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.

PrinceOfAnger901d ago

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

isarai901d 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.

Lightning77901d 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?

MadLad900d ago

@lightning

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

bouzebbal900d ago

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

mkis007900d 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.

Babadook7900d ago (Edited 900d 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.

gravedigger899d 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 899d ago
SeTTriP900d 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.

Godmars290900d ago

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

Old McGroin900d 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.

frostypants900d ago

People apparently missed the Matrix tech demo, too.

Godmars290899d ago

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

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 899d ago
itsmebryan900d 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.

dumahim900d 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.

itsmebryan898d 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.

Flewid638900d ago

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

FlavorLav01900d 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.

itsmebryan900d ago

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

FlavorLav01900d 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.

SPEAKxTHExTRUTH900d ago

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

Atom666900d 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 McGroin900d ago (Edited 900d 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.

Lightning77900d ago (Edited 900d 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 900d ago
CaptainHenry916900d ago

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

Godmars290900d ago (Edited 900d 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.

Saranya900d ago

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

Godmars290899d 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 898d ago
darthv72901d 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.

Obelisk92900d 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.

Powerhug900d 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.

Neonridr900d ago

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

Jericho1337900d ago

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

jukins900d 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.

dumahim900d 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.

oldenjon900d ago (Edited 900d 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.

1nsomniac900d ago

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

oldenjon900d ago

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

wiz7191900d ago

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

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 900d ago
ApocalypseShadow901d 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.

CS7900d 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.

Flewid638900d ago (Edited 900d 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.

Teflon02900d 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

AKS900d 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.

jukins900d ago

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

Muigi900d 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.

CS7900d 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.

iplay1up2900d 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!

Flewid638894d 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 894d ago
walken7900d ago

Looked neat, but the constant screaming was overkill.

My_Name_is_Earl900d ago

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

Michiel1989900d ago

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

CrimsonWing69900d ago

@Michiel1989

I’m pretty sure that was his point…

My_Name_is_Earl900d ago

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

4Sh0w900d 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 900d ago
Magog900d ago (Edited 900d ago )

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

HardKnockKid24899d ago

So stop playing their games?

Binarycode900d ago

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

My_Name_is_Earl900d ago

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

MadLad900d ago

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

mkis007900d 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-name900d 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)
100°

Every PlayStation Studios game available now on Windows PC

Windows Central writes: "Many PlayStation Studios games that are ported to PC get dedicated PS5 DualSense support, which allows users to experience haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support without actually having to own a PS5.

According to Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, it's still the company's intent to launch the bigger single-player games on PS5 first, before later bringing the games to PC. This might not be the case for multiplayer games however, which are considered okay to launch simultaneously on console and PC."

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
ocelot071d 18h ago

My guess is after god of war. Probably last of us 2 that's a almost 4 year old game now and by the time it's released on pc it will be more than 4 years old or close to 5.

Elda1d 12h ago

Every old Playstation game that is now on PC.

shinoff21831d 2h ago

Right. I definitely see what a headlined from a website named windows central was trying to do though. It's cute little wordplay to help out the green box

Flewid6381d 1h ago

Are PlayStation games no longer good or worth playing once they are old?

Elda1d ago

I'm guessing my comment went over your head.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 11h ago

Good at least they can sell hardware

220°

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_Observer2d ago

Very very early in development. Still, fantastic news!

Let´s GO!!!

Lightning772d 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.

darthv722d ago (Edited 2d ago )

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

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d 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.

Lightning771d 22h ago (Edited 1d 22h 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.

Obscure_Observer1d 15h ago (Edited 1d 15h ago )

"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."

Imo, MS separated from TFB because they didn´t had a game associated with Xbox yet, unlike Tango.

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

Fair enough. It was indeed an epic dumb move from them to close Tango.

Still, all to be forgotten, like always have. This is not the first time a big publisher shuts down a beloved and/or successful studio out of nowhere and certainly won´t be the last. Do you remember Lionhead? Do you remember Evolution Studios? Yeah... both were beloved studios and yet, those companies kill those studios in q blink of an eye and got away with it.

anast1d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h ago )

The studio boss made some money from this transaction. Once the game releases, the studio will get chopped up.

-Foxtrot2d 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...

darthv722d ago

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

VersusDMC2d 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.

Inverno2d 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 😂

Chevalier1d 21h 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

BlindMango1d 3h ago

The reason they would need to "partner with Microsoft" is simply to make a game that's part of a franchise that Microsoft owns. Meaning they're probably going to make a new Spyro game - they're still an independent studio, but are making a game in a franchise that Microsoft owns. It's kind of like Remedy partnering with Rockstar to be able to make the Max Payne remakes.

shinoff21831d 2h ago

It was probably the deal to get released from Ms

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1d 2h ago
Sciurus_vulgaris2d ago (Edited 2d 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.

Chevalier1d 21h 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.

PhillyDonJawn1d 8h ago

No, I'm sure MS can and does step in when they want something done specifically but I'm also sure they let them also work independently

shinoff21831d 2h ago

I highly highly doubt this. Ms controls all. The guys aren't gonna be allowed to just shut something down like that without approval. No way

Elda1d 21h ago

Either a kiddie game or something uninteresting.

Obscure_Observer1d 14h ago

Don´t worry. You won´t be playing it anyway since their next game will possible be a next gen Xbox console game.

Elda1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

Don't worry about my comments.

PhillyDonJawn1d 8h ago

Right probably something like astrobot

romulus231d 8h ago

Nah he said "uninteresting", lots of people are interested in Astro Bot.

Elda1d 6h ago

Never Astro Bot. Astro Bot looks better than any exclusive released on XB this entire generation & believe there hasn't been much.

Asplundh1d 5h ago

Crash 4 was good, so I'm hopeful.

PhillyDonJawn1d 4h ago

Hey you said that about SOT and looks like many ppl on PS is playing it. You also found bugsnax interesting ffs your opinion hold no weight lol.

Elda1d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

Bugsnax is BS, tried it & quickly deleted it. It's a game that fits right on Gamepass. PS5 owners that are probably playing the boring SOT you could count on one hand. LMAO!!...don't try to come for me.

PhillyDonJawn1d 1h ago

So you admit bugsnax interested you enough to try? 😂 someone gotta call you out on the foolishness.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 1h ago
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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
thorstein3d 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"

shinoff21832d ago

Pretty much. My son knows my info.

Abear212d 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.

qalpha1d 19h ago

I'm sure Keith will be happy to hear he's a millennial journalist.

Goodguy012d 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.

CrimsonWing692d 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.

anast2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

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

CrimsonWing692d 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.

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