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

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.