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Dark Souls 2 Lighting changes/Downgrade
- Thread starter Moral Panic
- Start date
Wut
TheFNEffecT
Member
Well at least the PC version doesn't cost as much as the console version, I snagged pre-order for 38 bucks on GMG. (Discount code plus 2 dollar credit I had for some reason)
pretty done
Member
The game is that good. I like to support good games on PC, especially good Japanese games. No issue buying it for $40 off GMG and money is not an issue if the game is good enough to warrant two purchases. Cute that you try to give people game buying advice tho!
If you know something, out with it! My heart can't take this no more.
Krusenstern
Banned
Who are you? Just looking for attention or is there more to your post?
Jazzkokehead
Member
I've only been casually following this topic, and while I'm sure the game still plays well... god damn if they didn't manage to make it look incredibly ugly in some areas, especially compared to what was shown in the previews (or at least that's my impression upon seeing some of the comparisons people have done in the thread). Quite a bit disappointed. I'm waiting for the PC version, so we'll see how that looks. It would certainly be nice if the richer lighting effects were reinstated for that version, but I sincerely doubt it, unfortunately.
Checked post history. Looks like bullshit. Would love to be wrong.
Garcia
Member
Man, I'll have to disagree with you here.
Even though the gameplay and the online options of the game work like a charm you just can't forget how buggy it is. There are so many problems that hurt my enjoyment with it, loading times being the worst offender. There's almost always menu lag, mob flickering, incomplete animations, unpolished looks, etc.
I never, ever ran into something like that in the original Dark Souls. The console version is definitely rushed.
Edit: That being said, yes, when the game works it IS one of the must enjoyable Co-op RPG experiences I've had recently.
BumblebeeCody
Member
I honestly don't hesitate to call this great looking at all.
Also, this is nitpicking, but I liked the way the fog doors looked in the old build than in the new one...
That looks effing amazing. Such disappointment...
HoodWinked
Member
has anyone already stated that maybe the better lighting are for some next gen version re-release.
Yes, it would make sense, but we would still not know anything about the PC version.
Your nickname is the best so I'm going to believe you.
It would be great if the PC version ended up looking like this.
However, I'm not holding my breath. I honestly believe it'll look like the Consoles, it'll have trouble holding 60FPS, despite Froms claims, and that a PS4 / Xbone version will come out 6-8 months as the "Ultimate Edition".
By the way, first post on a 2009 account, no idea why I had an account for this site and never posted before. How odd.
However, I'm not holding my breath. I honestly believe it'll look like the Consoles, it'll have trouble holding 60FPS, despite Froms claims, and that a PS4 / Xbone version will come out 6-8 months as the "Ultimate Edition".
By the way, first post on a 2009 account, no idea why I had an account for this site and never posted before. How odd.
Very true. I felt like I wasted a lockstone.
UnrealEck
Member
People keep saying this. It's driving me bat shit. No one knows the lighting was even downgraded for PC. In fact, due to how late in development it seems to have changed, it would be very reasonable and probable to assume the lighting system and pretty much the game as it was shown on IGN for example, is how the PC version is and will be on release.
Obviously the lighting had to be toned down in the console version (along with other things) because they didn't find performance up to the standards they wanted.
Prediction: "Ultimate Edition" advertised to look better, but when it comes out it's only marginally improved, but media will say, "LOOK YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED, YOU ENTITLED GAMERS, STOP COMPLAINING!"
Man, just got done with the Shaded Woods area....
It's like a retro King's Field graphics homage or something. It looked awful but kind of in an endearing way hah!
I guess I've made my peace with the whole downgrade at this point, there's no way the PC version will bring areas like that one up to par visually. I just don't see them investing that much extra work into doing that.
Some areas wouldn't look great even with the old lighting engine, the geometry and textures there are definitely close to PS2 levels. No exaggeration.
It's like a retro King's Field graphics homage or something. It looked awful but kind of in an endearing way hah!
I guess I've made my peace with the whole downgrade at this point, there's no way the PC version will bring areas like that one up to par visually. I just don't see them investing that much extra work into doing that.
Some areas wouldn't look great even with the old lighting engine, the geometry and textures there are definitely close to PS2 levels. No exaggeration.
skullwolfgp
Neo Member
From the other thread
Here's a good shot of the missing lighting effects between those two videos
Network Test:
Retail, missing shadows on the tree and bridge :
Definitely, I'll probably plan on getting it during a sale when it gets to be around $20.
anchorman128
Member
So you're telling me there's a chance? Oh god, I hope this doesn't back fire magnificently.
The difference is that now you do not need the torch to see. Like others have mentioned, the torch can still illuminate the surroundings. However, if you go no torch, you still get an ambient grey/washout look instead of the blackout you would expect.
Side note: I am still getting destroyed and enjoying the game. Just a bit stunned and disappointed that the light/dark:shield/torch mechanic that was touted at every showing is now utterly missing.
Garcia
Member
Yep, just used this myself, felt cheated when I discovered what it did.
Q
Queen of Hunting
Unconfirmed Member
looks like in some of the other builds, there was some tesselation going on aswell
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
lol, you do realize that's a glitch right? Some wonky shit like that happened in Dark Souls 1 too sometimes.
Disagreed completely, I was very glad to have used that lockstone. I fail to see how it would have been different in the other build too; you could also use the torch to illuminate the area either way? This light from the lockstone makes the annoying enemies far easier to handle. They'd be terrifying without the lockstone.
This is why I don't believe the PC version will be anything like the pre-release version. They aren't going to release such fundamentally different game.
CountAntonius
Member
How many areas in the game seem to have been brightened?
Zombie James
Banned
Perfect.
God damn it, the teasing is worse than nothing.
CountAntonius
Member
Is this guy someone who knows something? I'd like to be excited too.
theMrCravens
Member
Edit: wrong thread
That place is amazing looking, don't hate! So much life, so much atmosphere!
Screenshots taken from the PC trailer:
APRIL 25th!
You don't know anything. Please stop doing that.
D
Deleted member 10571
Unconfirmed Member
I really, honestly hate people pretending to know shit and not stopping to spew it out every other post, without any explanation or proof or background. So annoying.
Comfort Jones
Banned
Are you fishing for a ban here?
Krusenstern
Banned
I'll report you to a mod if you keep pretending to know something.
It will look like the console version but with better texture, literally 4 times the pixel count, 60 fps, more AA and some fancy post procession, but you know, it will totally be the same right? Beside no tearing or frame drops in the low 20's. Totally the same
CountAntonius
Member
Aside from that the only difference is the lighting which I ccan believe was removed to get the gane running on consoles. Why remove it from PC if it can handle it. Keyword remove as in do more work to make the game look worse for no reason?
Lalalandia
Member
Doh wrong thread
After playing this for quite a bit, I've come to the conclusion that overall, the game does not look as good as Demon's or Dark Souls. Most textures are flat and boring, geometry seems a lot more simple, the backgrounds have incredibly noticeable and ugly 2D pictures noticeable from the very start of the game, and certain places that obviously were meant to be darkened are lit grey, showing flaws that were probably meant to be hidden.
What I mean by that last point is that if you remember back, there was a level in Demon's Souls called the Valley of Defilement, and there was a swamp area where you come out to a ledge and everything in the distance is pitch black and the only things you can see are faint torch lights. Well in one of the areas in Dark Souls 2, there is a similar places that seems like it should also be pitch black in the distance hiding ugly things like repetitive textures spread across a cave wall, but it's not, and instead I can see every single thing and it looks bad. At one point, looking a certain way, you can actually fill up your entire screen with one particular cave wall texture repeated over and over on a very simple wall. Mind you, this is from the other side of the cavern and it's probably not something you're supposed to see. It should be completely black from that far away.
I just played a good portion of Dark Souls right before I received Dark Souls 2, so I'm not just working from long term memories. I feel the switch to the new engine, making PC lead platform and downporting, and other questionable actions like allowing your character to see everything when it's pretty obvious certain elements were meant to be hidden hurts the visuals for these consoles versions. The few new things DS2 brings to the table visually doesn't seem to make up for the things I feel have actually gotten worse.
That being said, I can't put the damn game down. It's so damn fun. It just sucks that as I'm playing it and having fun, I'm constantly being reminded that I'm in a videogame and not in a expertly crafted world... a problem the previous games did not have.
What I mean by that last point is that if you remember back, there was a level in Demon's Souls called the Valley of Defilement, and there was a swamp area where you come out to a ledge and everything in the distance is pitch black and the only things you can see are faint torch lights. Well in one of the areas in Dark Souls 2, there is a similar places that seems like it should also be pitch black in the distance hiding ugly things like repetitive textures spread across a cave wall, but it's not, and instead I can see every single thing and it looks bad. At one point, looking a certain way, you can actually fill up your entire screen with one particular cave wall texture repeated over and over on a very simple wall. Mind you, this is from the other side of the cavern and it's probably not something you're supposed to see. It should be completely black from that far away.
I just played a good portion of Dark Souls right before I received Dark Souls 2, so I'm not just working from long term memories. I feel the switch to the new engine, making PC lead platform and downporting, and other questionable actions like allowing your character to see everything when it's pretty obvious certain elements were meant to be hidden hurts the visuals for these consoles versions. The few new things DS2 brings to the table visually doesn't seem to make up for the things I feel have actually gotten worse.
That being said, I can't put the damn game down. It's so damn fun. It just sucks that as I'm playing it and having fun, I'm constantly being reminded that I'm in a videogame and not in a expertly crafted world... a problem the previous games did not have.
Openworldgamer47
Banned
I completely agree and also the level design just seems plain bad. Not even graphics wise. I've only like two areas so far. The Tomb Of Giants and the main town and I'm half way through the game.
Wrong game, buddy.
Openworldgamer47
Banned
I always do that lol.