Nvidia’s Tegra 4 architecture is rocking, providing console like graphics rendering on portable handsets. The Tegra 4 is almost six times faster than the Tegra 3. The Tegra 3 had a handful of games that took advantage of its architecture, and we saw how the visual quality improved with the respective chipset.
The Tegra 4, based on the ARM Cortex-A15 CPU and can clock upto 1.9 Ghz. Nvidia’s portable gaming device, the Nvidia SHIELD also sports the Tegra 4 architecture. So far, there are no smartphones supporting the Tegra 4, only the iPhone 5’s A6X processor offers the same level of performance. However, there are a couple of tablets that are coming with the Tegra 4.
Own one of those tablets? Waiting for a phone with Tegra 4 to launch? Here’s a list of games you should definitely check out.
Eden to Green
Published by Zynga, Eden to Green is a touch based tower defense game based on protecting planet Eden from robotic invasion. Built on the Unreal Engine 3, Eden to Green implements deep strategic elements while maintaining a ‘casual’ feel to the gameplay.
Google Play Store Rating: 4.2/5
Google Play Store Download Link
Eden to Garden scales well with quad-core based mobile CPUs and has great graphics. Here’s the difference in the visual quality of Eden to Garden between a non-Tegra 4 and a Tegra 4 device. It is massive. The non-Tegra version skips many object altogether.
Dead on Arrival 2 THD
Yet to be launched (should be out up in the Google Play store by October, 2013), Dead on Arrival 2 is N3V Games’ follow up to the highly successful Dead on Arrival, a fast paced action survival shooter. Dead on Arrival 2 is touted as one of the headlining games for the Nvidia SHIELD. Dead on Arrival offered great graphics, a huge selection of weapons and tons of unlockables. It’s successor Dead on Arrival 2 will only add to that, plus a big improvement in graphics, especially on Tegra 4 devices.
Google Play Store Link: Game not yet launched
Dead on Arrival 2 clearly differentiates itself amongst both non-Tegra and Tegra versions, the later offering bump and specular maps, refraction and reflection and high quality shadows and particle effects. Illustration below. You can notice the smoke effects and dynamic lighting in the Tegra 4 version of the game.
RU Golf THD
Developer nutgee Inc.’s attempt at casualizing and trivializing golf is one that deserves a try with their latest offering, RU Golf. Especially optimized for Tegra 4 devices, this is the only game to support 2X FXAA Anti-aliasing on mobile devices. Anti-aliasing, a graphics feature that smooth-ens rough edges, requires high processing power and is capable of bringing down many desktop based GPUs. RU Golf is living proof that we’re now living in a world where mobile devices fully support Anti-aliasing, brilliant!
Google Play Store Rating: 1.1
Google Play Store Download Link
The Tegra 4 version of RU Golf includes more background objects, realistic water and soft shadows. Illustration below. Look at the skirt in the Tegra 4 picture, it is reflecting ambient lighting, same goes to the legs. The house textures are deeper in the Tegra 4 version too.
Zombie Driver THD
Another headlining NVIDIA SHIELD game, Zombie Driver THD is the closest mobile devices have got to console-like graphics quality. Having full support for Xbox 360, PS3, Nyko, PowerA and Steel Series controllers, Zombie Driver puts you right in the middle of fast paced action. The game includes cars, speed, explosions, blood, and obviously, zombies.
Google Play Store Rating: 3.3
Google Play Store Download Link
A non-Tegra device running Zombie Driver lacks all types of shadows and real-time dynamic lighting. To see how this translates into visual difference, check out the image below. The non-Tegra version displays no shadows whatsoever.
Arma Tactics THD
The popular PC strategy game is now out on mobile and portable devices. Arma Tactics supports both Tegra 3 and Tegra 4 (a Tegra-only game) devices, but has specific enhancements for the later, such as dynamic shadows, rich particles and post processing. Developed by Bohemia Interactive, Arma Tactics is a turn-based close-combat strategy game. Not designed for the casual gamer, Arma Tactics will satisfy gamers looking for a challenging experience on the go.
Google Play Store Rating: 4.2
Google Play Store Download Link
Riptide GP2
From the developers of Riptide GP, Beach Buggy Blitz and Shine Runner, Riptide GP2 offers intense multiplayer racing on hydro jets. Featuring a career mode, a new stunt system, Riptide GP2 has gained immense popularity on the Google Play Store. The game benefits from the Tegra 4 processor, providing HDR lighting and enhanced reflections as graphical improvements, to name a few.
Google Play Store Rating: 4.7
Google Play Store Download Link
Renaissance Blood THD
An FPS shooter running on Unreal Engine, Renaissance Blood THD puts you in the shoes of Rossi, a young apprentice to Leonardo da Vinci, to search for the blueprint of the Da Vinci Machine. Specifically developed for Tegra 3 devices, we included Renaissance Blood in this list as there is a Tegra 4 optimized version on the horizon.
Google Play Store Rating: 3.5/5
Google Play Store Download Link
Bounty Arms THD
Kerosene Games, the makers behind Bladeslinger, now bring to you Bounty Arms, an adventure platformer. You can select from three unique characters, Drake Mass, Goober or Flux Helix to complete quests, win bounties and defeat bosses. This is an arcade style game, offering easy to learn controls and a quick rewarding system.
Google Play Store Rating: 4/5
Google Play Store Download Link
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We hope you liked our feature. If you think we’ve missed out on any games, do let us know in the comments box below.
Image credits: Nvidia
