Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days looks like a YouTube video. Shaky cameras, rough textures, and pixelated violence are all part of the package. Don't adjust your TV set though, that's on purpose. For IO Interactive, creating a gritty, believable story is about far more than high resolution textures.
"The way we tell the story is from a POV perspective at all times, so you don't get to like cross reference how the bad guys are thinking, you're staying with those two guys the entire duration of the game," explains producer Karsen Lund. "So that kind of dictated the way we tell the story, because we need that feel of the documentary, of something that is made on the spot. Not really staged for an audience in that sense. So you can that is one way the style affected the story.
"But also, the story needed to be a bit more unstaged than your usual Hollywood drama. It needs to feel like this is happening in real life. So location is a little bit off, and everything's a little big skewed compared to your basic dramatic."
A very bold and ambitious style, one must admit. However, is IO worried that graphics-hungry gamers won't "get" what Dog Days is trying to achieve, and write the game off for what they mistakenly believe are shoddy visuals? Hit the jump as IO tells us everything will be alright.
"Actually do think that yeah, the people that we're already showing this to do get it," explains Lund. "This doesn't come across as actually low res when you play it, I think that it comes across as very modern. The way we actually show each other what happens in the world, whether we choose reality television or social stuff. We tried to polish all of the visuals like that. It's not like this game's not polished, we spent a lot of resources into creating this feel and look, but I think it makes. Sometimes it makes the Hollywood style if you know what i mean?
"In my view, i think it's a modern take on realism and looks. i also think it's proves the point that believable isn't always about texture resolution, actually it never is."
Sounds pretty damn hot to me. Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days will be hitting all the HD systems on August 24.
Contest:
9:00 PM on 03.18.2010
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WII?
The Wii isn't HD.
Either way, give me Hitman 5 already.
The more important question though is how does the shooting feel this time around?
I don't know how well the shaky cam effect is going to translate into satisfactory gameplay though.
But the reason Kane And Lynch one and now it seems two are lacking in the graphics department compared to other games in 2010 is a very simple reason: IO Interactive doesn't have very talented graphic designers.
They are good at gameplay, even better at level ideas and great at characters.
And Kane and Lynch from a writing and dialogue view is outstanding.
But they HAD to come up with this "stylized" look. They can't do high def.
First they went the cartoony look with Mini Ninjas, now the shaky cam and distortions look for KaL2...just admit it, Io. It's not some artsy decision: You can't draw.
Which I'm hoping someone at Io sees this and takes it as a challenge. (dare to dream) Prove me wrong. Create a game as good looking as your titles are otherwise fun. I say you can't do it.
I'm fully prepared for awkward animations and textures that look like PS2 with this new Kane and Lynch. But I still want your game, so maybe I'm partly to blame for none of you taking any graphic designing classes.
@KG989
This should answer your question.
"However, is IO worried that graphics-hungry gamers won't 'get' what Dog Days is trying to achieve, and write the game off for what they mistakenly believe are shoddy visuals?"
He said it in the sense that other, more graphics-oriented reviewers may not see what IO is going for.
"Sounds pretty damn hot to me."
Does that scream "shoddy" to you? Actually read the articles for once, and don't just attack Jim becuase you don't like him.
Oh well, as long as the gameplay and action are any good, I'll probably give it a try.
the camera view and even the graphics are great i see no graphics problems..
game looks good and i have to check it out
susan, Car Games center
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