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[Durante]

So, where are the improved textures? The IQ gains there are from screen resolution only.

No. For example, the stones in the front on that screenshot (bottom left on the screen) are close enough to the camera to have >1:1 texel/pixel mapping, and it's obvious that the PC texture is higher resolution there.

Whats that weird halo effect in the PS3 Version:

Cheap SSAO. (They obviously improved it in the PC version, but it could still be even better)

Honestly, I'm pretty surprised that a lot of people take/took this quote:



...to mean that the targetted specs of the game would be drastically higher than 360/PS3. I always read this as the game will support most expected PC game features (kinda like how Devil May Cry 4 was "made for PC"), not that the game would push PCs and be severely downgraded for consoles. Which is what we're getting.

Agreed.

 

[Metroid-Squadron]

I too base all my game purchases off of the marketing team rather than the actual game product.

People missing out on a great game from a "series they love" because marketing is just too damn funny to me. Either way, real PC gamers are in for a treat with this game.

Yeah, real PC gamers simply accept all the lies of the developers and pay full price for a substandard product.

 

[DrROBschiz]

A notable amount of them worked on DS2 as well... and the statement that they're working on something else with Miyazaki is just an assumption, maybe a fair one.

Calling it a b-team game doesn't sit well with me... I put it in the same league as the other games, B-team implies a drastic difference in quality which I'm not seeing.



Yeah... no.

Yeah Its completely comparable to the first two games. For sure and even better in a few respects.

Can we be clear that the main disappointment is them never hitting the reveal "target"?

Otherwise it sits nicely next to its peers

I understand peoples hunger for a truly Next Gen souls game. The tragedy is that the reveal demo gave us an awesome glimpse of what COULD be the future.

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

A notable amount of them worked on DS2 as well... and the statement that they're working on something else with Miyazaki is just an assumption, maybe a fair one.

Calling it a b-team game doesn't sit well with me... I put it in the same league as the other games, B-team implies a drastic difference in quality which I'm not seeing.

Barely no leads for the last 2 games worked on DS2 and seeing the amount of outsourced staff is not wrong to call this B-team work, something evident seeing the lack of consistency in the world this time.

 

[CountAntonius]

Not this shit again. I've explained my viewpoint and all the media and information I've consumed in other threads. Can't be arsed doing it again.Defend away, its your prerogative.

I'll still be playing the game, but its clearly no longer the best product they could have made and a temple of compromise all over. When I found out barely any of the staff from Demon's and Dark 1 worked on this title, it explained a lot. Dudes got to earn a living, and hey it sounds like they get close in some areas and put a fresh a spin on other, but I can safely say I'm not the only one this whole wool-pulling tour of bait and switch turdery has taken its toll on.

I've followed the game since it's inception and I just view things differently. My only beef in this whole thing was how poorly marketing was handled for the console version. But snooping around and asking PR questions led me to believe it was due to sloppiness rather than deceit. I haven't played the game myself but when I put a few hundred hours into it I'll be able to decide weather or not this game lived up to the other two but the "B team" shit is disrespectful to me. They are obviously talented developers and I don't think they deserve that title.

 

[BearPawB]

While true, I won't be dropping 50 bones for this. I'll wait till its $20 or below.

Why though? It isn't like the game is hurting for content or length.

 

[zephervack]

More comparisons, slowly trying to accept all of these and getting some hype back

I know GIF isnt the best format for these comparisons but its easier for me to see than scrolling through JPG

 

[Tain]

I can't feel super confident about comparing DS and DS2 visuals based on a video like this. I'll have to see it in low-compression 1080p, ideally in motion. lol at "much worse", though. I don't see that.

 

[RVinP]

The game shown at GiantBomb's 60 FPS video, looks absolutely fantastic; it smooth as silk.

On the other hand, the game appears to have less depth ques in the scenes (especially in the outdoors/brighter locations).

 

[FACE]

Man, this is Ubisoft levels of bullshit right there.

 

[ultron87]

flicked through the giantbomb quick look, weird that some lights are dynamic while most are not, same on consoles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2xPah553Ew#t=16m34

Yep, that's exactly how it is on console. You get dynamic lighting when holding a torch and around some bonfires.

 

[Krusenstern]

If think it's more a result of time constraints than a lesser effort of a B-Team.

Spoiler

Or maybe both? °o°

 

[patapuf]

Yeah, real PC gamers simply accept all the lies of the developers and pay full price for a substandard product.

I understand console gamers being burned, but there was no "lies" where the PC version was concerned.

 

[zephervack]

More photoshop that can be repeated with sweetfx in the future

My issue with this, is that Dark Soul uses this weird post process effects were they change the image hue/brightness/contrast in weird ways when entering/leaving some areas.

With SweetFX profiles, it would affect some areas nicely like your GIFs and others not so nicely.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

Does it really matter which team worked on what when the game is still good?

Of course it does when the game is not as good as previous ones. Its clear the team is not as experienced. The biggest tell tale are the animations and hitboxes being messed up.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Yeah Its completely comparable to the first two games. For sure and even better in a few respects.

Can we be clear that the main disappointment is them never hitting the reveal "target"?

Otherwise it sits nicely next to its peers

I understand peoples hunger for a truly Next Gen souls game. The tragedy is that the reveal demo gave us an awesome glimpse of what COULD be the future.

It's just weird to me that people get so hung up about it. Yeah I was initially disappointed, but then I just moved on.

Of course it does when the game is not as good as previous ones. Its clear the team is not as experienced. The biggest tell tale are the animations and hitboxes being messed up.

I'll agree that some of the animations aren't as polished (though honestly I don't really think it's that bad) but I've never felt the hitbox complaint. At all.

 

[CountAntonius]

Barely no leads for the last 2 games worked on DS2 and seeing the amount of outsourced staff is not wrong to call this B-team work, something evident seeing the lack of consistency in the world this time.

If we never saw the original builds and lighting and didn't know how many of the old team was missing I think it would be a different story. People are mad they didn't get was was shown earlier and found a convenient scapegoat.

 

[DrROBschiz]

If think it's more a result of time constraints than a lesser effort of a B-Team.

Thats my guess

Though I think if they actually tried to hit the Reveal target development would have been even more messy.

Pretty sure it would have had to be two separate games considering what we were delivered in the end

They opted for a simpler/singular approach that was attainable in whatever the environment there was.

I guess its up to you guys whether this was mishandled or not. Not even sure where to lay the blame since we have no inside access to such decisions

 

[Odrion]

I figured. The lighting engine would've changed the way the game played completely and it would be odd to have that sort of disparity between the two versions.

this "b-team" shit is disgusting. the game is great.

I agree, those people don't deserve Dark Souls.

 

[Self_Destructive]

I think if DS2 gets a decent AO mod, and a high res texture pack, this will shit all over DSfix'd DS1 on PC.

 

[perfectsil]

Yeah, real PC gamers simply accept all the lies of the developers and pay full price for a substandard product.

substandard ? compared to which version?

 

[vpance]

Wow. Guess I'm skipping this one. From finally got the taste of big success and it got to their head, phoning it in with the B team.

 

[Metroid-Squadron]

More comparisons, slowly trying to accept all of these and getting some hype back

I know GIF isnt the best format for these comparisons but its easier for me to see than scrolling through JPG

So it looks exactly the same as on consoles.

 

[Ketch]

Think I'll be waiting for a good steam sale. I was really hoping they'd convince me I needed to buy it day one.

 

[Pie and Beans]

the "B team" shit is disrespectful to me. They are obviously talented developers and I don't think they deserve that title.

I just can't look at the animations and not laugh. They're such a step down from the original games that I can't help but designate them as such. The sliding, the poor matching to acceleration and velocity, and all the crap looking shortcuts (just a levitating boss of course I just saw there on the GB QL) and its clear the "replacement team" didn't have the same attention to detail the original and notably missing animation directors and producers did.

 

[SteveWinwood]

Yeah, real PC gamers simply accept all the lies of the developers and pay full price for a substandard product.

Real PC gamers wait and let others be guinea pigs.

 

[impact]

So now we're not "real" gamers? Sorry if I misinterpreted the meaning behind your post, but that's how it came off to me.

I really want to like you because of your Fred avatar, but you're making it very hard.

My bad, I should have said faux-Souls fans. No actual Souls fan would skip out on this game because it doesn't look as good as pre-release trailers. It's a great game packed with content and as someone who has beaten it multiple times, I'm glad the original lighting is gone. Personally I didn't like Tomb of the Giants that much either!

 

[LeBart]

So it's a well optimized port, with better textures and shadows, it runs at 60hz even on relatively old machines, it has a fair amount of graphics options, and people are losing their shit because... ?
If you expected the PC version to be a totally different game, I guess you deserve to be disappointed. It's not an outstanding port, don't get me wrong, maybe they could've added a bunch of new effects or even better textures or something, but since when is Dark Souls about graphics?

 

[crun]

Very disappointing

Hope it at least supports 120(144) FPS?

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

If we never saw the original builds and lighting and didn't know how many of the old team was missing I think it would be a different story. People are mad they didn't get was was shown earlier and found a convenient scapegoat.

I'm not even talking about the different builds, I'm talking about the massive difference in quality between areas. DkS was a more smartly built game around hadrware limitations, making it a more cohesive experience.

 

[UnrealEck]

I can't believe it - the entire lighting engine was scrapped?!?!

I... I really didn't want to believe they would have to sacrifice that.

Seems they simply changed which light sources cast dynamic shadows. Some areas have less light sources too.

 

[Metroid-Squadron]

substandard ? compared to which version?

Compared to contemporary games at the same price.

Real PC gamers wait and let others be guinea pigs.

Indeed, that's why I didn't preorder this game.

 

[Antiwhippy]

So it looks exactly the same as on consoles.

No, that's just a bad comparison. If you compress the screensize to such a small resolution most of the detail will be lost.

Also, we already have some high-res pics in this thread for you to compare.

 

[koryuken]

Why though? It isn't like the game is hurting for content or length.

I have the PS3 version and was planning to double dip only if it was worthwhile. I don't think it is for $50.

 

[Grief.exe]

So it's a well optimized port, with better textures and shadows, it runs at 60hz even on relatively old machines, it has a fair amount of graphics options, and people are losing their shit because... ?

.

 

[Metalingus5150]

I'm surprised in your change of attitude Grief.
lol

 

[DrROBschiz]

So it's a well optimized port, with better textures and shadows, it runs at 60hz even on relatively old machines, it has a fair amount of graphics options, and people are losing their shit because... ?
If you expected the PC version to be a totally different game, I guess you deserve to be disappointed. It's not an outstanding port, don't get me wrong, maybe they could've added a bunch of new effects or even better textures or something, but since when is Dark Souls about graphics?

I understand the sentiment

Coming of the 8 year long generation and seeing the massive sales of the new hardware its clear people just want to move on to greener pastures.

Reality of development just doesn't cater to that demand yet.... and I question if it ever will.

This is going to be an interesting generation shift for sure

 

[RiccochetJ]

Of course it does when the game is not as good as previous ones. Its clear the team is not as experienced. The biggest tell tale are the animations and hitboxes being messed up.

Keep talking out of your ass and pretending that you speak for everyone in this matter.

 

[koryuken]

I'm surprised in your change of attitude Grief.
lol

Me too lol... he has reached the "acceptance" stage Congrats.

 

[Vazra]

Of course it does when the game is not as good as previous ones. Its clear the team is not as experienced. The biggest tell tale are the animations and hitboxes being messed up.

Hit boxes on DaS1 were not perfect either. The PVP for DaS1 was shit and the last half of the game dips in quality. Dark Souls 2 has more consistency on level design not being absolute garbage like some of the last areas in DaS and the last areas are actually great. They balance out with their pros and cons IMO

 

[dreamfall]

The lack of the lighting revealed in the trailers is disappointing. But we've waited long enough! And I passed on the console version!

I'm going to enjoy playing this at 60FPS, and revel in the fact that it's finally here.

 

[Qassim]

I didn't expect the lighting thing to be in the PC version..

If it:

1) Supports whatever native resolution we throw at it within reason (like a regular PC game)
2) Has decent image quality.
3) Can run at 60fps, preferably no limit to the framerate (for higher refresh rate guys)

I'm happy. I'd have been a lot happier with loads more PC lovely stuff but as long as it meets my baseline needs, I'm happy.

 

[patapuf]

Compared to contemporary games at the same price.
.

So, you decide whether to play a souls games based on graphics?

 

[zephervack]

So it's a well optimized port, with better textures and shadows, it runs at 60hz even on relatively old machines, it has a fair amount of graphics options, and people are losing their shit because... ?
If you expected the PC version to be a totally different game, I guess you deserve to be disappointed. It's not an outstanding port, don't get me wrong, maybe they could've added a bunch of new effects or even better textures or something, but since when is Dark Souls about graphics?

Never forget

I'm surprised in your change of attitude Grief.
lol

Same here...

 

[_machine]

So it looks exactly the same as on consoles.

If you disregard the resolution, the textures, the SSAO, the AF, the shadows. Which is actually what they promised.

 

[sirap]

Guess i'll continue with my PS3 version and hope for a PS4 edition next year. 60fps and 1080p is nice, but not enough to justify the amount of hackers there'll be in the PC version (dedicated servers or not)

Shame they couldn't have at least included the original assets and textures, the tiling is whack.

 

[Sullichin]

Barely no leads for the last 2 games worked on DS2 and seeing the amount of outsourced staff is not wrong to call this B-team work, something evident seeing the lack of consistency in the world this time.

So was the often-criticized "lazy" back half of Dark Souls 1 a result of it being the "A team" product? (Lost Izalith sucks, it must have been made by an intern! -- screw this way of thinking). I think Lordran is more impressively connected, but Drangleic is more consistently good. I don't know. I could nitpick both games for days, but I see them as games of the same high quality.

 

[RMI]

Still buying it.

yep. I'm not in any rush though. After double dipping on the first game I'm going to just wait until a Steam Sale or something for this one.

 

[CountAntonius]

I just can't look at the animations and not laugh. They're such a step down from the original games that I can't help but designate them as such. The sliding, the poor matching to acceleration and velocity, and all the crap looking shortcuts (just a levitating boss of course I just saw there on the GB QL) and its clear the "replacement team" didn't have the same attention to detail the original and notably missing animation directors and producers did.

The old team was working on the same engine for 5 years. This was a new engine and getting the exact same feel was probably not that easy.

I'm not even talking about the different builds, I'm talking about the massive difference in quality between areas. DkS was a more smartly built game around hadrware limitations, making it a more cohesive experience.

Again new engine and a shift to PC development probably hurt the polish of this game. The other games were built on an engine they were used to for platforms they knew they had to aim low on.

They aimed high cause of PC and had to cutback a lot more then they wanted to to get the game out before these old consoles became irrelevant resulting in what people think is a lack polish compared to the first two.

 

[zephervack]

Guess i'll continue with my PS3 version and hope for a PS4 edition next year. 60fps and 1080p is nice, but not enough to justify the amount of hackers there'll be in the PC version (dedicated servers or not)

Shame they couldn't have at least included the original assets and textures, the tiling is whack.

Speaking of hackers, will this game use VAC??/