Update 58 - A New Environment? When Pigs Fly!

I have to agree with CastleDan I'm not really digging the level... something just seems off to me other than the music. Not to say that the level itself isn't beautiful in a way because it is stunning. It reminds me of a twist between Tristis Pass from Ecclesia and lower layers of the Catacombs from SotN. But I didn't come here to complain/critique, I came for the

I think I'm just becoming down on the whole 2.5d look. I was hopeful and I do think the characters look great and the enemies/bosses. It's just the environments don't pop for me for whatever reason.



When you look at the above that's the kind of vibe we would get from the 2D games. The colors just shown through and the details in the environment felt prominent. More than anything when an area was grey it didn't feel as bland for some reason but in 2.5d....when something is grey it just feels so dry and so lifeless.

I'm holding out hope there's areas in this game full of color all over like the below, I think the game would benefit greatly from it.



I think the other thing is the objects in the background to give it more character feel so minimal.



Look at the flag in the background in this. See how massive it feels or the lights in the FAR background. See that slight motion blur look to it? The color? That dark blueish/purpleish foggy hue in the background that makes the background pop more.

Compare that background with the one here.  The mood/vibe gone, that motion blur look gone, the hue gone....the atmosphere feels less oppressive. The background that felt huge in the prior pic feels small and without atmosphere in the bottom pic. There's something grand and beautiful about the size and look of the prior pic. A lot of the areas we've seen have gone the route of the second one. They feel flat, they feel a bit dead in the background and they feel small when at least in that prior pic it felt grand and moody.


Funny enough the above concept video, the very first video for this game actually got the mood and 2D feel that pops right. Look at those windows, look at the beautiful light shining through, and look at the color.

I'm nitpicking the crap out of it but it is one of the things where the visuals felt like a big downgrade from that. Where the atmosphere was like HOLY CRAP, and the colors popped, and then everything felt minimized.


At this point you probably couldn't change this stuff anyways but I like to be as honest as possible with as small a criticism as possible. If someone listens cool, if not...no biggy. I think that kind of honesty is a good thing though.

I feel like I have to clarify that I'm super pumped for this game even if it sounds like I'm not sometimes.

Great update. Angel mentioned before many times that lightning is still not finalized, while I agree that they could add more colors, but we all know that lightning effects will fix the washed out looking environment in a way or another. The music is on spot, the area is absolutely beautiful will even look better once they put more life to the background like flying creatures or particle effects. Enemies, candles and chests will be placed there and it wouldn't be empty anymore.

The flying pig is super adorable. I'm also extremely happy to see my commission art featured, thank you Angel-Corlux -Corlux

I too think that this level will feel better when they add the correct lighting so I'm not worried there.
This music seems so forgettable though. Maybe we just got the intro of it but I hope that there is a better melody in it once it starts.

Are those trees in the ceiling upside-down?? A hint or maybe that's how they grow?

Dengojin

I don’t think it’s mere lighting effects. The background and environment detail look better. Like the background in that pic had a purple fog like look to it and the windows had a blurred out vibe. They just look better detailed. Granted lighting could improve but I think what I was stating is different.

Pure Miriam

Yup, you will notice I haven’t complained about layout in a long time. My only fear is there won’t be enough areas that blow me away by their looks. You can have good layout but if there aren’t special looking areas or if a lot of stuff lacks color it won’t matter. You can’t really judge that without the full game tho so.... no sense going crazy lol.

Since these Japanese Caverns are taken directly from a concept art, as i mentioned before, i just wanted to remind us all of the other concept arts that wasn't used yet.


I wonder IF those areas will be used AND how they will end up in the game.

I like the environment too, but at the same time I can see where castle is going regarding a missing element when it comes to how colourful some of the older concept/proof of concept build stuff was. That said this is an underground area and well, I wouldn't expect it to have that level of colour, and the glowing liquid thing really does alot in that direction imo.

I might be missing something though, but why are the trees upside down.

Light from candles. Or a magic well.

Its not lava however, if that would be the case, those leaves would catch into flames.

exile

I want to be clear, I'm not saying I want 2D or something. I'm saying when we first saw the game the backgrounds looked more atmospheric. At least in the pics I posted. I don't know if they had to cut back for some reason but I do wish they could get back to that look.

Scars Unseen

i like it darkened out a bit as well. I think it boils down to making the game have more contrast. The blacks don’t feel black and it makes the world feel very grey. The color should pop and the shadows should be dark. imo. I think added darkness to the parts of the cave make it look better.

i still stand by there needing to be more atmosphere like my other post pointed or t tho. At this point the only thing nagging me about the game isn’t the environments so far. Nothing has struck me as OMMMMMGG. Whereas that original pic I posted did.