TR3 Graphics are Ahead of it's Time - Page 18

Reggie · 18-03-20, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulojr_mam

Especially because the geometry looks more organic (on the things that don't have to have square edges for gameplay reasons).

This is just false.

SrDanielPonces · 18-03-20, 20:27

these stairs??? look at those awfully applied textures! you can clearly see this game was made in a rush and without any care lmao

Kapu · 19-03-20, 04:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caesum

TR3 wastes a lot of poly due to its archaic way of applying textures, while at the same time it does not provide the same realistic proportions as MGS.

You point out something that's really gone overlooked in this discussion, and that's proportions! To me, it's not the blockiness of TR that puts it at a disadvantage compared to other titles (it's not ideal but IMO the grid works decently well for creating natural landscapes), it's the way everything in TR is MASSIVELY sized. Those giant blocks do not translate into believable looking man-made architecture at all. If the squares were a bit smaller, or Lara a bit taller (a full 4 clicks tall instead of about 3), everything could look different. Less cartoonish and more realistic.

Yeah and it doesn't help that the Core devs were pretty lazy about texturing. Stretched and improperly rotated textures are so commonplace in TR. I think TR4 is honestly the best looking classic, but even that game isn't immune from occasional wonky texturing.

Kind of veering of course, but if I had to pick the worst looking TR I'd award that title to Chronicles. Mostly VCI. It just doesn't look good. The bad proportions play a big part, but so does the clearly rushed and thrown together geometry and texturing. Still fun, though! Not hating.

LaraCablara · 19-03-20, 14:00

Someone please post a pic of Lara’s kitchen sink in Tomb Raider 2. The engine was crying for help and Core ignored it.

TR-Freak · 19-03-20, 14:29

TR2 Kitchen is for giants:

TR3 is a little bit better proportioned:

Tomb Raidering · 19-03-20, 14:34

Well, TR5 had those huge sinks in the Submarine level...

Caesum · 19-03-20, 15:01

Honestly TR2 engine was already outdated, but I think it pulled it off well anyway. The levels were big and interesting, we had many open locations during different times of day/night. It felt like a natural progression compared to TR1. In TR3 though they really should have tried to minimize the bad effects of huge block system. In the end - they didn't.

ESCachuli · 19-03-20, 17:51

The gigantic proportions work well in places like temples, tombs... because everything is supposed to be that way, and if it isn't it doesnt matter because you don't have reality to compare, but it doesn't work for environments like streets or a house because you can compare with real life.

I agree they should have tweaked the grid system, make the grid more dense.

BigBlueSoul · 11-08-22, 07:35

Quake came out the same year as TR1 and that blew Lara's adventure out of the Water, graphics wise.

Dan-d · 11-08-22, 18:26

Also, Sonic Adventure was released at the tail end of 1998 on Sega Dreamcast.
I would say all the TR games past TR2 were visually limited by the PS1 hardware and technically were less than impressive from PC gaming perspective.

19-03-20, 14:34	#176
Tomb Raidering Professor Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Pie Titty Posts: 3,899	Well, TR5 had those huge sinks in the Submarine level... __________________ Talk about being your own worst enemy.

18-03-20, 20:27	#172
SrDanielPonces Tomb Raider Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Insanity Posts: 10,275	these stairs??? look at those awfully applied textures! you can clearly see this game was made in a rush and without any care lmao

19-03-20, 14:00	#174
LaraCablara Professor Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,429	Someone please post a pic of Lara’s kitchen sink in Tomb Raider 2. The engine was crying for help and Core ignored it.

19-03-20, 14:29	#175
TR-Freak Unverified User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Deutschland Posts: 5,140	TR2 Kitchen is for giants: TR3 is a little bit better proportioned:

19-03-20, 15:01	#177
Caesum Tomb Raider Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Poland, Warsaw Gender: Male Posts: 12,058	Honestly TR2 engine was already outdated, but I think it pulled it off well anyway. The levels were big and interesting, we had many open locations during different times of day/night. It felt like a natural progression compared to TR1. In TR3 though they really should have tried to minimize the bad effects of huge block system. In the end - they didn't.

19-03-20, 17:51	#178
ESCachuli Professor Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 3,267	The gigantic proportions work well in places like temples, tombs... because everything is supposed to be that way, and if it isn't it doesnt matter because you don't have reality to compare, but it doesn't work for environments like streets or a house because you can compare with real life. I agree they should have tweaked the grid system, make the grid more dense.

11-08-22, 07:35	#179
BigBlueSoul Inactive Join Date: Jun 2022 Posts: 10	Quake came out the same year as TR1 and that blew Lara's adventure out of the Water, graphics wise.

11-08-22, 18:26	#180
Dan-d Student Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 211	Also, Sonic Adventure was released at the tail end of 1998 on Sega Dreamcast. I would say all the TR games past TR2 were visually limited by the PS1 hardware and technically were less than impressive from PC gaming perspective.