Digital Foundry vs Xenoblade Chronicles X: "A Wii U Technological Master Class?"

Great that the focus is on performance. Any novelty that pretty graphics might have had would be well worn when you reach your 100th hour of this massive game and it's more important to me that seamless traversal of the world is actually achieved and works without (noticeable) hiccups. The pop-in in the towns is probably the worst part about this, but otherwise draw distance appears to be excellent. Lack of collision detection for traffic looks goofy, of course, but it doesn't really affect a game where you aren't really in danger of getting hit by a car anyway.
 
That was one of the things he's said that was actually easy to understand, IMO...

Lol thank you, for god's sake. I did the same thing with drive club on ps4, I wanted to see how it would look the majority of the time during gameplay, so i asked the poster to post pics from behind the view perspective. Some people are way to uptight.
 
I can't wait to see what Monolith does for the sequel, if the NX is going to be more comparable in power to the other systems.
 
its just not shadows moving. its depends on the time of day

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for example notice how all the bushes, and trees, are reacting to sun light, it was a sight to behold back then, first open world to do it on consoles properly i think. if you play red dead you will notice the realistic shadows the whole game.

Dude, Xenoblade Chronicles X and Red Dead Redemption are two completely different games with different art directions. They both made decisions to run well. For XBX they decided to make the shadows static, but for example they made sure textures don't repeat themselves into a typical 'checkerboard' pattern as you often get in open world games (especially last-gen ones). The reason being that you can fly high up in the sky, and they want the world to not look like that. In RDR, you stay on the ground and so the texturing in that game is less resource heavy. The world isn't designed vertically as many places in XBX, so the repeating textures aren't as obvious. But they are definitely there, and XBX is very impressive with handling that element.

Stop trying to single out specific things in the game, it's about the full package. Look how well it runs and how solid the framerate is. If they could have added dynamic shadows and have it run well, I am sure they would have done that.
 
Dude, Xenoblade Chronicles X and Red Dead Redemption are two completely different games with different art directions. They both made decisions to run well. For XBX they decided to make the shadows static, but for example they made sure textures don't repeat themselves into a typical 'checkerboard' pattern as you often get in open world games (especially last-gen ones). The reason being that you can fly high up in the sky, and they want the world to not look like that. In RDR, you stay on the ground and so the texturing in that game is probably less resource heavy.

Stop trying to single out specific things in the game, it's about the full package. Look how well it runs and how solid the framerate is. If they could have added dynamic shadows and have it run well, I am sure they would have done that.


Dude I already said they both do things differently, they both are impressive for there hardware, nobody can say for sure which one is technically more impressive, for example rdr has better aa, character models, dynamic day and night cycle along with dynamic shadows, and dynamic weather. I'm sure x has its advantages like performance etc, as well, but I vastly prefer how rdr looks, and everybody jumped on me like x had every advantage In the book.
 
its just not shadows moving. its depends on the time of day

igrgbwpbn2emt7uljp.jpg



for example notice how all the bushes, and trees, are reacting to sun light, it was a sight to behold back then, first open world to do it on consoles properly i think. if you play red dead you will notice the realistic shadows the whole game.

I really don't think comparing screenshots really is what Digital Foundry is getting at. Red Dead Redemption was a great game but I remember performance wise on the PS3 it was not that great. There were a lot of times when the game dipped to under 25 frames per second on PS3.

Whether you like the art style or technology behind it, you can't deny that Xenoblade X's performance is excellent. It's not about oh it looks crappy or it's simple so it can run at a good frame rate.

The Wii U is not the most powerful hardware, but the developer made decisions and trade offs to make the game run at a consistent level of performance. That's what developers are supposed to do -work within the confines of hardware. We would love to shove all the effects we can into the frame cycle but the hardware is limited. It's about making the right tradeoffs.

For that they should be applauded, because even on the PS4 and Xbox One most open world games have inconsistent performance because the developers aren't considering the limitations of the hardware.
 
God those character models are atrocious.

Coming from playing Xenoblade Chronicles, the comments about the lackluster story put me off getting this at launch.
 
Dude I already said they both do things differently, they both are impressive for there hardware, nobody can say for sure which one is technically more impressive, for example rdr has better aa, character models, dynamic day and night cycle along with dynamic shadows, and dynamic weather. I'm sure x has its advantages as well, but I vastly prefer how rdr looks, and everybody jumped on me like x had every advantage In the book.

No, everyone jumps on you because everytime XBX is brought up, you mention how ugly it looks to you, and how it looks ugly compared to last-gen games. What's the point? You say yourself it's impossible to directly compare them, so why keep bringing it up?
 
Ninjablade. I think you've got it all out of your system now and you aren't contributing anything new. Could you please stop shitting up this thread? I came in here to read and discuss the DF article and you're the centre of attention, again.

If you would stay out of the OT thread too that'd be ace.
 
Are DF like really calling it beautiful? There are of course games with amazing art and design, but hey, Xenoblade is pretty blank. WiiU (and NX if it doesn't get hardware on pair with ps4/x1) should forever stick with colourful and simplistic graphics like Mario and Starfox have, otherwise games will look like ps2 emu at 1080p
I thought the art direction even on the original Xenoblade was beautiful, but that had more colors going on, most Wii U games are 720p so im not sure what you mean by your last comment, the best looking Wii U games (X,Zelda,Pikmin,Bayonetta,MK) look very good imo, and Far from "PS2 emu"
 
No, everyone jumps on you because everytime XBX is brought up, you mention how ugly it looks to you, and how it looks ugly compared to last-gen games. What's the point? You say yourself it's impossible to directly compare them, so why keep bringing it up?

Yes honesty I thought it was ugly mainly cause of the character models, which look like shit, and not having dynamic shadows along with a dynamic day and night cycle those things really effect the graphics in a big way in my eyes.

I messaged dark10x and he explained to me how this game had some impressive tech given the hardware it was on and scale, i already admitted I was wrong. Yea its time for me abandon thread.
 
I personally see the only really positive visual element in the game as being the steady framerate (which is rare on consoles in such larger games). Other than that, I think it is a rather average looking open-world game graphically. Wii U and all that though.

edit: does not even have real time of day apparently after getting further in the video. Well, then it is not really even comparable at all even with last gen offerings. Even shit like crackdown had dynamic shadow maps.

Yea all of this.
It's not complex as something like Red Dead or GTA5, art direction is going a long way to make this game look good...but it is stable and that's a good thing.
 
Yes honesty I thought it was ugly mainly cause of the character models, which look like shit, and not having dynamic shadows along with a dynamic day and night cycle those things really effect the graphics in a big way in my eyes.

I messaged dark10x and he explained to me how this game had some impressive tech given the hardware it was on and scale, i already admitted I was wrong. Yea its time for me abandon thread.

It's not the first time, its hard to take a good conversation when you come to the thread, derail it and then leaves.
 
ill be honest the game's graphics looked extremely dated when i first saw them, i mentioned that it didn't really look better then last gen on another board, and i was flamed, even though i explained the graphical shortcomings in it. anyway i admit i was wrong the game is impressive for wiiu hardware technically, after reading the article, even though i still feel lastgen open worlds look better, the game does have impressive tech, maybe not that far behind overall, maybe even on par, with the games i feel look better, it's really hard to judge, i guess.

Never change...

All I want is stability. I will not expect epic anything else. 3 more days...
 
Well this thread is certainly a dumpster fire, isn't it?

The technology used to get the most of the WiiU is pretty stunning and hats off to MonolithSoft for a job well done. I wish the character models were better and the collision is super weird, and dynamic day/night shadows would be nice, but given the size and performance, I'm more than excited about the product they're about to put out.

And it's Zenno.
 
Ah my arch nemesis strikes again - Mr Significant pop-in. The hours I have spent on PC games in config files trying to eliminate you, WHY WON'T YOU DIE!!
 
The game looks really nice, and is technically solid. This is painful because I know it's art style and not technical, butthose character models really completely KILL IT for me.

I'd sooner look at Star Ocean's ugly gallery of mugs for 50 hours than Xeno X's. Good god.

Star-Ocean-Till-the-End-of-Time-PS2-_.jpg

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Ah my arch nemesis strikes again - Mr Significant pop-in. The hours I have spent on PC games in config files trying to eliminate you, WHY WON'T YOU DIE!!
Until we have infinite processing memory it will always be an issue.
 
Ah my arch nemesis strikes again - Mr Significant pop-in. The hours I have spent on PC games in config files trying to eliminate you, WHY WON'T YOU DIE!!

Pop-in in X are not as bad as you might think. They actually BLEND-in unlike in most other games. Pop-in, tearing or unsteady framerates really bother me. But in X you have none of last two and even the pop-in are not distracting most of the time. Perhaps the mix of the steady framerate, vsync and blend-in simply is more pleasant to the eye (or brain) than if one of these features missing.
 
How did y'all let this dude hijack the thread like this?

So disappointing.
The game looks really nice, and is technically solid. This is painful because I know it's art style and not technical, butthose character models really completely KILL IT for me.

I'd sooner look at Star Ocean's ugly gallery of mugs for 50 hours than Xeno X's. Good god.
You trippin'.
 
God those character models are atrocious.

Coming from playing Xenoblade Chronicles, the comments about the lackluster story put me off getting this at launch.
if you can stomach the first games character models you should be able to appreciate this one.
 
The game looks really nice, and is technically solid. This is painful because I know it's art style and not technical, butthose character models really completely KILL IT for me.

I'd sooner look at Star Ocean's ugly gallery of mugs for 50 hours than Xeno X's. Good god.

Star-Ocean-Till-the-End-of-Time-PS2-_.jpg

rWJphLE.jpg
[/img]

oh. so you're blind?

Well this thread is certainly a dumpster fire, isn't it?

The technology used to get the most of the WiiU is pretty stunning and hats off to MonolithSoft for a job well done. I wish the character models were better and the collision is super weird, and dynamic day/night shadows would be nice, but given the size and performance, I'm more than excited about the product they're about to put out.

And it's Zenno.


*highfives*
 
The game looks really nice, and is technically solid. This is painful because I know it's art style and not technical, butthose character models really completely KILL IT for me.

I'd sooner look at Star Ocean's ugly gallery of mugs for 50 hours than Xeno X's. Good god.

Only the pink haired girl's face is garbage in SO5 to begin with, everyone else is perfectly servicable
 
Pretty nice, I prefer to take some hits when it comes to visuals rather than framerate, some stuff does sound distracting but critics make it seem like it isn't nearly as noticeable when playing... well, even better. I've waited so long for this game I thought my hype was completely gone but it was just taking a rest... it's fucking tormenting me right now. It's so clooose.
 
Only the pink haired girl's face is garbage in SO5 to begin with, everyone else is perfectly servicable

Garbage is putting it lightly, it's a nightmarish doll with a derpy expression.
I mean
<-
It's crazy the amount of work that went into the dress and the result for the face, though.
 
So much saltiness on this series. I feel the first one on Wii was a love it or hate it affair. As it seems to be with this one.

I could care less that I can't see the nose hairs on the horrid looking character models with the simple MMO style combat system in a game that doesn't let you play around with a minor feature until 12 hours in the game with static shadows. I loved Xenoblade Chronicles, there was something special about that game and will be getting this one soon because it looks awesome. And I will be buying more Xenoblade on the NX if they continue making them.
 
Only the pink haired girl's face is garbage in SO5 to begin with, everyone else is perfectly servicable

Serviceable? yes, but disappointing given that the faces look worse than previous Xeno games that came out long ago.

X's character faces somehow look lower poly than Xenosaga 3, a game that came out about 10 years ago on PS2.
KOS-MOS.png

xsaga_thumb.jpg


Q7NfDZ6.jpg
 
Serviceable? yes, but disappointing given that the faces look worse than previous Xeno games that came out long ago.

X's character faces somehow look lower poly than Xenosaga 3, a game that came out about 10 years ago on PS2.
KOS-MOS.png

xsaga_thumb.jpg


latest

I think you're missing a 1080p screen of Xenogears.
 
I always admire Nintendo's discipline in not overdoing things in order to meet a performance target.

Other AAA devs need to take note. Your graphics should come after a performance target is met, not before. Overcome the difference with good design, not by adding more stuff.
 
Cars moving thru characters is the only thing that bugs me from watching that video. Everything else I can dismiss pretty easily in my mind.

Cars should at least just knock you over to the side or something, even if no damage is taken or whatever.
 
Well, I wasn't terribly excited about this game but now I am. Guess I'll be hunting Amazon for a Powered External HDD for those data packs.
 
isn't that comparison unfair? Pretty tiny screen from XBX.
Glad it runs so well. Do you guys think there's enough time to blow through Chonicles just in time for this? D:
 
Looking around in videos, the game does look better when you're either crusing around in the mechs or when the camera is zoomed out, really does show the scale better. The town (New LA is it, haven't been following the game as much) looks rough compared to the overworld. Other than that and the hideous character models, it looks rather fine at second glance.
 
Serviceable? yes, but disappointing given that the faces look worse than previous Xeno games that came out long ago.

X's character faces somehow look lower poly than Xenosaga 3, a game that came out about 10 years ago on PS2.

[image snip]

You got the wrong artist here. Look at Xenosaga 1 and Xenoblade X.
 
Yes honesty I thought it was ugly mainly cause of the character models, which look like shit, and not having dynamic shadows along with a dynamic day and night cycle those things really effect the graphics in a big way in my eyes.

I messaged dark10x and he explained to me how this game had some impressive tech given the hardware it was on and scale, i already admitted I was wrong. Yea its time for me abandon thread.

Please do. It's fine to have an opinion, but you've drummed the same opinion over and over. We've all heard what you think by now.

That aside. This game looks amazing. I was watching the guys at GB play and the scale is just epic. Gotta beat the original so I jump on this.
 
Serviceable? yes, but disappointing given that the faces look worse than previous Xeno games that came out long ago.

X's character faces somehow look lower poly than Xenosaga 3, a game that came out about 10 years ago on PS2.

There are other characters with better looking faces in X. Just look at some videos from the character creator.
 
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