This guide explains how to minimize lag when playing Smash games, both online and offline.
Terms
Latency, also known as lag, is the delay between player input and display output. It's typically measured in milliseconds (ms) or frames (~16 ms). It commonly ranges from close to zero (playing offline on a CRT) to 200 ms (playing online with someone on the other side of the world). Ping time refers specifically to network latency.
Jitter is lag variability. Even if the average latency is low, occasional connection hiccups manifests as lag spikes.
A connection can be laggy but smooth (high latency, low jitter) or mostly good but with bad lag spikes (low latency, high jitter). Usually jitter makes games unplayable more quickly than steady lag.
Display lag and input lag
The most common source of lag for offline play is from the television or monitor. For older Smash games, it might be easiest to use a CRT TV. On modern flat-screen TVs, go into the TV's menu and turn on "Game Mode" and turn off all of the post-processing effects (sharpening, etc.). Some flat-screen monitors, especially large ones,[citation needed] simply can't achieve low latency.
Some video adapters (e.g. composite to digital) also have significant lag.[clarification needed]
Some controller adapters for using a GameCube controller on a PC have more lag than others, although it's usually very small (significantly less than a frame) either way.
Wired controllers might have less lag, jitter, or other misbehavior than wireless ones.
Wired connection
Wireless connections are more susceptible to noise, which results in lag spikes.
To use a wired connection on Nintendo Wii, Wii U , or Switch, you'll need an adapter. Make sure to get an adapter that advertises Wii/WiiU/Switch support, as common PC adapters usually won't work.
- Wired Internet LAN Adapter (Official, Nintendo Store)
- Ethernet Adapter Replacement for Nintendo Switch Wii U and Mac Windows Laptop USB LAN Adapter (third party, Amazon, untested)
To configure a wired LAN adapter:
- Nintendo Support: How to Connect the Wii to the Internet with a Wired Connection (Wii)
- Nintendo Support: How to Set up a Wired Internet Connection (Wii U)
- Nintendo Support: How to Connect to the Internet Using a Wired Connection (Switch)
For the Nintendo Switch, the OLED Model Dock has a LAN port built-in, which is also compatible with the original Switch.[1]
- Dock - OLED Model - White (Official, Nintendo Store)
- Dock - OLED Model - Black (Official, Nintendo Store)
Router
If you share a connection with other people or devices, get a high-quality router (TBD) and configure Quality of Service (QoS). Note that on some low-end routers (including Linksys[citation needed]), turning on QoS can actually make performance worse.
Modem
Some defective cable modems actually add significant amounts of latency or jitter. See the list here.
Game-specific techniques
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Use Slippi, which has rollback netcode, which is able to hide a degree of network latency.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
This is a Gecko code that eliminates zero to two frames of input lag that the game has built-in (even offline).[citation needed]
Controller Input Lag Fix [Magus] C202AD8C 00000002 7C630214 3863FBFC 60000000 00000000
Dolphin (Melee and Brawl)
In the emulator Dolphin, you need to set the "Minimum buffer" manually. It should be set to approximately ping (in ms) / 8. Setting it too high causes unnecessary lag, whereas setting it too low causes lag spikes (unsmooth framerate).
Troubleshooting
First, try checking your internet connection with a ping test. Details on ping testing by Brawl Bois member Four Sword:
Please try several tests, or on several servers (one close to your opponent) before making a conclusion whose net (or both) is causing issues.
We recommend using a wired ethernet connection due to the inherent jitter wi-fi causes.
High jitter/ping might be caused by your internal network which you can exercise control over, or be caused by your ISP's network, which you have less control over.
A long-distance connection will necessarily have some latency due to the speed of light. From east coast U.S. to Europe, or from east coast U.S. to west coast, about 100 ms ping time is standard and can't be fixed. Further distances will be even worse. The only way to reduce this is by playing people closer by.
Latency can also be caused by buffer bloat.
Jitter can be caused by Wi-Fi (wireless interference), sharing an internet with other people (without Quality of Service, see above), hardware problems, or problems with your ISP or specific internet routes (packet loss).
Sometimes if the game is running choppy it is due to your computer not being fast enough (in Slippi or Dolphin) or mods or codes slowing things down, rather than the network. Try testing offline or without mods. Try reducing the graphics settings in Dolphin, or using Diet Melee for Melee.
If you have one, turn off your VPN! Playing a realtime game through a VPN is never a good idea. If you can't connect without a VPN, you may ned to turn on port forwarding or DMZ on your router.