So immediately I'll admit this thread is pointless and born primarily out of boredom. I'm not advocating for any changes to the art style of classic, I just think it's fun to speculate and imagine.
One thing I do see mostly unanimously praised in BFA is the art and design of the zones and environments, and from the little time I spent in Legion, the zone designs left a good impression on me. They felt much more natural than old-world zones.
So I like to imagine what pre-cataclysm Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms would look like if the modern art team(s) were given reign to redesign the zones. Keep overall geography and important locations like towns/cities, quests, POIs the same, but revamp some of the more uncanny elements of the old-world design.
For example, make mountains look like actual mountains instead of weird lumpy hills, make zones transition into each other more naturally instead of each zone being surrounding by arbitrary sheer cliffs or the aforementioned lumpy hills.
Again, I'm not advocating that this should be done for Classic, that would be absurd and require far too much work. However there is that part of me that's curious what the art team would come up with if given the freedom to do so.
I'd be more interested in a hyper-realistic look to stuff. Especially Duskwood and Plaguelands being actually kinda scary.
As far as your idea goes, it'd be great for retail. Not sure about classic. I wouldn't throw a fit over updated graphics on a proper toggle...
As far as your idea goes, it'd be great for retail. Not sure about classic. I wouldn't throw a fit over updated graphics on a proper toggle...
I haven't spent any time in BfA zones, so I have no frame of reference (cinematics are the only thing I've bothered with, because I can get my story snippets without the game).
I did play enough Legion to see those zones, and wasn't super impressed. They felt so crammed in and difficult to get around that I wasn't spending much time awed by the art style. About the only place I remember feeling impressed by was the city of Suramar, and the fact it was never a city so much as a zone of buildings kind of deflated that. I'd like to see capital cities for every race with that kind of attention to detail in stores, houses, citizens.
Oddly enough, I think the two zones whose art majorly impressed me happened in Cata, at a point where I hated many of the changes to the original world: Deepholm and Vash'jir. Even Uldim, with all the sand, had some fantastic touches. That's when they had an art team going all out.
I did play enough Legion to see those zones, and wasn't super impressed. They felt so crammed in and difficult to get around that I wasn't spending much time awed by the art style. About the only place I remember feeling impressed by was the city of Suramar, and the fact it was never a city so much as a zone of buildings kind of deflated that. I'd like to see capital cities for every race with that kind of attention to detail in stores, houses, citizens.
Oddly enough, I think the two zones whose art majorly impressed me happened in Cata, at a point where I hated many of the changes to the original world: Deepholm and Vash'jir. Even Uldim, with all the sand, had some fantastic touches. That's when they had an art team going all out.
Agree on the visuals of Deepholm and Vash’jir. They were amazing. I also loved the look of the Wrath zones.
Fun to think about, but I also don’t see it happening.
Fun to think about, but I also don’t see it happening.
Legit got jumpscared by that big elite in vashjir that dead reef area...
Im looking forward to going to old Hyjal if i can remember the right wall jumps for it.
09/12/2018 09:16 AMPosted by HairylegsI'd be more interested in a hyper-realistic look to stuff. Especially Duskwood and Plaguelands being actually kinda scary.
Agreed, I'd love to see some creepy Duskwood shenanigans.
09/12/2018 09:26 AMPosted by EilethaluaThey felt so crammed in and difficult to get around that I wasn't spending much time awed by the art style.
Understandable, and I actually agree. One thing that does bug me about the newer zones is that there's almost too much stuff jammed super close together. I understand why they do it, even though I disagree with the philosophy. Basically any time there's any amount of "empty" space people complain that "omg it's soooooo empty / this game is just a walking simulator" etc.
Look at games like Breath of the Wild or Shadow of the Colossus; great games but you've always got the trolls who make the aforementioned "walking simulator" comments.
Modern WoW's quest design seems to me like an over-correction to that criticism, and instead packs every single nook and cranny with content regardless of whether or not it actually makes any sense.
But I digress: my original point didn't have so much to do with the layouts of the zones as far as questing goes because again, to me they feel over-saturated with stuff, but more about the geographical features.
Highmountain actually felt like a mountain area, as opposed to the Alterac "Mountains" sub-zone which is just snowy hills. I liked how Azsuna, Val'Shara, and Suramar all blend together without a random wall of mountains separating them. This was still the case in some zones in vanilla, such as Elwyn-Duskwood-Westfall, but this was the exception rather than the rule. Most zones had arbitrary mountains/cliffs separating or surrounding them. You ever notice how many zones in vanilla should have coastlines, but don't because instead there are random sheer cliffs boxing in the entire region? It's kinda funny.
One thing All versions of wow Delivers, is art. I may not like the game, and talk smack of story writing mechanic's etc. But damn if that art team is above in beyond, every Xpack, there's always something great they do or put in, they really do there best and try to make things shine. Really should pat themselves on the back.
From huge zones, to small things on your armor you never notice, hell even some mobs. They really do a great job of creating the world, and bringing it to life, even on the unused and scraped zones you know they put in effort.
From huge zones, to small things on your armor you never notice, hell even some mobs. They really do a great job of creating the world, and bringing it to life, even on the unused and scraped zones you know they put in effort.
The little I've seen of BFA from video's and some stream snippets, is that it is very busy and cramped. Almost a fear of open space. There might be some, I just haven't seen them. It almost feel like those people who just keeps on buying stuff for their homes because a crowded area makes another look bare, so they have to fill it up with junk. The art itself, hmm, it is ok, perhaps a bit too polished for my taste.
As for vanilla. I wouldn't mind a bit sharper textures and some polish here and there. But current will do fine though.
As for vanilla. I wouldn't mind a bit sharper textures and some polish here and there. But current will do fine though.
09/12/2018 08:06 AMPosted by AzóthSo immediately I'll admit this thread is pointless and born primarily out of boredom. I'm not advocating for any changes to the art style of classic, I just think it's fun to speculate and imagine.
One thing I do see mostly unanimously praised in BFA is the art and design of the zones and environments, and from the little time I spent in Legion, the zone designs left a good impression on me. They felt much more natural than old-world zones.
So I like to imagine what pre-cataclysm Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms would look like if the modern art team(s) were given reign to redesign the zones. Keep overall geography and important locations like towns/cities, quests, POIs the same, but revamp some of the more uncanny elements of the old-world design.
For example, make mountains look like actual mountains instead of weird lumpy hills, make zones transition into each other more naturally instead of each zone being surrounding by arbitrary sheer cliffs or the aforementioned lumpy hills.
Again, I'm not advocating that this should be done for Classic, that would be absurd and require far too much work. However there is that part of me that's curious what the art team would come up with if given the freedom to do so.
I am not as concerned about smoothness, but rather keeping things from looking needlessly over-the-top cartoonish. IMHO WoTLK design of the world and armor were the high point.
TBC was downright clownish.
Avatars of current players just look like random shapes vomited onto the screen with zero rational thought put in beyond "different".
There is so much that could be done. Tessellation, hdr, volumetric water, procedural clutter...
Like the Daggerfall remake.
Like the Daggerfall remake.
If you encounter a old girlfriend and have the chance to go out with her, dont you wish her to be prettier?!
Same applies to WoW. I want the good old wow back, but if it comes prettier than before, its even better.
PLEASE USE THE CURRENT ARTWORK BLIZZARD!!!
Same applies to WoW. I want the good old wow back, but if it comes prettier than before, its even better.
PLEASE USE THE CURRENT ARTWORK BLIZZARD!!!
I actually preferred the WoD art style, really felt like part of the world. I think legion, while beautiful, did feel cramped.