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As I flipped through updated video and still shots of Heavenly Sword something occured to me -- as the game is being developed and refined, the lead character Nariko has changed a bit.  She no longer looked like the angry stylized toon we first saw last year. In fact, the last update by Ninja Theory featured a near photo-realistic image of her.  I ran through some of the older screenshots and posted a comparison of the noted changes.

They're all similar, but I think I prefer the older fiery haired one a bit. Maybe they're just environmental lighting differences, but some things (like the headband) are definitely different. In-game item wardrobe changes perhaps?

(Note: No relation to Nagiko) 


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35 comments | showing # 1 to 35

wario67's Avatar
wario67 at 03/14/2007 14:17
yea I like the other one

reminds me of the look of jade from half life vs. the jade from boyde good and evil
Barbara's Avatar
Barbara at 03/14/2007 14:18
Well the newest gameplay footage shows her looking pretty identical. I think it's just character refinement but mostly lighting.
wario67's Avatar
wario67 at 03/14/2007 14:18
older ^
wario67's Avatar
wario67 at 03/14/2007 14:19
Beyond Good & Evil^
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 03/14/2007 14:25
Nagiko huh...

wait what's going on? Near photo-realistic image rox my cox I say.
bayushi's Avatar
bayushi at 03/14/2007 14:25
I like the older one better. This newer iteration is less Asian looking. More vanilla caucasoid ... Give me firecrotch FTW!
Pistolaero's Avatar
Pistolaero at 03/14/2007 14:25
I don't care, just give me the damn game already!
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 03/14/2007 14:32
Cox = I have more than one cock. Thats right ladies, the snail train is leaving the station, and is ready to leave snail trails all up in your baby box.
Toneman's Avatar
Toneman at 03/14/2007 14:34
I like the old one too. Not all games need to be photorealistic. Style is the way to go.
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 03/14/2007 14:41
TONEMAN!!!!!!!
Namelessted's Avatar
Namelessted at 03/14/2007 14:44
I would have to say that I prefer the older looking images better. The differences are subtle, but they are there. The original is a bit more 'toony and stylized where the new one is leaning more towards realistic. I will almost always prefer a stylistic aproach rather than "realistic" because once all games go for the super realistic look they all start looking the same.
subnet6's Avatar
subnet6 at 03/14/2007 14:45
older is much better.
jeffstart's Avatar
jeffstart at 03/14/2007 14:46
looks a little like Alyx too
Toneman's Avatar
Toneman at 03/14/2007 14:55
SNAILEB!!!!!!! WHAY ARE WE YELLING?!?!?
Jordan Grim Devore's Avatar
Jordan Grim Devore at 03/14/2007 15:00
The realistic-looking picture looks like it was taken right before the moneyshot.
Ignus's Avatar
Ignus at 03/14/2007 15:13
"The realistic-looking picture looks like it was taken right before the moneyshot." Lol.

But the 1st picture looks better. The hair in the latest looks like lame, although theres not a lot of games than get the hair right.
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 03/14/2007 15:16
@ Toneman : Hi!

Grim : thinking the exact same thing!
Jordan Grim Devore's Avatar
Jordan Grim Devore at 03/14/2007 15:19
Oh yeah, forgot to say that my favorite is the 1st. The hair in the third one looks like it's liquid and her nose appears to be bigger.
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 03/14/2007 15:21
MS Paint FTW

Toneman's Avatar
Toneman at 03/14/2007 15:34
Snail trails?
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 03/14/2007 15:41
Just doing my job.
The Tormented's Avatar
The Tormented at 03/14/2007 15:52
Photo Realistic Snail Trails,mind you.
Justice's Avatar
Justice at 03/14/2007 16:29
In the old pic she had quite a manly face, I think they want this to be the new Lara Croft or something
Namelessted's Avatar
Namelessted at 03/14/2007 16:32
money shot FTW
Namelessted's Avatar
Namelessted at 03/14/2007 16:37
i was just looking at the pictures again. While the new shot does look more "photo realistic" it is less detailed than the original. I don't think they went with the new look because they wanted to, i think they are going with this new look because it is easier to render on the PS3.

the initial 2006 stuff was all based around a more powerful PS3. the orignial shots are easily more stylistic, but they are more detailed when you look at it. The shadows are better, the bandanna looks like it has depth, the hair is more details. the new shot has a lot softer look and maybe that is why it looks more realistic.

but i think this is the result of the PS3 under performing initial thoughts.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 03/14/2007 16:42
Looks like Alyx from HL2 now. In fact, at first I thought you were showing how much the new one on the left looks like Alyx, but the one on the right isn't actually Alyx.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar
michiyoyoshiku at 03/14/2007 16:53
Sony is so full of shit I don't know what to believe any more
ElementalBlazer's Avatar
ElementalBlazer at 03/14/2007 16:56
She's getting uglier and uglier
Campbell's Avatar
Campbell at 03/14/2007 17:19
The newer, updated image is leagues ahead of the original.


Apparently I'm the only person on this planet that is sick and tired of the same look on female video game characters
Pepillou2's Avatar
Pepillou2 at 03/14/2007 22:14
I think Nariko's fugly.
Nagiko's not.
Tim_Stoppard's Avatar
Tim_Stoppard at 03/14/2007 23:22
Yeah, I love the new one by miles.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 03/15/2007 09:05
The new pics look less colorfull and vibrant. I'd rather have good art design over photorealism anyday.
Natedizzle's Avatar
Natedizzle at 03/15/2007 11:11
She is so F'in hot
Virtualgirl's Avatar
Virtualgirl at 03/16/2007 01:47
She looks great either way!!!!!
branflakesinmilk's Avatar
branflakesinmilk at 03/16/2007 18:47
I like the bloodshot eyes- she seems more desperate, which fits in better with the storyline.
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