From 2D in 999 to 3D in VLR...

[Stoicism]

Finished 999 recently, and started VLR.

I'm finding the puzzles to be a little smoother (999s lack of 3D environment made moving around a room feel really awkward), but apart from that, I'm really hating these 3D graphics. Going from anime style drawings to this is very jarring. Just me?

[LastNonak]

Well... i personally really liked the VLR graphics ^^

[Stoicism]

Guess its a matter of taste after all...

[Cawotte]

Yeah, I did liked it, at the exception of the low-res for textures environments and some details on the characters face ( This creepy smile that never leaves Clover's face + These all pink mouths without depth nor teeth, especially on Tenmyouji. )

[Battler Ushiromiya]

Least it's btetter than the 3D cutscenes of ZTD.

[FhqwhTODD]

Welcome to my teen years when suddenly every game had to be in ugly, blocky 3D.

[Stoicism]

Haha, I know what you mean FhqwhGod! When 3D first came out it was sooo ugly.

... and I thought ZTD was okay. But that may be because I played it first.

[Puzych]

Exactly my thoughts. Actually I did not enjoy first 10-15 hours of VLR because of that. Later story becomes more engaging and you're not noticing this 3D that much. But I agree, this takes a bit of emotion out of characters

[Ereh]

I didn't care so much about the graphics as I did about the complete and absolute lack of blood and gore. I think they should have added more in this re-release.

[Battler Ushiromiya]

Originally posted by Obito:

I didn't care so much about the graphics as I did about the complete and absolute lack of blood and gore. I think they should have added more in this re-release.

Why? They would have to change way too much to mke that happen. That's a ridiculous request.

[Ereh]

Originally posted by Juzo Sakakura:

Originally posted by Obito:

I didn't care so much about the graphics as I did about the complete and absolute lack of blood and gore. I think they should have added more in this re-release.

Why? They would have to change way too much to mke that happen. That's a ridiculous request.

The purpose of a re-release is to improve or enhance things that were left to be desired in the original release. Fear and blood are some of the things that most lacked VLR, and it would have been nice to have them touched up a little.

Originally posted by Kotaro Uchikoshi:

When we were developing Virtue’s Last Reward, we asked people in Japan who didn’t buy 999 why they didn’t buy it. Most of the answers we got was because it looks scary. One of the decisions made by the higher ups was for the next one make sure to tone it down. I made it more mellow and lessened the tension. That’s why in the first game you explore, but in the second game there was the needle. I didn’t have a choice, but to tone it down.

[Battler Ushiromiya]

Originally posted by Obito:

Originally posted by Juzo Sakakura:

Why? They would have to change way too much to mke that happen. That's a ridiculous request.

The purpose of a re-release is to improve or enhance things that were left to be desired in the original release. Fear and blood are some of the things that most lacked VLR, and it would have been nice to have them touched up a little.

Originally posted by Kotaro Uchikoshi:

When we were developing Virtue’s Last Reward, we asked people in Japan who didn’t buy 999 why they didn’t buy it. Most of the answers we got was because it looks scary. One of the decisions made by the higher ups was for the next one make sure to tone it down. I made it more mellow and lessened the tension. That’s why in the first game you explore, but in the second game there was the needle. I didn’t have a choice, but to tone it down.

........... Except that would changer the story far too much. It was created to not have that. Uchkoshi was told not to put too much gore in the next ZE game, and so he didn't. How would t "improve or enhance" the experience in any way? All it would be is a pointless hassle that would change way too much for no reason.

[☠Black Knight]

Just started VLR after finishing and loving the heck out of 999. There is nothing good I can say about VLR so far. The characters faces are emotionless and doll-like. The animations and way they move is very stiff. A lack of gore is also something I dislike. IF I wanted to play hello kitty island adventure, id be playing it.

I loved all of the characters in 999, but honestly, everybody in VLR could die and I wouldnt care one bit. I mean for crying out loud, they all smile even in scenes where they clearly should not be. That is the very definition of LAZY animation. And the puns... dear god the puns... I normally like bad puns, love em actually. But when the same EXACT pun is made 10-15 times, it gets really old.

Before playing VLR I was 100% sure on buying ZTD. Now I really don't think I want to. Will have to research if it follows down the same ugly and boring path that VLR did or not.

[Battler Ushiromiya]

Originally posted by ☠Black Knight:

Just started VLR after finishing and loving the heck out of 999. There is nothing good I can say about VLR so far. The characters faces are emotionless and doll-like. The animations and way they move is very stiff. A lack of gore is also something I dislike. IF I wanted to play hello kitty island adventure, id be playing it.

I loved all of the characters in 999, but honestly, everybody in VLR could die and I wouldnt care one bit. I mean for crying out loud, they all smile even in scenes where they clearly should not be. That is the very definition of LAZY animation. And the puns... dear god the puns... I normally like bad puns, love em actually. But when the same EXACT pun is made 10-15 times, it gets really old.

Before playing VLR I was 100% sure on buying ZTD. Now I really don't think I want to. Will have to research if it follows down the same ugly and boring path that VLR did or not.

You aren't even near completing it. Honestly, it's personally a lot better than 999. There's a damn rason everyone was anticipating ZTD so much after VLR. Because VLR is a fantastic game.

[Puzych]

Originally posted by ☠Black Knight:

Just started VLR after finishing and loving the heck out of 999. There is nothing good I can say about VLR so far. The characters faces are emotionless and doll-like. The animations and way they move is very stiff. A lack of gore is also something I dislike. IF I wanted to play hello kitty island adventure, id be playing it.

I loved all of the characters in 999, but honestly, everybody in VLR could die and I wouldnt care one bit. I mean for crying out loud, they all smile even in scenes where they clearly should not be. That is the very definition of LAZY animation. And the puns... dear god the puns... I normally like bad puns, love em actually. But when the same EXACT pun is made 10-15 times, it gets really old.

Before playing VLR I was 100% sure on buying ZTD. Now I really don't think I want to. Will have to research if it follows down the same ugly and boring path that VLR did or not.

I felt just like you, didn't care much about what is happening for the first 15 hours or so, and these doll-like characters were getting on my nerves. map transitions are also quite irritating. Visiting same places, etc. Puzzles are reallly good and smart though and provide a great satisfaction after you figure them out including secrets. Later the game starts to grow on you, and now i enjoy it quite a bit. Not finished yet, bit still it's a good game. But so far, the first one was more...impactful.

[The Bringer of Honey]

The first game was a non-stop thrill ride from beginning to end. VLR is different because there is so much more to it. It takes a little while for things to get rolling but it's ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ fantastic when all is said and done. And the puzzles are better by a thousandfold.

The complaint of there being too little blood isn't valid IMO because the game was designed to be less gory from the start. The death needles may not be so overtly scary, but they still posses a more subtle ominousness. And there's some pretty fugged up ♥♥♥♥♥ in the game too.