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[Bodomism]

I think at this point GameFreak should've realized their upcoming open world game looks ridiculously underwhelming in comparison to another upcoming Nintendo open world game.
We have seen many Japanese game developers have adopted UE4 as a standard platform in developing their games. Whatever proprietary engine they're currently using is good for 3ds level hardware but not for Nintendo Switch level hardware.

Youtube 1080p screengrabs

 

[Onironauta]

An engine is not solely responsible for the quality of graphics. The main reason why the game looks so basic is because of low rez textures, low poly models and empty environments. They are cheaping out on assets.

 

[Cert.in.Death]

*looks at sales figures*

 

[yurinka]

It would be nice, but to be fair BotW is one of the best looking Switch games. So BotW it's an unfair comparision for most Switch devs. And well, they don't need cutting edge visuals to continue selling a ton of units.

 

[Danjin44]

For me it less to do with "graphics" and more to do the fact I just don't like Pokemon's overall aesthetics.

When I have SMT, I don't need other monster collecting game.

 

[StateofMajora]

It doesn't matter what engine they use. It's the talent and time they put in that's the issue.

You think Pokémon stadium is a more advanced engine than sword and shield? Of course not, but compare the animations.

Or how about battle revolution on wii which legitimately looks better than anything game freak has done.

 

[StateofMajora]

*looks at sales figures*

Yep I have not bought sword and shield and won't buy anything else from GF at this rate.

 

[DaleinCalgary]

Nintendo isn't about graphics

 

[StateofMajora]

Nintendo isn't about graphics

Odyssey and Luigi are state of the art given the platform. So yeah, they can be.

Pokémon is legit in mobile game effort territory.

 

[GeeseGoose]

Not sure I see anything wrong, it looks nice if not a little bit rough around the edges but entirely appropriate to the game and audience.

Or a more cynical view... better graphics means more time per asset and also more assets, which means more artists, so higher cost which means lower profits.

 

[DaleinCalgary]

Odyssey and Luigi are state of the art given the platform. So yeah, they can be.

Pokémon is legit in mobile game effort territory.

Odyssey was not a good looking game, except the city stuff did look okay. I think I would have liked Luigi if I kept the thing long enough to play it.

 

[Ribi]

Lol, that whole companies motto is just do the bare minimum and the sheep will buy. Reason they can take pokemon out and sell you 2 versions of the same game. Its worse than what EA does with fifa

 

[Bodomism]

Nintendo isn't about graphics

This is true but at least their graphical output for Switch are acceptable based on the hardware power.

Upcoming Nintendo Switch games

Gamefreak games, on the other hand, are basically upscaled 3DS games with low quality assets and geometries.

 

[Impotaku]

When pokemon fans will literally buy any shit with pokemon slapped onto it no wonder gamefreak don't make an effort.

 

[Husky]

Geez, looks like a cheap asset flip, or like that Life of Black Tiger game on PS4

 

[Umbasaborne]

With how big the pokemon brand is, i dont think its unrealistic to expect better

 

[EverythingsOverrated]

Visually legends looks like a mid tier 360/ps3 game. If this were a game released near launch it would be a bit more forgivable. We're 4.5 years into the switch's life and a big name first party published game looks like it's from 2009.

 

[hussar16]

i think u forgot they are working with tech thts equivelnt of a decade ago

 

[KAL2006]

Why waste budget when they can keep costs low and sales are strong.

 

[mcjmetroid]

This topic wears me out.. not because it's untrue.. It's VERY true but we've been talking about this for YEARS upon YEARS.

Fact is... they just don't care and stopped caring a long time ago.

 

[Fbh]

Sadly it's pretty much pointless to get upset or keep caring about Pokemon.
The brand has been too big to fail for a long time now, and Nintendo/Gamefreak understandably don't give a shit about improving things given how much money it makes.

Arceus will probably cost a fraction of what any AAA game from Sony or Microsoft will cost to make, and it will outsell them all while simultaneously being exponentially more profitable due to the low development budget, long lasting sales and non existent discounts.

Go play Shin Megami Tensei V instead. It's like Pokemon but with a darker tone, non brain dead difficulty and made by a dev that actually gives a shit.

 

[Rat Rage]

There is no way you can stop them. Gamefreak will continue to produce Pokemon games with the lowest effort they can get away with, as long as their games continue to sell really well. And the chance their low effort games will sell bad is very low.

 

[Newari]

It's really sad to think of what could be if Gamefreak actually gave a fuck. The best thing we can do now is to hope that DokeV ends up being atleast half as hype as the trailer makes it feel.

 

[DaleinCalgary]

This is true but at least their graphical output for Switch are acceptable based on the hardware power.

Upcoming Nintendo Switch games

Gamefreak games, on the other hand, are basically upscaled 3DS games with low quality assets and geometries.

Those switch shots are all bullshots, Nintendo Switch games a grainy and do not look like that at its resolution.

Stop it

 

[Haint]

Game will sell 20 million copies with either a 20 million dollar budget or a 100 million dollar budget, so why would they?

 

[kiphalfton]

Tag line for this Pokemon game:

Life finds a way... sometimes

 

[lostinblue]

I don't have a problem with Gamefreak evolution this gen.

Sure they are lazy, but they also have a problem akin to Gran Turismo 4 to GT5/GT6, they either create two tiers of assets (premium and old), or they reduce variety a lot and release games in between to pay for asset development.

Their decisions (like remaking the first games with just 151 pokemons) have been consistent with the latter and while they could stand to be more ambitious and also reward their costumers more, steps have been taken nonetheless.

 

[Holammer]

Switching to Unreal Engine won't magically fix problems. The hardware and cartridge limitations will punish UE just as badly or perhaps even worse than Gamefreaks own custom purpose-built solutions.
Trying to make an open world Pokemon was simply too ambitious. They should have made a more traditional looking overhead view with Pokemon Master type graphics, that way scenes and polycounts are easier to manage and fans would have gobbled it up without complaints.

 

[Rean no Kiseki]

What in the world......
Mods quick someone hacked B Bodomism 's account!

 

[lmimmfn]

Gamefreak? Who they?

 

[NoLootBoxDev]

Well, pokemon games print money, why change? If they want to be mediocre (graphically) it is their choice. They can change at any time they want, but that is something it seems they won't.

 

[Portugeezer]

It takes effort to have good open world graphics on the Switch, clearly it is not the focus for them, and they would rather make sure all the gameplay systems function well and are cohesive.

Luckily for Gamefreak, people enjoy the gameplay of Pokemon.

I would love better graphics, but is on the fucking Switch. I am not convinced by the comparisons I have seen that this is somehow not in line with other games...

 

[Corgi1985]

POKEMON SWORD IS COMPLETE DOGSHIT

In addition to all of lamefreak's games looking like reject PS2 games, they all play like retarded baby's first RPG. Maybe they can also work on making a game that isn't too easy for a goddam fetus to beat blindfolded.

It takes effort to have good open world graphics on the Switch, clearly it is not the focus for them, and they would rather make sure all the gameplay systems function well and are cohesive.

Luckily for Gamefreak, people enjoy the gameplay of Pokemon.

I would love better graphics, but is on the fucking Switch. I am not convinced by the comparisons I have seen that this is somehow not in line with other games...

Too bad all of their gameplay systems are "pick your strongest guy and wail on the enemy because we aren't working at actually integrating any challenge or player choice".

 

[Bodomism]

There's must be something wrong on their engine. The geometry details for big structures are too lackluster and it reminds me of PS2 level details.

 

[Roufianos]

Don't forget the awful, stilted animations. Even C3PO looks like a slimy eel in comparison

 

[Scotty W]

It is threads like this that remind me how little gamers understand about the game industry.

 

[Rickyiez]

Nintendo used to have 60FPS as the de facto as gaming with shit graphics , now it's just shit graphics with 25FPS . And yet people will still buy , no wonder the company is rich AF .

 

[Black_Stride]

Inject these assets into UE4/5 and the game will look just as shit.
The engine can probably do wonders the devs are simply chosing not to.


Cuz those textures look bad....like bad bad.

 

[Kumomeme]

knowing gamefreak i wont ask too much in one go.

but by looking positively, now they finally step out from their comfort zone and try out new formula. whats important now they already started to take the initiative. this Pokemon Legend Arceous could be their experimental title that would serve as base foundation for future pokemon game. they probably looking to replace their old repetitive formula.

i do want to see pretty visuals atleast on level of BOTW but knowing them i rather keep my expectation in check. realistically i just hope they nailed the gameplay aspect first. then slowly upgrade visuals for each new release like how they always do since Gameboys era.

 

[royox]

I think at this point GameFreak should've realized their upcoming open world game looks ridiculously underwhelming in comparison to another upcoming Nintendo open world game.

So what. If they keep selling their games as hot bread they will never change anything. Pokemon is the videogame saga with less improvements in the industry. They have been stuck for DECADES with the same animations, same non-animations, same models as Pokemon fucking Stadium on N64 and monsters hitting the air in a white screen...AND THEY STILL SELL MILLIONS. Their customers don't give 2 single fucks about graphics, dead and empty world or anything, they just want to do the same boring battles and mechanics again and again and again while they are watching the Anime and thinking "I wish the games were more like this"....and automatically forget about it when they play again.

 

[Fare thee well]

Gamefreak wrote the book on phoning it in, year after year. It's a miracle how people have fallen for it for so long.

 

[GymWolf]

Yeah it's pretty telling when you get beated in graphic by the fucking low-res of the wild...

 

[Paltheos]

I'd just like to add a point of contrast here: I actually wouldn't mind if Gamefreak keeps the quality of the games themselves around where they are now if they didn't slash the roster. Tired point here, but it's plain as day they just reused the old Sun/Moon assets that they had downrezed for the 3DS in Sword/Shield as their HD assets (and kept the same crummy animations in general). There was no reason to cut out so many of the old pokemon.

Conversely, I'd begrudgingly accept the roster cuts if they had actually improved the games. They have done neither though and for that reason I have not purchased a pokemon product video game* since USUM and don't plan to again for the foreseeable future.

All a tired discussion though. As pointed out ad nauseuam, Gamefreak makes more money than God. They have no incentive to improve. Friendly reminder that literally 2/3 of their revenue comes from licensed merchandise and less than 20% of it comes from video games. They don't give a shit.

*- I bought a Zapdos plush to sit in the back of my car facing the rear windshield.

 

[The Skull]

Always wondered why Gamefreak develop the games instead of Nintendo in house. They seem to lack experience as a developer and seem to be better suited to hand 3DS titles.

 

[Syphon Filter]

It's really sad to think of what could be if Gamefreak actually gave a fuck. The best thing we can do now is to hope that DokeV ends up being atleast half as hype as the trailer makes it feel.

whoa that looks even more kiddy than pokemon lol.

 

[Kenpachii]

Holy shit this looks bad rofl

 

[Notabueno]

So has everybody forgotten that Pokemon 8 (and probably the Saphire remake) are 3DS games?

 

[Bodomism]

Back then many Pokémon fans were hoping the new Pokémon game to be more ambitious like BOTW in term of gameplay scope and graphics.

What they were expecting next Gen Pokémon to look like

And what they're getting instead

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

Gamefreak is one of the worst console developers in the industry with their hands on the most valuable IP in the industry...they won't change because of how well the pokemon games do. No incentive to make a great game.

 

[BaneIsPain]

Gamefreak