The Art Style and Graphics Discussion

[Tyaren]

Maybe not quite as crazy as Xenoblade though the middle picture looks like it could fit. XD I have to admit I actually do enjoy the realistic areas of the world of Eos from what we've seen since it makes it feel more down to earth, especially since the animals are very fantasy like and bring it to life. At the same time if the whole world is ordinary I might be wishing for some amazing place so I definitely wouldn't mind some areas being sort of Alien like. Sort of like when you go to Gran Pulse and there is those trees that look like cotton balls! Plus its set on a different planet so they might as well make some crazy locations.

By the way...did you play one of the Xenoblades? The second one is a mixed bag...but the original Wii one is a masterpiece. Everyone who is into JRPGs and likes to explore huge, interesting worlds and cities is absolutely right there. The story is also very epic and the characters likable.

 

[Jadeinchains]

No I haven't played them but I have heard a lot of good things about the first one so I'll need to play it at some point.

 

[KasumiLover]

I'm not interested in the VR, but if it has decent features I'll consider getting it, like if we can look at the T7 characters even more closely. :-D

 

[Jadeinchains]

I'm hoping the textures of the characters and outfits are good that we can zoom fully in and see the details of them.

But yeah unless there is a lot of good features I have no reason right now to get one.

 

[Tyaren]

No I haven't played them but I have heard a lot of good things about the first one so I'll need to play it at some point.

You absolutely have to! It's not just my believe that it was the best JRPG of the last console generation...imo still of this console generation. Also, it the most beautiful ugly (on a technical level) game that you have ever seen. XD And it all is sooo huge.

See these islands there? They are actually really big and you can explore them for several minutes. That hovering tower is a giant city. You can by the way jump from any of these islands into the ocean below and it takes at least 15 minutes to swim across the whole thing.

And at night it looks like this:

Some more impressions:

That island too is actually a complete city with dozens of NPCs. And here as well you can jump down that height and just swim to it or the shores beyond.

This city is in a giant tree and goes on for many levels.

I could go on and on... *sigh*

 

[Aliorumnas]

Does Xenoblade Chronicles have an HD version?

 

[KasumiLover]

Does Xenoblade Chronicles have an HD version?

It shouldn't, Fans have been asking for one for years on Twitter, but Harada hasn't really focused on it.(And oh my god, I feel like a parrot when my answer was just literally posted and then someone else answers although I just did XD)

 

[Aliorumnas]

That's what turned me off from playing it - those pics posted above look amazing, but when me and my friend tried playing the game, the graphics were not as cute.

 

[Tyaren]

Does Xenoblade Chronicles have an HD version?

Nope. That would be so great! I think these screenshots are from Dolphin (some PC program to rip and run Gamecube and Wii games in higher resolution on PC.)

 

[Jadeinchains]

Wow that looked incredible even if the graphics aren't the best they still look good and the world looks huge, I like the cities in games do its good that the game seems to have a lot.

 

[Chapstick]

Going back to FF landmarks one of the coolest things in older games that had world maps was seeing weird things in the world while flying in an airship that you couldn't access yet and being excited to discover what they were when you eventually got to them

 

[Tyaren]

Going back to FF landmarks one of the coolest things in older games that had world maps was seeing weird things in the world while flying in an airship that you couldn't access yet and being excited to discover what they were when you eventually got to them

Seems like that is returning to FFXV. There is end-game content that you can only access if you have finished the last boss or got the flying car or upgraded your chocobo. The giant adamantoise seems to be an example for that. Apparently it's mostly just a strange mountain until you are able to fight it.

I think it is this discolored rock formation here in the back:

Wow that looked incredible even if the graphics aren't the best they still look good and the world looks huge, I like the cities in games do its good that the game seems to have a lot.

There are several big cities in Xenoblade Chronicles, all very different and unique and you learn to deeply care for each one and its inhabitants because of the well-rounded quest and affinity system. In each city there are unique named NPCs with their own story that is often connected to other NPCs in the same city or in another city and sometimes with yourself. Here the completed affinity chart:

(It is up to you to literally connect everyone with each other in the world. At the start this map is completely blank.)

NPCs do in some cases even move to other cities and you can help them out with that. One city you can build entirely yourself. It is completely optional and a lot of work but imho totally worth it. You can travel all over the world to recruit inhabitants and depending on which characters you do have in your city other stories and quests are unlocked. But be careful, some characters hate each other and don't want to be in the same city and some even fall in love. :3

 

[DontForkWitMe]

Some Dues Ex Mankind Divided screens

 

[Argentus]

I finally got storm 4. Love how beautiful the supers are in this game!

 

[Jadeinchains]

Seems like that is returning to FFXV. There is end-game content that you can only access if you have finished the last boss or got the flying car or upgraded your chocobo. The giant adamantoise seems to be an example for that. Apparently it's mostly just a strange mountain until you are able to fight it.

I think it is this discolored rock formation here in the back:

There are several big cities in Xenoblade Chronicles, all very different and unique and you learn to deeply care for each one and its inhabitants because of the well-rounded quest and affinity system. In each city there are unique named NPCs with their own story that is often connected to other NPCs in the same city or in another city and sometimes with yourself. Here the completed affinity chart:

(It is up to you to literally connect everyone with each other in the world. At the start this map is completely blank.)

NPCs do in some cases even move to other cities and you can help them out with that. One city you can build entirely yourself. It is completely optional and a lot of work but imho totally worth it. You can travel all over the world to recruit inhabitants and depending on which characters you do have in your city other stories and quests are unlocked. But be careful, some characters hate each other and don't want to be in the same city and some even fall in love. :3

Wow that actually got me super interested in the game that sounds really deep that connection between the NPCs and making trhe city. I'd definitely enjoy making that city if I got the game.

Also the Adamantoise is such an amazing looking creature especially in the world of Eos! Why would anyone want to kill it?! They're probably on an endangered species list!

 

[ShinobiGuy]

Also the Adamantoise is such an amazing looking creature especially in the world of Eos! Why would anyone want to kill it?! They're probably on an endangered species list!

The question is not why, but how....

XD

 

[Tyaren]

The question is not why, but how....

XD

Well, it already took half an hour to defeat the Catoblepas

in Episode Duscae...so the adamantoise, which is like 50 times bigger, might entertain you the whole day. XD

Wow that actually got me super interested in the game that sounds really deep that connection between the NPCs and making trhe city. I'd definitely enjoy making that city if I got the game.

You also have to grind for some materials for that city and some of those are extremely rare. But as I said, I thought it was worth it. I had a special connection to that city. It was just dust and ashes before and after that it became a bustling city.

I'm going to look for a good video review of the game fo you.

 

[Jadeinchains]

Lol I have a lot of time on my hands right now but I'm not gonna even try to take down the adamantoise if I'm gonna be there for I think they said 15 hours? Plus its a beautiful creature that the world would be less without.

 

[Hayabusiness]

What (Xeno)Blade has over Blade X, IMO, is the atmosphere.
I feel like a lot of the magic in X is lost thanks to the rapping and the level scaling hampering your exploration. Blade did not have this problem for the most part and I could enjoy landscapes without being assaulted by a level 60 legendary monster as Black Tar plays.

Blade X still has some really beautiful moments. It's definitely more grandiose than its predecessor sometimes. Exploring Oblivia was amazing, and some views really left a mark. I like how different some places in a region can look, and how it never feels like they copy-pasted anything.
Very original over all and I wish more big scale open world titles took the imaginative route, instead of imitating reality.

 

[ShinobiGuy]

Guess which game I got on sale....

Btw @Tyaren I changed my profile pic as a hint of where the ginger babe is from. How do people not know this..? I feel sooo old.