I don't like the new graphics, here's why

[ShadowMan44]

The new environment graphics are pretty good for what they are, but man it looks so muddy and ugly when you put the original character sprites up against them with the lighting.

I get that they didn't wanna make new character models to keep the nostalgic look, but I mean there were better ways of doing the new graphics. They should've either made it look closer to Octopath Traveler or perhaps make entirely new 3D models, that were stylized after the game's original graphics. That new Super Mario RPG remake that just got announced did exactly what I just described. Hell, if they really wanted to try something new, they should've dug up the 3D models they digitized for the background environments in the original.

All new graphics are perfectly fine, it's just the fact they kept the original pixelart which contrasts so heavily against everything is just, no no it's not good.

[REhorror]

Messaggio originale di maestro:

Messaggio originale di REhorror:

Of course I play it on an emulator, it's the best way to play it. The remastered Grandia 1 looks fuzzy due to their filtering they use.
Hmm, that makes me think that 2D-HD development might by inspired by playing 2D games with 3D background on emulator, since you can get the pixelated sprites while having detailed 3D background.

That would be why you think the backgrounds are of higher fidelity than the sprites. The emulator is upscaling them.

If you're ever curious, turn the upscaling off and you'll see what it once looked like. Or find some images on google or something of the original PSX version.

Now, Grandia is an outlier, as I said earlier, most games used pre-rendered backgrounds with 3d character models. Or they used sprite players AND sprite backgrounds (Breath of Fire 3).

In the case of BoF3, there's no upscaling that can save it, lol. You're gonna get pixels all the way, which I don't mind. There's a certain charm in it.

There's also Wild Arms 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsT34NDAHd4

And I think Front Mission 3 as well on the map stage:
https://youtu.be/aihcf-j9Cok?list=PLcBOT_ttJo9Oq_7tC7rCVfota9-sN-Zc5&t=726

And the infamous Warhammer Dark Omen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYjmoBvbTLg

Either ways, the point is that it works, and 2D sprites on 3D background age far, far better because you can upscale the polygon for the 3D backgrounds while keeping the sprites.

[maestro]

... at the cost of having less detailed backgrounds. Even upscaled, there's far less detail to them than, say, FF9's backgrounds, especially back in the day. If you put original hardware Grandia against FF7, looking at just the backgrounds, and not the terrible character models of FF7, you got way more detailed backgrounds.

But it is true that poly backgrounds did indeed age better, but yet... after AI Upscaling tech has been invented, there's a mod for FF9 that touches the backgrounds up considerably. Not on the scale that SO2R got, but still, better than the original. Add to that, upscaled characters and the game with the Moguri Mod looks better than it ever did.

[REhorror]

The backgrounds aren't alive.
The characters are.

I feel the 3D background has enough details and the ability to rotate them gives them far more control-ability than just a pre-rendered scene.

[Character Name]

I'd much rather they'd gone with full 3D models and full 3d view instead of keeping the chibi sprites and fixed view (in the towns). But after awhile, you kind of get used to it, and it doesn't matter. It also helps that they've animated the character overlays and synced the voice. Overall, I'm having fun, and it's a nice throwback to early PS days. This has always been my favorite Star Ocean - with the first one being my second. The rest have been "meh".

[REhorror]

Messaggio originale di jaimi:

I'd much rather they'd gone with full 3D models and full 3d view instead of keeping the chibi sprites and fixed view (in the towns). But after awhile, you kind of get used to it, and it doesn't matter. It also helps that they've animated the character overlays and synced the voice. Overall, I'm having fun, and it's a nice throwback to early PS days. This has always been my favorite Star Ocean - with the first one being my second. The rest have been "meh".

Yeah, trust me, you don't want that, bro.
Tri-Ace can't do 3D for the sake of their life, and it's the reason why only their 2D games have become hit (Valk Profile 1 and SO2).

In fact, Tri-Ace should probably consider going back to 2D-HD (some of the cameo characters have sprites already).

[ElCid]

Messaggio originale di REhorror:

Yeah, trust me, you don't want that, bro.
Tri-Ace can't do 3D for the sake of their life, and it's the reason why only their 2D games have become hit (Valk Profile 1 and SO2).

In fact, Tri-Ace should probably consider going back to 2D-HD (some of the cameo characters have sprites already).

I'm really hoping the Octopath Traveler fever that clearly influenced this remake opens tri-Ace's eyes and they start doing 2D-HD games from now on. I don't think it'll be the case for mainline games, though.

The only Star Ocean game that actually has great 3D models is Anamnesis.

[Scyris]

Messaggio originale di Vendon:

Everything in the world is looking amazing but the character sprites are looking rlllly bad.

You get used to it as you play and care less and less as the game itself is just that good.