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Ambient occlusion - how use

  Ambient occlusion (AO) is a shading technique that darkens creases, corners, and contact points to add depth and realism; it began appearing in real‑time games around 2007 and today ranges from cheap SSAO to high‑quality ray‑traced AO — you can safely turn it off in many 4K scenarios to reclaim GPU performance with little perceived loss when other lighting tech (like DLSS and GI) is active. Quick guide — key decisions before you toggle AO Performance vs fidelity: Do you need maximum frame rate at native 4K, or the last bit of visual polish? Type of AO: SSAO/HBAO are cheaper; ray‑traced AO is expensive but more accurate. Other tech in use: If you use DLSS or path tracing, AO’s visual contribution may be redundant. Answering those helps decide whether to keep AO on or off. What ambient occlusion is Ambient occlusion simulates how much ambient (indirect) light reaches a surface by darkening areas where geometry blocks light, producing soft, contact shadows that make scenes feel ...
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Mr. Gimmick! Another hidden gem from NES

 



“Gimmick!” is a hidden gem from the NES era, developed by Sunsoft. It’s renowned for pushing the NES hardware to its limits, both graphically and sonically. The game features a little green doll protagonist who embarks on an adventure through a vibrant, fantasy toy land. The visuals are impressively detailed, showcasing a level of artistry that was quite advanced for the time.

The soundtrack deserves special mention as it includes an enhanced audio chip, providing a rich and varied musical experience that complements each level’s mood perfectly. Gameplay-wise, “Gimmick!” offers a unique mechanic where the player can create and ride on a bouncing star projectile, adding a layer of strategy and skill to the platforming challenges.

While “Gimmick!” didn’t receive widespread recognition upon its initial release, it has since achieved cult classic status among retro gaming enthusiasts. Its intricate level design, fluid mechanics, and exceptional production values make it a standout title that still holds up today. If you’re a fan of the NES and enjoy discovering underappreciated classics, “Gimmick!” is definitely worth your time.




The story of the NES game “Gimmick!” is both whimsical and adventurous. It revolves around a small green creature named Yumetaro, who appears to be a yōkai, a supernatural spirit from Japanese folklore. Yumetaro was mistakenly given as a toy to a young girl on her birthday. One night, the girl’s other toys, driven by jealousy towards Yumetaro, come to life and kidnap her, whisking her away to another dimension.

Yumetaro, who cares deeply for the girl, sets out on a daring quest to rescue her. The player guides Yumetaro through various levels, using his unique ability to shoot stars that can be used both as weapons against enemies and as platforms to reach new areas. This mechanic adds a strategic layer to the platforming challenges of the game.

The game was developed and published by Sunsoft and released in Japan in 1992. Despite its innovative gameplay and high-quality graphics and sound, “Gimmick!” faced challenges in gaining popularity due to the rising interest in 16-bit systems at the time. However, it has since been recognized for its quality and has become a cult classic.


Check the game yourself, its worth playing :)

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