Support NeoGAF

[Kai Dracon]

Dynamic lighting looked to good for last gen? lol

A number of commentators seem to be assuming the bait-and-switch was between some glorious 2014 high spec PC game and last-gen console graphics.

But better PS3 games look more impressive technically than the early Dark Souls 2 footage. I'm playing Lords of Shadow 2 right now on PS3. It has dramatic dynamic lighting and moody environments, and runs at a steady 30fps without a problem. And it is a far cry technically from something like a Naughty Dog game.

 

[FACE]

Holy shit!

 

[Garcia]

I do hope the delay for the PC version is them trying to get in that lighting.

That is the worrying part. We don't even know if the PC final build will be as gorgeous as the initial release trailers.

 

[DR2K]

2014 and we still want PC like graphics on 7+ year old hardware.

I'm pretty sure there's a good reason why they did knock it down a bit.

Regardless, I expect this to be a pretty fun game.

Those aren't high quality visuals that 360 and PS3 haven't been able to pull off...

 

[cpp_is_king]

Have we heard anything about PS3 framerate yet?

 

[F0rneus]

Have we heard anything about PS3 framerate yet?

What I heard is that PS3 has less screen-tearing but a worse framerate (than 360). But that info came from a stream where the guy had hacked like a billion shit into his save file while he played normally on 360.

 

[Kai Dracon]

Have we heard anything about PS3 framerate yet?

No Blighttown framerates apparently, but not a perfect 30fps in all scenarios. Better than average for a console Souls game.

 

[Orthogonal]

I knew there was something off with the lighting and people still kept downplaying it or denying it or called me things.

Just look at the mirror knight comparison. I feel dumbfounded when I see this.

The difference is pretty stark.

I hope From made the PC version at least look like the initial build.

It's not just the lighting, but the textures are muddy and washed-out too.

 

[neoism]

The PC version better have those visual effects.

yeah its called sweetfx

 

[RK9039]

#TeamSweetfx1.5

What I heard is that PS3 has less screen-tearing but a worse framerate (than 360). But that info came from a stream where the guy had hacked like a billion shit into his save file while he played normally on 360.

People already hacked the game?

Is there pretty large community for the PC versions of Souls?

Yeah it's decent. It would have been even larger if the port wasn't crap and if it didn't use GFWL.

 

[Marvel]

Is there pretty large community for the PC versions of Souls?

 

[Krusenstern]

It's not just the lighting, but the textures are muddy and washed-out too.

That's why I'm hoping for the PC versions to deliver the initial graphics.
They already confirmed higher resolution textures for the PC build. Here is a chance they will also have the original lighting in place for the PC version.

yeah its called sweetfx

#TeamSweetfx1.5

sweetfx won't change lighting. *facepalm through the head'

 

[F0rneus]

#TeamSweetfx1.5



People already hacked the game?

Yep. I'll be playing offline because of that. I don't even want the risk of running into a cheater. It's why I am playing DS1 offline right now in preparation for the sequel. I am severely OCD about this.

 

[Pocky4Th3Win]

Is there pretty large community for the PC versions of Souls?

Not as large as on the PS3. Still decent though.

 

[JoeFenix]

It's not just the lighting, but the textures are muddy and washed-out too.

The textures are the same, the image quality is just horrible because it's a stream grab.

We can judge stuff like lighting from a stream but let's just wait for direct feed shots before trying to go further than that.

 

[Self_Destructive]

That's why I'm hoping for the PC versions to deliver the initial graphics.
They already confirmed higher resolution textures for the PC build. Here is a chance they will also have the original lighting in place for the PC version.

I'd say there's pretty much no chance at that. Looking at the what 5-6 new 'pc' 1080p screenshots on the steam store page has the same lighting. It obviously looks much better though. Who knows tho I guess anythings possible. Would be nice to have actual settings in the game.

Lighting - Low - Normal - Advanced

pls From

 

[RK9039]

sweetfx won't change lighting. *facepalm through the head'

I didn't say it will.

*double ass-slap*

Yep. I'll be playing offline because of that. I don't even want the risk of running into a cheater. It's why I am playing DS1 offline right now in preparation for the sequel. I am severely OCD about this.

Yeah that's very lame.

 

[finley83]

God some of these screens look awful. I hope it looks better in motion.

Still, have the PC Black Armour edition pre ordered so hopefully that version will be better.

 

[BRocknRolla]

I can't say I'm surprised here. PS360 games have looked dated for a while now in a world where PC hardware passed the those specs years ago. Compromises were bound to arise during development. What devs have been able to milk from these systems has been admirable, but now that we have increasingly strong PC ports and new consoles, there was little doubt in my mind that Dark Souls 2 wasn't going to look or run great on PS360 (Especially given the performance of some parts of the last game).

I'm sure the PC port will look much better at higher settings, and I'm sure what the last gen versions of Dark Souls 2 end up looking like will be impressive from a hardware standpoint, but the reality is, it's old hardware. Compromises were no doubt needed during development even if they weren't apparent at all stages of the game being shown.

 

[TheGrue]

Guys, it's okay. You join the Shadow Covenant and you get your lighting and shadows back. Chill.

 

[Marvel]

Yeah it's decent. It would have been even larger if the port wasn't crap and if it didn't use GFWL.

Not as large as on the PS3. Still decent though.

Thank you kindly!

 

[je_ssi e]

Yikes at that Mirror Knight picture.
I hope the PC version is saved. Aha.

Is there pretty large community for the PC versions of Souls?

These are the current numbers atm.

And, I imagine there are some babies that didn't even bother with the PC version because of GFWL.. so, they could be considerably better for Dark Souls 2. Hype!

I know I never had a problem getting invaded.
And, vice-versa.

 

[Self_Destructive]

sweetfx won't change lighting. *facepalm through the head'

Hey don't underestimate what can be done with SweetFX.

Of course you wont be adding lighting that isn't there, but you can definitely change the saturation and make it look more vibrant.

Vanilla Aliens

SweetFX Aliens

 

[BakedYams]

cant they just patch it on day one? im pretty sure they might roll out a patch from the first or second week.

 

[Gattsu25]

Hey don't underestimate what can be done with SweetFX.

Of course you wont be adding lighting that isn't there, but you can definitely change the saturation and make it look more vibrant.

Please Note: SweetFX is configurable. Not everything has to look this terrible. You don't have to increase the contrast that hard.

 

[CountAntonius]

Yikes at that Mirror Knight picture.
I hope the PC version is saved. Aha.


These are the current numbers atm.

And, I imagine there are some babies that didn't even bother with the PC version because of GFWL.. so, they could be considerably better for Dark Souls 2. Hype!

I know I never had a problem getting invaded.
And, vice-versa.

Yep. A shitty port and GFWL that makes it very very hard to get a decent fight going. This game has been in the top sellers since it was put on steam last week. I think it will have a large community this time around.

 

[Self_Destructive]

Please Note: SweetFX is configurable. Not everything has to look this terrible. You don't have to increase the contrast that hard.

There's more contrast in the preview Dark Souls 2 version screens in the OP than there is between those 2 shots.

 

[JoeFenix]

When you guys see this place in the final build you'll realize that no amount of modding can fix this.

And I'm honestly not a fan of mods at all, I want to play the original developers vision. Something like a resolution fix just increases the amount of pixels, that's fine but I don't want texture mods and lighting mods and all that stuff personally.

It's fine if people want to go that route but it's certainly not a solution to me.

 

[RK9039]

Hey don't underestimate what can be done with SweetFX.

Of course you wont be adding lighting that isn't there, but you can definitely change the saturation and make it look more vibrant.

That looks awesome.

 

[Fried Food]

When you guys see this place in the final build you'll realize that no amount of modding can fix this.

So are you saying there is a problem with that location (graphics wise?) in the final game

 

[Dr. Buni]

They should have just made King's Field V instead.

No, they shouldn't.

 

[isual]

I'm not really bothered by the graphics or the lowered lighting and all, and as many others have said, dark souls has been about gameplay.

I do have low expectations for the game graphics wise already, having it far high would be asking for too much.

 

[JoeFenix]

So are you saying there is a problem with that location (graphics wise?) in the final game

Yes, definitely, unless something changed in the day 1 patch.

That area and the painting hallway shown in the gameplay reveal have suffered the most from what I've seen. The painting hallway was borderline unrecognizable.

This place is all grey now until you turn on the lights and it looks like a red light district, a grey room with a red tint overlayed on top. No contrast, no atmosphere.

 

[OldAsUrSock]

I'm not really bothered by the graphics or the lowered lighting and all, and as many others have said, dark souls has been about gameplay.

I do have low expectations for the game graphics wise already, having it far high would be asking for too much.

The lighting affects how you approach situations. Thus, the gameplay is effected.

 

[Tarin02543]

Holy shit!

Mirror Knight

Looking Glass Night

Invalid comparison, lighting hoax confirmed.

 

[derwalde]

And I'm honestly not a fan of mods at all, I want to play the original developers vision. Something like a resolution fix just increases the amount of pixels, that's fine but I don't want texture mods and lighting mods and all that stuff personally.

It's fine if people want to go that route but it's certainly not a solution to me.

wow, i always thought im the only one thinking that way.

 

[JoeFenix]

wow, i always thought im the only one thinking that way.

You're definitely not, I know a ton of people who think that way too.

Nothing against modders but when I see these Zelda or RE4 texture mods I just don't get it. They mostly always look terrible to me or at the very least super inconsistent.

I don't get the obsession with texture resolution honestly.

 

[EatinOlives]

I'm not really bothered by the graphics or the lowered lighting and all, and as many others have said, dark souls has been about gameplay.

Except there's been a ton of discussion about how this does affect gameplay

I do have low expectations for the game graphics wise already, having it far high would be asking for too much.

What does this mean? The expectations are not any different than the ones that From themselves set since the first time the game was shown. They made a big deal how the game was going to be a giant leap forward in graphics, even one of the earliest previews called it "Next gen-looking" (I know, extremely silly in hindsight). Reneging on this is on them, not us.

 

[Ellite25]

lol did this really need it's own thread?

 

[CadetMahoney]

sweetfx won't change lighting. *facepalm through the head'

I didn't say it will.

*double ass-slap*

i loled.

 

[finley83]

Holy shit!

Getting a strong DeS vibe from the second one. Not sure if that's the intention though.

 

[JoeFenix]

lol did this really need it's own thread?

Yes because it was impossible to have a sensible discussion about this stuff in the other thread.

Why are people so bothered by this kind of discussion anyway? It's a totally valid topic.

 

[Ellite25]

Yes because it was impossible to have a sensible discussion about this stuff in the other thread.

Why are people so bothered by this kind of discussion anyway? It's a totally valid topic.

Eh, not bothered by this kind of discussion, I just feel like it was talked to death in the other thread.

 

[Sylas]

Yes because it was impossible to have a sensible discussion about this stuff in the other thread.

Why are people so bothered by this kind of discussion anyway? It's a totally valid topic.

Is there a discussion to be had outside of some people screaming, "This is unacceptable! I want answers!" and the others screaming, "Stupid graphix whores! Focus on what's really important!"

Like, what is there to be said outside of some people venting their disappointment and others coming in and pooping all over it?

 

[Metroid-Squadron]

But the first one is from the PC version.

I mean, Im not saying lighting didnt get downgraded, but that IGN reveal was clearly running on PC

Yes but that same section (looking that good) has been playable as a PS3 build in various presentations, including TGS.

Is there pretty large community for the PC versions of Souls?

Steam says there are 7518 people playing the game right now.

lol did this really need it's own thread?

There were a couple of meltdowns due to this subject in the other thread so I'd say yes.

 

[Net_Wrecker]

Lighting downgrades are one of the worst graphical downgrades a game can have.

Between Watch_Dergs and this I'm feeling the pain.

 

[Plywood]

Really weird, considering the PS3 beta looked good on youtube, wonder why they switched.

 

[Krusenstern]

Is there a discussion to be had outside of some people screaming, "This is unacceptable! I want answers!" and the others screaming, "Stupid graphix whores! Focus on what's really important!"

Like, what is there to be said outside of some people venting their disappointment and others coming in and pooping all over it?

It makes people aware of this issue. Better than not talking about it at all.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

Yes because it was impossible to have a sensible discussion about this stuff in the other thread.

Why are people so bothered by this kind of discussion anyway? It's a totally valid topic.

Yup it was very hard to talk in the other thread without being accused of being a troll or some bullshit hyperbole.

 

[EatinOlives]

Is there a discussion to be had outside of some people screaming, "This is unacceptable! I want answers!" and the others screaming, "Stupid graphix whores! Focus on what's really important!"

Like, what is there to be said outside of some people venting their disappointment and others coming in and pooping all over it?

I, for one, didn't know about this because I'm on a semi-blackout regarding the game and avoiding the OT. Good on OP to bring its own topic to this because it lets a lot of people in a similar situation find out about this.

lol did this really need it's own thread?

Just an FYI, thread whining is frowned upon.