Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam framerate drops and graphical glitches

[DarthPidgey]

DS Pico 1.3
Pico Launcher 1.1.10
Pico Loader 1.5.0
DSPico Firmware 1.0.1
Lexar Red 64GB U3 V30 A1 (card should be plenty fast, as seen in the sonic rush adventure slowdown issue, this card works and is even faster than a real cart in some games like Pokemon HGSS)

During races when there are multiple skaters on screen the frame rate tanks and sometimes the skybox will flash black for a few frames or polygons will explode for a few frames, unlike on a real cart or N-Card/DS Fire Link/Express Card where the game maintains 60FPS all throughout gameplay. You have to be in the middle of the race, the starting line with 3 skaters on screen maintains 60FPS on everything. A quick way to test is to skip the lessons and go straight to the Neighbor Hood race challenge.

[Gericom]

Does this game have issues on other R4-style flashcards?

[DarthPidgey]

Just tested on a ACE 3DS clone, it's considerably worse. Not only dropping even further but also slowdown on top of that and not even needing multiple skaters on screen at once to start having problems.

[taxicat1]

Try this build which enables DMA for the game and see if it improves the issue
https://github.com/taxicat1/pico-loader/actions/runs/22167829346

[DarthPidgey]

that build made it worse, it even framedropped without any skaters on screen when it was giving the fly over preview of the level before you start
i've also found a more consistent way to look for drops, pick the neighborhood race level but hold down on the d pad to brake as the race starts to let the other skaters on screen, it should framedrop everytime.