By Alec Meer on April 30th, 2009 at 6:32 pm.
We got our first look at the internet-dividing redesign of Gearbox’s open-world shooty/drivey game a couple of weeks back, and now the venting’s mostly out of the way (because it is out of the way isn’t it, shouty men?), we can all enjoy a whole host of screens. Personally, I think it’s looking pretty bloody spectacular, and a blessed relief from what’s threatening to become a homogenous look for shooters. Also: LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT THING. Er, that thing beneath the cut, I mean.
It’s fascinating to compare it to the gallery of BL’s original look we ran about 18 months ago. Some of the character and monster designs are shared, but the old style looks so plain and generic against the hyper-stylisation of the new look. And a couple of these shots really nail the Mad Max vibe – a far punkier, spunkier take on post-apocalyptic than Fallout 3, no?
Prepare to be shot and punched in the face (someone else’s ridiculous line, not mine) by the high-res versions of these shots, simply by clicking on ‘em:
30/04/2009 at 18:34 Professor says:
What is it about game designers and their desire to make monsters that look like giant vaginas?
I mean, seriously, that thing has a CLITORIS.
30/04/2009 at 18:37 vordhosbn says:
I’m really glad they decided to change the art style so radically, the original game seemed really underwhelming in every way. Now I’m carefully looking forward to this.
30/04/2009 at 18:38 Radiant says:
And now Professor THAT’S ALL I SEE.
30/04/2009 at 18:39 CTD says:
@Professor
You say it as if it’s a bad thing. I, for one, welcome more vaginal monsters.
30/04/2009 at 18:40 AlottaFagina says:
Didn’t see any vulva likes? That 4th one looks like a hormogaunt.
30/04/2009 at 18:40 Professor says:
@CTD
Yeah, seems a lot of people are taking inspiration from that C*nt game, eh?
30/04/2009 at 18:42 DigitalSignalX says:
Damn, Those screens totally sell me on this game. Fallout meets lost planet and FUEL? SOLD.
30/04/2009 at 18:45 bergotronic says:
The new visuals look great, hopefully the coop gameplay will be equal to the looks. I would LAN this game… HARD.
30/04/2009 at 18:45 DaFox says:
When did Antlions grow armor?!
30/04/2009 at 18:45 spell says:
I was looking forward to that game, but now…
The celshading on these looks awfully bad.
30/04/2009 at 18:49 PrinceOfPersia says:
Yeah, they’re totally harshing my style.
30/04/2009 at 18:49 elias says:
It’s not the designers, it’s the artists. Maybe they are afraid of vaginas, so they use them as parts of their big scary monsters?
Anyway I think the new style is awesome.
30/04/2009 at 18:51 RARGPHLAM says:
I don’t know what you’re looking at spell, because the cel-shading looks fantastic. In motion I’d bet it’s spectacular.
30/04/2009 at 18:54 GlisteningWet says:
http://www.gamingblog.org/images/preyy.jpg
*snicker*
30/04/2009 at 18:54 Jeremy says:
Looks pretty good, loving the style.
30/04/2009 at 18:56 Dracko says:
Professor, they do it just to equally intimidate and intrigue pre-teens who still giggle about sex.
You should check out what Valve had in mind for Half-Life back in the day. Ooh, boy!
30/04/2009 at 18:57 Lack_26 says:
I’m really looking forward to this game, I love the style (and the amount of guns).
30/04/2009 at 19:00 Yontan says:
@Professor
I struggled not to bust out in a horrific singular laugh when I read that. Being in the quiet section the library and reading RPS is dangerous….
i need to get out more. :S
Edit: Also on a more games related note, that is a nice looking game. I’d play it and enjoy pretty pictures if the gameplay was good enough. If all it has are pretty screens, then I’ll just wait thanks. Looking forward to some reviews.
30/04/2009 at 19:01 unclelou says:
Looks fantastic.
30/04/2009 at 19:03 GabeNewell says:
You mean besides that thing with the giant nutsack?
30/04/2009 at 19:06 Heliocentric says:
I’d hit it.
30/04/2009 at 19:06 DMJ says:
Indeed, it looks fantastic in stills. Whether it looks that good in motion is the real question. It has the potential to look stylishly awesome, or alternatively it has the potential to look freaky.
In a way, I like how the new look was added quite late in development. That way, at least there wasn’t this conversation at the first production meeting:
Man 1: I got a great idea for a game!
Man 2: What?
Man 1: A cel-shaded game!
Man 2: What sort of cel-shaded game?
Man 1: I don’t understand the question. Cel-shading is awesome!
Man 2: Sold. Go get some programmers and a year’s supply of whiskey.
I’m looking at you, XIII.
30/04/2009 at 19:07 Dominic White says:
Vehicles, huge swarms of little flying/crawling monsters, and bosses the size of houses? So far, so Lost Planet. And that’s a formula I like.
Here’s hoping there’s more subtlety to the bigger fights than holding down the fire-button while kiting/circle-strafing.
@DMJ – They shaded it that way because XIII is based on a long line of French graphic novels, which also look that way.
30/04/2009 at 19:08 Meat Circus says:
SEXY screenshot gallery.
Mmm, giant vagina beast.
30/04/2009 at 19:11 Muzman says:
Where was this shoutiness I apparently missed?
Anyway; does anyone think the outlines are heaps more obvious in some shots than others (the first one vs.. the rest really)? I wonder if you can adjust it.
Anyway 2: The problem I find with some of this stuff is you just get an outline around things which is a trifle odd. I guess they can do whatever they like (it’s obviously not a comic book after all) but I think Street Fighter took a better road (several). They made it so the “line work” included details and folds in the fabric etc which made for more comfortable viewing.
30/04/2009 at 19:14 Dracko says:
Yes, Gabe. Apart from the giant walking nutsack.
Like Mr. Friendly.
30/04/2009 at 19:17 Rep says:
Where do you guys find girls who have vagina’s like that? Just so i know where to avoid.
And by avoid, i mean hunt.
30/04/2009 at 19:18 PleasingFungus says:
I’m… kinda uncertain as to how to feel about this. (Though I really like the creatures in the first screenshot.) Will wait until I can see it in motion to RENDER JUDGEMENT.
30/04/2009 at 19:37 Noc says:
Hah! I get it, it’s a ‘Render Judgment’ because you’re judging the rendering!
Oh, man.
30/04/2009 at 19:41 DavidDuchovny says:
@DMJ:
You forgot to mention my talented voicework in that game.
30/04/2009 at 19:44 Clockwork Harlequin says:
Professor: Compare this apparent vaginosity with recent discussions here on RPS about breasts. Games are aimed at people who love breasts but fear vaginas. The conspiracy becomes clear. . .
30/04/2009 at 19:47 Jetsetlemming says:
I like the comic book render for the characters, but not so much the wold, and definitely not the explosions. C’mon, go all the way with that shit! I want to see comic special effects, especially on stuff like the elemental damage weapons.
30/04/2009 at 19:53 Dracko says:
Hey, at least none of you have played R-Type, right?
30/04/2009 at 20:00 JamesSunderland says:
I don’t know about you guys, but those monsters in Silent Hill turned me on.
30/04/2009 at 20:02 Mort says:
Also, remember that one of the the final bosses in half life was a giant testicle with legs (though it´s not as scary as a vagina with teeth)
Anyway, I hope gameplay is as dynamic as the screenies seem to indicate.
30/04/2009 at 20:15 Sajad says:
TOOOOOOOOOO GGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDD
30/04/2009 at 20:18 Morti-Mer says:
Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttt !!!!!!!
30/04/2009 at 20:25 Radiant says:
@Rep
Newcastle.
30/04/2009 at 20:39 Jetsetlemming says:
@JamesSunderland
Ahahaha
30/04/2009 at 20:57 Marcin says:
I think I’ll skip Fallout 3 and go straight for this, if it plays as fun as it looks.
30/04/2009 at 21:00 ...hmm... says:
looking beautiful; i just hope they tone down the fallout 3 lookalike baddies: see the raiders in fallout 3 and their armor style etc. some of them in the shots above i feel like i know personally.
there i go again being the stupid armchair critic. it still looks more lovely than fallout 3 in many regards though; and i totally would in regards to that giant beast.
30/04/2009 at 21:01 bantros says:
Looks bloody amazing
30/04/2009 at 21:11 Rath says:
My immediate thoughts are “GorkaMorka” and that two-part episode of Farscape with the dune buggys that had weaponry attached to them*. This game looks awesome.
* 3×14 and 3×15. Go look.
30/04/2009 at 21:14 Aldaris says:
When I saw the pics, I thought they had seen 3 things and blended them together into those mosters, being, in order of popping into my mind:
1: Alien Planet (The movie, anyway, I never read the book.)
2: The zerg. (Mutalisks, anyone?)
3: Not so sure… Ah, right, Half Life (2).
Some of those things look like they were straight out ripped form alien planet, but in an awesome way. I’m still looking forward to this.
30/04/2009 at 21:42 MrBejeebus says:
sold!
the previous art style wasvery underwhelming imo
and lol @ the vagina face monster…
30/04/2009 at 21:49 DeliriumWartner says:
DMJ made me lol. Also, I think I’m in love. This is (after COD, um, MW2) my most anticipated game of the year so far. When can I have it?!
30/04/2009 at 21:52 Schmung says:
This is superbly pretty. Interestingly, looking at ye olde screenshots it doesn’t look like they’ve deviated massively from where they were previously, it’s just that rather splendid comic book shader thing they’ve got going on. I think the original Far Cry had a similar (albeit far cruder) bit of shadery goodness tucked away in it accessible via a cheat mode.
30/04/2009 at 22:10 Dan K says:
Looks bloody gorgeous. The art style change made me want this game, I previuosly dismissed it a bit because it was a tad bland looking, but now I can’t wait for it.
30/04/2009 at 22:22 Tom says:
Looks awesome.
I love the fact devs are starting to experiment with art styles more. Guess we’ve got PoP to thank for that.
It never fails to amaze what some poeple will moan about.
30/04/2009 at 22:42 Tim says:
I have to say, I’m now interested in this game on the strength of this new style alone. I just hope it’ll be a decent game in its own right. Though to be honest, so long as it’s mediocre or better I might well give it a whirl.
30/04/2009 at 23:07 Cooper says:
The screenshots, the SIZE OF THAT THING! and vaginas reminded me of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS-xlCcoF0
30/04/2009 at 23:16 Theory says:
Oh, yes. That works. I’m still not convinced of the treatments they’re giving to characters/monsters, but the world itself is sublime!
30/04/2009 at 23:28 ZIGS says:
This reminds me of Hellgate London, and that’s not a bad thing at all
01/05/2009 at 00:02 suibhne says:
In the future, everyone will be bulemic.
01/05/2009 at 00:11 Binho says:
I think the rendering style looks amazing as well….
BUT…
While everything looks good, I’m not a fan of the art style for the worlds, characters, and to a lesser extent the monsters. It might just be a personal thing, but it’s too ‘punk’ and too generic.
And can we for once have something which isn’t a post-apocalyptic, barren wasteland? k, thanx
01/05/2009 at 00:25 Quests says:
How i wish this excitement was caused by breakthrough innovations in storytelling and plot variables on choices & consequences.
will the time ever come that programmers instead of showing off shades and engines pop up into news articles yelling “look! We discovered new ways to twist drama combined with interaction! How cool are we?”
01/05/2009 at 00:27 Tei says:
GREAT art here guys. Hope the game is also fun.
01/05/2009 at 01:18 Zyrxil says:
I really love the look overall, but I really dislike the black borders on everything. I don’t think that’s at all necessary for a stylized cell-shaded look.
01/05/2009 at 01:28 The Fanciest of Pants says:
Was going to be buying this for the awesome non-linearness + co-op + vehicles + all that guff. Now it looks damn funky too. They so have my money.
01/05/2009 at 01:55 Wedge says:
Sooooo… it looks like Crackdown. Functionally anyways.
01/05/2009 at 02:13 pilouuuu says:
It looks like Fallout 3 meets Zeno Clash meets Gears of Wars
01/05/2009 at 02:23 DigitalSignalX says:
Great vid Cooper, way back when I saw ‘Troopers (only once) the connection was never made. Hilarious.
01/05/2009 at 02:59 Resin says:
This looks really cool, the art at least.
01/05/2009 at 03:29 Monkeybreadman says:
Anyone else thinking of Another World? I’ll take Flashback too.
And a cartoon, can’t remember what it was called, something like Phantom 2050
01/05/2009 at 07:11 Jazmeister says:
I don’t mind seeing the odd vagina in a game. Make a change from all the phallic majesty.
01/05/2009 at 07:27 Andrew Wills says:
Yep, this has totally sold the game to me. Before now, the concept was vaguely interesting, but it hadn’t really made me think “I want this.”… But now… I want this!!
01/05/2009 at 09:17 Subject 706 says:
Fallout 3 should have looked like this.
01/05/2009 at 09:24 Freelancepolice says:
Looks superb. Hope the gameplay systems they detailed can live up to the look of the game.
01/05/2009 at 09:29 phuzz says:
Giant vagina faced monster?
So’s your mum.
01/05/2009 at 09:46 Rei Onryou says:
The old screens look aged and withered. The new ones are fresh and exciting. If they were larger, I’d have some new wallpaper for my PC. Can’t wait for this game.
So we’ve had giant testicle monsters and vagina faced monsters. What’s next?
01/05/2009 at 09:55 catmorbid says:
bah, the cell-shading cartoon effect ruins it all. Sure it was nice for prince of persia, but… I would’ve expected a more realistic style with this one, oh well… It might still be a good game, but *shrugs*.
01/05/2009 at 11:10 it looks bad says:
it looks bad. This is starting to become the next homogeneous look in games.
I think only valve got the stylized graphics part right
01/05/2009 at 12:44 Alex says:
Yeah- so these screens just sold me the game. Looks awesome.
01/05/2009 at 12:46 Snuffles says:
It looks fine, great even. Every single time a developer pulls out a little bit of stylization, or a little bit of cel-shading, the artistically-challenged 18-35 year olds start complaining because it’s too “cartoony” and there aren’t enough shades of brown and grey. Not bland enough for your taste? Take a hike. I for one like the new direction they’ve decided to take.
01/05/2009 at 12:53 Oak says:
Did you read any of the previous comments? The response was overwhelmingly positive.
01/05/2009 at 13:02 Andy says:
It does look fantastic – Kind of reminds me of something Square-Enix would do but…not quite?
Uhm, Anyway I’d love to see some new video footage appear soon!
01/05/2009 at 14:28 scorchedMIRTH says:
At least it’s not all brown now…and the game-play sounds delicious. Put me down for a copy.
01/05/2009 at 15:31 Ian says:
@ Rei: The next logical step would be a bum-monster or a booby-monster*.
* Old school Lara Croft with her knife-edge Boobage-O’-Doom doesn’t count.
01/05/2009 at 15:36 Sunjammer says:
Fuck photorealism in games. That is all.
01/05/2009 at 15:45 Quests says:
YEah i like me some shades of brown and grey, there IS such a thing in art as what’s too clean and glossy, good concept artists know how to begrime their works, make ‘em look coarse, maybe add some kind of aging film to the screen. But agreed, only mature people appreciate that, kids like shiny teletubbie colors.
And naturally realism can be too glossy too. Take Bolivion and Fallout, too flat, soulless, boring, too preoccupied to be fancy and hardware demanding to look nice.
01/05/2009 at 16:27 Spd from Russia says:
Sunjammer says:
Fuck photorealism in games. That is all.
I beg to differ, stalker`s photorealism is awesome and not boring at all.
01/05/2009 at 17:32 Chaz says:
It’s got a bit of a Crackdown look about it now, but it still looks bloody nice.
BTW is this the one with the 60 billion weapon configurations or is that a different game?
01/05/2009 at 17:47 Barky says:
I like how all the objects (Humans, monsters, guns, vehiches etc) contrast against the rather plain background. It’s like someone poured skittles on a pavement.
02/05/2009 at 10:46 ybfelix says:
What I love is the blue sky and the shades of bright colors… Too many games have shit-tastic yellow/brown.
02/05/2009 at 12:08 James T says:
Ouch! This role-playing shooter has both shot and punched my face!
? I’ll give you the sky, but apart from that, it’s not exactly Matisse.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say ‘hyper-stylised’, ‘much less generic’ etc etc, either; maybe the cel-shader thing sticks out more when the game’s in motion, but from the images I’d say it’s the old gear with some outlines around it. Not that I especially care either way, but this isn’t exactly a TF2-sized stylistic jump (or, y’know, half that).
In any case, those are some nice models, it’ll be pretty impressive if they move well. If the talk of RPG elements at least mean a breadth of strategy and a story that’s not shit, then I’m interested.
03/05/2009 at 07:19 apnea says:
Alec Meer haz shouty men insides is hed.
Apart from that, really impressed with the new stylistic turn, especially compared with the old screens (almost forgot where I’d heard about this game before – Hint: RPS).
04/05/2009 at 18:25 Resin says:
I like it.
05/05/2009 at 06:40 Hulk Hogan says:
It looks like someone made a cel shading mod for Fallout 3.
HULKAMANIA!!!
05/05/2009 at 11:17 jeff says:
i dont like it at all. they should change it back
25/05/2009 at 14:30 Jeppe says:
Oh sh#t. why change everything into candyland. where is the Madmax feel of the Pandora…
I couldn’t play Crackdown either ‘cos the candylike graphics… It had nice setup and gameplay, but the everythinglikecandy color was just too much.
08/06/2009 at 05:45 mitchel says:
it looks like they drew a cartoon and made it a video game. it ruins the look of the in depth detail of the monsters and the thrill of the numerous amount weponary.
30/10/2009 at 13:34 Crispy says:
It’s a symptom of the times we live in. Decimated society calls for decimated worlds in which to escape. It’s been a similar trend with the zombification of games (and entertainment in general).
30/10/2009 at 13:35 Crispy says:
That was ain response to Binho, btw.