Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[Len_]

All of the noses on face 4 also stretch the bottom of the forehead scale down like this too (Image shows nose #5). There's no choice out of the five that doesn't have those hard corners in the middle of the curve.

It's crazy how the scale texture itself is totally different. It's not a higher resolution version of what was there before. It actually looks LESS 3-dimensional and there are now just a bunch of lines and thin ridges where there were actual shape forms before. I wouldn't be surprised if this was something AI spit out.

[lunartears]

It's crazy how the scale texture itself is totally different. It's not a higher resolution version of what was there before. It actually looks LESS 3-dimensional and there are now just a bunch of lines and thin ridges where there were actual shape forms before. I wouldn't be surprised if this was something AI spit out.

I've kept fairly neutral on the possibility that AI was used for the graphics update but the scales undeniably look like AI upscaling. It reminds me of when AI is used to upscale a low resolution drawing and it creates jagged linework where it attempts to guess what the shape could possibly be.
Though, I don't know if I believe the old texture was directly upscaled because the depth is flatter and colour is completely different however I also don't have a full understanding of how AI works.

[Cyrtip]

It actually looks LESS 3-dimensional and there are now just a bunch of lines and thin ridges where there were actual shape forms before.

They also barely react to light anymore, the shadowed horn in the top image lost its depth because light doesn't really reflect on to it at all in 7.0.

Sometimes under light they'll even look like the new wet ground effects (Aggressively shimmering white pixels - a bit visible in the bottom right, but far more noticeable in motion and in more aggressive lighting).

[Len_]

They also barely react to light anymore, the shadowed horn in the top image lost its depth because light doesn't really reflect on to it at all in 7.0.

Sometimes under light they'll even look like the new wet ground effects (Aggressively shimmering white pixels - a bit visible in the bottom right, but far more noticeable in motion and in more aggressive lighting).

I don't know the artistic terminology for it but I noticed that the lighting you're talking about, that you can see in the top 6.5 picture, was also present on the character faces. Like a thin edge reflection that gave the face some definition especially around the chin and jawline. That is gone now and I think it really contributes to faces looking rounder and fatter in general. Again, is it realistic? No. But it definitely had a purpose that contributed to the *aesthetic.* Which is a word I doubt we'll ever see YoshiP utter in reference to this game's graphics.

[Cyrtip]

I don't know the artistic terminology for it but I noticed that the lighting you're talking about, that you can see in the top 6.5 picture, was also present on the character faces. Like a thin edge reflection that gave the face some definition especially around the chin and jawline. That is gone now and I think it really contributes to faces looking rounder and fatter in general. Again, is it realistic? No. But it definitely had a purpose that contributed to the *aesthetic.* Which is a word I doubt we'll ever see YoshiP utter in reference to this game's graphics.

I'm no artist either, from the few minutes I looked at shading, my guess is it was probably rim lighting (Which actually is a real effect).
Odd thing is, even though they removed rim lighting from the edges of the face and horns, they added a really strong and unappealing rim light to the nose. After hopping in game again, it was actually the opposite. Noses are way more perceivable because 7.0's harsh lighting has far more contrast between the brighter and darker parts of the nose, not because of a rim light.

[lunartears]

They also barely react to light anymore, the shadowed horn in the top image lost its depth because light doesn't really reflect on to it at all in 7.0.

Sometimes under light they'll even look like the new wet ground effects (Aggressively shimmering white pixels - a bit visible in the bottom right, but far more noticeable in motion and in more aggressive lighting).

I'm really grateful that you posted this because this is exactly why I feel like the new horns (and scales) are low quality. The new ones give off almost "cosplay" feels, like they are made of a cheap plastic or some other material rather than being real (the "wet" look under lighting is also a downgrade in my opinion). I could apply that metaphor to how the character changes feel as well, like the new face is someone dressing up as my WoL.
I really liked the shine around it before and same with on the character faces...