Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 3:31 am

Louie82Y

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After the modest jump in 3D animation quality from DD to SoJ -- is it fair to ask if we even need the anime cutscenes anymore? You could tell there was less of an emphasis on them this time around. They were much shorter and didn't add much to the game.

Even though I enjoyed them in DD, the novelty factor has worn off for me since we finally got a legitimate anime series. It was a good selling point and a fun experience at the time, but we don't need 'em anymore.

Some of the best moments were done in-engine and probably would have lost their "wow" factor if it was pre-rendered. Just think of 6-5 when:

Spoiler:

They're passable for case intros and the end game, but feel out of place in the middle of a case. To me this is a testament to just how great of a job the team did in animating their 3D models. When you consider the fact that this has to be the last mainline AA game on 3DS, they could pull off even more impressive scenes realtime on superior hardware like the NX.

Last edited by Louie82Y on Tue Oct 04, 2016 6:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 4:31 am

Butz the Klutz 52

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The thing about the anime cutscenes, is that they're refreshing and are well animated. Regarding what you said about the anime series, a lot of people are pretty dissatisfied with its quality, especially because of its poor animation. Yes I feel that some anime cutscenes are random, but I think that when used at the right times, they're pretty good.

Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 4:38 am

Southern Corn

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The thing is,there really aren't many anime cutscenes here. Mostly only at the beginning and at the end of a case,if that. Plus,they were much better in terms of animation here,so....I don't mind them!

Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 4:59 am

Bad Player

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Honestly, I think ditching them might be the way to go...

I liked the pre-3D case intros a lot more than the anime case intros. I thought they were a lot more interesting, creative, and varied. So if they cut out the anime cutscenes, and returned to the previous style of case intros...

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 10:35 am

Pierre

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Nope, you wouldn't get a voice-acted scene to set up a murder (DLC case, Case 5) with ingame models like you do in an animated cutscene.

They are a refreshing Joy when they are there.

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 11:21 am

MBr

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There were less of them since the game used cutscenes with the ingame models, which I like. They should have voiced those instances, because there was so much less voice acting this time around.

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 12:08 pm

Going for Miles

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I'm glad there was less of that this time around and I'd rather not have any at all. The cringeworthy cutscenes of DD is one main reason I wasn't overly fond of that game.

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 12:35 pm

linkenski

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I think they were used well in the game for setting up atmosphere... except the ending cutscene felt detatched and cheesy, and that was the same experience I had with DD. There's also so much planning going into those scenes and they're far less iterative due to the tight production schedules than the scenes in the games where they can change up text-boxes plus they're hands on with all 3D animations unlike the animes which are outsourced.

I think they should just ditch them. I don't really remember any one scene in particular in SoJ anyway.

Lastly, while SoJ's 3D cutscenes were sometimes used in intros, I really, really am starting to miss the 2D slideshow/sprite-art intros in the previous games. I know that wouldn't fit with the 3D, but perhaps they should even opt in for 2D graphics at some point again. Imagine a new game built with HD sprites in the style of the trilogy or AJAA from the ground up? That would look so sweet.

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 12:44 pm

Pierre

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linkenski wrote:

I think they were used well in the game for setting up atmosphere... except the ending cutscene felt detatched and cheesy, and that was the same experience I had with DD. There's also so much planning going into those scenes and they're far less iterative due to the tight production schedules than the scenes in the games where they can change up text-boxes plus they're hands on with all 3D animations unlike the animes which are outsourced.

I think they should just ditch them. I don't really remember any one scene in particular in SoJ anyway.

So hold up...you think they were used well apart from the final cutscene and yet you think you should ditch them? You think by removing the cutscenes they would have more room to plan elsewhere?

:nick-sweat:

Louie82Y wrote:

Spoiler: Final Trial

Wait...why do you feel it wouldn't have been as powerful if it was animated? That's feeling rather than any evidence. I could argue that an anime cutscene could build more atmosphere due to being able to do more in one of them. Assets on screen take up a lot of resources after all. Consider:

Spoiler: The Revolution

With 3D models I think it would be too taxing to really pull this off. Furthermore anime cutscenes allow for more voice acting based on how it was barely used at all in-game.

I don't see a problem with using both side by side really.

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 4:07 pm

Nurio

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I wasn't fond of the anime cutscenes in Dual Destinies, because they were cheesy as aforementioned, but also because they kinda interrupt the flow of the game oftentimes. They work great as opening and ending cutscenes, though. So I would want them back for the next game

Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 04, 2016 5:44 pm

Louie82Y

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Pierre wrote:

linkenski wrote:

I think they were used well in the game for setting up atmosphere... except the ending cutscene felt detatched and cheesy, and that was the same experience I had with DD. There's also so much planning going into those scenes and they're far less iterative due to the tight production schedules than the scenes in the games where they can change up text-boxes plus they're hands on with all 3D animations unlike the animes which are outsourced.

I think they should just ditch them. I don't really remember any one scene in particular in SoJ anyway.

So hold up...you think they were used well apart from the final cutscene and yet you think you should ditch them? You think by removing the cutscenes they would have more room to plan elsewhere?

:nick-sweat:

Louie82Y wrote:

Spoiler: Final Trial

Wait...why do you feel it wouldn't have been as powerful if it was animated? That's feeling rather than any evidence. I could argue that an anime cutscene could build more atmosphere due to being able to do more in one of them. Assets on screen take up a lot of resources after all. Consider:

Spoiler: The Revolution

With 3D models I think it would be too taxing to really pull this off. Furthermore anime cutscenes allow for more voice acting based on how it was barely used at all in-game.

I don't see a problem with using both side by side really.

Powerful as in believable and immersive. If they would have cut to a prerendered anime scene for that bit, the transition wouldn't have been as smooth. Having it flow seamlessly in realtime really added to the immersion for that scene. No matter how well animated the scene could have been, a quick transition from 2D to 3D would have made you feel withdrawn from the action in that moment in time.

Notice how games are moving away from prerendered scenes as hardware improves? It's because doing everything in-engine is more consistent and immersive to gameplay. I think DD, and to a lesser extent SoJ, used them to make up for the hardware limitations of the 3DS. SEGA CD FMV games used to be all the rage, now that hardware is so much better they're hilarious to look at. Not that AA's implementation of them is that bad, but the natural order of progression is to move away the further technology advances.

Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Wed Oct 05, 2016 1:20 am

jdgs

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To be honest, the more content there's in the game, the better. And while they were kinda small, they still served a nice purpose. Also that long introduction was awesome. Too bad it wasn't in the game.

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Wed Oct 05, 2016 2:53 am

scarlet-flowers

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As much as I liked the animated cutscenes, I think they take away from the suspense of the murder. The cutscene for case 1 of AA4 had me shivering because of how gritty and dark it was, and I was really excited to get into the game. I'd like for them to either return to those kind of cutscenes or go for a more surreal style in presenting the case openings (maybe something similar to the opening for case 3 of AA5).

Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Wed Oct 05, 2016 10:18 am

Southern Corn

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Expire wrote:

except when that society produces youtube, the internet, musical instruments, electricity, food that isnt barebones essentials, and all the other spit you take for granted.

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Wed Oct 05, 2016 10:35 am

Going for Miles

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Whoa, that was deep.

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Wed Oct 05, 2016 11:55 am

Jean Descole

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Thu Oct 06, 2016 3:54 pm

tiger_festival

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Quote:

Sonic the Hedgehog is a man with it all: wife, a kid and a house in the suburbs.

Now that's a flat out lie if I've ever seen one.

On-topic, i like the anime cutscenes. Things like 6-3's opening wouldn't be as effective with stills or models.

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Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Thu Oct 06, 2016 9:22 pm

TheDoctor

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I like anime cutscenes when they're implemented well. Professor Layton games have had a pretty good track record in that regard, which carried over to PLvsPW. I haven't finished SoJ yet, but so far, the cutscenes have been pretty decent. At least, they're less cringeworthy than the majority of DD's cutscenes so far. (as of the first trial day in 6-2)

Re: Are the Anime Cutscenes Already Antiquated?

Tue Oct 18, 2016 2:30 am

Reznov877

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I think the 3D models cutscenes were... better? I just wished they'd run better, hence why I think its not time for those yet.