Support NeoGAF

[DeceptiveAlarm]

I wish I could like these games. The first one looked great on my pro. I just don't like hiding in bushes. Robot dinos don't excite me that much. Also maybe I'm a sexist asshole but I prefer to play as a man.

 

[GuinGuin]

Plenty of games simulate walking on different surfaces. Dragon age, tomb raider.

Camel feet don't sink when they walk on the sand. This is an AI designed Apex predator killing machine. I think the AI could match a camel.

 

[Hendrick's]

OMG the grafix!

 

[elliot5]

Is it just me or does Aloy look like CG? Seriously, i'm blown away by her character model and animations. There's also a nice glow look around her... it just looks too good to be true almost

I mean, she basically is.

In these shots she is in complete shadow, but her arms and gear and hair are all very brightly lit. It's a deliberate art choice to make her really pop, even though it makes no sense when considering how light works giving it that CGI effect. It looks great standalone, and the skin, hair, and cloth shaders look great, but it is unnatural. I personally don't like it very much.

 

[GHG]

Plenty of games simulate walking on different surfaces. Dragon age, tomb raider.

I've played both series and don't recall my characters slowing down and stumbling when encountering sand (which is what would happen when going from hard surface running to sand in real life).

There's a difference between visual effects being present when moving through sand vs the physical impact moving through sand would have.

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

A technical masterpiece for graphics, like the first game. I wish they had the artistic style to match.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

I mean, she basically is.

In these shots she is in complete shadow, but her arms and gear and hair are all very brightly lit. It's a deliberate art choice to make her really pop, even though it makes no sense when considering how light works giving it that CGI effect. It looks great standalone, and the skin, hair, and cloth shaders look great, but it is unnatural. I personally don't like it very much.

I love it personally, it's not going for an uber realistic look. very stylized.

 

[Danjin44]

Camel feet don't sink when they walk on the sand. This is an AI designed Apex predator killing machine. I think the AI could match a camel.

It must have eyes sight worse than real animals if they can't see a person in grass.

 

[GuinGuin]

A technical masterpiece for graphics, like the first game. I wish they had the artistic style to match.

I love their unique artistry. Such an eclectic mix of styles.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

That's not realistic in terms of how it would be to run on sand. All you are seeing is a visual response (which doesn't even look very good) rather than the character physically interacting with the sand from a weight perspective.

Sorry to be blunt (and don't take this personally) but have you ever actually tried to run on sand? Have you ever tried to run on soft dry desert sand while fully clothed with gear on your back? You are slow and it's not easy to keep your balance. The clip from breath of the wild above is not a realistic portrayal of what it's like to run on sand at all.

Yes, but that's my point. It's not about playing a hardcore simulation, my point is that when graphics start reaching the heights we're seeing, inconsistencies like characters not properly interacting with their environment are very jarring.

Big ass dinos should leave prints on the sand, and sink a little, have their legs with sand stuck on them. Aloy should have an impact on the vegetation she moves through. And so on. Games are an illusion and there needs to be certain internal logic at work to make the illusion believable. And when you have exquisitely modeled characters and environments, lightning, etc and the big ass dinos don't leave prints on sand and aloy clips through vegetation as if she was the Vision, that internal logic breaks. Or those robots in that cutscene, walking over sand as if it was hardened concrete.

In that example, Link "sinking" a little, kicking off sand, leaving prints and moving a little slower sells the illusion of walking through a desert. It's the same reason many games use inverse kinematics, along other techniques to have the characters sell the illusion that they're really walking over whatever scenary they're walking over.

 

[Tschumi]

Soundtrack is on point, maybe the best I've heard since Uncharted 4..

and while we're on uncharted 4, why are people saying "looks like more of the same" about this video as if it's a detraction?

Sequels are expected to be elaborations on originals, sorry did you think this game was going to be a racing game? Crash Aloy Racing? Or Metroid Horizon? An fps? Nah man.. this is looking like a sequel in the best tradition of Half Life 2, Age of Empires 2... iterative and peerless

 

[killatopak]

Yes, but that's my point. It's not about playing a hardcore simulation, my point is that when graphics start reaching the heights we're seeing, inconsistencies like characters not properly interacting with their environment are very jarring.

Big ass dinos should leave prints on the sand, and sink a little, have their legs with sand stuck on them. Aloy should have an impact on the vegetation she moves through. And so on. Games are an illusion and there needs to be certain internal logic at work to make the illusion believable. And when you have exquisitely modeled characters and environments, lightning, etc and the big ass dinos don't leave prints on sand and aloy clips through vegetation as if she was the Vision, that internal logic breaks. Or those robots in that cutscene, walking over sand as if it was hardened concrete.

In that example, Link "sinking" a little, kicking off sand, leaving prints and moving a little slower sells the illusion of walking through a desert. It's the same reason many games use inverse kinematics, along other techniques to have the characters sell the illusion that they're really walking over whatever scenary they're walking over.

It may just be an excuse to pass over the less realistic parts of the game but maybe it’s because it’s still tied to the PS4? I mean it has to have an effect on what’s being limited inside the game.

I think the most realistic game I have seen is RDR2 but it also took a monumental amount of time, and resources to do so.

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

Yeah no release date was a big negative, when exactly is this coming?

I’m predicting sometime in 2022. Maybe early to mid 2022.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

It may just be an excuse to pass over the less realistic parts of the game but maybe it’s because it’s still tied to the PS4? I mean it has to have an effect on what’s being limited inside the game.

I think the most realistic game I have seen is RDR2 but it also took a monumental amount of time, and resources to do so.

Perhaps, I don't know.

 

[Dodkrake]

Yes, but that's my point. It's not about playing a hardcore simulation, my point is that when graphics start reaching the heights we're seeing, inconsistencies like characters not properly interacting with their environment are very jarring.

Big ass dinos should leave prints on the sand, and sink a little, have their legs with sand stuck on them. Aloy should have an impact on the vegetation she moves through. And so on. Games are an illusion and there needs to be certain internal logic at work to make the illusion believable. And when you have exquisitely modeled characters and environments, lightning, etc and the big ass dinos don't leave prints on sand and aloy clips through vegetation as if she was the Vision, that internal logic breaks. Or those robots in that cutscene, walking over sand as if it was hardened concrete.

In that example, Link "sinking" a little, kicking off sand, leaving prints and moving a little slower sells the illusion of walking through a desert. It's the same reason many games use inverse kinematics, along other techniques to have the characters sell the illusion that they're really walking over whatever scenary they're walking over.

You must be fun at parties. But I get it, I'd replace fun mechanics with realistic ones, like the portal mechanics in Portal, or the armour monkeys in Halo. Hell, give me a running hedgehog while you're at it.

 

[Woggleman]

The game looks amazing. Yeah it looks like an improved version of the first one but what is so wrong with that? You shouldn't stray too far from what worked.

 

[GuinGuin]

I’m predicting sometime in 2022. Maybe early to mid 2022.

They have just stated it is still on track for this year.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

My Lord the stream was good but the 4k YouTube version truly does it justice.

Games gonna be big with a reasonable marketing push.

Outstanding graphics and as I said earlier, already showing a leap in gameplay and this was just a short snippet.

 

[Excess]

I have the original on PS4 and never finished it. I don't know why, but I think I had just come off of 100%'ing AC Origins and had fatigue for this style of game.

Maybe I should actually finish it.

 

[Matsuchezz]

This looks really great! I bet there some stuff that is not yet implemented, The Aloy in game model looks superb, the quality on her face is amazing. Also the materials quality on the Raptors is awesome! I hope there is a 60 fps mode, because it kinds of looks slow to me after playing a little bit of Returnal.
And this is not a finished product, as a demo it was very impressive. I need to start and finish the first one as soon as i finish RE8 and Returnal.
According to Guerrila Development is on track so they probably dont have a final release date, probably due to SIE has not decided that just yet. I think they are going to release it this year. HAve we heard or read any development issues or hurdles?

 

[Iced Arcade]

Looks like horizon, which I'm all for. Can't wait.

 

[Chiggs]

This does indeed look pretty flippin' spectacular. You have to wonder how Nice Guy Phil feels knowing he's going to have to make one of those cringe-worthy "Sony's got a great product" comments to the press, so it doesn't look like he's butthurt over not having anything this visually spectacular on Series X.

More than willing to walk all this back if MS's first party delivers the goods in 2023 and beyond, but I don't see how they hold a candle (at least visually) to 1st party Sony titles.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

You must be fun at parties. But I get it, I'd replace fun mechanics with realistic ones, like the portal mechanics in Portal, or the armour monkeys in Halo. Hell, give me a running hedgehog while you're at it.

if you think devs havent been using tricks like these to sell illusions you havent been paying attention.

 

[HawarMiran]

How am I threatened, I was blown away by the graphics and pretty "meh" about the gameplay because it feels just like the first one. Still gonna buy it but I'm not some automatic fanboy. Just like a criticize botw washed out colors and bad framerate and still like it.

What do you expect from the gameplay.... It is a goddamn 3rd-person game. It is like asking a wheel to do something else besides rolling. The next innovation in gaming is VR

 

[fran.fernandez]

Is this a Netflix Animated series video?

 

[Ezquimacore]

What do you expect from the gameplay.... It is a goddamn 3rd-person game. It is like asking a wheel to do something else besides rolling. The next innovation in gaming is VR

For example, I expect to be able to climb any surface and not specific handles, I also expect to use the hookshot on any possible surface. These kind of specific development choices are wack these days. This is not uncharted, this is a modern open world game.

 

[Pantz]

I had higher expectations of the visuals. It looks great but didn't blow me away like the first game. Combat still looks really good, good enough to distract from any political story they have in store.

 

[Ezquimacore]

The most exciting part of the whole video.

 

[Fake]

no, people who can't accept one is better than the other in some aspects is just wrong.

lol

 

[elliot5]

LOD popping of the warrior's fur, the grass, dude riding the raptor, Aloy's clipping hair and her fur pop in is pretty rough, BUT these seem like things all but guaranteed to be fixed in future builds when they polish the game.

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

I love their unique artistry. Such an eclectic mix of styles.

It's white people dreadlocks and michael bay style ugly robot monsters. The incredible technical detail is totally wasted!

 

[BadBurger]

It really is amazing what these first party studios get out of the various PlayStation hardware.

It looks like Guerilla learned from the first game and are trying to add a little Naughty Dog style of theatrics into the scripted events. I didn't think they were poor in the first, but definitely could have used some spicing up. Nice reveal. Looking forward to more and more hopeful that it may actually release somewhat on time.

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

LOD popping of the warrior's fur, the grass, dude riding the raptor, Aloy's clipping hair and her fur pop in is pretty rough, BUT these seem like things all but guaranteed to be fixed in future builds when they polish the game.

yeah but thats a cutscene...theyre bound to do a qc pass before release

 

[RNK]

It's white people dreadlocks and michael bay style ugly robot monsters. The incredible technical detail is totally wasted!

*In my opinion

 

[NikuNashi]

I love it personally, it's not going for an uber realistic look. very stylized.

Me too. I think by slightly stylizing the color palette they avoided the 'uncanny valley' look during the cinematics and achieved something remarkable. Im impressed.

 

[small_law]

I wish I could like these games. The first one looked great on my pro. I just don't like hiding in bushes.

So I hate stealth and bow combat, but the first game was my favorite PS4 game. The stealth in H:ZD (and presumably this game) is dead simple to understand: running/walking: visible, crouched: partial hidden, crouched in a bush/tall grass: invisible. Done. There's no guesswork, everything is predictable.

 

[NikuNashi]

It's white people dreadlocks and michael bay style ugly robot monsters. The incredible technical detail is totally wasted!

GTFO with this stupid race baiting shit. Grow up.

 

[Katt”BuckNasty”Johnston]

Looks great! 1 year games always look marginally better than late previous gen games. So my expectations were met! I’m Im going to enjoy the next couple of years. I’m hoping both Sony and Microsoft bring their A games.

Also, I still (selfishly) want a killzone 2/3 and a SOCOM remake. No matter what you nerds think . Come on Bluepoint!

 

[Thedtrain]

When she dives under water, I said god damn.

hopefully we don’t have to wait an entire year to play this, I need it nowish

 

[Aggelos]

This is something else. This is a purveyor for next-gen hot stuff. A true bearer of next-generation graphics

 

[CitizenZ]

Everyone thirsting over these graphics and all i saw was same old open world gameplay. Good for those who want the same, but im looking for those trying something different.

Also, Guerilla, Ill keep this simple, KILLZONE MFers.

 

[VeganElduderino]

How can a game that looks so good feel so boring? They truly are the masters of style over substance.

Uh what!? I duno man , i was watching the trailer on my cell phone at work and to me it looked epic as fuck , i duno what you found boring in that trailer!!?

 

[MasterCornholio]

When she dives under water, I said god damn.

hopefully we don’t have to wait an entire year to play this, I need it nowish

I hope not. But on a positive note they showed alot of gameplay so it won't be years off. Within a year we should be playing this.

 

[GuinGuin]

Looks great! 1 year games always look marginally better than late previous gen games. So my expectations were met! I’m Im going to enjoy the next couple of years. I’m hoping both Sony and Microsoft bring their A games.

Also, I still (selfishly) want a killzone 2/3 and a SOCOM remake. No matter what you nerds think . Come on Bluepoint!

It doesn't look marginally better it looks preposterously better.

 

[Trogdor1123]

Did they confirm a 60 fps mode yet?

 

[Klayzer]

lol

IKR. Which is ironic, because that's absolutely what he's doing.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Guerrilla's game always looks beautiful but they just don't interest me.

 

[Touch fuzZy. get BizZay]

GTFO with this stupid race baiting shit. Grow up.

Apologies for any offense taken, I do not mean to stir up racial division, I only want to say the graphics look very bad not in terms of technical detail but with regards to artistry/style

*In my opinion

 

[KyoZz]

im looking for those trying something different.

Also, Guerilla, Ill keep this simple, KILLZONE MFers.

 

[Deleted member 471617]

Overall, despite Horizon 2 needing some more polishing and whatnot, it looks great as expected. Day one for me either way but im hoping Sony gives them an extra 3+ months to early 2022 so it can be even better. Also, im more impressed with Ratchet and I really wish Horizon 2 wasn't cross-gen. Oh well.