Thread: can someone explain the whole 1.0 graphics > 2.0?

I just would like to see again the same camera work and voice acting 1.0 had. That guy did such an awesome job with cutscenes, looking much more dynamic and realistic.. NPCs AND PCs using real gestures and not just pre-recorded emotes. It was so lovely.

Watch this from 4:25. Even your character would make voice sounds!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2ahpI7XvlU

This second video at 14:35 is what I'm talking about in particular. It felt so much more alive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6TF...47BDFD&index=3

Things may look "Shiny" in that cutscene, which doesn't really stand out to me tbh, but the content of the cutscene feels so much more defined. It has great camera work and the animations and actions of those in the scene feels more fluid, like thought went into the camera work of the scenes. I mean, it feels more dynamic than most of FFXIV2.0 cutscenes, which are usually just people standing around talking in a circle, theres very little to no action at all and if there is its nearly killed by bad camera work.

1.0 Cutscenes fell more like old Star Wars... and 2.0 cutscenes, well they feel like new Star wars.... sure its technically prettier, but the soul is dead.

Everyone in 2.0 cutscenes has like 3 motions to chose from. slight head nod, randomly selected /emote, and blank stare while talking. The two or so posts above me explain this better, and i have to agree with them. FFXIV has done some cutscenes well, so credit where credit is due. A lot of the later cutscenes feel like they're getting more into their groove and some amount of effort is being put into them, but at the same time, its still very unimaginative and static camera angles that just kill the feel of the cutscenes. I can think of a few cutscenes, like the ones involving Leviathan, that stand out as a bit more dynamic.

I think the faster content pushing is what hurts the quality of cutscenes, they aren't horrible, just average. I think the best cutscenes in XIV 2.0 are from the Hildebrand storyline... Those feel like time went into them, and I'm sure it did. Hildebrand cutscenes use pretty decent camera work to make the Humor really work. If they used that same effort of camera work in the actual storyline I think they could far surpass 1.0.

You know what. I'll have to agree on the cutscene front. After watching the opening to Ul'dah in 1.0, the quality is on another level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD45euKWO1U

Maybe in Heavensward.

Let's be honest here, Youtube compression really doesn't do the 1.0 graphics the justice they deserved. As someone who played 1.0 I can say with all honesty that it was a gorgeous game. Yes, far more gorgeous than 2.0.

Viewing distance was incredible, allowing you to see far into the distance without the 'haze' which permeates the entirety of 2.0. This was especially noticeable in Coerthas where you could get a wonderful view of Ishgard from our side of the bridge. Now it's swallowed up by fog even on the brightest and sunniest of days.

Character model detail was astounding. They were significantly more detailed than 2.0 figures, boasting more polygons and higher resolution textures. Anyone who has played both can easily admit than 1.0 was the better looking of the two, for the most part.

2.0 Made our special effects far more special though. Spells and skills feel like they have more impact here, whereas in 1.0 they felt dulled and unimportant. Almost everything was accompanied by a bright glow which doesn't make for much in the way of unique feeling attacks. On the other hand, they did have skillchains... not sure why Yoshi dropped it.

The thing is, exploring 2.0 is great but it's not special. You don't feel the same connection to each zone since each one is relatively small and there are less 'interesting' landmarks. Despite its copy-paste terrain, each area was large and expansive and had some great terrain features in various places that seem oddly removed from the remade maps.

Take Thanalan, for example, there was an area of terrain where large pillars sprouted from the ground, suspending a network of stoney platforms overheard. This is somewhat present in 2.0, near the entrance to Vesper Bay; the area known as 'The Silent King'. However, now we only have the option to go below them, and the upper platform itself is inaccessible. Further in Thanalan 1.0 to the South-East, there was a fun yet dangerous stretch of thin interconnecting pathways which was generally inhabited by moderate level birds. I remember trying to get through that area for my crafting leve hand-ins, using the higher ground to hide away from the birds or wait for them to pass so I could sneak beyond.

That's the sort of gameplay I miss. Right now each map lacks soul. There's little to no incentive to explore them, and no interesting scenery for those who do. It's hard to be impressed by 2.0 graphics when we were first introduced to an open area where you could way from the Ul'dah's merchant strip to Vesper Bay and then back to Gridania... all without a single loading screen.