Performance Regression in Super Mario 3D Land on Citra: A Comparative Analysis

Super Mario 3D Land, a beloved game from the iconic Mario series, has been tested on Citra, an open-source Nintendo 3DS emulator. In this article, we will explore the performance of the game on various versions of Citra and identify a significant regression in frame rate.

Gameplay Mechanics

Similar to its side-scrolling predecessors, Super Mario 3D Land features linear-based levels where the goal is to reach the 'Goal Pole' at the end of each level within a time limit. Mario has learned two new moves: barrel roll and roll jump. The former allows him to break blocks in a similar manner to jumping on them from below or ground pounding, while the latter enables him to cover significant horizontal distance in one jump.

The game also features a health system where Mario shrinks upon taking damage from enemies or hazards. This results in losing a life as 'Small Mario.' The dedicated 'Dash' button replaces analog input for determining travel speed, adding an extra layer of control to the gameplay.

Citra Performance Analysis

To test the performance of Super Mario 3D Land on Citra, we used various versions of the emulator: Nightly 1422, Nightly 1423, and Nightly 1469. Our tests revealed minimal framerate drops in the first stage of the game using Nightly 1422. However, Nightly 1423 and Nightly 1469 exhibited numerous framerate drops, indicating a significant performance regression.

A comparison between Nightly 1422 and Nightly 1423 showed that the latter version, which included the Core Timing 2.0 PR, was causing the issue. This finding is consistent with our experience using Citra Canary, where we noticed a similar performance drop in the latest version (1640 at the time) compared to an earlier version (1560).

In conclusion, our analysis of Super Mario 3D Land on Citra revealed a significant performance regression in frame rate between Nightly 1422 and later versions, including Nightly 1469. The Core Timing 2.0 PR appears to be the culprit behind this issue. We hope that this report will aid in identifying and resolving the problem, ensuring a smoother gaming experience for all Citra users.

Resources

* GPU: Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 (Driver Version 441.66)

* RAM: 4 GB (Running in single channel due to reasons)

For further information or clarification on any points mentioned above, please feel free to ask.

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