Just one question - Why Larian changed style in second part of the game?

[Tim]

Just one question - Why Larian ruined changed style in second part of the game?

Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin 2 have completely different graphic, art style/direction. The first one was more cartoony and looked great aesthetically. The second one looking a plain, grumpy boring and poor. First one was more like Blizzard-like games art direction. Do you know all Blizzard games have insane success right?

Played D:OS2 from a friend and i barely endured 40 min then ALT+F4. But i noticed this much earlier, from development stage. Just compare fire in first part with second part. In D:OS2 it trying to be photo realistic but it looks so cheap.

You can tell me like hey finish first tutorial ship level and go outdoors, but when i came to tavern in first part i doesnt feel like i playing in poorly visually designed game. Everything looks pleasant and artistic in first Divinity: OS.

Divinity: OS 2 - is a step back in art direction compared with first part IMHO.

So why Larian misled by all this 1.5 people who criticizing game for "cartoon graphics"? Or Larian changed their graphics designer?

Edited: slightly changed caption. Now less emotions, less drama.

Added: screenshots.

All screenshots made with Ultra setting, PNG format.

D:OS 2 - Ship level:

1. https://i.imgur.com/OToXCQJ.png
2. https://i.imgur.com/gGzOaoy.png
3. https://i.imgur.com/eon1KWC.png

Monochromatic (black & brown) palette, cold light.

Such poorly looking scenes with such palette doesnt exist at all in first D:OS.

D:OS 1 - Cyseal Tavern:

1. https://i.imgur.com/OTTfz18.png
2. https://i.imgur.com/cQqhFej.png

D:OS 1 - Another Tavern:

1. https://i.imgur.com/Zsbl5jH.png
2. https://i.imgur.com/1jMqJh6.png

Beach scene:

D:OS 2:
1. https://i.imgur.com/6iPEgCs.png

D:OS 1:
1. https://i.imgur.com/VrYnwcD.png

Forest scenes from D:OS 1:

1. https://i.imgur.com/VMPnk23.png
2. https://i.imgur.com/cYLv1zn.png

In first D:OS game everything looks exact opposite. Expressive, juicy (even at no daylight, even in dungeons), rich color palette, smooth gradients. Lights look almost like hand-painted and looks good, soft, artistic, eye-candysh.

[winterplantkill]

Originally posted by w.f.schepel:

*snip*: lots of drivel.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. I am, however, equally entitled to consider your opinion utter garbage. A lot of art in DOS 2 is a straight copy from DOS 1. Some of it is new, especially with regards to 'new' races, but it is definitely quite similar.

okay pal.

[Ghost]

Originally posted by winterplantkill:

It's a shame that the aesthetic ruins it for you as it is a very fun game that improves upon D:OS in every other way!

EVERY other way? disagreeeeee

[winterplantkill]

Okay, in my opinion or whatever.I have enjoyed his game

[winterplantkill]

this game.... sorry

[Tim]

Originally posted by w.f.schepel:

*snip*: lots of drivel.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. I am, however, equally entitled to consider your opinion utter garbage.

You are obviously typical trash talker with serious an issue with logic as well as manners and you also have no idea what you are talking about and what this topic about so please just leave.

I am already gave you few examples that totally disprove you previous incorrect statements.

Originally posted by w.f.schepel:

A lot of art in DOS 2 is a straight copy from DOS 1. Some of it is new, especially with regards to 'new' races, but it is definitely quite similar.

Once again, according to your logic, a lot of art in D:OS 1 is a straight copy from Divinity II (2009) and it is definitely quite similar. Its true, you can not argue about this, but this topic is not about this at all and if you still didnt understand that then better skip it and stop trash talking.

[Tim]

Originally posted by winterplantkill:

I know where you are coming from buddy. AllI can say is that I am enjoying it so far and some of the challenges have been...

I'm glad that you enjoy the game buddy really. And other people too. But my full of disappointments topic and question was about - Why they changed art direction from stylized to more photo realistic-like in D:OS 2?

- Want to experiment.
- "Whoever pays the piper calls the tune." (Top backers call the tune).
- Misled by people who criticizing game for "cartoon graphics".
- Changed their graphics designer.
- Made a good predictions in what auditory to aim for better sales.

Also i cant say anymore that the game is poorly visually designed completely after i found gorgeous screenshots like this:

1. https://fextralife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/divinity-original-sin-2-screenshots-002.jpg
2. https://2ch.hk/vg/arch/2017-01-17/src/20609141/14841343511411.jpg
3. http://i.playground.ru/i/14/79/40/00/news/content/wnj0sn35.jpg

But i also found this:

https://i.imgur.com/qgCnsdx.png

What is that? Diablo (1997) look much better and richer than this ugly thing. But this is not my screenshot, not made by me, so i am not sure. But in previous posts i did them personally on "Ultra" settings and they are ugly too. My bad experience based on just first two areas - ship level and fort.

Some people said that this because D:OS 2 is "a lot more serious". Sorry but this is wrong, because stylized or even cartoony graphics does not interfere having a good plot and story. I am far from "Final Fantasy" games but here is some facts:

- Have cartoony graphics.
- Have a serious plot. Not satiric, etc.
- All "Final Fantasy" games have commercial success.

[Tim]

Originally posted by ♔Charlie Buckethat♔:

I think you care too much about this eh bud. If you didn't label those images with the game titles I'd honestly have no idea what I was looking at. I for realsies can't tell the difference between DOS1 and DOS2 regarding the minor details. Even some of the SFX look the same to me and I couldn't care less.

I guess you played first game and second, not only seen on screenshots, right? Because for me difference was noticeable after first two minutes of playing D:OS 2.

Examples there looks equally too for you?

• D:OS 2 Tavern (right)
  http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/435150/ss_a0fa5dd2f40fffbae32af259afcf588a999e6663.jpg?t=1513872745
  Blurry, very poorly designed and hardy to distinguish objects scene. Everything look like in two colors: black and brown. "Realistic" lighting look incredibly stupid there.
  
  
• D:OS 1 Tavern
  http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/373420/ss_3db4a0531a1bc6f33aab653060020a90f967a5c9.jpg?t=1512992769
  Expressive, juicy (even at no daylight), rich color palette, smooth gradients. Lights look almost like hand-painted and looks good, soft, artistic, eye-candysh.
  
  First ship level looks almost like in this D:OS 2 Tavern (right) example. Very poorly.

[zacharyb]

Originally posted by Tim:

Originally posted by ♔Charlie Buckethat♔:

I think you care too much about this eh bud. If you didn't label those images with the game titles I'd honestly have no idea what I was looking at. I for realsies can't tell the difference between DOS1 and DOS2 regarding the minor details. Even some of the SFX look the same to me and I couldn't care less.

I guess you played first game and second, not only seen on screenshots, right? Because for me difference was noticeable after first two minutes of playing D:OS 2.

Examples there looks equally too for you?

• D:OS 2 Tavern (right)
  http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/435150/ss_a0fa5dd2f40fffbae32af259afcf588a999e6663.jpg?t=1513872745
  Blurry, very poorly designed and hardy to distinguish objects scene. Everything look like in two colors: black and brown. "Realistic" lighting look incredibly stupid there.
  
  
• D:OS 1 Tavern
  http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/373420/ss_3db4a0531a1bc6f33aab653060020a90f967a5c9.jpg?t=1512992769
  Expressive, juicy (even at no daylight), rich color palette, smooth gradients. Lights look almost like hand-painted and looks good, soft, artistic, eye-candysh.
  
  First ship level looks almost like in this D:OS 2 Tavern (right) example. Very poorly.

Well there are a lot of settings in the game, it's highly possible you're looking at a low setting screenshot. The DOS:2 picture is also in splitscreen according to the picture. Personally the game looks fine to me. I also don't zoom in all the way and nitpick everything, but the game environment and everything looks and works well for me.

[Tim]

Originally posted by zacharyb:

it's highly possible you're looking at a low setting screenshot. The DOS:2 picture is also in splitscreen according to the picture.

It is default screenshot from Steam Store so it cannot been made at low setting.

Originally posted by zacharyb:

the game environment and everything looks and works well for me.

Cant argue anymore with the fact that game look gorgeous in others areas man, after looking at this examples:

Originally posted by Tim:

1. https://fextralife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/divinity-original-sin-2-screenshots-002.jpg
2. https://2ch.hk/vg/arch/2017-01-17/src/20609141/14841343511411.jpg
3. http://i.playground.ru/i/14/79/40/00/news/content/wnj0sn35.jpg

But sadly, not always and i start notice this caused mostly because of sharp crappy shadows and weird lightning. I can only assume its very hard to tighten the style in every area. Thats why IMHO more stylized/cartoony style is better because easy to finish the game with it, rather than with more photo realistic style.

[Hobocop]

Looks like a Depth of Field effect in the D:OS2 tavern screenshot causing the blurring in the background which can be turned off in the game's options menu, and the D:OS1 tavern screenshot looks like its in some pocket dimension where the surreal lighting would make sense and not your bog standard tavern in some junk fishing town. Cyseal's King Crab Inn has a very similar look and feel to D:OS2's tavern. On top of that, comparing a splitscreen shot where the resolution of the individual scene is natrually going to be lower then complaining about it being 'blurry' to a fullscreen shot isn't even a fair comparison to begin with.

That's the real issue with nitpicking over screenshots because it doesn't tell the whole story.

[Richard]

DOS1 might have looked better but DOS2 is better in everything else.

[w.f.schepel]

Originally posted by Tim:

Originally posted by w.f.schepel:

*snip*: lots of drivel.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. I am, however, equally entitled to consider your opinion utter garbage.

You are obviously typical trash talker with serious an issue with logic as well as manners and you also have no idea what you are talking about and what this topic about so please just leave.

I am already gave you few examples that totally disprove you previous incorrect statements.

Originally posted by w.f.schepel:

A lot of art in DOS 2 is a straight copy from DOS 1. Some of it is new, especially with regards to 'new' races, but it is definitely quite similar.

Once again, according to your logic, a lot of art in D:OS 1 is a straight copy from Divinity II (2009) and it is definitely quite similar. Its true, you can not argue about this, but this topic is not about this at all and if you still didnt understand that then better skip it and stop trash talking.

Screenshots are very easily manipulated, accidentally or intentionally. I had a look at both games (max settings, no mods). The differences are very minor and your understanding of art in general appears to be so poor it doesn't even seem worthwhile to discuss: you have no idea whatsoever what you are talking about. This whole topic appears to be a very poor trolling attempt. Well, good luck with that, and just a word to the wise: don't talk about manners when you don't show any yourself. Just makes you look bad - even for a mediocre and decidedly unfunny troll.

[Tim]

Originally posted by w.f.schepel:

Screenshots are very easily manipulated, accidentally or intentionally.

So once again - lack of arguments and you continue trash talking? It seems like you have paranoia or something like that.

Originally posted by w.f.schepel:

The differences are very minor and your understanding of art in general appears to be so poor it doesn't even seem worthwhile to discuss: you have no idea whatsoever what you are talking about.

Yeah especially when we talking about not major or minor difference. You again and again completely off topic commenting there. Also in this topic only one man still talking about character design and it is - you, when i clearly talked about world design, lighting and how overall scene looks compared to first D:OS game. I may not always use correct terminology, because lack of English skills, but even this did not prevent other people to understand topic of discussion
and achieve consensus - that the new game at least look different. Minor/major, better/worse - this is another story. For some people it will be always look better or worse, because of changes and this is more subjective topic, but once again main point not about this.

So i dont know - you cant read or you just complete idiot. Previously i gently beg you - do not respond anymore in this thread if you cant read and talk on the topic of discussion. You can go and make your own topic when you can talk about your super ego opinion which only right, character design and plot of Divinity games.

Now i guess if i ban you still can spamming there and continue trash talking. Let's check it...

[ProfessorBAG]

I actually like this games more realistic look a lot more than the DOS1.

Not to say that DOS1 looked bad, i liked that too.

It's all a matter of personal perspective.

So to say they ruined the game is a bit too much imo

[Tim]

Originally posted by ProfessorBAG:

I actually like this games more realistic look a lot more than the DOS1.

Thx for your feedback. You found new look is more realistic too and if you like it a lot more then this mean that look is differs a lot more too for you. Same for me, with the only difference is that i like old look a lot more.

Originally posted by ProfessorBAG:

It's all a matter of personal perspective.

Yes, 99% this.

Also time of the day matters and ambient lighting when you gaming. I want to find now (but i cant) article about WoW graphics design, where graphic designer says - "We designed our game assuming that folks will play at daytime".

When i played this ship level in D:OS 2 i barely seen what going on the screen. This case impossible in D:OS 1. Even in dungeons because everything is colorful and contrasting.

Originally posted by ProfessorBAG:

So to say they ruined the game is a bit too much imo

Emotions. If I was currently writing this topic it would be less tragic.