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[Rafus]

Why is so popular that Silent Hill gif these days? I've seen it multiple times on the ME:A threads

 

[elshoelace]

Fuck, sorry, I didn't mean to post a SunhiLegend gif from Horizon: Zero Dawn available now for the PS4 and PS4 Pro.

My god, that looks amazing. After the early impressions and this thread I know what I'm picking up after I finish Zelda. I was so looking forward to new ME, wtf happened?

 

[Hentailover]

I have a theory that everyone in Andromeda is just cockroach aliens from Man in Black, wearing human skin.

That explains everything, from animations, to faces looking like they are bloating from decomposition, and dialogue...

 

[Deathknell]

Maybe this game will be more modable than previous so we can make the game much better. I'm still excited for the game, these things are just funny as hell to me.

Denuvo says hi.

 

[obeast]

That's a really disingenuous comparison. The video creator obviously has an agenda and fishing for youtube views. That's an ME1 squadmate that could possibly be part of every scene and gameplay. The other in MEA is at best, an NPC you see now and again. That video needs to compare Cora with Ashley. I've played the trial so I could do just that to prove the video wrong.

Yeah, this. A better comparison would be to some minor NPC in ME1.

Also, having played through that scene, that character -- who features prominently in that video -- is angry with you when she's delivering her dialogue. She's supposed to be icy and hostile. (This actually reminds me of one of the Giant Bomb complaints about her, which is that she corrects your grammar before making a mistake of her own - but she's *trying* to be confrontational when she does that. She's not a random grammar stickler, she's an angry administrator who's trying to belittle you for reasons of her own.)

Obviously, her animation isn't great, but lining her face up with other characters displaying a wide variety of softer emotions is a cheap shot.

 

[captainnapalm]

Seriously it's like an hour of work tops. Just take the eye map file or whatever, decrease the pupil size, increase in the iris size and darken them a bit. That alone would fix a major problem with how human characters look totally coked out of their minds most of the time.

Animations might be fucked, but at least they make the models not looks so crazy. I can deal with subpar animations, but if the models look like they're going to spend 8 hours staring at me in my sleep it's hard to get over that.

Yeah they have to do this. I can not stare into these creepy NPC eyes for 60 straight hours. You can tolerate stilted animations, you can't tolerate ole tired face.

 

[thepenguin55]

That's a really disingenuous comparison.

That's an ME1 squadmate that could possibly be part of every scene and gameplay. The other in MEA is at best, an NPC you see now and again. That video needs to compare Cora with Ashley.

That's kind of a fair point as I feel like I remember many NPCs in the ME trilogy looking kind of rough. Still though this is really bad and I don't think it's entirely unrealistic to expect human NPCs in this game to at least look as good as (or better than) the human squadmates in ME1.

 

[Dictator93]

That's a really disingenuous comparison. The video creator obviously has an agenda and fishing for youtube views. That's an ME1 squadmate that could possibly be part of every scene and gameplay. The other in MEA is at best, an NPC you see now and again. That video needs to compare Cora with Ashley. I've played the trial so I could do just that to prove the video wrong.

Do you think it is reasonable to assume that people could be miffed that any character from a 2007 game is all comparable to any character from a game ca. 2017?

If an NPC in a 1998 game, no matter how important that character was, was comparable to one from 2008 I would also be incredibly miffed. 10 years of technological and hardware progress and somehow NPC characters come accross on the subjective level as being more robotic.

 

[wamberz1]

Congrats, we made Kotaku

Yep, even included some of Nibels tweets

 

[GavinUK86]

Do you think it is reasonable to assume that people could be miffed that any character from a 2007 game is all comparable to any character from a game ca. 2017?

If an NPC in a 1998 game, no matter how important that character was, was comparable to one from 2008 I would also be incredibly miffed. 10 years of technological and hardware progress and somehow NPC characters come accross on the subjective level as being more robotic.

You can be miffed at any recent game for that exact same reason but I don't see threads multiple threads popping up about it. My comment was also a comment on the hate towards this game in general on gaf. It's gotten to ridiculous levels. Some of the NPC's in Horizon are laughable, I remember most of the NPC's in TW3 were atrocious. Most open world games, regardless of release date, are the the same. The main cast get a lot of focus and NPC's are randomly generated to populate the worlds. But now, let's compare main to main and NPC to NPC so we can have a decent conversation.

 

[obeast]

Do you think it is reasonable to assume that people could be miffed that any character from a 2007 game is all comparable to any character from a game ca. 2017?

If an NPC in a 1998 game, no matter how important that character was, was comparable to one from 2008 I would also be incredibly miffed. 10 years of technological and hardware progress and somehow NPC characters come accross on the subjective level as being more robotic.

Again, one reason she's "robotic" in audioless captures of that scene is that the scene is essentially her chewing you out because she doesn't like how things are going.

You're watching a video juxtaposing a squadmate giving her backstory to a sympathetic commander with a stranger berating your character because the shit's hit the fan.

 

[CaviarMeths]

I actually think FemRyder is kinda cute.

Shame about them animations tho.

 

[Bunta]

Congrats, we made Kotaku

Aaaaand they compared it to Horizon, lol.

I reviewed Horizon Zero Dawn last month, and I’d say that game had distractingly bad lip synch where the characters didn’t make believable expressions...but most people overlooked that, because it kinda hard no bearing on the overall quality of the game. Bioware, on the other hand, has to wrestle with a giant negative stigma following the Mass Effect 3 ending, so fumbles like these seem more like an uphill battle.

 

[Dictator93]

Again, one reason she's "robotic" in audioless captures of that scene is that the scene is essentially her chewing you out because she doesn't like how things are going.

I have watched the scene at least 4 times already and know the context. I know the context of ME 1 as well there.

If that is what a person looks like at all when they are "chewing me out" I would question their sincerity, and ask if they needed to lie down because of heat stroke.

You can be miffed at any recent game for that exact same reason but I don't see threads multiple threads popping up about it. My comment was also a comment on the hate towards this game in general on gaf. It's gotten to ridiculous levels. Some of the NPC's in Horizon are laughable, I remember most of the NPC's in TW3 were atrocious. Most open world games, regardless of release date, are the the same. The main cast get a lot of focus and NPC's are randomly generated to populate the worlds. But now, let's compare main to main and NPC to NPC so we can have a decent conversation.

There is no reason to feel like this game is overly-persecuted. The product of a multi-billion dollar corporation requiring a large entry free is nothing that needs an extra defense. I am happy you agree with my point that the sheer existence of the comparison points to the absurdly low quality animation and characterisation in ME:A in general.

It must also be pointed out that main character animation in the game is confoundingly low quality. Yes, even in comparison to ME 1.

 

[kromeo]

My god, that looks amazing. After the early impressions and this thread I know what I'm picking up after I finish Zelda. I was so looking forward to new ME, wtf happened?

Yep, after claiming all through development that Horizon looked and sounded boring I'm getting a strong urge to play it after Zelda

 

[thepenguin55]

Aaaaand they compared it to Horizon, lol.

Yeah, I like Patricia but the facial animations in this game are next level bad. They make Horizons facial animations look excellent.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

If you're gonna compare that NPC to anybody from Mass Effect 1-3, compare her to Udina. That's fair.

 

[Version 3.0]

I feel like this is what you'd get if you applied machine learning to character / facial animation. They're the visual equivalent to the wonky dialog that learning bots spit out.

 

[mhayes86]

This thread is a goldmine!

Mass Effect Andromeda |OT| 2819: A Face Oddity

Mass Effect Andromeda | OT | The spirit is willing but the face is tired

Excellent.

 

[elshoelace]

Again, one reason she's "robotic" in audioless captures of that scene is that the scene is essentially her chewing you out because she doesn't like how things are going.

You're watching a video juxtaposing a squadmate giving her backstory to a sympathetic commander with a stranger berating your character because the shit's hit the fan.

To be fair adding the audio does not make things better.

 

[wamberz1]

Mass Effect Andromeda |OT| 2819: A Face Oddity

Okay, that is great

 

[btags]

If you're gonna compare that NPC to anybody from Mass Effect 1-3, compare her to Udina. That's fair.

I think Udina is about on par with the bad stuff in this game, maybe even a tad above it, and that character was from 10 years ago.

 

[tuxfool]

Again, one reason she's "robotic" in audioless captures of that scene is that the scene is essentially her chewing you out because she doesn't like how things are going.

Sorry but it comes off even worse with audio.

 

[Filben]

I'm literally crying from laughing at some of those comparison gifs.

Oh boy, I'm counting on the localized version of my language. I'm so excited and can't wait for what they did to the 'my face is tired' line XD Please, dear translators and German voice actors, have at least these things fixed!

 

[GavinUK86]

There is no reason to feel like this game is overly-persecuted. The product of a multi-billion dollar corporation requiring a large entry free is nothing that needs an extra defense. I am happy you agree with my point that the sheer existence of the comparison points to the absurdly low quality animation and characterisation in ME:A in general.

It must also be pointed out that main character animation in the game is confoundingly low quality. Yes, even in comparison to ME 1.

I think it is being overly persecuted but then again, it's a Bioware game so it's the norm. I'm not defending the bad animations or designs, I'm pointing out the very unfair comparison in that gif which is still true.

 

[Lime]

Congrats, we made Kotaku

Eh, it's kind of unfair by Hernandez to lump the criticism of the animations and writing as motivated by the stigma of the ME3 ending. The jankiness stands on its own and there's no excuse for the my face is tired scene.

 

[tuxfool]

I think it is being overly persecuted but then again, it's a Bioware game so it's the norm. I'm not defending the bad animations or designs, I'm pointing out the very unfair comparison in that gif which is still true.

And I think defenders are nursing a persecution complex here.

 

[R0ckman]

It's not even their B team. It's their C team.

B team is handling Dragon Age while the A team is working on the new IP.

Ehhh, after the reception of ME3, why the hell would they C-team the next entry?

 

[WhiskerFrisker]

It look like the Krogan is giving her a shoulder bump instead of a punch.

 

[Spartancarver]

Mass Effect Andromeda | OT | The spirit is willing but the face is tired

Ahahaha

 

[Weebos]

Ehhh, after the reception of ME3, why the hell would they C-team the next entry?

Didn't ME3 sell worse than ME2? They could be "abandoning" the series.

 

[tuxfool]

Ehhh, after the reception of ME3, why the hell would they C-team the next entry?

Because nobody else wanted to do it. Quality aside, this is a bit of a weird task, essentially needing to reboot a series that ended conclusively.

 

[pbayne]

I have a theory that everyone in Andromeda is just cockroach aliens from Man in Black, wearing human skin.

That explains everything, from animations, to faces looking like they are bloating from decomposition, and dialogue...

We'll know for sure if they ask for sugar in water.

 

[Dick Justice]

 

[obeast]

I have watched the scene at least 4 times already and know the context. I know the context of ME 1 as well there.

If that is what a person looks like at all when they are "chewing me out" I would question their sincerity, and ask if they needed to lie down because of heat stroke.


There is no reason to feel like this game is overly-persecuted. The product of a multi-billion dollar corporation requiring a large entry free is nothing that needs an extra defense. I am happy you agree with my point that the sheer existence of the comparison points to the absurdly low quality animation and characterisation in ME:A in general.

It must also be pointed out that main character animation in the game is confoundingly low quality. Yes, even in comparison to ME 1.

I'm not trying to argue that she's well-animated in that scene. Obviously, they didn't have the time or resources to perfect facial expressions for minor characters, which is a fault. But I see people in this thread noting how much more varied Ashley's expressions and emotions seem -- because she's cycling through a range of more expressive emotions as per the script. It's silly.

Re: your second point, I feel like it's getting persecuted obsessively for one problem. People are leaping upon crazy isolated moments of animation weirdness, but that's a small fraction of the game. Look, the game might suck. But if it sucks, it probably won't be because it's otherwise excellent but has some shoddy facial animations.

To the extent that it's a red flag, it's because it suggests that the game was rushed out the door, which suggests it will have other problems, not because it's unbearable to play (although each individual's tolerance for this sort of thing will vary - for some, it may be a deal-breaker).

I also think the original trilogy is getting under-persecuted. A lot of ME1 animation is pretty bad, and it's a much smaller game.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

I think Udina is about on par with the bad stuff in this game, maybe even a tad above it, and that character was from 10 years ago.

Yeah, I think Udina is actually above it. The eyes don't look dead like they do in Andromeda. More nuance in facial expressions too, at times.

 

[OniBarubary]

Congrats, we made Kotaku

That patented Patricia Hernandez missing the forest for the trees defense tho

 

[The Illiterati]

I for one am glad there's finally a place for bowlegged duck face people in games.

 

[thepenguin55]

How did we all forget the Vince McMahon walk?

 

[GavinUK86]

And I think defenders are nursing a persecution complex here.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Harmen]

I am now playing DAI and it looks pretty good? What the hell did they do?

Part of me finds this hilarious, but a bigger part of me wants an epic space opera of the highest quality and this isn't looking hot.

 

[ThanksVision]

Mass Effect Andromeda |OT| 2819: A Face Oddity

good title, i also like who(m)ever said "ME:A Culpa"

 

[btags]

I'm not trying to argue that she's well-animated in that scene. Obviously, they didn't have the time or resources to perfect facial expressions for minor characters, which is a fault. But I see people in this thread noting how much more varied Ashley's expressions and emotions seem -- because she's cycling through a range of more expressive emotions as per the script. It's silly.

Re: your second point, I feel like it's getting persecuted obsessively for one problem. People are leaping upon crazy isolated moments of animation weirdness, but that's a small fraction of the game. Look, the game might suck. But if it sucks, it probably won't be because it's otherwise excellent but has some shoddy facial animations.

To the extent that it's a red flag, it's because it suggests that the game was rushed out the door, which suggests it will have other problems, not because it's unbearable to play (although each individual's tolerance for this sort of thing will vary - for some, it may be a deal-breaker).

I also think the original trilogy is getting under-persecuted. A lot of ME1 animation is pretty bad, and it's a much smaller game.

ME1 animation is bad, but it was the first game in a new ip and likely had a much lower budget. Animations improved over the following games. Even then, tech progresses over time so the baseline quality should improve.

Also, I get what you are trying to say, but when one of the main attractions for a game like mass effect is story and characters, it kind of stands out when they look janky as all hell and makes sense to criticize that. Oddly enough I feel like based on the trailers combat is the best looking part of the game, which is not the part that made people want to play the original trilogy (not saying this is a bad thing that it improved obviously, just pointing out that some aspects of the game look good).

Finally, I am just so tired of the "bioware fces" that exist in any game made by bioware. I get that there are plenty of games with bad faces, but there is just something so bad and unique about bioware faces. They look especially bad when you have detailed faces for some characters and then you meet some new npc and are quickly reminded, "yup, this is a videogame."

 

[Button]

The character presets just look... weird.

 

[Nomadic Sparks]

Is this for real?

 

[Wollan]

https://twitter.com/PrinceWhatever/status/840643243436081153

 

[Enduin]

The character presets just look... weird.

It's 80% the eyes. Pupils too big, irises too small.

 

[xealo]

Ehhh, after the reception of ME3, why the hell would they C-team the next entry?

The content their montreal team made in ME3 were arguably the best gameplay ME3 has to offer. EA probably thought they were up to the task of moving up to making a full game with the kind of reception their work on ME3MP got.

By what I've played out of Andromeda, it's not really the gameplay that's sloppy either so much as the animation done. It plays pretty well in regards to fighting, especially with how much movement on the Y and Z axis can be utilised.

 

[Garlador]

Silent Hill 3's faces are God Tier.

Not to get too off-topic... but any chance to gush over SH3's art team, I'll take.

I still can't believe they managed to pull this stuff off in 2003 over two console generations ago.

Granted, they did only have four human characters to create instead of hundreds of them...

 

[Veritigo_X]

What was the budget for this game?