580°

Ninja Theory dev on Hellblade II demo It's all real-time, no tricks

Hellblade II Audio Director David García says that the gameplay demo which the
team showcased at TGA is real gameplay without any tricks.

PrinceOfAnger899d ago

A lot of people thought it was all CGi, maybe they didn't play the first game.

isarai899d ago

I thought the reveal trailer wasn't real time, and looks like i was right cause this trailer doesn't look as good. Still looks amazing, but that reveal trailer was misleading, and a lot of people ate it up.

Lightning77899d ago

You should of done research because that's where your wrong.

https://gamingbolt-com.cdn....

The first trailer didn't show any gameplay just the graphics. So no character models running around or advanced physics at play just the world unlike the new trailer. I wouldn't call it any kind of downgrade, when Senua talks her mouth and teeth still have the same sync and detail like the first trailer. The fire has the same detail.

You sound very disappointed this was real in game trailer as you attempted to revert back to the original trailer as being fake in order to downplay. I guess you wanted it
to Be fake or something?

MadLad898d ago

@lightning

They don't actually care about being right. They just want people to think they're right, so it downplays the showing.

bouzebbal898d ago

It did look good but felt like a movie the only thing she was doing was throwing arrows

mkis007898d ago

I mean it wasn't very interactive as far as intertwining gameplay systems go, but not all games need that kind of thing. Some games can just be art with interactive elements.

Babadook7898d ago (Edited 898d ago )

Yes. I agree with you. The character faces and lighting in the first "trailer" were too good to be true. DF agreed as well. This new one is good but no where near the top graphics of today.

gravedigger897d ago

It is a clearly downgrade, especially in character design, little less in environments. First trailer was a real-time, so, it used a gameplay assets, so, yes, it is a downgrade!

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 897d ago
SeTTriP898d ago

Why would they? the series x is more then capable of producing this type of fidelity in real time and the game is linear.

Godmars290898d ago

But so linear and static gameplay can be mistaken as a cutscene?

Old McGroin898d ago

@ Godmars290

Just started playing the first Hellblade a couple of days ago. It's a very linear, narrative led game, no HUD and looks fantastic. Having played it I had no problem believing the Hellblade 2 trailer was in real time. You should give it a go, it's a great game.

frostypants898d ago

People apparently missed the Matrix tech demo, too.

Godmars290897d ago

@frostypants:
And notice there's clear distinction about what is and isn't gameplay.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 897d ago
itsmebryan898d ago

I think the game looked great even though I couldn't get in to the first one I will give it a try.

Also what happened to all those people that Unreal 5 could only run on PS5 because of it's "super fast SSD" . This game and Matrix awaken proves them wrong again. People really need to stop jumping to conclusions before they get all the facts and stop making things up.

dumahim898d ago

I don't remember anyone saying UE5 would only run in PS5. That'd be shot down immediately. I don't think anyone thought Epic was going to make UE5 exclusive. Whether or not Xbox could run Lumen in the Land of Nanite could be up for debate though, since no one knows what HD speeds would be needed, especially for the last part when she's flying.

itsmebryan896d ago

@dum
Look it up. When the first UE5 demo came out on on PS5 fans of PS5 were saying only the PS5's super fast SSD would be able to run UE5 as well. I tried to tell them that that made no sense and the UE5 was for all platforms. But, they told me I was wrong and downvoted me.

Look it up to see how silly fanboys can be.

Flewid638898d ago

There are a lot of games they clearly haven't played.

FlavorLav01898d ago

It’s a “next-gen” linear walking Sim. It should look that good! Anything less would’ve been a disappointment after this much time.

itsmebryan898d ago

@Flavor
"Walking sim"? I thought it had alot more going on than just "Walking ". Please explain.

FlavorLav01898d ago

@itsmebryan, based on the 1st game. We all know that combat was more than basic. Ryse son of Rome had “complex” gameplay compared to Hellblade. It’s a plague tale type game. Heavy on atmosphere, super light on actual combat and gameplay mechanics. Therefore, if it weren’t pretty it wouldn’t stand out. Graphics are what this game has going for it, just like the 1st game.

SPEAKxTHExTRUTH898d ago

Have you played Hellblade 2 yet? You seem to have some inside info about the game.

Atom666898d ago

That's not what a "walking sim" is though. Why does that get thrown around so much?

And the stand out feature from the first game was the audio more than the graphics. It was pretty, especially for its budget at the time, but that's not what made it special.

The bigger budget, resources, time, and power certainly is helping improve those graphics, though. I'm also excited to see that updated combat they've discussed. We haven't seen what all of this work produces yet:

"Melina Juergens, the actress who plays Senua, has also been training hard with Smiff, the swordmaster for Star Wars and Game of Thrones. The team is capturing every move, Senua and enemy AIs alike, via motion capture which gives the impression that they plan on making combat more complicated and realistic than it was in the last game."

Old McGroin898d ago (Edited 898d ago )

@ FlavorLav01

Wouldn't say your description is accurate. The combat isn't basic as you say. There's light and heavy attacks as well as kick back/melee which can be mixed and matched for combos as well as dodging, blocking and parrying. You fight multiple foes together and get audio warnings from the voices in your head if an attack is incoming from behind etc. There's also your Focus mode and bosses for each area. So no, the combat isn't basic.

The meat of the game revolves around puzzles, most of which I've come across involve clever audio and visual clues to progress. On top of that, the graphics and voice acting are on another level.

Guessing you haven't played it because even though I'm only about half way through it I can see your description is way off.

Lightning77898d ago (Edited 898d ago )

I guess you hated The Order, Detroit, The Last Of Us, Death Stranding then?The games that Sony is heavily known for or is that different some how?

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 898d ago
CaptainHenry916898d ago

Going to be waiting for a long time ⌛️ on this one https://www.techradar.com/n...

Godmars290898d ago (Edited 898d ago )

All I'm hearing is that as a budget title the first Hellbalde was little more than an interactive graphic novel. That this sequel, while having access to more resources and UE5, isn't going to be much more.

And that regardless of that, the Xbox camp will defend it as only being ground breaking. Something that's been imposed upon if not promised by NT but never delivered.

Saranya898d ago

If it were Sony games, "Oh it's must be realtime."

Godmars290897d ago

If it were Sony, they'd not only have a reputation behind such claims, but like with the KZ2 demo from back in the day that later proved to be more mock up than actual gameplay, clear suggested indication of what was and wasn't gameplay. A graphical breakdown after the fact that further aimed for representative gameplay. Not just a dev saying it was real.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 896d ago
darthv72899d ago

I could tell when it would shift from non-player controlled sequence to player controlled. Many expressed how it didnt seem like game play due to the lack of a targeting reticle or any sort of on screen hud / command queues. I figured for this slice, they just turned that off so you could focus more on all the details of the demo.

Obelisk92898d ago

To me it just looks like an in-engine trailer. Yeah it's real time, but I highly doubt it's actual gameplay, the camera is way too scripted.

Still looks very good of course.

Powerhug898d ago

If you look closely you can see the transition between scripted events and the player taking control over the character. They sort of look like micro stutters.

Neonridr898d ago

it was reported by one of the people at the studio that it was being played by a dev.

Jericho1337898d ago

We’ll the first game didn’t have a hud either.

jukins898d ago

Only time that looked player controlled was the the running away from the troll. You could see a little hitch before the running started.

dumahim898d ago

I think when she aimed to throw the spear was controlled as well since it seemed like the screen was locked to her aim. It was pretty short through since they didn't spend much time aiming.

oldenjon898d ago (Edited 898d ago )

Wrong, this game is super basic. There is no hud because there is no complexity to the combat system. These games are just a vehicle for story, and the combat is only there for immersion. It's niche AF, first game was priced at $30 sold 1 million.... I don't know why people are getting so hyped or why Microsoft is trying to hype it so much. Also, the trailer is an in-engine story sequence with a few parts where you control movement. I doubt you control spear throwing but as you can see they're totally ineffective against the giant, and just part of the story anyways.

1nsomniac898d ago

While you’re right about the second half of your comment the first half proves you’ve never actually played the first game.

oldenjon898d ago

@1nsomniac care to tell me how the first half is wrong or how you would know I didn't play the first game?

wiz7191898d ago

Crazy thing the first game didn’t really have a HUD , unless it’s turned off by default

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 898d ago
ApocalypseShadow899d ago

It's not impossible to see. Both consoles can display graphics at a level beyond cross gen games. We just need the shift to current consoles by developers a lot sooner. When that happens, graphics like this or better will just be common place just like every gen from first party engines. Even the third party Unreal Engine demos(plural) past and present, proved that.

CS7898d ago

100%. People are highly underestimating how much cross gen games are really holding us back.

The SSD is a complete game changer in video game design and yet we have to wait 2 years for it to be used consistently.

GOW2 and Horizon FW while I’m sure will be great I can help but imagine what it would have been like without cross-gen.

To all who are struggling to get a PS5 at MSRP. Go on Twitter and follow the PS5 supply drop accounts.
Turn on notifications. Immediately as they are posted go to the retailers site and order. You would get one within a week.

Flewid638898d ago (Edited 898d ago )

Cross gen games holding what back? The Order came out a gazillion years ago and still looks like CGI. Death Stranding has photorealistic characters across all platforms, and it still runs at heightened framerates on stronger hardware.

Literally every modern Quantic Dream game since Beyond 2 Souls on PS3 look like this as well. Law of diminishing returns on visuals started last gen.

Teflon02898d ago

Horizon looks fantastic. GoW looks like the last game with more detail. But Horizon is a pretty big leap. They're just not using the same lense tricks as it's not needed in it. Personally I'd rather the artstyle they're using over photo realism. Hellblades style words for it since it's a mind game

AKS898d ago

I spent months following supply drops with trackers and was up in the middle of the night for hours before I actually got a PS5, and that was in an expensive bundle. I started trying to grab one essentially the second the supply became available. Often websites just locked up and continuously loaded in the checkout/ shopping cart for 15 minutes, which is long after they were gone. I have a 1 Gbps connection. It wasn't something I was doing wrong. You were just very lucky if you got one within a week.

jukins898d ago

Cross gen games dont hold back. . . Plenty of examples. . .Spiderman miles, forza horizon 5, horizon forbidden west all look amazing. .

Muigi898d ago

Exactly and I wish people would stop defending them, just because they can’t get their hands on a next gen console.
Cross gen 100% holds back these consoles. Those old consoles are from 2013 with slow HDDs and cellphone cpu’s. Yes they’re are good looking games from the PS4 era, but its not just about visuals when we talk about the limitations the last gen brings.

CS7898d ago

To all who are saying oh the graphics look great on cross gen games.

YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT.

The SSD allows for exponentially different entire game structures.

For example lets say GG wanted to make a triple -layered city bustling with people in Horizon FW. The city would need to be structured in a way that gives the PS4 HDD enough time to load so they would need to build the city with repeating assets. There would be long elevator rides and winding roads to hide that the PS4 is loading. This seamless city cannot be built on PS4.

In Ragnarok, let’s say there was a 2,000 person army battle, with you flying over the fight and fighting a giant. Sorry! The PS4 can’t load all of that at the same time. So that idea would need to be scaled back to what the PS4 can handle and then just look pretty on PS5.

It is not just the graphics. It is so much more. Last gen is holding back nex gen.

iplay1up2898d ago

Thank you! I didn't know that!! Will give it a try! Luckily we have a temporary roommate. She is playing my Series X, and I am finally getting hands on with PS5. Both consoles are great!

I definitely will miss her PS5 when she is gone. Been looking all year for one. I will gladly take your advice!

Flewid638892d ago

People will sit there and say cross gen games hold visuals back, while literally nothing next gen looks as good as games like TLOU2. lmao

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 892d ago
walken7898d ago

Looked neat, but the constant screaming was overkill.

My_Name_is_Earl898d ago

Right? Whisper when fighting a giant monster who is eating your friend.

Michiel1989898d ago

whisper in a battle? its a battle not a sexual encounter....

CrimsonWing69898d ago

@Michiel1989

I’m pretty sure that was his point…

My_Name_is_Earl898d ago

My bad Michiel, I forgot some people have a hard time detecting sarcasm.

4Sh0w898d ago

lol, that was a funny exchange but on another note I really like what their doing cinematically with this game....not every game has to appeal directly to me, I dont want to ruin it for the fans of the last game but I cant help but hope this one has more gameplay action for me. The graphics and story telling is phenomenal tho'.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 898d ago
Magog898d ago (Edited 898d ago )

Yeah that's gonna get old fast. If you've played any Ninja Theory game you know overacting is their signature.

HardKnockKid24898d ago

So stop playing their games?

Binarycode898d ago

Kinda reminds me of The later Tombraiders grunts and such. Overkill. Did my head in.

My_Name_is_Earl898d ago

Your kin here on N4G. Don't play daft.

MadLad898d ago

The downplay mob of the usual sorts were really, really playing hard after the game awards.

mkis007898d ago

How many are people with avatars that you see daily on here though. There are many throwaway accounts that only show up to fanboy for one side or another.

generic-user-name898d ago

Nothing about this trailer made me think it wasn't gameplay, well 'gameplay'. The first trailer on the other hand, the one that supposedly showed off how strong the XSX is, yeah I'm not surprised that one wasn't real.

Show all comments (139)
180°

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie. This is something of a homecoming, as Microsoft owns Activision.

Read Full Story >>
engadget.com
Obscure_Observer8h ago

Very very early in development. Still, fantastic news!

Let´s GO!!!

Lightning776h ago

I guess.

How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )

At least it wouldn't be MS of all ppl destroying them.

MS really should let go Tango go like they did TFB here.

darthv726h ago(Edited 6h ago)

one was under Bethesda (Tango) the other under Activision (TFB). Clearly each one handled the separations of their subordinates differently.

Obscure_Observer5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

"How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )"

Perhaps because Zenimax and ABK handles such matters differently based on their own internal policies as "independent" publishers.

Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future. Which could also be the reason why they ensured an exclusive partnership with TFB and its new game, before anyone else.

Sad and disgusting. But it is what it is.

Lightning771h ago(Edited 1h ago)

"Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future."

MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB.

It's inexcusable, they have options on how to handle studios they don't want anymore with killing jobs. Not just MS but the rest of the industry also.

Sad and disgusting sure how many will get shut down next year or this year even?

I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another.

-Foxtrot8h ago

Manages to buy their freedom especially after all the shit Microsoft has been doing with its studios lately

...

Goes right back to them as partners.

Okaaaaaay...

darthv726h ago

Id venture a guess that TFB working directly with MS was a better outcome than working through Activision to get to MS.

VersusDMC4h ago

From the article...

"Toys for Bob spun out as an indie back in February after Microsoft instituted sweeping layoffs that impacted 86 employees, which was more than half of the staff"

I doubt those 86 employees enjoyed the Microsoft experience over Activisions.

Inverno3h ago

MS shuts down studios because of lack of resources and then helps these guys by giving em resources. Also MS is what forced them to buy their freedom in the first place? What kind of logic 😂

Chevalier46m ago

The best thing is that the company that is worth $3 trillion and owns the company instead of Xbox lacks resources. How the hell does a company worth $3 trillion making a measly $70 billion purchase they 'can't' support. Lol

Sciurus_vulgaris6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

Xbox’s gaming division seems to still function as 3 semi-autonomous sub-divisions, Xbox Studios, Bethesda and ABK. The three main sub-divisions can seemingly shut down or build studios and set up partnerships independently. This would explain why Bethesda can recently shutdown studios, while ABK spins off one studio, while building a new one. Plus, Toys for Bob could be spun off by ABK, only to immediately re-partner with Microsoft.

Chevalier43m ago

That's absolutely 💯 BS. Any sane 'autonomous' company would NOT put their games on Gamepass day 1 like COD will lose probably billions.

Also they're all under Xbox game studios so any autonomy is an illusion.

Elda49m ago

Either a kiddie game or something uninteresting.

Show all comments (15)
130°

What Happens to Your Steam Account When You Die?

The Outerhaven writes: While Steam has come out recently, stating that Steam accounts can't be transferred, we need to think about it since we all will eventually kick the bucket. But if Valve is denying transferring accounts, what can be done? Plenty, actually.

Read Full Story >>
theouterhaven.net
thorstein1d 9h ago

It goes to my kids because I gave them the passwords.

To Steam: Missio has a song that conveys my feelings about you stealing my purchase after I die. It's called "Middle Fingers"

shinoff218314h ago

Pretty much. My son knows my info.

Abear2114h ago

Yeah worrying about digital ownership when you’re on the other side of the grass seems a little strange, but also on brand for these millennial journalists to worry about.

Goodguy0118h ago

I suppose if I have kids, I'd just give em my account details by retirement age. If I die young then...idk lol.

CrimsonWing6915h ago

Yea, I mean just give someone the password to your account. Is that difficult to do or something? Like, I’m legit asking because I don’t know.

anast13h ago(Edited 13h ago)

It's not difficult but It's against the policy. If they find out, they will lock the account permanently.

CrimsonWing6912h ago

Ah ok, I had a feeling there was something like that. It seems kind of weird that you can’t just hand your account over to a family member or friend and let them take over the account.

Show all comments (13)
90°

CDPR Confident In Transition To Unreal Engine 5 For New Witcher Game, Addresses Industry Layoffs

CD Projekt Red is confident in the transition from its in-house Red Engine to Unreal Engine 5 for the next Witcher game.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
cthulhucultist20h ago

My main concern with UE5, is that some developers have resorted to very low resolutions in order to enable the advanced feature set of this engine and sustain the frame rate.

In open world games, especially those with excellent graphics, we cant realistically expect 60fps  from consoles (PS5 pro set aside as we do not know exactly how performant it will be) without huge compromises.

Thus the new Witcher game will probably require more powerful consoles to experience it the way the developers intended and in that sense, it reminds me of Cyberpunk situation.

It was released in current gen systems albeit in dire state (even PS4 Pro and Xbox One X suffered) requiring next generation consoles to achieve a desirable (and still not ideal) result.

DarXyde19h ago

My thoughts exactly. This is definitely a PC engine first and foremost, given the compromises required on consoles. Tekken 8 is a **fighting game** on UE5 and, even without Nanite and Lumen, needs to be upscaled to 4K to run at a solid 60fps. The engine straight up dog walks current console hardware. I don't see this getting much better on a PS5 Pro either.

I don't see this game releasing this generation. If it wasn't Sony owned, I think Decima 2.0 would be an excellent engine for this game.

Aussiesummer18h ago(Edited 18h ago)

I am quietly confident that they are going to make one hell of a jaw dropping witcher considering what they achieved with cyberpunk, i reckon they will bring a new level of what can be expected from ue5 BUT i reckon it will be a ps6/rtx 5090 game.