Post by UnKnown Source on Aug 5, 2005 6:55:50 GMT -5
Presumptuous as it may be, it's safe to say that SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 is definitely heading towards the same kind of lofty acclaim given to 2003's big man on campus, Here Comes the Pain. Even now in its earliest form (a pre-alpha build that's as barebones as you can get), the game is already a noticeable improvement over last year's strong but subdued follow-up. In fact, based on what I've seen so far, THQ has listened to its fans this season more than ever -- providing so many new features, modes, and subtle gameplay additions that it eclipses all other SmackDown sequels.
Take, for example, the large graphical improvement. To make things as realistic as possible, the artists have gone back to the beginning and reanimated 40-50% of all animations in the entire game. Not only does this mean that a good chunk of the in-ring moves have been completely overhauled, but every single cutscene and ring entrance has been redone from scratch as well. Even better is the fact that those same entrances and cutscenes have been motion-captured for the utmost in authenticity -- whereas only a few of those moments had previously been mo-capped and reused for the entire franchise.
This attention to detail really shines through in wrestler entrances too, as every ringwalk that I've witnessed so far matches up with its real life counterpart almost exactly. Triple H, for instance, has retained the same Cocky nuances in his digital strut that he has in real life -- from the way he throws his bottle into the crowd to the way he poses after spraying water out his mouth.
Entrances are also helped by the fact that Yuke's has finally turned off the time limit that cut the previous ringwalks short (which was usually kept to a minute or less). Now, if a stroll to the arena is supposed to take two or three minutes to complete in real life, that's also how long it'll take to complete in the game. A couple times I even noticed alternate camera angles during the same wrestler's ringwalk, but whether or not that's an actual feature or just a result of the earliness of the build is hard to say.
Another impressive graphical upgrade comes in the form of wrestler skin tones, hair, and textures. Just look at the hulking Batista who looks exactly like the real thing. From the incomplete dragon tattoo on his back to the veins flowing through his heavily-exercised chest, the level of realism here is rather impressive.
To achieve this, THQ meticulously scanned the faces of each of the WWE superstars and divas so that they are as accurate to their real world counterparts as possible. And when you add the entirely 3D polygonal crowd (last year's was a mix of 2D and 3D), enhanced lighting and pyro effects, and the fact that every character's eyes follow the movements of their opponent, you have all the elements necessary for some kick-ass visual entertainment.
Unfortunately, because of the early nature of the build I played for this preview, all wrestler entrances are incomplete. TitanTron videos, the correct background music, voice-overs, and the majority of the sound effects aren't even in the game yet (which leads me to wonder just how cool the final ringwalks may ultimately turn out to be). At least wrestlers, ring announcers and commentators appear in and outside the ring during the introductions, though, which at the very least adds a nice and long overdue presentational touch.
by: [glow=red,2,300]Jeremy Dunham
August 4, 2005[/glow]
Take, for example, the large graphical improvement. To make things as realistic as possible, the artists have gone back to the beginning and reanimated 40-50% of all animations in the entire game. Not only does this mean that a good chunk of the in-ring moves have been completely overhauled, but every single cutscene and ring entrance has been redone from scratch as well. Even better is the fact that those same entrances and cutscenes have been motion-captured for the utmost in authenticity -- whereas only a few of those moments had previously been mo-capped and reused for the entire franchise.
This attention to detail really shines through in wrestler entrances too, as every ringwalk that I've witnessed so far matches up with its real life counterpart almost exactly. Triple H, for instance, has retained the same Cocky nuances in his digital strut that he has in real life -- from the way he throws his bottle into the crowd to the way he poses after spraying water out his mouth.
Entrances are also helped by the fact that Yuke's has finally turned off the time limit that cut the previous ringwalks short (which was usually kept to a minute or less). Now, if a stroll to the arena is supposed to take two or three minutes to complete in real life, that's also how long it'll take to complete in the game. A couple times I even noticed alternate camera angles during the same wrestler's ringwalk, but whether or not that's an actual feature or just a result of the earliness of the build is hard to say.
Another impressive graphical upgrade comes in the form of wrestler skin tones, hair, and textures. Just look at the hulking Batista who looks exactly like the real thing. From the incomplete dragon tattoo on his back to the veins flowing through his heavily-exercised chest, the level of realism here is rather impressive.
To achieve this, THQ meticulously scanned the faces of each of the WWE superstars and divas so that they are as accurate to their real world counterparts as possible. And when you add the entirely 3D polygonal crowd (last year's was a mix of 2D and 3D), enhanced lighting and pyro effects, and the fact that every character's eyes follow the movements of their opponent, you have all the elements necessary for some kick-ass visual entertainment.
Unfortunately, because of the early nature of the build I played for this preview, all wrestler entrances are incomplete. TitanTron videos, the correct background music, voice-overs, and the majority of the sound effects aren't even in the game yet (which leads me to wonder just how cool the final ringwalks may ultimately turn out to be). At least wrestlers, ring announcers and commentators appear in and outside the ring during the introductions, though, which at the very least adds a nice and long overdue presentational touch.
by: [glow=red,2,300]Jeremy Dunham
August 4, 2005[/glow]