of XCOM, and Star Wars Zero Company, which blends Star Wars lore with tactical gameplay. They praise Zero Company for its engaging story, character customization, and strategic depth, noting that it has received positive reviews and player feedback. Other notable mentions include the free remaster and DLC for The Witcher 3, the release date announcement for Path of Exile 2, and previews of Metro 2039, Alien Isolation 2, and Mortal Shell 2, highlighting their appeal and improvements.
The hosts also cover current gaming news and community reactions, such as the hype and vague marketing surrounding War Dogs, a multiplayer shooter with a high skill ceiling and innovative gameplay mechanics like vehicle flying and progression systems. They express excitement for the game’s launch and hope the developers are prepared for the anticipated player influx. Additionally, they touch on Star Citizen’s Squadron 42 delay to Q2 2027, acknowledging the franchise’s troubled history with deadlines, and share mixed feelings about the Modern Warfare ground war beta, criticizing its map design and chaotic gameplay compared to Battlefield.
Wrapping up the episode, the hosts share personal updates and reflections, including one host’s recent mountain biking accident and the lesson to avoid pushing too hard with new activities. They also discuss their current entertainment choices, such as watching classic movies like Honey I Shrunk the Kids, reading the Dresden Files book “12 Months,” and following TV shows like HBO’s Green Lantern series. The episode ends with lighthearted banter, gaming community observations, and encouragement for listeners to support the podcast through Patreon.