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In-game physics: What released games lead in this regard?

S

Speevy

Banned
There's been so much more talk about this since the next-generation consoles were unveiled. Indeed, Metal Gear Solid 4's fans are all about "physics, physics, physics."

So which already released games boast the coolest physics in your mind?
 
A flash game called N...

I also really enjoyed the Super Mario Sunshine physics, especially on the classic styled levels with all the rotating blocks and such.
 
Dr_Cogent said:
Most will probably say Half-Life 2.
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I'm trying to think of another possible choice, but thus far, there just aren't any other games on the market that compare. Physics are becoming important, but they aren't really here yet.

Current consoles aren't exactly capable of pulling off complex physics models...and there aren't a lot of new PC games that would even need them at all yet.
 
For an action game, it's tough to beat Half-Life 2. Great use of physics.

Of course, there is something to be said for the realistic physics in a simulation, such as Falcon 4. Very realistic, just not as flashy and noticible. Gravity, it's not just a good idea, it's the law.
 
The Sly Raccoon games have some pretty good physics to them. The Suckerpunch Softward guys seem to puff their chests as being very physics-ey. Their N64 game Rocket - Robot on Wheels was toted at the time to have some damn fine physics.
 
Max Payne 2 had a really good physics system, damn near everything in the environment was affected by them. Nothing like tossing a grenade in a room, knocking over a shelf and sending everything on that shelf flying all over the room.
 
Banjo Tango said:
Silent Storm had some mighty fine physics if I'm remembering correctly...
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Oooh good call. Silent Storm was so awesome. Nazi's hiding in house, toss a couple of nades through the windows, watch the entire house collapse on said nazis.
 
they mostly all suck, the best pysic in in little shareware game like bandago (not sure of spelling).

3D started strong with physic, with game like VF3, also nothing like climbing an enemy on the fence in Fighting viper :). Then it sleeped for years.

And no physic don't require big hardware, it's just a choice PUBLISHER made to have their game look good behind the box, in magazine and internet site (as detailed video are relatively new).

The developer are also to blame because they hate the hazard effect of real physic. It can make untested bug happen a lot and are impossible to recreate exactly. Not unexpected as most developer now come from stupid bad art 3d modeler and level designer, very few real coder around.
 
zesty said:
Most fun use of physics that I've played has been Psi-Ops.
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Advent rising was more 'fun with physics' than Psi-ops


As for the best, id say HL for the moment but Fear seems like it will probably be the best when it comes out..
 
Quartet said:
they mostly all suck, the best pysic in in little shareware game like bandago (not sure of spelling).

3D started strong with physic, with game like VF3, also nothing like climbing an enemy on the fence in Fighting viper :). Then it sleeped for years.

And no physic don't require big hardware, it's just a choice PUBLISHER made to have their game look good behind the box, in magazine and internet site (as detailed video are relatively new).

The developer are also to blame because they hate the hazard effect of real physic. It can make untested bug happen a lot and are impossible to recreate exactly. Not unexpected as most developer now come from stupid bad art 3d modeler and level designer, very few real coder around.
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Do you hate the letter S Quartet?
 
Schafer said:
Max Payne 2 had a really good physics system, damn near everything in the environment was affected by them. Nothing like tossing a grenade in a room, knocking over a shelf and sending everything on that shelf flying all over the room.
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Yeah, but I didn't really enjoy it. I mean, it was probably the first game I played with physics like that, but I didn't really think it was special. It's pretty amazing when you think about it, and all the effects are very realistic. It didn't really change the experience at all.
 
RBR and rFactor.

GT5 testing ;)
1127323819426.jpg
 
Monkey Ball!

Some of the stuff you can do in that game is a pure triumph of physics programming (maybe simple--dunno--but very effective).

http://www.gameswelike.com/web/monkeyball.htm


Also, water-based games with physical waves always get a nod from me.

Spider-Man 2. There is no other game where just moving your character around is so damn much fun! Web-slinging counts as physics-based fun, don'tcha think?

Katamari Damacy! It's goofy, but the way stuff won't stick until you out-mass it by a certain degree is nice, and the lopsided rolling of your ball when you pick up stuff is also good. Not to mention the whole scaling thing.


I know, these aren't great examples of "real" physics, but quite frankly, no videogame is...yet. And just because they aren't "real" physics doesn't mean they aren't impressive. The games I listed don't have any peers, no other games do what they do as well...or maybe at all.

Dishonorable mention: Rallisport Challenge.

ralli04.jpg
 
Leondexter said:
Spider-Man 2. There is no other game where just moving your character around is so damn much fun! Web-slinging counts as physics-based fun, don'tcha think?
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Yeah, the pendulum physics are certainly sweet in that game, no doubt.
 
Leondexter said:
Spider-Man 2. There is no other game where just moving your character around is so damn much fun! Web-slinging counts as physics-based fun, don'tcha think?
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I don't consider it myself one of the top games in physics by any means. It's still damn fun, but if we were to pick a game of this type I would go with the Hulk over Spidey.
 
SanjuroTsubaki said:
I don't consider it myself one of the top games in physics by any means. It's still damn fun, but if we were to pick a game of this type I would go with the Hulk over Spidey.
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Yeah, you're right--the Hulk's physics are more impressive, being that you can interact with so much more stuff. And they really nailed the feeling of being the Hulk. But that's easy--I can't believe it took this fucking long. Being Spidey is hard to pull off. That web-swinging system is just too awesome. I really hope the game on top of it is better next time--which is TOMORROW!!!
 
Leondexter said:
Yeah, you're right--the Hulk's physics are more impressive, being that you can interact with so much more stuff. And they really nailed the feeling of being the Hulk. But that's easy--I can't believe it took this fucking long. Being Spidey is hard to pull off. That web-swinging system is just too awesome. I really hope the game on top of it is better next time--which is TOMORROW!!!
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I'm looking foreward to it, I love the style of game. But only thing I will say negative is Spidey's voice, other than that looks to be a great time.
 
I guess you could just list all Havok games, but yeah, nothing ties it together as well as HL2.

As an odd sidenote, Neversoft has had pretty damn impressive prop physics in all THPS games after 4. Don't think they liscenced Havok, either.
 
Leondexter said:
Yeah, you're right--the Hulk's physics are more impressive, being that you can interact with so much more stuff. And they really nailed the feeling of being the Hulk. But that's easy--I can't believe it took this fucking long. Being Spidey is hard to pull off. That web-swinging system is just too awesome. I really hope the game on top of it is better next time--which is TOMORROW!!!
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They went back to simple webswinging from what I read. =(
 
krypt0nian said:
They went back to simple webswinging from what I read. =(
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This has gotten batted back and forth in the past. No one knows for sure yet.

I may not buy the game if they gimp my web slinging.
 
I'm in
Ravenholm
now playing Half-stutter-Life 2. It's a fun game and the physics are fun to play with. This has to be the best game I have ever played implementing physics. Now if they could only fix the hitching, it would be golden.
 
bionic77 said:
Winning Eleven has insane physics.
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Seconded. The soccer ball is constantly dynamic and interactive with the players and no two goals ever look exactly alike. Nothing else in the sports genre compares. I cant wait to see what they come up with on the new hardware.
 
It's wierd to say it, but I thought the physics in Psi-Ops were better than those in HL2. They both used Havok, but just as use of Maya doesn't guarantee good animations, so too does the use of Havok not guarantee great physics. You need designers who understand what all of the knobs and dials do and programmers to rein it all in to get the best results.
 
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