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[AzureSkies]

for Canadians: If your EBGames is doing a Titanfall midnight launch, they'll also be selling copies of Dark Souls II during that time.

Called up my local store and they said I can pick up my CE at midnight!

 

[Screaming Meat]

Cute. Why don't you try answering my question? Who has said that? I want you to quote them.



1) I have seen that exact place look great with the demo lighting on PS3 6 months ago. Ran fine.

2) The beta had great lighting as well and ran fine

3) There are games out there that are more graphically intensive, have better lighting engines and run decent on ps360.

If the downgrade was done for a stable FR I can understand. However from what people have been saying FR is even worse.

I heard the frame rate was better, it's the screen tearing that's become the problem.

So what do you think it is if not hardware related?

 

[Toxi]

This thread is going scary places.

For people who are watching the stream, has the streamer found any of the six community contest shields yet? I love the hand print one.

 

[jpax]

From someone who has been playing the game:

I knew it! This sounds horrible.

 

[Seance]

Holy shit dude i just saw the comparison of Mirror Knight old build to new. Thank Jesus H Christ, Mary and Joseph I only have to stomach the console version for 40 days.

 

[Jimmyfenix]

A couple of people on the giantbomb forums including a mod have the game and mentioned the frame rate is solid and improved from dark souls. only a couple of days left!

 

[Screaming Meat]

Holy shit dude i just saw the comparison of Mirror Knight old build to new. Thank Jesus H Christ, Mary and Joseph I only have to stomach the console version for 40 days.

You got a link? I'd like to see.

 

[paperspace]

Welp, at least I can wait for the PC version with a clear conscience now.

 

[K.Sabot]

This thread is going scary places.

For people who are watching the stream, has the streamer found any of the six community contest shields yet? I love the hand print one.

I thought only 2 made it in? More loot if I'm wrong, so here's hoping.

 

[Necromanti]

1) I have seen that exact place look great with the demo lighting on PS3 6 months ago. Ran fine.

On that note, I wonder if the streams have been showing off both versions of the game so far. If it is only affecting the 360 version, then something might be amiss from how they ported the game, but if both versions are at parity (as they should be in most aspects), then it would indicate a broader problem. The only concrete difference I've heard has been tearing present in the 360 version, but not in the PS3 version.

 

[Garcia]

A couple of people on the giantbomb forums including a mod have the game and mentioned the frame rate is solid and improved from dark souls. only a couple of days left!

Jesus christ, these last 2 pages have been a complete rollercoaster of what-the-fuck-is-going-on. I'm literally laughing right now; I suppose that means it is time to go get some sleep.

 

[Seance]

You got a link? I'd like to see.

Final

vs

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

I heard the frame rate was better, it's the screen tearing that's become the problem.

So what do you think it is if not hardware related?

I dunno. Rushing? Poor optimisation? Honestly don't know could be many things.

 

[Toxi]

I thought only 2 made it in? More loot if I'm wrong, so here's hoping.

There were three contests in different regions (Tower shield, kite shield, circular shield) and two winners chosen by From per contest. From winners were the ones that made it into the game, so there's unfortunately no Tally Shield.

 

[paperspace]

Woah, that's pretty bad.

Thanks consoles.

 

[The_Hitcher89]

Jesus christ, these last 2 pages have been a complete rollercoaster of what-the-fuck-is-going-on. I'm literally laughing right now; I suppose that means it is time to go get some sleep.

Its like Chinese Whispers in here

1-Person playing the game
2-Difference between stream quality and actual quality
3-Opinion of person watching the stream
4-Person at the end of the line, getting impressions from the people watching the stream

That's 3 layers of water-muddying that occur between the guy playing the game, and the iimpressions I'm actually getting

 

[Screaming Meat]

Final

vs

Thanks, chief. Is that gif a cut scene? Are there any pictures of the actual fight itself floating about to compare the stream too?

 

[Toxi]

Thanks, chief. Is that gif a cut scene? Are there any pictures of the actual fight itself floating about to compare the stream too?

Fight's available as a video. Completely changed.

 

[Necromanti]

Thanks, chief. Is that gif a cut scene? Are there any pictures of the actual fight itself floating about to compare the stream too?

Wasn't there a battle with a dragon in one of the trailers/commercials that looked comparably (or really) good, as well? That didn't seem to be a cutscene. I don't know how good From Software are at producing bullshots (given their track record with screenshots), or maybe the footage was produced by a third-party.

 

[takriel]

Man I think a lot of people are thinking the worst right now. Earlier people were excited because word of mouth from people playing early and reviewers sounded good and now the lighting doesn't look as good so the game in bland and uninspired. The first two games are some of my favorite ever, and I trust From to make an amazing game. Maybe the lighting won't look as good but to be fair I never thought the Souls games were all that good looking anyways and I never cared. Keep in mind, most of the negative impressions are from the JoeFenix guy and he hasn't even played the game, just watched streams (I don't mean that to offend him).

This game is going to come out and people are going to love it like they have the other games, I have no doubt about that. Let's not get caught up in the negativity.

Been watching streams for about 4 days and can't say much about the environments (I think they look fine), but what I do have to say is the game is larger than I had ever imagined. You are getting your money's worth in terms of content for sure. This game is easily more than double the size of Dark Souls 1 with DLC.

I'm still excited, honestly, and these negative comments come off as really wonky to me. Not that the game won't have faults, but I expect it to be at least in a similar manner to Dark Souls. I've seen enough of the stream as well to know what it's going to look like, and I was not disappointed in the environments, animations, graphics, or enemy placement. It seemed like another Souls game.

That being said, I'm looking forward to DS II but I wasn't super extremely hyped for the past few weeks, but after hearing about it and watching it my hype has only increased.

Oh yeah. Some people start playing games with the mindset that the game is going to be bad. Unless the game is absolutely the opposite of what they expect, everything that's not too great about the game will reinforce their preconceptions. The exact same thing happens the other way around as well, some people will start playing a game wanting it to be excellent and turn a blind eye to its faults (as long as it's not completely terrible).

It's always hard to know whether the opinions you read before launch are due to one of those two modes of behaviour, or whether they come from people that don't really have any preconceptions. Once more people start playing the game you get a better picture.

I pretty much agree with all of you there. The Souls games have never been known to be a graphical powerhouse. I love both DeS and DaS, so I will give DaS II the chance it deserves. I'm going in with an open mind and will form an opinion while playing the game myself. If this continues I won't even read any more of this and bail out of this thread for sure.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

Thanks, chief. Is that gif a cut scene? Are there any pictures of the actual fight itself floating about to compare the stream too?

No thats not a cutscene. The entire fight looks like that. I have played that fight, looking like that till the end on PS3 6 months ago.

 

[Ostinatto]

Thanks, chief. Is that gif a cut scene? Are there any pictures of the actual fight itself floating about to compare the stream too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3MdOBH-jDc&t=5m9s

 

[Baldwin_the_First]

A couple of people on the giantbomb forums including a mod have the game and mentioned the frame rate is solid and improved from dark souls. only a couple of days left!

That is what's been bothering me. How can some people have the worst possible fps with bad screen tearing when a lot of others, seems to say that it's a step forward from what it was in Dark Souls, which let's be honest, was still playable.

Seems to me some people have a agenda, most of them being pirates, that needs to justify them not paying a cent for it, and not intending to do so even after the official release. Or for all we know, it's some PC enthusiastic players that likes to shit on consoles. Wouldn't be the first time we get some major over exaggeration.

On another subject, is there a patch confirmed for the release? I've been hearing some members thinking that the lighting will be fixed come tuesday with maybe a day1 patch. But then again, I've also read a new article (QA with Takeshi's From) on the wiki of Dark Souls that the developpers don't intend to release futur patches.

Will there be future patches after release for balancing issues and updates? (asked by DarkSeven)
“No, I don’t think so. In Dark Souls II we spent a lot of time… We tried to develop without considering patches.” (Cas note: I learned from QA Tester that the game will instead be “calibrated” server-side.)

source:http://fextralife.com/back-breaking-dark-souls-ii-news/

 

[XANDER CAGE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3MdOBH-jDc&t=5m9s

FROM...

 

[Necromanti]

No thats not a cutscene. The entire fight looks like that. I have played that fight, looking like that till the end on PS3 6 months ago.

The 360 version didn't have a similar beta, correct? I can't recall if we've seen any concrete footage from that version. I feel like I've only seen videos from the PS3 and PC versions.

 

[ZeroX03]

Even though my love for Dark Souls is unprecedented, I'll hold out until the PC version gets released. Gives me time to focus on other games.

I also cannot find my capture card so no direct feed footage from me.

 

[Toxi]

Seems to me some people have a agenda, most of them being pirates, that needs to justify them not paying a cent for it, and not intending to do so even after the official release. Or for all we know, it's some PC enthusiastic players that likes to shit on consoles. Wouldn't be the first time we get some major over exaggeration.

Jesus Christ, we're all Souls fans here. Don't accuse other people of piracy or bullshit when you haven't played the game.

 

[Shinjica]

Fight's available as a video. Completely changed.

He still call another player or only random NPC?

http://fextralife.com/back-breaking-dark-souls-ii-news/

what? no future patch if the game is unbalanced? disappointed

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

The 360 version didn't have a similar beta, correct? I can't recall if we've seen any concrete footage from that version. I feel like I've only seen videos from the PS3 and PC versions.

It was at the MCM expo and iirc the only version they had there was the PS3 version.

 

[Mutagenic]

Is nobody else impressed with that early area

Spoiler

by the sea? The little town place.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

Is nobody else impressed with that early area

Spoiler

by the sea? The little town place.

Yes the hometown is very pretty. Love the look of it.

 

[Antiwhippy]

Final

vs

The final looks exactly like dark souls.

 

[Necromanti]

It was at the MCM expo and iirc the only version they had there was the PS3 version.

Interesting. I don't know if that indicates that they've spent more time polishing up that version (relative to the 360 version), but I noticed that a lot of early streamers (where the game was missing lighting) had the 360 version.

 

[Baldwin_the_First]

Jesus Christ, we're all Souls fans here. Don't accuse other people of piracy or bullshit when you haven't played the game.

Don't get your panties in a bunch, it's just a theory as to why there's so many different opinions on the matter. Either the fps is really bad like some says, or it's not.

 

[JoeFenix]

Yes the hometown is very pretty. Love the look of it.

I love the way that place looks too, there's still some really nice looking areas in the game.

Music in Majula also sounded really good!

 

[dark10x]

Final

Are we sure that the lightning flashes have been removed? That image looks pretty much the same when lightning isn't flashing.

 

[super-famicom]

For the people saying the game looks terrible: did you play Dark Souls on a gaming PC with the Durante fix and are using that as the basis of comparison with Dark Souls II? I've never owned a gaming PC and play games on a PS3 hooked up to a 24" monitor so I'm not spoiled on graphic settings set to High/Ultra and thought Demon's Souls and Dark Souls looked fine. I've seen high res screenshots and have seen friends play on PC so I know that the PS3 is graphically inferior, but it never bothered me.

My experience with the Souls games ave been excellent in spite of fuzzy textures and low frame rates. But reading the past couple of pages is starting to make me feel less hyped for the game (even though I know people are watching streams that may not be fully optimized and there might be a day 1 patch to address the graphical issues).

 

[Antiwhippy]

For the people saying the game looks terrible: did you play Dark Souls on a gaming PC with the Durante fix and are using that as the basis of comparison with Dark Souls II? I've never owned a gaming PC and play games on a PS3 hooked up to a 24" monitor so I'm not spoiled on graphic settings set to High/Ultra and thought Demon's Souls and Dark Souls looked fine. I've seen high res screenshots and have seen friends play on PC so I know that the PS3 is graphically inferior, but it never bothered me.

My experience with the Souls games ave been excellent in spite of fuzzy textures and low frame rates. But reading the past couple of pages is starting to make me feel less hyped for the game (even though I know people are watching streams that may not be fully optimized and there might be a day 1 patch to address the graphical issues).

It definitely looks on par to dark souls console from the streams I've seen.

 

[Baldwin_the_First]

He still call another player or only random NPC?



what? no future patch if the game is unbalanced? disappointed

It tells you exactly in the same answer you've read that instead of patches, it will be calibrated with the servers. So unbalanced issues will most likely be able to be fixed, but things like lighting and stuff, that's another story.

 

[JoeFenix]

Are we sure that the lightning flashes have been removed? That image looks pretty much the same when lightning isn't flashing.

The lightning flashes were still there, including the shifting shadows reminiscent of RE4 on Gamecube.

Everything looked flat though and little touches like the water splashes when the Knight jumps and lands were either not there or weren't as noticeable. It's mostly the color palette and general shading work that seemed downgraded, the overall tone and feel are dramatically different.

I think the corridor leading up to the fight was even more of a drastic change, it looks AMAZING in that footage but it definitely doesn't give off the same striking impression in the final 360 build.

 

[super-famicom]

It definitely looks on par to dark souls console from the streams I've seen.

Glad to hear this!

 

[SargerusBR]

What are the odds lightning was downgraded only on the 360 version?

 

[K.Sabot]

What are the odds lightning was downgraded only on the 360 version?

Low.

This is probably a case of vertical slice demo vs. horizontally implemented full game.

 

[Ellite25]

For the people saying the game looks terrible: did you play Dark Souls on a gaming PC with the Durante fix and are using that as the basis of comparison with Dark Souls II? I've never owned a gaming PC and play games on a PS3 hooked up to a 24" monitor so I'm not spoiled on graphic settings set to High/Ultra and thought Demon's Souls and Dark Souls looked fine. I've seen high res screenshots and have seen friends play on PC so I know that the PS3 is graphically inferior, but it never bothered me.

My experience with the Souls games ave been excellent in spite of fuzzy textures and low frame rates. But reading the past couple of pages is starting to make me feel less hyped for the game (even though I know people are watching streams that may not be fully optimized and there might be a day 1 patch to address the graphical issues).

Don't feel less hyped dude. I've been watching the stream and the game looks fine to me. Graphically it looks better than the previous Souls games. Not amazingly better, but noticeably better. And people are complaining about everything being grey and I've seen areas bathed in sunlight and rooms with walls lit up by fire as well as an area with that's got bright green lighting all over the place. It's not all grey and dull. People are over exaggerating.

 

[Thorgal]

Are we sure that the lightning flashes have been removed? That image looks pretty much the same when lightning isn't flashing.

I am going to agree with this .

Every game can be made to look like crap when you take a shot at the wrong moment and then compress it to hell and back .

If this one picture is all there is to showcase the Difference between old and new then consider me unconvinced and pull the hyperbole card .

 

[XANDER CAGE]

What are the odds lightning was downgraded only on the 360 version?

slim/none

 

[Techies]

The biggest technological advance throughout the last couple of years was lightning and chain processing. Atm I'm not seeing any one of those.
Lets just hope they did better job on PC.

 

[fedexpeon]

What are the odds lightning was downgraded only on the 360 version?

That is a good question.
I watched three streams, and all were on the 360.

Guess I will wait and see if Psycho Mantis is right...6 months to release, and changing thing at the last minute makes no sense.

 

[MilkBeard]

No thats not a cutscene. The entire fight looks like that. I have played that fight, looking like that till the end on PS3 6 months ago.

Is there a video of what the reduction looks like? It's weird that they would change it all of a sudden if it was running like that before on PS3 hardware without any problems. This really is a headscratcher.

Does anyone have any video footage of the current (downgrade)?

 

[Sanctuary]

Footage from an early build of the PC version.

Spoiler

not really

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YA9LJ80_Es

That's amazing. I hope the PC version looks even half as good.

updated stat screen:

75% sure I'm going Explorer. It just looks too good for a first time character. It was either that or a Sorcerer, but the Explorer allows for more flexibility early on, and the only stat that is potentially "a waste" even at a min/max level would be Faith. But it's the same as every other class aside from the Sorcerer. I doubt I'd even reach whatever the new PvP SL is going to be on my first run, so it's not like +1 STR or +1 DEX is going to be a complete loss either. It's also the fastest class out of the gates, if only marginally.

Does anyone know if your HP start out different through the stats already invested with your class (through the HP bonuses per stat), or does it only happen when you actually do your very first level up? Also, gaining HP per level up isn't really that big of a change compared to Dark Souls now that I think about it. It's basically the new Resistance.

Adaptability is resistance + agility.

Right, but the functionality is very similar. You aren't gaining mitigation stats through just leveling up, but you are gaining soaking stats for leveling up all the same. Both scenarios increase your time to live.