PoE first impression: Feels like 10 year old game...

I think in modern games Graphics have made for lazy game development in some instances. Seems a lot of games especially in teh FPS genre have relied on good graphics gimmicky SCARY moments thrown in with some Music to heighten that sense of WOW.

Sadly lacking however has been games with great story,lore integraty or something new.

Dont get me wrong some games have gotten it right on all accounts but our expectations graphically seem to have risen yet our expectations of a engaging game have fallen somewhat.

gameplay=/=graphics.
Two different things. Please stop suggesting good gameplay is permission for dated graphics.
There are many instances in PoE where I feel underwhelmed.
But remember #1 it's a beta, and #2, it's F2P. The graphics aside from the map, and the white "place holder" I guess it is on instance entrances and WP's, are fine.

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LucidDreams wrote:

I think the graphics are fantastic however they are framed by a cheap warehouse looking GUI.

Well admittedly 2D is 2D... it's flat.

There are some really good buttons though.. the ones on the escape menu, big red buttons with a gradient.. with the sound, they are very satisfying. Other buttons do look flat in comparison.

I find the 2D art to be very good.

But perhaps the UI 'skeleton" itself like the chat window, the NPC menus... those elements are very rough.

I might be wrong, but I believe the UI is supposed to look like that of older games. An homage, if you will, like many other aspects of the game. The last thing I think it needs to do is get flashy and distracting. Simplicity can be aesthetic.

If anyone has any specific suggestions for improving the look of the UI, head to the Art section and let the artists know. I say "specific" because saying that the art looks old isn't really descriptive or informative.

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WhiteBoy88 wrote:

If anyone has any specific suggestions for improving the look of the UI, head to the Art section and let the artists know. I say "specific" because saying that the art looks old isn't really descriptive or informative.

+1

I think your "rigid" feeling might come from a low starting "fast cast recovery", compared to D3. It improves after you amp those up.
The play style is...classic is how I would call it. It is definitely not like many new games but I enjoy the style very much.

Honestly graphics are the last thing im looking in a game.

I have had a lot of fun playing games 2D, 3D, cartoony, etc.

I think what really matters is the game itself and the atmosphere it can create.

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georgatos7 wrote:

What i think can be done to make the game visually more appealing, rich, alive and complicated without hurting its art style focus is to add :

- A few more small colored light sources such as small gems emitting light
- Interior magic fires, camp fires etc.
- Magic glowing wall writings
- Magic glowing floor symbols
- Floor cage-like tiles breathing fire or gasses every few seconds.
- Moving Fog with a variation in density.
- Falling leaves and other plant parts moved by the wind in the exterior levels.
- Dreeping water, falling rocks for the interior levels.
- Small cracks on some dungeon roofs that will let a few lines of light enter and many more.

Finally they can add
- Some more exterior ground elevation variation.
- More points of interest such as the one in the broken bridge level.

You'll be surprised to know that they HAVE been sneakily adding in stuff like that.

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Freekje wrote:

But look at for example the map. Or the items. Or the outlines around enemies or NPC's. Not really a modern look.

The map looking like that is deliberate, thought it would use a bit of tidying up, aka less wiremesh all over the place.
Nothing wrong with the items, the 2D art is good, were you hoping for crappy 3d model on the items or something? As for the 3D model it self, it could use a bit more work or I think they will be selling them as skins in cash shop.

Outlines around mobs or NPCs is the same in every game that is now or before.
I mean take a look at D3, Torchlight1&2 etc. etc., they all do the same red outline too...

I personally like that. Plus it's not a completely polished game yet.

Overall feel is a bit rigid, there I agree. Not distracting me all that much, but I would like to see some more fluidity to the finished design.

Also I guess this game will be like LoL, never quite finished. Which is good imo.

As mentioned some UI improvements wouldn't hurt and I think they are working on it. Don't need to look modern imo, but better feel to the gui is always good.

Also a bit better feel ingame can be achieved. To help you differentiate allies/enemies and stuff like that.

But all of the complants are minor issues, a pile of em. One step at a time and I think this will be a very solid game in some months. And more so in a year. The CORE is very healthy. That is what matters. You can always fix the little things later.