Information Realms of Arkania HD Remake Announced

[Indranys]

Show me the combat screen, then we'll talk.

Show me the combat and world map travel screen, then we'll talk.

 

[Excidium]

Do people really find those graphics better than the originals?

 

[evdk]

Do people really find those graphics better than the originals?

Obviously. It's kind of sad.

 

[Jaesun]

I think it looks OK.

 

[Excidium]

It reminds me of those HD graphics mods for Quake, System Shock, Deus Ex, etc that just slap high-res textures on everything and manage to make it look worse because it doesn't go well with the rudimentary models and effects.

 

[Mother Russia]

Do people really find those graphics better than the originals?

Yes. I loved the originals, and they have aged quite well, but this just seems better. But ofcourse, lets not get ahead of ourselves over one screenie released: It's the gameplay that matters in the end.

Show me the combat and world map travel screen, then we'll talk.

Exactly!

 

[Gord]

It reminds me of those HD graphics mods for Quake, System Shock, Deus Ex, etc that just slap high-res textures on everything and manage to make it look worse because it doesn't go well with the rudimentary models and effects.

The graphics in part 2 and especially 3 were functional and nice enough, true.
Of course, some people like higher resolutions, better textures, 3d acceleration and so on, and I think you can't blame them for that.
However you think about it, the first part definitely can use some improvements, the graphics in that one were rather simplistic.

 

[Brother None]

Do people really find those graphics better than the originals?

Cheap 3D will always be bottom-rung for me, compared even to cheap 2D. If they have a limited budget they should get creative rather than blow it all on crappy 3D. Use a very fitting, mood-setting HUD. Use lot of 2D drawings for face closeups and inventory etc. Maybe even for the top-down combat. 3D town exploration would work, if, y'know, Legend of Grimrock style.

Now one screenshot is very little to go on but at first glance, no it does not look better than the originals in any meaningful way, and going the "cheap 3D" route seems unwise to me.

 

[Hobbit Lord of Mordor_]

I think it looks OK.

It's an image of a generic 3D barn, of course it looks 'OK'

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

What's the point of making a "HD" remake of a nice looking 2D game if it's going to be a generic, low-budget 3D? More like LD remake, amirite.

 

[Shannow]

Graphicswhorecodex

 

[Mother Russia]

Do people really find those graphics better than the originals?

Cheap 3D will always be bottom-rung for me, compared even to cheap 2D. If they have a limited budget they should get creative rather than blow it all on crappy 3D. Use a very fitting, mood-setting HUD. Use lot of 2D drawings for face closeups and inventory etc. Maybe even for the top-down combat. 3D town exploration would work, if, y'know, Legend of Grimrock style.

Now one screenshot is very little to go on but at first glance, no it does not look better than the originals in any meaningful way, and going the "cheap 3D" route seems unwise to me.

It looks quite good to be honest, and certainly better than the first person view of 1 and 2, and heck even 3 (which had a major overhaul) I'm surprised anyone will say different, no offense intended. Sometimes let's just call an apple an apple and be done with it.

Also just to point out, Grimrock is quite beautful But keep in mind it's all an underground dungeon, which is much easier to do than overland. All you really need to focus on are grey stone slabs and floors mostly. Overland now, that's a different story. Forests/trees are not easy to do at all.

 

[Lady_Error]

Just listened to a Guido Henkel interview - he is also currently playing around with the Unity engine and thinks about creating a less ambitious and less costly RPG.

He also mentions that he is not interested in working on anything Realms of Arkania related. He prefers to do his own thing.

The full interview is here (in German).

 

[General Maxson]

Just listened to a Guido Henkel interview - he is also currently playing around with the Unity engine and thinks about creating a less ambitious and less costly RPG.

He also mentions that he is not interested in working on anything Realms of Arkania related. He prefers to do his own thing.

The full interview is here (in German).

Too bad...

 

[mbpopolano24]

Awesome news. This year is the best RPG year ever. Ever, I tell you.

It is, until all the games we are looking forward to are postponed to 2014.

Well, I would not mind if some 'awesomeness' would spill over 2014. I am pretty sure Dead State and Project Eternity won't be ready until the end of that year anyway, if we are lucky...

 

[turrican]

GameStar (one of the big German game magazines) has a new article on Das Schwarze Auge - Die Schicksalsklinge HD with new Screenshots that look quite promising.

Well the map actually looks like cheap CGI, but at least it is back.

Turn-based combat is back with options like "Kampf starten" (start the fight).

The seven good and seven bad character attributes are included, as are talents. It looks like to can go to "Kampf starten"
at any time.


If you don't speak German, translate the whole three page article for yourself with google translate or whatever, but here are some
noteworthy parts from a GameStar journalist who was able to testplay and chat with the developers:

- It is a remake very close to the original with tactical, turn-based combat. Fights can last twenty minutes. Cover/terrain is a modifier in battle, a
mage can hide behind a wall and peek. Dice rolls are simulated and there is an option to directly show the dice results.

- The travel map is back and travel is like in the old game where you can set up guards, hunting, herb collecting and so on when camping.

- Talents like music making, haggling and romancing are in and will all be useful (for instance to play in a tavern to earn ducats).

- The graphics are worse than Witcher 2, but include nice weather effects and day/night cycles and are not so important in the grand scheme
of things, as this game is a remake close to the original.

- 80 hours are needed to complete all quests.

- The game will cost 20 Euro.

 

[Irenaeus]

 

[mindx2]

With everything else going on recently (T:ToN, MMX, D:OS, etc.) I had forgotten this one had been announced. Looks good so far but still waiting for more info just like with MMX. When is is scheduled for release and who is distributing it in the US?

 

[felipepepe]

Wow, this looks so old-school I'm kind of shocked they are really releasing it this way in this day and age.

 

[Cosmo]

- 80 hours are needed to complete all quests.

How does it compare to the original game ?

 

[Jasede]

The original game didn't really have any "quests" in that sense of the word. You're basically just adventuring trying to find map pieces. But with RoA 2 experience, 1 takes maybe 40-50 hours, and more if you're thorough. But since the game is so sprawling, to see everything it might well be 100 hours (though not at a time - this considers repeat plays in which you find stuff you probably missed).

 

[commie]

Name one respectful remake made recently.

There's that epic by the Codex staff's favorite Developer/publisher ensemble : Jagged Alliance: Back in Action!

I'll just stand in the corner over here and fap very very cautiously.

How is that different from what you normally do?

 

[Vault Dweller]

GameStar (one of the big German game magazines) has a new article on Das Schwarze Auge - Die Schicksalsklinge HD with new Screenshots that look quite promising.

We can finally see fear in the goblin's eyes!

 

[hoverdog]

 

[mindx2]

GameStar (one of the big German game magazines) has a new article on Das Schwarze Auge - Die Schicksalsklinge HD with new Screenshots that look quite promising.

We can finally see fear in the goblin's eyes!

I don't like the zoomed in look of this shot. Would much rather see an overhead combat screen shot, not this FPS perspective. At least there's a grid...