Midna from Twilight Princess.
Woah..I think we dodged a bullet honestly.
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Early character designs you liked more than the final (pics if possible)
- Thread starter MMarston
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Woah..I think we dodged a bullet honestly.
Slamtastic
Member
Specifically that one on the right with the scarf. That would have made for a much more unique Nero than the Dante0.5 we got. Hopefully it'll be a costume in DMC4:SE.
I'm partial to the bottom left and right.
Overstrike (a stylish TF2 looking shooter)
became
Fuse (a generic shooter)
All because they listened to focus group's feedback that it was too cartoony...
Really hope they can go back and do this again the way it was meant to be. Were the character designs themselves changed that much though?
shadow_shogun
Member
The heck were they thinking with Rufus' design?
But that looks like a generic Sailor Moon style, just look at Magus he looks like any enemy from Sailor Moon or Rayheart, same with Ayla. The only ones that look cool (need clean version though) are Frog and Robo.
I agree with Overstrike, I was interested until it became Fuse :S
ShinMaruku
Member
She was never gonna be that in the game. Looks too different than the ingame design. I got zero faith in their art teamDragon Age: Origins
Was a lot younger and originally going to be a more naive about the outside world, having lived in the woods all her life. Even the first interviews with her voice actress talks about how much she loved poor little Morrigan.
Then suddenly the hood was down, the bikini was covered up, she was older, more wise and powerful, fully aware of where she was in the middle of things. She didn't need to be with Flemeth anymore, so it always felt weird that she was living there. There are even dialogue still in the game that reflects the former characterization between her and Flemeth.
She became this:
shadow_shogun
Member
At least the end product of infamous 2 resembled the model of part 1.
What makes the original design a shoto? The gi? Takes more than that.
But I will agree that what we have now is better. I doubt that the original design had the current Rufus moveset, though.
DirgeExtinction
Member
Bald white dude = nao skinhead?
He still looks better than generic douche male model.
Eh, glad we didn't get that version. Was he half lion cub and half human?
This one hurts. He looked generic, but in a "this is just a regular looking dude you'd see at a Cubs game" or something. Which, ironically, makes him stand out among most video game protagonists.
The fact his face was capable of actually showing emotion didn't hurt either.
IntelliHeath
As in "Heathcliff"
No offense to anyone but I agreed with this. I always felt that Cobra is generic badass character so it would be unmemorable for me.
Mouse. He was the personification of Mickey Mouse. They scrapped that idea and put Mickey Mouse himself into game too.
Doc Holliday
SPOILER: Columbus finds America
Lesson to be learned
Devs: Don't second guess yourselves, stay away from focus groups
Devs: Don't second guess yourselves, stay away from focus groups
Muffdraul
Member
I was right there along with everyone else who was bitching and recoiling when they revealed pretty boy Cole 2.0. But I'd give anything to have that design over what we ended up with, a weirdly half-baked version of the original Cole. He ended up looking like some kind of full grown man-sized fetus. Perfect example of "Be careful what you wish for."
I'm surprised there are so many apologists itt for boring/safe designs. Ironic turn.
I know I'm going to get a ton of shit for this, but this early design of Sonic before the final re-design was unveiled:
It looks like a perfect mix between the Jak and Daxter-style look they wanted to do with Sonic and how Modern Sonic's design is.
The final design is this though:
It is fine, but all it the design is Modern Sonic with sports tape and a brown scarf :l.
Either way, the final game was....egh X(, but parts of the game held promise I suppose.
I think the concept art for the main villain is more significantly better than the final look
From this
to this
Final design looks like a mini boss or a grunt from Starfox Adventures or something, not the main villain. Also, the name "Lyric" for a snake. The owl was far cooler looking.
As for Sonic, he should have looked like this
Zeuanimals
Member
They both look like normal white dudes to me. The biggest difference between them is that the Aiden on the left's eyes droop a little more on the side and the chin sticks out a bit more, that's about it. Overall, his character design has seen the smallest tweak out of anything in this thread.
He was able to show emotion though, that I can agree with.
Funilly enough, this design is not generic at all... they could at least keep it like a DLC costume T_TI for one (and I'm probably gonna take a lot of shit for this one) was really up for the tentative version of Cole in Infamous 2.
I mean sure, he kinda looks generic as hell, but I'd have much preferred something more representative of some character evolution rather than copping out back bald-gritty Cole due to the fan whiplash.
Ehhh, it seemed like prototype Infamous 2 Cole was a focus tested design as well, just that it went in the Nathan Drake route. Neither were really that original, though I guess that's because the base was bland and they couldn't deviate much from it.
I really like early Teddie's design, I feel like it was a lot more in line with the TV World than what we got in the end, but I understand why the decisions were made too.
He looks more like
a shadow here.
Claire Redfield's early design for Resident Evil 2
Technically that's not Claire, that's Elza Walker.
When they changed her design they also changed her name and backstory to link the game to RE1.
What they changed of the character designs was mainly their hair cuts and a LITTLE of their outfits. Still has crazy guns, pretty decent humor dialogue, and a fun game. I know I as very content with the game after the demo and buying it full price.
Kagoshima_Luke
Gold Member
With skinhead Cole and Delsin's perma-beanie, is SP really afraid of modeling hair or what?
PrinceOfWhatever
Banned
Razzorn34
Member
Memorable, but so terrible looking that no one wants to play the character. It's the whole other end of the spectrum. Rufus is consistently at the bottom of every popularity list. No one wanted that character. Memorable, or not.
Pretty sure the Cole re-redesign had nothing to do with tech.
And there are plenty people with well off hair in Second Son
Basically self-explanatory - discuss some concept designs for characters that you much preferred than whatever they eventually turned out to be.
I for one (and I'm probably gonna take a lot of shit for this one) was really up for the tentative version of Cole in Infamous 2.
I mean sure, he kinda looks generic as hell, but I'd have much preferred something more representative of some character evolution rather than copping out back bald-gritty Cole due to the fan whiplash. Like if they gave this concept more of a chance, I think they could have tweaked it further to a point where strikes a balance that'll satisfy Infamous 1 fans in some way.
It was even more jarring that his new voice and dialogue for the game was clearly meant for this redesign.
That design reminds me of Daryl from The Walking Dead.
ChosenPredator
Banned
damn that would of been so cool in street fighter
Doc Holliday
SPOILER: Columbus finds America
Definitely liked the early Bayonetta designs over the skintight homogeneous black leather outfit in the final version:
Not sure those were early designs. Sega wanted to "westernize" bayonetta when they thinking about localizing. BTW if you like that design, google "Wesley BUrt" he is an incredible artist. He also designed the original Cole for Infamous 2.
For the kind of game Bayonetta is, I prefer the crazy proportions of the japanese design.
Deified Data
Banned
Dragon Age: Origins
Was a lot younger and originally going to be a more naive about the outside world, having lived in the woods all her life. Even the first interviews with her voice actress talks about how much she loved poor little Morrigan.
Then suddenly the hood was down, the bikini was covered up, she was older, more wise and powerful, fully aware of where she was in the middle of things. She didn't need to be with Flemeth anymore, so it always felt weird that she was living there. There are even dialogue still in the game that reflects the former characterization between her and Flemeth.
She became this:
...and become one of Bioware's best characters. She's still naive and vulnerable in a lot of ways, you just have to dig a bit deeper to find them.
Having a hard time discerning any difference here besides switching them to a matching boy band uniform.
Claire Redfield's early design for Resident Evil 2
would love to see this become an actual character in something
Razzorn34
Member
If they ever stuck with that original characterization though, I can't imagine Claudia being in that role. It'd be like the movie cast of Grease all over again.Dragon Age: Origins
Was a lot younger and originally going to be a more naive about the outside world, having lived in the woods all her life. Even the first interviews with her voice actress talks about how much she loved poor little Morrigan.
Then suddenly the hood was down, the bikini was covered up, she was older, more wise and powerful, fully aware of where she was in the middle of things. She didn't need to be with Flemeth anymore, so it always felt weird that she was living there. There are even dialogue still in the game that reflects the former characterization between her and Flemeth.
She became this:
DKC concept art:
Final:
Obviously, the SNES couldn't pull off the former, but it'd be cool to see it on a modern system. I also think that the actual proportions of DK in the first pic look a bit nicer with the smaller eyes.
Edit: My bad. As others have now pointed out, that's the concept art for DKC:R. Even still, it would've been pretty cool to get that on the Wii - a platform that actually could handle it.
Sorry for the mix up.
Final:
Obviously, the SNES couldn't pull off the former, but it'd be cool to see it on a modern system. I also think that the actual proportions of DK in the first pic look a bit nicer with the smaller eyes.
Edit: My bad. As others have now pointed out, that's the concept art for DKC:R. Even still, it would've been pretty cool to get that on the Wii - a platform that actually could handle it.
Sorry for the mix up.
We absolutely lucked out.Phoenix Wright Ace attorney
specifically the one in the middle, I really prefer that design over the Maya fey we got, but beggars can't be choosers.
Speaking of Ace Attorney:
To this
Love the game, but I really really dislike Apollo's final design.
Watch Da Birdie
I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
Apollo looks like Cilan from Pokemon Black/White, on that same note, I always thought Marshall from the same game reminded me of the Rufus concept art.
I'd love to see some more proto-Pokemon designs, come to think of it. There are a bit out there like when Latias-Blaziken were one Pokemon, Torchic had cute floppy ears, and such...they're not exactly BETTER than the final, but it'd be neat to see how the designs evolved overtime.
DKC concept art:
Final:
Obviously, the SNES couldn't pull off the former, but it'd be cool to see it on a modern system. I also think that the actual proportions of DK in the first pic look a bit nicer.
pssst that concept art is Donkey kong country RETURNS
Watch Da Birdie
I buy cakes for myself on my birthday it's not weird lots of people do it I bet
DKC concept art:
Final:
Obviously, the SNES couldn't pull off the former, but it'd be cool to see it on a modern system. I also think that the actual proportions of DK in the first pic look a bit nicer with the smaller eyes.
I think you're mistaken here buddy, I'm pretty sure the first piece was concept art for Donkey Kong Country Returns, not the SNES original. That snake-statue are the ones that pop up in Returns.
But yeah, a lot of the concept art in Donkey Kong Country Returns and Tropical Freeze would be interesting to see in the final version, like Tropical Freeze had concept art of a moon level and a city full of the little pigs.
Speak for yourself; I mained Rufus in vanilla and Super SFIV.
……forgetit
Member
Holy shit, I had no idea.
"Screw the rules, I have green hair"
I'm surprised I've never seen these before. I take it that's the design for Edgeworth that was reworked into Von Karma, but who's the guy in blue? Gumshoe?
Also on the topic of Ace Attorney, there are a lot of Layton VS Wright scans I'd like to post but if I understand, scans aren't allowed here.
Dr. Buni
Member
I wonder how Twili "True" Midna would look, if Imp Midna had this design instead of the one we got.Midna from Twilight Princess.
I love Rufus' current design. I wouldn't mind them reusing his original design, though.
Anyway, Winter Coat Dante (DMC4) The design was from early on in the design process when the game was supposed to mainly take place in the snowy landscape in the mountains and the castle. Hopefully they'll make at an alternate costume in DMC4SE, along with the longer hair. Otherwise, DMC5. BELIEVE.
There is no way that sketch was done in the early 90s.
Anyway, Winter Coat Dante (DMC4) The design was from early on in the design process when the game was supposed to mainly take place in the snowy landscape in the mountains and the castle. Hopefully they'll make at an alternate costume in DMC4SE, along with the longer hair. Otherwise, DMC5. BELIEVE.
DKC concept art:
Final:
Obviously, the SNES couldn't pull off the former, but it'd be cool to see it on a modern system. I also think that the actual proportions of DK in the first pic look a bit nicer with the smaller eyes.
There is no way that sketch was done in the early 90s.
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