856 replies to this topic

[Moonbread]

I sure hope so. But remember back in the early 2000's where we got an amazing tech-demo depicting an EPIC 1-to-1 sword fight with Link and Ganon, setting expectations high for a new Zelda game for the Game Cube with stunning visuals, but instead, we got the Wind Waker? I have a strange feeling that Zelda U is going to be similar. We got that BEAUTIFUL tech-demo at E3 a few years back, but I feel we're going to get something totally different. I'm sure it'll work, though.

 

(For the record, I'm not one of those people who bash Wind Waker for it's cutesy art style. It's actually probably my favorite art style in the series, and I absolutely adore it)

The reason they switched to Wind Waker's art style is because they found it difficult to work with the graphical style that was used in the techdemo.  With the graphics starting to look more "realistic", it was a lot harder to make environments or objects that didn't stick out like a sore thumb or fit the rest of the art, simply because they weren't used to it.  Twilight Princess coming out later does prove that they were working on it and just needed more time to master the style (it also turned out looking different from the tech demo, not sure if in a better or worse way, but TP still does look really nice)

 

Also, sure they could pull off that graphical style on the 3DS, that TP-esque mock up... and who's to say it wouldn't lag like crazy?  Because it probably would.

[Koh]

Also, why does it need to look more realistic?  Is it really good graphics = realism, or is it good graphics = eye appealing textures?  Because the Seiken Densetsu series has always had amazing graphics; very vibrant and colorful, while being detailed, but still pixel-ish and sprite based.  It was the perfect blend; it doesn't need realism. 

Edited by Koh, 05 October 2013 - 11:19 AM.

[Tree]

Also, why does it need to look more realistic?  Is it really good graphics = realism, or is it good graphics = eye appealing textures?  Because the Seiken Densetsu series has always had amazing graphics; very vibrant and colorful, while being detailed, but still pixel-ish and sprite based.  It was the perfect blend; it doesn't need realism. 

Who said anything about realism? No one wants a realistic Zelda game. It just wouldn't work. I'm just saying that with the 3DS, the graphics could have been MUCH better. Nintendo lately has been pushing their games to the limit to give us the best experience possible, but this seems like a step backwards. As much as I love old school Nintendo, they need to upgrade a bit.

[The Satellite]

I think it's charming personally.

[Avaro]

I see how Nintendo could have made much better with the graphics, with the 3DS but in comparison to phantom hourglass and spirit tracks it's a huuge step forward. I looks so much more detailed and nicer.

[Eddard McHorn Van-Schnuder]

The Spaceworld 'mature' Zelda demo was just a tech demo. It was never anything more than that, so the fans who were expecting them to go down that route based their expectations on the wrong things.

 

Same goes for the Wii U demo. It was not a teaser for the next Zelda-game, it was simply a tech demo. The demo's purpose was simply to show what we might expect from the console itself, in terms of graphical horsepower (something we know now simply isn't entirely correct. Yes, the console ran that demo, but the Wii U will never be able to present actual games with graphics like that. It simply doesn't have the power to do so. Unless the game in question takes place inside one single room and all you can do is change lighting and camera angles, that is). So no, I really would not take that demo as a sign that Nintendo is going to make a new Zelda with a similar style. That said, it's not impossible that they do go down that route eventually, but it'll most likely have nothing to do with that demo.

 

Anyways, I can understand the confusion. Releasing a tech demo themed around one of their biggest franchises probably isn't a really smart move on Nintendo's side of things. I'm more or less certain that when they released that Gamecube demo years ago, they already knew they weren't going for that style with their next Zelda-title, and I think the huge contrast in style between Wind Waker and the demo itself supports this. Big titles already in development doesn't usually completely change one of the most important elements, because that just doesn't make any sense, be it economically or time-wise.

 

Sony did a relatively good job with their tech demos when they announced the PS4. Simple, yet effective little demos that actually showed what the hardware was capable of doing. I remember a pretty near rendering of like, a gazillion blue balls or something over a cityscape. It wasn't immediatly visually impressive, but it was the sheer amount of objects on-screen at a time which was the focus of that particular presentation. What was the focus of Nintendo's presentation, you think? I really don't know... to me it just sounded like they had made a neat little animation with Link and a giant ass spider, and they decided it was a good idea to put it up online - because everyone in their right mind would totally just think 'oh the wiiu can do this!' and not 'oh wow NEW ZELDA IS AWESOME MAN!'... not.

[LinktheMaster]

Same goes for the Wii U demo. It was not a teaser for the next Zelda-game, it was simply a tech demo. The demo's purpose was simply to show what we might expect from the console itself, in terms of graphical horsepower (something we know now simply isn't entirely correct. Yes, the console ran that demo, but the Wii U will never be able to present actual games with graphics like that. It simply doesn't have the power to do so. Unless the game in question takes place inside one single room and all you can do is change lighting and camera angles, that is). So no, I really would not take that demo as a sign that Nintendo is going to make a new Zelda with a similar style. That said, it's not impossible that they do go down that route eventually, but it'll most likely have nothing to do with that demo

Eh.  I think the Wii U could realistically handle it.  I mean, the Wii U, while definitely (and sadly) greatly underpowered in comparison to the PS4 and XBO, is more powerful than the XBox 360 and PS3, and to be honest, that tech demo didn't look that absurdly good from the videos I saw.  It had really good lighting and effects, but I didn't think the graphics were that much higher of a level than PS3/360 graphics.  Would it take a really good coding team to create such an efficient enough engine to make it?  Yes.  Would it have limitations on what could be done?  Most likely.  But to flat out act like a game couldn't be made with those graphics is a little rash.

 

That being said, I'm pretty sure that Nintendo announced that the Wii U Zelda will be having Skyward Sword graphics.  I think I recall them saying they really enjoyed that style (and for the most part I agree) and wanted to stick with it.

[strike]

Actually in the code of the Wind Waker there are scrapped rooms with the Spaceworld demo's graphics; the next Zelda game was going to have a more realistic style, but it was eventually abandoned in favor of a more toony, loose feel.

I think it is very likely that the next Zelda game will have realistic graphics. Nintendo can't really afford another Wind Waker. Sure, it's accepted as a great game now, but sales were bad originally. While the Wii U is in such a critical time in its life, I think Nintendo knows that they need a game that will draw in perspective buyers, and from what I've seen, fans want a more realistic art style in Zelda.

It would be the same catastrophe all over again if the art style was unrealistic.

-Strike

Edited by strike, 05 October 2013 - 01:36 PM.

[LinktheMaster]

I'm a bit perplexed.  Am I the only one who thought that the Spaceworld demo looked like absolute crap? It was super shiny and ugly.  I mean, I was a bit upset they dropped that too at the time, but looking back... they really were horrendous graphics, and I'm absolutely thankful they used Wind Waker's graphics instead.

[strike]

Looking back almost all graphics will look horrendous eventually. But I'm pretty sure the Spaceworld graphics were considered really good at the time. Maybe not. I'm not sure.

-Strike

[LinktheMaster]

Hrm.  You misunderstand.  I'm more referring to art style rather than the actual graphical prowess of the demo.  The art style was just bad.

 

Like, OoT is a good example.  Does it look bad by today's standards.  Yes.  But the art style was still solid, so I can't just flat out say "They're bad graphics."  The Spaceworld Demo?  Those are bad graphics.  Look at Twilight Princess.  That was "realistic" graphics on the Gamecube, and it had a much better art style than the Spaceworld Demo.

[strike]

You're right. I just watched the trailer again, and it was awful. I'm so glad they went with cell shading. O.O

-Strike

[Shane]

Who said anything about realism?

This. Koh, you misunderstood us completely. We just want to see a Zelda game with a more mature style. There can be mushrooms the size of buildings and volcanos that don't melt wood. We didn't call the other styles bad neither. So I fail to see where you're getting at. They done it with TP, it was gorgeous, why can't they do it again and again?

 

tl;dr we just prefer a different style than you. Doesn't mean it's bad.

 

LTM: I heard they confirmed they won't be using TP's graphics either. But I thought that was labeled a rumor. I don't have source for both though.

Edited by Shane, 05 October 2013 - 09:01 PM.

[Lemon]

Also, why does it need to look more realistic?  Is it really good graphics = realism, or is it good graphics = eye appealing textures?  Because the Seiken Densetsu series has always had amazing graphics; very vibrant and colorful, while being detailed, but still pixel-ish and sprite based.  It was the perfect blend; it doesn't need realism. 

 

The graphics they're going with are butt ugly. Super saturated. Would have been better off with the Four Swords remix of the original ones imo.

I can't stand how this game looks. It's noticeably bad. 

[Aevin]

Personally, I think the graphics style looks beautiful, but I'm not out to convince everyone else of it. I can't understand why some people are so determined to make everyone else share in their negativity.

Edited by Aevin, 06 October 2013 - 12:12 AM.