I'm sorry, I'm really not seeing what you're talking about with your screenshots compared to the new one. For all I'm concerned, in the new shot it looks like they're fighting in Coerthas. I mean, yes, the rocks to look a little flat. But if you're not looking directly at the grass on the ground in Thanalan, it looks flat as well - that happens in some of your screenshots. Hell, there are flat rocks in your shots too. Yay normals.

I think the shades you're talking about is exactly what we see in the game right now when you use spells/weaponskills. Everything gets darker and there's a light coming from the PC, which I absolutely love. Maybe this is what's on the image? (ie look at Kain).
I'm honestly thinking that it might be that too. Since all the light seems to be coming from one area - it looks like the source is from the fire from the chimera though?