Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami

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Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-20th-2008 22:08:35

Armyless

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Did anyone notice the interesting Okami quality of artistic design in the latest Prince of Persia (PoP) trailer?

http://kotaku.com/5025265/prince-of-persia-e3-trailer

It definitely goes beyond most of the normal trailers I end watching with a "sigh".

It begins with an artist's rendering of an eye
And slowly changes into the richer, painted cell-shading watercolors that introduce you to the rest of the game's style... and then the eye moves, just a bit. You have the downtrodden warrior, and... a girl? They're platforming, jumping, spinning, and more. The music croons with a young lady's melodic voice, a sad desire with a longing unforgotten.

Ico.

Which isn't apologetic in the end either with our hero facing a large open expanse of the castle's walls, and there sitting quietly resolutely in the distance, the tattered sheets of a distant windmill slowly spinning.

If they're borrowing from Ico and Okami in style, they did a very good job of sending a grateful "wink" with this intro. Next-Gen games have been falling short of the emotional qualities of Bioshock and Metal Gear Solid 4. Many of us "gamers" appreciate the art and carefully staged beaty of a thoughtful creation. Ico and Okami certainly delivered Last-Gen. Some games appreciate the subtle nature of the experience we create within them.

Watch the trailer carefully, and tell me if you see the grass and flowers spreading beneath her feet on the platform at the end? This is probably wishful thinking.

< Message edited by Armyless -- Jul.-20th-2008 23:41:12 >

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RE: Prince of Persi- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-20th-2008 22:14:49

Le-mo

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If they are then I can't blame them.

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RE: Prince of Persi- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-20th-2008 22:31:20

NO_PUDding

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Argh...

Opnionated I am, but... in this day and age how dare Ubisofts internal developers tout a superb artistic direction with a Cel Shaded game. You guys follow the hype if you like, but this game is just a carbon copy of Okami, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, missing the pivotal innovative deviations.

It actually lacks an art style. Shadow of the Colossus had an art style, on this generation we should really start diversifying what is termed an artistic direction, and what isn't. SotC boasted excessive intentional use of bloom, and a pastelly palette, with gritty textures and expressive particle effects.

What does this game look like? A saturday morning kids TV show. Ubisoft have not done their artists a favour claiming their work is like that.

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RE: Prince of Persi- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-20th-2008 23:10:26

Dont Panic

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I have to respectfully disagree... I personally love the art style, I think it "freshens" the franchise and brings a new and (in m own opinion) innovative perspective to the PoP franchise. Although it may be "copying" some of the older and great games of our time. I say we sit back and enjoy the show, PoP has always been good, I have no reason to expect anything different now.

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RE: Prince of Persi- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-20th-2008 23:18:13

NO_PUDding

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I agree, taking inspiration or even copying the best games of the previous generation is not bad. If it weren't for this being the next generation. And even so, that doesn't nullify the greatness of the games in question, but they can't just plonk elements into an old IP as they have, with a pretentious art style, and feed it to you. Despite what you may believe, you deserve better as a consumer, especially when they are touting it as if it's the second coming of the Prince of Persia (literally, and pun intended).

I love Ubisoft, and Assassins Creed was a flawed gem, but this just screams a quick buck, and recognition as an artistic developer. Bring on BG&E2 and realistic (not Cel Shaded) graphics, I love the chnage in tone, they can still retain an art direction.

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RE: Prince of Persi- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-20th-2008 23:21:13

Dont Panic

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But the question is how realistic is realistic? I'm going to sit back and laugh in a few years when every game retains the ultra-realistic style and people praise developers for "breaking out" and going in a more artistic (cel shaded for example) direction.

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RE: Prince of Persi- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-20th-2008 23:33:17

Bill Gates

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My money is on
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33449.html
to do something different in 2008. I cannot wait for this game.

< Message edited by Bill Gates -- Jul.-21th-2008 0:04:31 >

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RE: Prince of Persi- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-20th-2008 23:50:42

NO_PUDding

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Dont Panic.... that's my exact point.

It isn't one of two directions. There is endless possibilities. GTAIII had one of the most impressive art directions I have ever seen, and yet people don't realise that.

Cel Shaded is one of two extremes, the other being Photorealistic.

People shouldn't be breaking out into Cel Shaded games, they should be playing around with other filters and techniques, including hue changes and limited palettes. These post processign effects should eb the focus of games artistic direction alogn with other things like texture exploitation... for example intentional muddy textures. Particle effects. Refractional distortion.

Why are you looking for a cartoon game, when there is something like Valkyria Chronicles (although I'd debate the anime models, I would love to create a game in the engine) that still is too close to the extreme of Cel Shading, but is dispelling it slightly.

Developers need to get messy and less afraid of these aesthetic faults in their games. They want it seamless for immersion. As long as the atmosphere is retained, that being a high end product and not a buggy unfinished mess, expression can be shown there. And if anythign these imperfections make the game's world more diverse and immersive.

Great example Bill Gates.

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RE: Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-21th-2008 0:11:20

Armyless

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Two of the best games last-gen were Okami and Ico. (I would argue SoTC over ICO but only barely.)

Two of the best games this-gen are MGS4 and Bioshock.

We want games that move us... that are aware of themselves and how they're created. The best gamers have discriminating tastes.

I love the PoP series. It's easily one of the most interesting around. From a gameplay standpoint, few "crawly" platforming games are worth a first glance, let-alone a rental. PoP delivers an incredible amount of spatial platformng, with twitch accuracy to boot, and the combat from Warrior Within was remarkable.

I can't help but wonder if the team dynamics of a sullen princess wouldn't draw me in, nevermind it's craftily caged emotional draw. ICO ruined me for years when I finished it... few games can deliver that kind of stock.

The Okami inferences are pretty much, "on the nose". We're not left wondering if they stole an idea or borrowed one without asking. I think they're taking time out of their "Big Budget" business and telling us "Hey! We love these games too!"

Homage has been paid, IMHO, this game deserves a fair shake. I couldn't imagine a better way to play, actually.

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RE: Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-21th-2008 9:51:29

NO_PUDding

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That's how I started off looking at it.

It's homage, and we can create these games too.

But actually, it's got the Prince of Persia name, and it's not even slightly fresh. The art style is different, and it's cheap to sell a game on those principles. If you wnat to rpove you can do soemthing, create a new IP, and be more adventurous. Art styles aren't for indie developers anymore, TF2 has an art style, then enw Battlefield does too. TF2's art style was excellent by the way. It wasn't Cel shaded, but it was interesting, and that game deserved all the praise it got. But Cel shading is all this game is doing differently. (I personally hate people saying Okami's art direction was excellent, becuase that is outright misleading)

I would never boycott it, becuase atleast they are trying, and I even feel I shoudl buy it, despite not wanting it, just to see if they will push those boundaries even further.

This game just isn't enough to qualify any attention above the ordinary.

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RE: Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-21th-2008 10:01:17

MK_Red

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In a world filled with look alike military shooters and crappy Wii "add something" games, getting inspiration from the masterpieces like Okami and ICO deserves an award for than anything.

New POP is definitly among my most anticipated games and a huge GOTY candidate.

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RE: Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-21th-2008 10:02:39

JHFKDFNFGJKFHDKF

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okami is one of the main influences for the entire game - designer said so in gameinformer.

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RE: Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-21th-2008 10:08:03

NO_PUDding

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All think what you like... but I will not be sucked in by quite such shallow values.

People liking it is fine, but the game doesn't deserve the groping it's getting from the media. There's just so many different ways they could have made it more stylish, and they didn't choose them. They went for Cel Shading, and I will happily admit that's my main qualm with it.

It's just damn cheap.

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RE: Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-21th-2008 10:20:50

Truplaya

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i like the graphical style, its kinda like Crackdown. Not every game has to look 'photo realistic' to have good graphics

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RE: Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-21th-2008 12:14:32

Dont Panic

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When you think about it though cel shading is simply a graphical element. I don't think anyone can argue that the actual art style isn't unique and dare I say fantastic.

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RE: Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-21th-2008 16:25:21

NO_PUDding

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Well no you can't say it's unique anymore, and indeed, it's an artstic direction/style as much as photorealism is.

Why can't we have a more tasteful middle ground.

Does anyone, even if they don't agree, understand what I am saying? Cel shading is an extreme that was started last generation, and photorealism is only just possible. And yet these are two extremes, one is cartoony, and one is real.

Ofcourse then the modelling and texture artists also have an impact on this. But for me, the word is generic.

Cel shading is generic. And the PoP team is staing they are taking their artists work and putting it in their game. It's bollocks. Pure crap. They are creatign a cel shaded game, and people will lap it up, becuase it's 'new'.

It's not new, Cel Shading is old. Actually put some effort into it.

A sufficient chnage would be to rid the game of the black outlines, then I woudl take them seriously. It's literally that element that frustrates me.

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RE: Prince of Persia- Ico- and- Okami - Jul.-21th-2008 17:05:57

Dont Panic

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I definetely understand what you're saying but the thread would have died long ago without a devil's advocate. It's reallty just a matter of personal taste and kudos on the no black lines idea! Reminds me of Samurai Jack!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUaCtgto0fo

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