Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[Tsiron]

don't have anything constructive to add, comparisons and breakdowns and whatnot (I have doubts whether they can really recapture the old models' vibes, even with the promised revisions), but I guess I'd like to express that I've found myself feeling increasingly detached from my characters on account of their modified appearances also. Even taking into account my initial disappointment, I didn't actually think it would affect me to this extent...

[SongOfTheWind]

For what it's worth, I recently created an alt mostly to replay ARR. I created a male Viera, and while I'm not comparing him to a pre-DT version, I've been annoyed to find that his facial expressions in cutscenes are just as blank and emotionless as my newly lobotomized Elezen. I don't feel like trying to fanta a character I won't be playing for very long, but it does make me wonder what magic was lost in the facial animations on top of the structural facial changes.

To be fair, Viera always had subdued emotions. It’s part of their charm for those who prefer it. Not to say that their animations did not change, but I don’t think the intensity did.

[Kaziek]

The lack of shadow just looks so off putting. I get that the old lighting had issues with how it lit up faces, but was the solution to make it look like everyone is permanently lit up?

[Larirawiel]

And the funny thing is, even the old scenes are broken as hell. They replaced the broken shadows with no shadows.



Cheers

[Khryseis_Astra]

While I'm on the subject of old versus new, another thing that's completely broken are Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus' eyes. As before, first is old, second is new. Emet's glow is completely gone and Hythlodaeus' eyes also seem to lack it for the most part and aren't even the right color:



That needs to be fixed. Maybe they're leaving it until they update their models but uh. Going off of my WoL and Ardbert and everyone else I'd really rather they never update them and just fix their eyes. There's also the absolutely insane lighting difference in the scene now. Which isn't the cause of the eye issues, Emet just doesn't glow at all. I'm not sure if Hyth isn't at all or the color is just set completely wrong.

First Thancred, now Emet & Hythlo! T.T I’m scared to look at Hien now… they’re messing up all my favorite boys!

[SongOfTheWind]

First Thancred, now Emet & Hythlo! T.T I’m scared to look at Hien now… they’re messing up all my favorite boys!

They didn’t even start changing them. It’s just an asset/texture/lighting bug. So more is yet to come for Ancients.

[azaleai]

The new lighting in this screenshot really reminds me of Kingdom Hearts every time I see it... I'm not even sure where my brain is pulling the comparison from, especially since I've never even played a KH game. The perfectly even lighting is a little uncanny...

[Cherrizini]

Here's a comparison of a completely stock character - Ardbert, who can be perfectly recreated since he's just standard Hyur options. You can see the shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth are markedly different(The eyes especially are much narrower). Also the lighting is very underwhelming in the new one lol. First pic is from my first playthrough back in 2021, second is from today:



Watching it flip between images is even more dire: http://www.iankunx.net/ardbert comparison.mp4

Really feels like absolutely no attempt was made to retain continuity of features. My WoL is similarly messed up of course. I'll probably post more images of him later but right now it hurts too much to look at him. -_-

While I'm on the subject of old versus new, another thing that's completely broken are Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus' eyes. As before, first is old, second is new. Emet's glow is completely gone and Hythlodaeus' eyes also seem to lack it for the most part and aren't even the right color:









That needs to be fixed. Maybe they're leaving it until they update their models but uh. Going off of my WoL and Ardbert and everyone else I'd really rather they never update them and just fix their eyes. There's also the absolutely insane lighting difference in the scene now. Which isn't the cause of the eye issues, Emet just doesn't glow at all. I'm not sure if Hyth isn't at all or the color is just set completely wrong.

Oh man, I am sadly on the minority here. I like the eye changes, but I perfectly understand why people miss the old ones and I think they should just stick with the ancient glowy eyes just to set them apart from midlander/elezens.

[CuteBucket]

While I'm on the subject of old versus new, another thing that's completely broken are Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus' eyes. As before, first is old, second is new. Emet's glow is completely gone and Hythlodaeus' eyes also seem to lack it for the most part and aren't even the right color:









That needs to be fixed. Maybe they're leaving it until they update their models but uh. Going off of my WoL and Ardbert and everyone else I'd really rather they never update them and just fix their eyes. There's also the absolutely insane lighting difference in the scene now. Which isn't the cause of the eye issues, Emet just doesn't glow at all. I'm not sure if Hyth isn't at all or the color is just set completely wrong.

This is just heartbreaking. I hope they never touch Emet and Hyth's actual 3D models, because what little they've done to "improve" the graphics here is awful save for the hair textures being better. All of the moody lighting of the scene and the eerie but beautiful glow of the Ancient's eyes are gone. The lighting is just so flattened now. Ugh.

[riani]

don't have anything constructive to add, comparisons and breakdowns and whatnot (I have doubts whether they can really recapture the old models' vibes, even with the promised revisions), but I guess I'd like to express that I've found myself feeling increasingly detached from my characters on account of their modified appearances also. Even taking into account my initial disappointment, I didn't actually think it would affect me to this extent...

Same here.
I've also stopped coming to this forum, 1) as I tried not to get reminded of the changes and to get used to the character, and 2) as I don't believe they will make drastic changes, especially to a less popular race that has just a few feedbacks.
But I never got used to it, don't have the inclination to snap screenshots during cutscenes anymore and still miss my old impression... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯RIP


(Same cutscene, gone back to the same facial settings except skin color)