I did a comparison of the results of using different options on console posting them here
My Notes:
Luckily, there's a level that has some base amount of lag inherit to normal gameplay(alpine ridge) due to the snow falling. This allows for a fair and accurate comparison of a consistent source of lag. Tests were completed by comparing a minute of gameplay with no inputs with different settings.
Start at first visible frame of car after intro.
End at first visible 1:00.06 frame. Frames are counted here on the ingame timer(results).
Default vs Music/Voice Off: 1 frame less with Music/Voice Off inconclusive/no difference.
Default vs Stereo Off: 1 frame less with Stereo Off inconclusive/no difference.
Default vs First Person: 2 frames less with First Person Small Difference.
Default vs Music/Voice off, Mono, First Person: 3 Frames Less Noticeable Difference.
Results: This comparison shows a small reduction of slowdown(lag) that affects the in-game time by playing in first person mode and also mono audio and/or turning the music off. In real gameplay, this difference would be larger as this comparison doesn't account for the driving effects or the effects of loading the track ahead of the player.
Recommendation: On console, playing with first person and stereo off should reduce console slowdown in a way that affects the in-game timer. This should allow for faster times on all levels(closer to emu) as this game has framerate issues universally on Nintendo 64. These recommendations come from experience on other N64 racing titles that also have in-game timers that are affected by console slowdown. Mono audio(stereo off) is indicated to save time in other games so I'm recommending turning stereo off instead of turning music/voice off so runs can still have the music. This test does indicate that it should save some time when combined with first person.
Video Proof:
Really awesome to see some game testing happening, have you checked to see if there's any change in turning off the HUD?
@SuccessfulBread This was tested using the ingame timer display so not sure how to test HUD; the HUD is loaded with the track initially so it's not likely turning it off makes any difference. Comparisons of HUD on/off on games with similar lag problems have shown no difference. Anecdotally, when I drive around on alpine ridge w/ no hud there doesn't seem to be any appreciable difference.
First person is better for many games because it unloads the model of the vehicle(while still calculating location, physics etc). and also any effects like skidmarks, dirt particles etc.
One thing I'm unable to know at my skill level is whether or not there's a difference in collision in first person. In Polaris Snocross first person actually makes the player model "skinnier" so you can clip through small objects, ledges etc. as well as reduce collisions with walls a bit. There could be a potential here that first person creates slightly better routing opportunities; I wasn't sure if it was because of first person/confirmation bias but I did clip through some light poles on Midnyte Rumble and the wall collisions to reduce airtime seemed a little easier/ smoother.
