Now that I've compared it, I feel... bad?

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

So, people who played the Halo 5 beta and the final release have always seemed to enjoy the beta’s visuals better. Now, when I got the game, I remember there was a difference from the beta visually, but I never went back to see the difference. I also didn’t have the difference memorized, because I didn’t have an Xbone until I got Halo 5.

I went to compare the two games today, visuals and audio, and I really love the beta. Like many have been saying, the lighting is a huge improvement, but it also looked like rounded objects were less blocky’ due to the 720p and more rendering focus being put towards models.

The main thing I remembered a difference in was armor, and that was because the beta armor looked plastic to me and still does, but it’s gives off this odd feeling to me. The whole visual look of the beta looks really odd, fitting, and great to me.

The weapon sounds are also more desirable to me. The current sounds aren’t to bad themselves, so this isn’t too big of a deal for me.

A main problem with Halo 5’s visuals, it looks generic until I play another game, then I learn to admire the visuals more. But with it’s beta visuals, the game seemed like it was the best thing around graphically, and it was very reminiscent to Halo 3’s graphics in general. Great lighting, Armor than came out of a clay factory, and a finished looking engine with not to many bugs.

Playing and seeing Halo 2 Anniversary, I wanted Halo 6 to be reminiscent of that. Now that I’ve reviewed some Halo 5 beta gameplay, I noticed 343i had already gotten a great looking engine together, I just wonder what happened. Did adding the possibility of 1080p crush everything in the lighting department. There must be something else going on. Was it them using a completely different engine for the beta only.

I just feel bad because I doubt they’d update the engine now if they even could. I’d be like half the whole game download wouldn’t it, so it wouldn’t even be logical to put out there. I’ll be playing something when I know what could’ve been is gone, and while I wait for it to return, it won’t come back sooner than expected.

Does anyone else feel this way. This game is great, but I feel like the awe of the beta visuals would’ve given me more invective to just explore maps and look around (and I don’t mean not focus on the objective, but as I play just notice more details to the “world”). Well, of course it would, it just does.

2

Those hitmarker sounds tho. I also miss the old killfeed where it didnt show what weapon you had. Just a simple “you killed” “you were killed by” feed

3

I loved the beta lighting and hope it returns for halo 6. Some complained that they couldn’t see so they changed it. Damn those people.

4

> 2535455681930574;3:
> I loved the beta lighting and hope it returns for halo 6. Some complained that they couldn’t see so they changed it. Damn those people.

The lighting didn’t seem to bad. The only game I can legitimately not see in is Rainbow Six: Siege (only sometimes when looking in or out a window) or something like Silent Hill where it’s intentional.

5

> 2535455681930574;3:
> I loved the beta lighting and hope it returns for halo 6. Some complained that they couldn’t see so they changed it. Damn those people.

Sorry :confused:

I found the lighting bloom to be a bit ridiculous – especially on the swords. And when I look back at beta footage, I do not regret that complaint.

Pic for reference: https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/games/halo-5-guardians/media/truth-gallery/h5-mp-beta-truth-no-retreat-192ddf5cf61e458ca6dac72c9d7a179e.jpg

6

> 2533274814550076;5:
> > 2535455681930574;3:
> > I loved the beta lighting and hope it returns for halo 6. Some complained that they couldn’t see so they changed it. Damn those people.
>
>
> Sorry :confused:
>
> I found the lighting bloom to be a bit ridiculous – especially on the swords. And when I look back at beta footage, I do not regret that complaint.
>
> Pic for reference: https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/games/halo-5-guardians/media/truth-gallery/h5-mp-beta-truth-no-retreat-192ddf5cf61e458ca6dac72c9d7a179e.jpg

That can definitely be a problem for some, but that doesn’t justify why all of the lighting was changed.

Also, Lazy Link.

7

I might be in the minority but there were many things I liked in the beta more then the official release. As for the resolution, I wish game companies would just stop trying to force/reach 1080p because textures and lighting and other graphical features are just as or more important. To be clear I am not saying resolution isn’t important but when developers have to cut back on other graphical areas too severely they end up having the opposite effect of what was intended.

8

> 2533274794210491;7:
> I might be in the minority but there were many things I liked in the beta more then the official release. As for the resolution, I wish game companies would just stop trying to force/reach 1080p because textures and lighting and other graphical features are just as or more important. To be clear I am not saying resolution isn’t important but when developers have to cut back on other graphical area severely they end up having the opposite effect of what was intended.

The game runs at 900p most of the time, but I think because they also have to predict that it can go up to 1080p, they dropped engine focus on a lot of things. The thing is though, other games can keep other processes up at the same time, so I think the biggest problem was going with the dynamic engine rather than having the game stay around 60FPS and have no FPS cap.

Then again, Warzone seems to be where all these sacrifices were meaningful. I’m also pretty sure the reason we didn’t get a ton of armor customization options is because of 24 different player models choosing different options and crashing the game. In Warzone you will see every sacrifice they made graphically to keep up FPS and screen resolution, like:

  • Destroyed Vehicles and Dropped Weapons despawning in an instant
  • 30FPS animations 25 Meters out
  • Low Foliage density
  • Low Texture and Foliage Draw Distance
  • Crappy Shadows
  • Crappy lightingI love Warzone but I hope they find a way to get the best of both worlds either in this installment or the next.
9

> 2533274845218535;8:
> > 2533274794210491;7:
> > I might be in the minority but there were many things I liked in the beta more then the official release. As for the resolution, I wish game companies would just stop trying to force/reach 1080p because textures and lighting and other graphical features are just as or more important. To be clear I am not saying resolution isn’t important but when developers have to cut back on other graphical area severely they end up having the opposite effect of what was intended.
>
>
> The game runs at 900p most of the time, but I think because they also have to predict that it can go up to 1080p, they dropped engine focus on a lot of things. The thing is though, other games can keep other processes up at the same time, so I think the biggest problem was going with the dynamic engine rather than having the game stay around 60FPS and have no FPS cap.

Well that is sort of what I meant. Some developers just do 1080p and cut back on everything else, while others like 343 have the dynamic crap but then other graphical features need change on in instant to keep the game running smoothly when the game gets to busy. Developers just need make a sacrifice somewhere if they want the best looking game they can make. Rise of the Tomb Raider on consoles is locked at only 30fps because Crystal Dynamic wanted the best looking game they could make and it is by far one of the best looking games this gen. To be fair it’s also Sony and Microsoft breathing down everyone’s neck because of the dumb console war which luckily has died down a lot, at least about resolution.

10

I don’t remember the beta anymore, but I really miss the match ending animation where the winning team was shown proud and happy they won.

11

Halo 2 anniversary graphics where way!! better than halo 5’s graphics.

12

> 2533274794210491;9:
> > 2533274845218535;8:
> > > 2533274794210491;7:
> > > I might be in the minority but there were many things I liked in the beta more then the official release. As for the resolution, I wish game companies would just stop trying to force/reach 1080p because textures and lighting and other graphical features are just as or more important. To be clear I am not saying resolution isn’t important but when developers have to cut back on other graphical area severely they end up having the opposite effect of what was intended.
> >
> >
> > The game runs at 900p most of the time, but I think because they also have to predict that it can go up to 1080p, they dropped engine focus on a lot of things. The thing is though, other games can keep other processes up at the same time, so I think the biggest problem was going with the dynamic engine rather than having the game stay around 60FPS and have no FPS cap.
>
>
> Well that is sort of what I meant. Some developers just do 1080p and cut back on everything else, while others like 343 have the dynamic crap but then other graphical features need change on in instant to keep the game running smoothly when the game gets to busy. Developers just need make a sacrifice somewhere if they want the best looking game they can make. Rise of the Tomb Raider on consoles is locked at only 30fps because Crystal Dynamic wanted the best looking game they could make and it is by far one of the best looking games this gen. To be fair it’s also Sony and Microsoft breathing down everyone’s neck because of the dumb console war which luckily has died down a lot.

People at the same time feel a need for 60FPS, and here’s the part where it’s hard to please everyone. CoD Black Ops 3 looks great because it’s got a steady 30FPS. Then again, I never gained a standard for the 60FPS but other people have and there’s a new problem. 343i could add options in the next game like The Division (but a bit more diverse) and allow people to customize the graphics a bit to their liking. In Rainbow Six you can turn of VSync as well, and I hate VSync, so options like that would be great. It’d also be simpler than PC because you’re designing for one console, but the problem of “How competitive would the next installment be?” now comes into play. Now, you’ve got to make sure you don’t upset people when they lose to a guy because their framerate looses two frames and they freak out because “graphics” and the guy starts complaining.

Lot’s of problems for them to figure out, but again, hopefully they can get the best of both worlds.

13

> 2535432045430966;11:
> Halo 2 anniversary graphics where way!! better than halo 5’s graphics.

I thought that too. Now I just fell in love with the Halo 5 beta graphics again though.

14

> 2533274971171822;10:
> I don’t remember the beta anymore, but I really miss the match ending animation where the winning team was shown proud and happy they won.

It’d be neat if they had a celebration thing again, but with an option to pick from, let’s say, 10 animations. Rather than boasting I would love to pick a dumb sort friendly wave where the Spartan in question looks around like (s)he’s looking for someone in particular and starts a widely waving at them.

15

I miss the Beta Energy Sword. :frowning:

16

> 2533274845218535;12:
> > 2533274794210491;9:
> > > 2533274845218535;8:
> > > > 2533274794210491;7:
> > > > I might be in the minority but there were many things I liked in the beta more then the official release. As for the resolution, I wish game companies would just stop trying to force/reach 1080p because textures and lighting and other graphical features are just as or more important. To be clear I am not saying resolution isn’t important but when developers have to cut back on other graphical area severely they end up having the opposite effect of what was intended.
> > >
> > >
> > > The game runs at 900p most of the time, but I think because they also have to predict that it can go up to 1080p, they dropped engine focus on a lot of things. The thing is though, other games can keep other processes up at the same time, so I think the biggest problem was going with the dynamic engine rather than having the game stay around 60FPS and have no FPS cap.
> >
> >
> > Well that is sort of what I meant. Some developers just do 1080p and cut back on everything else, while others like 343 have the dynamic crap but then other graphical features need change on in instant to keep the game running smoothly when the game gets to busy. Developers just need make a sacrifice somewhere if they want the best looking game they can make. Rise of the Tomb Raider on consoles is locked at only 30fps because Crystal Dynamic wanted the best looking game they could make and it is by far one of the best looking games this gen. To be fair it’s also Sony and Microsoft breathing down everyone’s neck because of the dumb console war which luckily has died down a lot.
>
>
> People at the same time feel a need for 60FPS, and here’s the part where it’s hard to please everyone. CoD Black Ops 3 looks great because it’s got a steady 30FPS. Then again, I never gained a standard for the 60FPS but other people have and there’s a new problem. 343i could add options in the next game like The Division (but a bit more diverse) and allow people to customize the graphics a bit to their liking. In Rainbow Six you can turn of VSync as well, and I hate VSync, so options like that would be great. It’d also be simpler than PC because you’re designing for one console, but the problem of “How competitive would the next installment be?” now comes into play. Now, you’ve got to make sure you don’t upset people when they lose to a guy because their framerate looses two frames and they freak out because “graphics” and the guy starts complaining.
>
> Lot’s of problems for them to figure out, but again, hopefully they can get the best of both worlds.

True, someone will always complain or not be happy but that is why I think developers should dial back on whatever graphical features and boost other ones if think this will make the best possible looking game they make. Since in my opinion if you have decent looking game that runs smoothly there won’t be that many complaints. I myself prefer consistent graphics, one set resolution, a locked or stable framrate because if the graphics constantly fluctuate it takes me out of the experience. I also totally agree on having a few more customizable graphic options. DOOM has FOV slider and I really wish more FPS had that.

We shall see what 343 will do.

17

> 2533274814550076;5:
> > 2535455681930574;3:
> > I loved the beta lighting and hope it returns for halo 6. Some complained that they couldn’t see so they changed it. Damn those people.
>
>
> Sorry :confused:
>
> I found the lighting bloom to be a bit ridiculous – especially on the swords. And when I look back at beta footage, I do not regret that complaint.
>
> Pic for reference: https://content.halocdn.com/media/Default/games/halo-5-guardians/media/truth-gallery/h5-mp-beta-truth-no-retreat-192ddf5cf61e458ca6dac72c9d7a179e.jpg

I actually think that picture looks good. Also the sword looked awesome in the beta.

18

> 2533274971171822;10:
> I don’t remember the beta anymore, but I really miss the match ending animation where the winning team was shown proud and happy they won.

See I did not really like those animations in particular but at the same time those are much better than confusing stares into the sky that we have now. This is a classic developer mistake I have seen where people complain about a certain issue but then the developer goes 180 in the opposite direction or they cut a feature completely. All 343 had to do was tone it down and not make the Spartans look like robots.