No Excuse PDZ Hi res HD footage

[shortround]

Yeh, after watching this I'm convinced that this is a game I want. I wasn't sure from some of the other videos, but this looks spot on for what I want in a Perfect Dark game.

I'm not sure about the AI- the only reason I really want the game is for multiplayer, but if the AI really does improve significantly on the harder difficulties, then that combined with what looks to be pretty interesting level design could make for a very fun singleplayer as well.

 

[scooby_dooby]

The textures look nice and sharp but the art direction doesn't look inspiring at all with usage of simple shapes for both the characters as the environments. That's why it doesn't look next-gen IMO.

Some levels are better than others, the rooftops with the massive draw distance and really nice environments it truly next-gen, no doubt about it.

Tye garage level, maybe not so much....

I'd really like to see a direct feed video, this game seems to look better and better as the video's quality improve.

 

[blakjedi]

Maybe over the lifetime of x360, this game will get a "do-over" like Zelda's transition from Windwaker to Twilight Princess

 

[Powderkeg]

Yet another game with over used bump-mapping and light bloom.

I wouldn't call it overuse so much as poorly implemented. Bump mapping and light bloom should be part of virtually every scene in almost every game, the question is, how heavily should it be applied.

That's a hard call to make in PDZ, since the game is supposed to be a bit cartoony and over the top anyways.

 

[Acert93]

I wouldn't call it overuse so much as poorly implemented. Bump mapping and light bloom should be part of virtually every scene in almost every game, the question is, how heavily should it be applied.

You are 2 for 2 tonight Powderkeg!

If developers don't make bump mapping stick out people don't notice it. Kind of like color and brightness controls on a TV in a show room. The sets incorrectly often stand out due to the environment but they are not correct.

PDZ is "over the top" in many ways so it may work. Without seeing some 720p direct feed with very little compression--in multiple levels in the game--I am afraid it will be very difficult to get a real feel of the game. A lot of subtle graphical touches are lost when things are compressed and/or not at native resolution.

This is not to say PDZ will look substantually better, only that the fine tweaks and quality are hard to make out. Looking like a solid title. Specifically, the 30+ player online "CounterStrike" mode should be enjoyable.

 

[mckmas8808]

I like your reason Acert but I would never agree to that. Just because its over the top doesn't mean they should be allow to make the game look worst as far as over doing bump mapping and using light bloom. I think if they toned it down this title could look so much better.

Most people tend to agree to that.

 

[Nfactor]

Perfect Dark Zero

The Good

Good use of normal and bump maps on concrete, brick and wood and some metallic surfaces

The Bad

horrible weather effects, bad water animation, bad character models, last gen animation and psyhics, horrible voice acting and a uninteresting a run of mill sci fi storyline


Overall: C-

 

[Acert93]

I like your reason Acert but I would never agree to that. Just because its over the top doesn't mean they should be allow to make the game look worst as far as over doing bump mapping and using light bloom. I think if they toned it down this title could look so much better.

Most people tend to agree to that.

Don't get me wrong, I actually prefer the more subtle approach. But I understand how general gamers minds work, "Dude, look at how shiny this is and how bumpy it is! This other game looks so flat in comparison!" I know Half-Life 2 got knocked by many because their bump mapping was not very intense.

Personally I find it a tad annoying when every wall looks like brand new stucco and has a super shine polish (even though it is stucco!) or how a path of stones looks like these fairly large rocks with a repetitive depth. Most paths I have seen with stones are flatter because the dirt settles in and even when a stone sticks out they don't all do that.

But art = $, so I can understand why artists spend more time on other things. It is all about the gameplay, but in games with shallow gameplay an environment to wow you over is always a big plus to immersion. It is a tough job to get the right balance where things don't stick out randomly. Matching your art with your technology and making sure all your art assets match up could be a tireless task.

This is how I see PDZ. Of course others are really digging the cartoon look in the real-ish world. I am a HL2/Halo theme guy myself. Both of those games really had a graphic design I could dig, ditto the KZ trailer. Even if the game does not have all the effects and graphical fidelity I absolutely LOVE the art direction.

 

[Acert93]

Perfect Dark Zero

The Good

Good use of normal and bump maps on concrete, brick and wood and some metallic surfaces

The Bad

horrible weather effects, bad water animation, bad character models, last gen animation and psyhics, horrible voice acting and a uninteresting a run of mill sci fi storyline


Overall: C-

Whoa, you got to play the entire final build?! I was not aware it was done, let alone available

 

[mckmas8808]

Perfect Dark Zero

The Good

Good use of normal and bump maps on concrete, brick and wood and some metallic surfaces

Ummm.... no you're wrong my friend look at the shiny ground. Why did Rare make the ground so shiny looking?

PROOF.

http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/4610/groundtooshiny1sw.jpg

 

[Tap In]

not bad for a launch title

It'll look good on my TV at 1080i.

 

[Azrael]

Nitpickers and the agenda driven be damned. I think it looks like a damn fine game.

 

[London Geezer]

Mckmas, in Rare's defense, they're not exactly trying to achieve the photorealistic look. Yes everything is shamelessly covered with bump and speculars that make everything look like plastic, but this is a cartoony game and i think. within context, it looks cool.
Obviously a MGS game with a floor like that (or many other super shiny surfaces in PDZ) would look out of place.

 

[LunchBox]

Whoa, you got to play the entire final build?! I was not aware it was done, let alone available

sorry but some of us here goes by the saynig...

"if it looks like crap it probably tastes like crap..."

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Yes everything is shamelessly covered with bump and speculars that make everything look like plastic, but this is a cartoony game and i think. within context, it looks cool.

You mean a sort of 'Ken and Barbie' Shooter look?

 

[Powderkeg]

Ummm.... no you're wrong my friend look at the shiny ground. Why did Rare make the ground so shiny looking?

PROOF.

http://img439.imageshack.us/img439/4610/groundtooshiny1sw.jpg

I have actually seen real stone tile walkways that look just like that.

But never on a roof.

 

[Powderkeg]

You mean a sort of 'Ken and Barbie' Shooter look?

Actually, yes. That is a very good description of the look they are going for.

 

[Acert93]

sorry but some of us here goes by the saynig...

"if it looks like crap it probably tastes like crap..."

And some of us would say:

"If you are relying on short videos to judge the story, if you are basing your judgement of the AI/physics/gameplay based on short clips set on easy, if you are relying on compressed low-rez footage to judge the graphics with a definitive grade, then you really need to stop back and re-evaluate your approach to games".

Feedback is fine, even negative. But I have no clue how someone can say, "uninteresting a run of mill sci fi storyline" without actually playing the ENTIRE game. Ditto some of the other comments. Some of them are valid because you can get a good feel from the videos, others are premature without playing the actual game.

 

[Uncle]

sorry but some of us here goes by the saynig...

"if it looks like crap it probably tastes like crap..."

You mean like slightly melted chocolate?

 

[mckmas8808]

Mckmas, in Rare's defense, they're not exactly trying to achieve the photorealistic look. Yes everything is shamelessly covered with bump and speculars that make everything look like plastic, but this is a cartoony game and i think.

Regardless I wish they didn't go with that look. Being cartoony just doesn't cut it for me.