Digital Foundry -- Halo 4 Tech Analysis

LOL at people in this thread.

The game looks fucking amazing....by Halo standards.

Still not up there with the PS3 exclusives. Sorry to burst your bubble.
 
While most them are real-time, two are in fact pre-rendered:
the plane crash into the city and the C-virus missile attack
.
That's what I implied.

It's pretty obvious, actually, when it switches to pre-renders. They look very different from the rest of the scenes.

Particle effect esp alphas have been more prevelant in HALO then any killzone. Killzone alphas render at 1/16 of the resolution. Compare the explosions seen in HALO 4 or the past 2 games and you see way more detail in the explosions and particle effects. *Cough* Scarab exloplosion *Cough*
It's not 1/16th.

It's a give and take, though. Halo 4 offers higher resolution transparencies while Killzone offers a full suite of advanced post processing effects (including per object motion blur). Those are completely absent in Halo 4 and would have been a great addition.

They each have their own set of strengths and weaknesses.
 
LOL at people in this thread.

The game looks fucking amazing....by Halo standards.

Still not up there with the PS3 exclusives. Sorry to burst your bubble.

You're not bursting anyone's bubble. People are playing it and seeing it for themselves.

I'd definitely rank it in the top tier group with PS3 exclusives from my playtime so far.
 
LOL at people in this thread.

The game looks fucking amazing....by Halo standards.

Still not up there with the PS3 exclusives. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Haha, sure, your opinion is worth so much more than everyone else their opinion here. Get of your throne and see the beauty before you.
 
You're not bursting anyone's bubble. People are playing it and seeing it for themselves.

I'd definitely rank it in the top tier group with PS3 exclusives from my playtime so far.
You can't reblow your bubble after he burst it, bro. You're gonna have to learn to live in a germ-filled world.
 
Ya, they really delivered. Cant wait to see what they can do next gen.

Honestly, when the game starts, that very first cut-scene, i was sure it was real live actors. And that never happens to me.

Wait, those weren't real live actors?

what the fuck man
 
This game is up there with the best looking console games. I think this game has the best character models around console or not.
 
I did not have the energy to read all through this thread even if it's only two pages long so far, but what I wanted was more pictures from the actual game, so that I could make my own decisions on how good it looks. I have always liked the artstyle of Halo games so I want to see what they cooked up this time even though I don't own the console for them anymore.

Pics > words. Give it to me.
 
Yet another tech thread lowered by useless comparisons from the console warriors. Just because Halo 4 looks great, that doesn't make other games look any less impressive. Some of you people really need to get over this insecurity over your preferences. It's ok to have amazing looking games on both consoles, really it is.
 
Halo 4 is one of the best looking games this generation, no doubt. But last night I played the first four levels of the campaign, and I dunno... the game play is not quite so dazzling so far.

EDITED 11/15/2012- Yeah, no idea what the fuck I was thinking that first night. I ended up playing through the campaign three times back to back, totally kicks ass.
 
I think the selling point of the 360 was not top of the line graphics like it was with the PS3. The 360 came out earlier, cost less, and catered to easier multiplat development. So when an article like this comes out the first comparison would be with PS3 games because its on the PS3's turf.
 
Forza Horizon and Halo 4 are the first 360 exclusives that have impressed me graphically. It took some time, but it's nice to see them push the hardware. Congrats to 343i and Playground/Turn10.
 
From
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To:
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Amazing!
 
Boy, it sure didn't take long for this thread to turn into a "360 is more powerful than PS3 thread".


I don't usually play halo SP solo, I always play coop splitscreen.

On that note, they make so many concessions in splitscreen it makes the game look like ass. No dynamic shadows, LOD is pretty low, and pop-in is horrendous (objects and enemies).

I'm sure the game looks great in SP, but so far the splitscreen has disappointed on that front. I think the reason I notice it more is because its immediately apparent that it's much lower fidelity compared to what it's intended to look like, and I want to see it when its gorgeous!

Fun game so far though! Nothing mind blowing, but I needed some halo injected in my veins.

smh

and people wonder why developers don't bother with split screen these days.
 
Halo 4 is not perfect, but some games from PS3 has some poor textures too, or pre-backed shadows, or fixed camera.

People tend to see the errors on the oposite platform only.
 
It's great that the 360 finally has a game that looks as good as a 2010 game on a console with a crap GPU, weird CPU, and stupid split memory pool.

PGR4 happened earlier.


Halo 4 is not perfect, but some games from PS3 has some poor textures too, or pre-backed shadows, or fixed camera.

People tend to see the errors on the oposite platform only.

Of course. Some are going into this topic as console warriors. Either Halo 4 is perfection or PS3 exclusives. Take your pick.
 
Halo 4 is not perfect, but some games from PS3 has some poor textures too, or pre-backed shadows, or fixed camera.

People tend to see the errors on the oposite platform only.

Very true.

Halo 4 is a beautiful game, but you can tell it's a current-gen game. I'd put it right up there with Uncharted 2/3 on the visual's with only the lack of motion blur and SSAO souring it a bit for me. Everything else however is exemplary for a 7 year old console, as well as it being one the of the best FPS's I've played recently.
 
PGR4 happened earlier.




Of course. Some are going into this topic as console warriors. Either Halo 4 is perfection or PS3 exclusives. Take your pick.

And Nuts & Bolts (2008) xD

Halo 4 is a beautiful game, but you can tell it's a current-gen game. I'd put it right up there with Uncharted 2/3 on the visual's with only the lack of motion blur and SSAO souring it a bit for me. Everything else however is exemplary for a 7 year old console, as well as it being one the of the best FPS's I've played recently.

Yes, no motion blur or SSAO, but some things are better than U2/3, neither is perfect.
 
Looks damn impressive.

When MS said it was easily there most expensive game ever I believe them. It just looks like they put a lot of time and money into the tech, a lot of time and money into the art design and a lot of time and money into the assets.

I thought the same for Uncharted 3. Even if the game was flawed they clearly put a lot of effort into generating loads of high quality assets and it showed.



And now outside of purely technical things like the resolution and AA and stuff I think we are at a time where games only look as good as there budget and art talent allows. Games like Halo 4 and Uncharted 3 have game assets that are just on another level to anything else its crazy.
 
Boy, it sure didn't take long for this thread to turn into a "360 is more powerful than PS3 thread".

There are stupid comments from people on both sides of the fence. It's quite the ugly thread.

Shame too since these topics are the most interesting kinds when not ruined.
 
Hmm? 640x360 is not 1/16 of 720p. It's not even 1/16 of 1080p.

I thought the majority of PS3 games had transparencies that rendered at exactly a quarter of the games resolution.

Edit, I just did the math on that resolution and realized you were saying 1/4 lol.
 
The technical requirements for Halo 4 are completely different than the other games people are comparing it to. To maintain that kind of graphics quality with the scope and battles Halo offers is a completely different kind of challenge and achievement.

I see what your are saying but dont dismiss the MLAA and higher framerate of GoW3, and the stuff UC3 pulls. oh and Killzone 3 - the MLAA, perfect motion blur, particles, AI damn

That said, Halo 4 looks amazing in pics and video! Really like the style, and lightning in it. Wish it was on PC
 
I thought the majority of PS3 games had transparencies that rendered at exactly a quarter of the games resolution.

Edit, I just did the math on that resolution and realized you were saying 1/4 lol.

It's a very interesting thing to see. Each and every exclusive I've played on PS3 and Xbox 360 has imperfections. What some console warriors fail to realize is that exclusives play to the strengths of the hardware. There are things the PS3 can do that the Xbox 360 can't do & vice versa.

But if we're going to look at something like Killzone 3... You would notice the lack of SSAO and low resolution transparencies that stick out like a sore thumb.

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No exclusive looks perfect. They are all missing something to achieve their good looks. Not Uncharted, not Gears, not Killzone, not God of War, not Halo.

Once you understand that, you can enjoy playing games on other systems.
 
I see what your are saying but dont dismiss the MLAA and higher framerate of GoW3, and the stuff UC3 pulls.

That said, Halo 4 looks amazing in pics and video. Wish it was on PC
Absolutely. Those games too offer a completely different challenge and are also great technical achievements. Different goals but incredible results all things considered.
 
But if we're going to look at something like Killzone 3... You would notice the lack of SSAO and low resolution transparencies that stick out like a sore thumb.

But Halo 4 doesnt have SSAO either

And halo has low res particles too

1280x-1


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Ps. The article is bs at its finest. And i'm sorry, but Halo 4 has nothing onto KZ 2, yet KZ 3, GoW 3 or U3. I actually think that tech in Reach is more impressive than in 4, art though is much better.
 
But Halo 4 doesnt have SSAO either

And halo has low res particles too

1280x-1


--
Ps. The article is bs at its finest. And i'm sorry, but Halo 4 has nothing onto KZ 2, yet KZ 3, GoW 3 or U3. I actually think that tech in Reach is more impressive than in 4, art though is much better.

Of course. But if you want me to list imperfections of all exclusives I can do that all day.

No game on console is ever going to match our ideal perfect graphics scenario.

And your bottom post is hyperbole. There is really nothing I've seen on both consoles that's can't be done on the other. Period.
 
Ps. The article is bs at its finest. And i'm sorry, but Halo 4 has nothing onto KZ 2, yet KZ 3, GoW 3 or U3. I actually think that tech in Reach is more impressive than in 4, art though is much better.

What does Reach do in terms of technology that Halo 4 doesn't? The only tech that I remember from Reach is the ghosting.
 
What does Reach do in terms of technology that Halo 4 doesn't? The only tech that I remember from Reach is the ghosting.

Reach had motion blur, SSAO, anisotropic filtering, full res particles that were light sources and better shadowing system.

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Of course. But if you want me to list imperfections of all exclusives I can do that all day.

No game on console is ever going to match our ideal perfect graphics scenario.

And your bottom post is hyperbole. There is really nothing I've seen on both consoles that's can't be done on the other. Period.

Its not about perfect scenario, but game that does this


Or doesnt even have proper interaction with shadows, like here

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Cant be compared as technical juggernaut. I really like the idea that it doesnt drop frames, but it sacrifices too much for it. They should optimize tech, not remove it. The only thing that KZ 3 lacks in comparison to KZ 2 is QAA [have MLAA instead] and object motion blur, everything else is better, same goes for Uncharted 3 vs 2, but in Halo 4 You have like half tech features removed ...
 
IMO, God of War 3 is still the best looking console game up until now. People are still comparing games to it and it came out two years ago. The use of MLAA makes it the cleanest looking game with virtually no jaggies whatsoever. It also has a variable framerate between 45 to 60, IIRC.

All about DAT developer controlled camera.
 
I was wondering how long it would take for the UC3 vs Halo 4 arguments to pop up. I'm surprised it too this long. =P


I would say H4 is much more impressive compared to UC3 but it mostly has more to do with the unreal locations than the actual graphics. The lava rock area in the beginning is just stunning.
 
SSAO and Motion Blur.

The Bungie games were always technically impressive - they ticked all the boxes so to speak.

They did not, however, blow peoples minds when it came to how "good looking" they were.
Halo 4 remedies this issue, while keeping the framerate at a near constant 30fps.

Bungie never got enough credit for all the stuff they did under the hood. Halo 4 comes out and looks fantastic and suddenly everyone cares about which effects are in use....
 
I was wondering how long it would take for the UC3 vs Halo 4 arguments to pop up. I'm surprised it too this long. =P


I would say H4 is much more impressive compared to UC3 but it mostly has more to do with the unreal locations than the actual graphics. The lava rock area in the beginning is just stunning.

Well, UC3 has more scripted situations and narrow areas.
 
SSAO and Motion Blur.

The Bungie games were always technically impressive - they ticked all the boxes so to speak.

They did not, however, blow peoples minds when it came to how "good looking" they were.
Halo 4 remedies this issue, while keeping the framerate at a near constant 30fps.

Bungie never got enough credit for all the stuff they did under the hood. Halo 4 comes out and looks fantastic and suddenly everyone cares about which effects are in use....

You nailed it.
 
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