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> The hook was that it was one of the first 3D games were things looked kind-of, sort-of, maybe-if-you-squinted-at-them realistic. The graphics in general were

> The hook was that it was one of the first 3D games were things looked kind-of, sort-of, maybe-if-you-squinted-at-them realistic. The graphics in general were not ground breaking (for me earlier games like Quake, Magic Carpet, Heretic, Descent, Tie Fighter, etc. were just as good if not better - Duke Nukem 3d was far behind the 8 ball), it was the movement mechanics which really sold it - definitely the first 3d character who moved with a degree of realism. I don't think even today movement is always handled quite so well - too many glitches where you suddenly zip through a movement at lightning speed.

ethbro 10y ago
My thinking was that none of the other games I could think of from that time period (including your mentions) were intended to take place in a real-world setting. There's a certain artistic license you can bank on when you're working in a fantasy setting.
Florin_Andrei 10y ago
It was really fluid at the time - and, as you point out, even now it's good. Sure, the resolution is junk by today's standards, but that's expected. I'd like to also point out that, from an artistic perspective, the game had a coherent atmosphere and story. It was the first game I've seen where you could see the beginnings of games borrowing a little from movies. Visuals, story, and music told the same message and expressed the same spirit. It was an early preview of a concept that would be pushed further by later game series such as Uncharted and Mass Effect. I think it was the very beginning of the big eventual merger between games and movies that's still a ways ahead in the future.
- yareally 10y ago
  > "I'd like to also point out that, from an artistic perspective, the game had a coherent atmosphere and story. It was the first game I've seen where you could see the beginnings of games borrowing a little from movies. Visuals, story, and music told the same message and expressed the same spirit." Maybe one of the first 3D games in its genre, but not the only game that had such things. There were other games at the time or before that had similar aspects: - Diablo (1996) - Resident Evil (1996) - The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (1996) - Warcraft II (1995) - Command & Conquer (1995) - Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995) - X-COM (1994) - Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992)

ethbro 10y ago

My thinking was that none of the other games I could think of from that time period (including your mentions) were intended to take place in a real-world setting. There's a certain artistic license you can bank on when you're working in a fantasy setting.

Florin_Andrei 10y ago

It was really fluid at the time - and, as you point out, even now it's good. Sure, the resolution is junk by today's standards, but that's expected. I'd like to also point out that, from an artistic perspective, the game had a coherent atmosphere and story. It was the first game I've seen where you could see the beginnings of games borrowing a little from movies. Visuals, story, and music told the same message and expressed the same spirit. It was an early preview of a concept that would be pushed further by later game series such as Uncharted and Mass Effect. I think it was the very beginning of the big eventual merger between games and movies that's still a ways ahead in the future.

yareally 10y ago
> "I'd like to also point out that, from an artistic perspective, the game had a coherent atmosphere and story. It was the first game I've seen where you could see the beginnings of games borrowing a little from movies. Visuals, story, and music told the same message and expressed the same spirit." Maybe one of the first 3D games in its genre, but not the only game that had such things. There were other games at the time or before that had similar aspects: - Diablo (1996) - Resident Evil (1996) - The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall (1996) - Warcraft II (1995) - Command & Conquer (1995) - Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995) - X-COM (1994) - Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992)