While other developers created photorealistic images and reduced them, Artdink was the only developer that Acquire said had the ‘accurate’ HD-2 visuals.Īsano talks about ‘accurate’ HD-2D, and also mentions Triangle strategy looking more like “Illustrations” as a result of the pixels becoming smaller and the resolution increases. Games have evolved to make pixels invisible, be it in pixel art or on textures applied to polygons, but I get the impression that you’re going in the opposite direction with HD-2D.Īsano: We invited several companies to make HD-2D demo footage in the early stages of Triangle Strategy’s production, and after reviewing together with Octopath Traveler’s other developer, Acquire, we brought Artdink on board. Obviously, it’s attractive as a standalone painting, but it would be different from what we’ve built as HD-2D. As the proportions change to look more realistic, the resolution increases and the pixels become smaller, so they look more like illustrations rather than pixel art. I bet it’s hard to make.Īsano: We tried to find the right line with the deformation, because the pixel art characters have to be attractive as pixel art. It’s interesting to see realistic lighting shine on deformed letters – it feels like I’m looking at a diorama or a widget-like object. HD-2D is a blend of real and surreal, striking a terrific balance between the two styles. The 4Gamer interviewer also delves into specifics, focusing on the effect they believe HD-2D is trying to create, and comparing it to a diorama: We hope you will explore every inch of maps and immerse yourself in the war-torn Norcelia. In addition to gorgeous-looking world maps, the artist and art team did a fantastic job blending so many locations together. At the beginning of development, we spent a lot of time discussing what to do at the edge of maps. We have to find a way to make maps in Triangle Strategy look good from all angles.Īrai: It took a lot of resources to make the map noticeable from all sides. Octopath Traveler is a turn-based RPG, while Triangle Strategy requires a top-down camera to let you see the tactical RPG action, so the team faces new challenges.Īsano: Octopath Traveler has a fixed camera, but in tactical RPGs, you need to be able to rotate the map 360 degrees. The responses were also translated for Nintendo Everything by Jarop. If a method of expression is used in an earlier title, there is no reason it could not be incorporated in the newer titles.Īsano and Arai also talk specifically about Triangle Strategy, including the differences in working with the popular visual style in Octopat Traveler and Triangle Strategy. If they have information that they feel they might find useful, we encourage the exchange of information between development companies. The teams on the first titles released information for the newer teams. AsanoĪsano also talks about the “sharing of expertise” between the various HD-2D projects that have been happening in Square Enix, and the producer confirms that dev teams have actually swapped notes. The answer is a pretty good reminder that game development is not easy or cheap, and despite being inspired by classic RPGs from the SNES era, there is so much extra detail – ignoring the HD backdrops – that would require a larger budget. There may not be much to gain from other companies copying it. In this respect, it is a good match for the titles you want to get from Square Enix. It’s probably worth noting that it costs more than you’d think. More and more indie studios have embraced pixel art to capture the heart of the games they have been inspired by, but Asano has quite a simple answer: One interesting question to jump out of this interview – translated by Jarop for Nintendo Everything – is when 4Gamer asks Asano why other studios have not tried to use HD-2D. In a recent interview with 4Gamer, Triangle Strategy producers Tomoya Asano and Yasuaki Arai sat down to discuss just how they implemented the retro-style visuals to their latest strategy game. Combining rich HD 3D backdrops with SNES-inspired pixel art characters and monsters, HD-2D’s color palette, lighting and beautifully detailed chef sprays have helped create a nostalgic, favorite art style that fans want to see more of. With the release of Octopat Traveler and Triangle Strategy – and the upcoming Live a Life and Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake – Square Enix has become synonymous with a new style of retro-inspired visuals.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |