Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

(Chapter 7 and beyond)

Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby asdfguy » Sun May 20, 2018 10:38 am

I don't get why they went with the cartoon-like approach with Shenmue 3's graphics. I much prefer the old Shenmue 1 and 2's realistic graphics. I'm not sure if it's to cut cost, but Shenmue 3 doesn't look anything like previous games.

Any thoughts?
User avatar
asdfguy
Asia Travel Representative
Asia Travel Representative
 
Joined: March 2015

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby Spaghetti » Sun May 20, 2018 10:50 am

You might find it doesn't look like previous games because it's 20 years later.

Should also probably point out stylisation doesn't equal cartoon either. When only AAA games (or games with a very, very limited cast) can really push for modern standards of realism, it'd be stupid to chase that on a AA budget at the expense of the rest of the game.

Spaghetti has received 3 thanks from: Anonymous81, Reprise, VukBZ2005
User avatar
Spaghetti
Machine Gun Fist
Machine Gun Fist
 
Joined: November 2015

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby Enigma » Sun May 20, 2018 11:20 am

I recall Suzuki saying in an interview that realistic graphics have pretty much already been achieved by AAA games, and that he wanted to do something different with Shenmue 3's graphics such as representing humidity and smell 'visually'.

I like the style. As Huber pointed out, it has that Dreamcast 'feel' about it.
User avatar
Enigma
Funny Bear Burger Clerk
Funny Bear Burger Clerk
 
Joined: May 2017
Favorite title: Shenmue
Currently playing: SWOTOR

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby WildManofBorneo » Sun May 20, 2018 12:07 pm

asdfguy wrote: I don't get why they went with the cartoon-like approach with Shenmue 3's graphics. I much prefer the old Shenmue 1 and 2's realistic graphics. I'm not sure if it's to cut cost, but Shenmue 3 doesn't look anything like previous games.

Any thoughts?



The look of Shenmue 3 has nothing to do with its current budget, rather it is a deliberate aesthetic choice. The Unreal 4 engine in its very nature is designed for achieving realism, its lighting, its shaders, etc

This is an out of box UE4 rendering by a single individual:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaA2ZYhs-7I

Further to the budget issue, Hellblade was completed for 'way below $10 milion' using the Unreal 4 Engine.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2015/09/16/nin ... ndie-game/


Example:

Image

Image

Image


Yu Suzuki has stated in many previous interviews that the aim (for Shenmue 3) is "reality", not "realistic". YSNet has created a completely customized set of shaders to achieve this objective.

WildManofBorneo has received a thanks from: Anonymous81
User avatar
WildManofBorneo
Master of the Three Blades
Master of the Three Blades
 
Joined: August 2017

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby WildManofBorneo » Sun May 20, 2018 12:28 pm

Yu Suzuki emphasizes the "humidity" word to define Shenmue. He actually thinks that modern technologies make possible the feel of this humidity to recreate some reality. According to him, being only realistic is not interesting because realism is not an end in itself. The Suzuki's intention is to offer something more attractive, more aesthetic than the reality, to embellish it.

Source: https://shenmuemaster.fr/page.php?cat=s ... -the-recap

WildManofBorneo has received a thanks from: Elevensixty
User avatar
WildManofBorneo
Master of the Three Blades
Master of the Three Blades
 
Joined: August 2017

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby Spaghetti » Sun May 20, 2018 12:45 pm

Just to point out- Hellblade has a cast you can maybe count on one hand (haven't played it but I know it's very limited with characters), and one of Ninja Theory's key design goals was AAA visuals on an indie budget.

Shenmue III has to realise a semi-open world with hundreds of NPCs. Although the aesthetic was an art choice, there's an element of practicality to it that probably informed the decision.

Spaghetti has received 4 thanks from: Elevensixty, OL, Reprise, VukBZ2005
User avatar
Spaghetti
Machine Gun Fist
Machine Gun Fist
 
Joined: November 2015

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby badamn » Sun May 20, 2018 12:47 pm

^I agree and that was sega.Why make a nascar game when you can make a hyper-pseudo realistic one like Daytona USA

badamn has received 2 thanks from: Spaghetti, VukBZ2005
badamn
Funny Bear Burger Clerk
Funny Bear Burger Clerk
 
Joined: August 2007
Location: bishop ca

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby dietsoap » Sun May 20, 2018 4:21 pm

I was kind of hoping for something more along the lines of the modern Yakuza aesthetic, but w/e I guess. I trust that Suzuki knows what he's doing.

dietsoap has received 2 thanks from: darksniper, Elevensixty
User avatar
dietsoap
Funny Bear Burger Clerk
Funny Bear Burger Clerk
 
Joined: December 2013
Favorite title: Shenmue

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby Tortu_genial » Sun May 20, 2018 4:55 pm

No problem for me.
And from what we have seen the game doesn't look to bad for me.

About Hellblade, in fact there is only on realistic character (the main character) and the face was scaned, so it can't be compare whith Shenmue 3.
Hellblade is a great game BTW :)

Tortu_genial has received a thanks from: Spaghetti
Tortu_genial
Asia Travel Representative
Asia Travel Representative
 
Joined: November 2015
Favorite title: Shenmue II

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby Nick-Fiji » Sun May 20, 2018 6:20 pm

A little bit
Nick-Fiji
Fuku-san
Fuku-san
 
Joined: May 2018
PSN: Nick-Fiji
Favorite title: Shenmue
Currently playing: The Evil Within 2

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby Centrale » Sun May 20, 2018 6:50 pm

This is a topic that's been discussed before. The fact is, Shenmue has always had stylized (or, if you will, "cartoony") art direction. Anyone who thinks Shenmue was photorealistic is mistaken. To me Shenmue III looks like a perfect continuation of the established style, updated with contemporary tech.

User avatar
Centrale
Man Mo Acolyte
Man Mo Acolyte
 
Joined: June 2015
Favorite title: Shenmue

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby Anonymous81 » Sun May 20, 2018 7:55 pm

I always respond to this question with this:

Image (c/o Centrale et al)

So, personally, my answer is no. Shenmue has always been highly stylized imo, and I believe it's just the difference in fidelity and graphical tech between a 20 yo game and an UE4 game that is causing the perceived dissonance between the old games and 3. Just my personal opinion, though.

User avatar
Anonymous81
Man Mo Acolyte
Man Mo Acolyte
 
Joined: June 2015
Favorite title: Shenmue
Currently playing: Witcher 3

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby WildManofBorneo » Sun May 20, 2018 9:01 pm

Anonymous81 wrote: I always respond to this question with this:

So, personally, my answer is no. Shenmue has always been highly stylized imo, and I believe it's just the difference in fidelity and graphical tech between a 20 yo game and an UE4 game that is causing the perceived dissonance between the old games and 3. Just my personal opinion, though.


Agreed. Shenmue has always been a bit exaggerated, the colors always a bit saturated.

The unknown grandma in SIII looks to be a perfect continuation of this art style.

Image

WildManofBorneo has received 2 thanks from: Anonymous81, Elevensixty
User avatar
WildManofBorneo
Master of the Three Blades
Master of the Three Blades
 
Joined: August 2017

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby Anonymous81 » Mon May 21, 2018 5:27 am

And this guy! :D

Image

User avatar
Anonymous81
Man Mo Acolyte
Man Mo Acolyte
 
Joined: June 2015
Favorite title: Shenmue
Currently playing: Witcher 3

Re: Anyone disappointed with Shenmue 3 cartoon-like graphics

Postby dietsoap » Mon May 21, 2018 11:56 am

Centrale wrote: This is a topic that's been discussed before. The fact is, Shenmue has always had stylized (or, if you will, "cartoony") art direction. Anyone who thinks Shenmue was photorealistic is mistaken. To me Shenmue III looks like a perfect continuation of the established style, updated with contemporary tech.

I agree, and I've always said this when people accused Shenmue of just being boring realism. That said, I'd tell you it's a matter of degree. I think the previous two Shenmues were a little closer to realistic, while 3 is a little more styled.

To add to this though, I do think 2 was also just a little more stylized than the first game. Perhaps you could argue 3 is just continuing this trend, and maybe Suzuki had always intended this sort of progression.
User avatar
dietsoap
Funny Bear Burger Clerk
Funny Bear Burger Clerk
 
Joined: December 2013
Favorite title: Shenmue

Next

Return to Shenmue III

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 1 guest

Powered by phpBB © 2000-
ShenmueDojo.net