yeah, I'm a fan of cutscenes, cinematics, animatics, and most gameplay-supporting visual experiences. they not only add tremendously to the immersiveness of a gaming experience, but they can make or break a game in reviews and at exhibitions. so it's no surprise that cinematic visuals have received a heaping helping of developer attention all the way from 8-bit and coin-op days to the present. feel free to share some of your favorite video game cutscenes and cinematics here. if you can find a youtube clip of them, even better.
it's no secret that homeworld is one of my favorite games of(!) all(!!) time(!!!), and its cutscenes really made the experience for me. at the time of its release, homeworld was one of the most visually impressive pc games ever, and its gorgeous yet surprisingly undemanding graphic environment was as much a landmark innovation as the fully three-dimensional gameplay. the black-and-white art style used in the cinematics is a nice touch, and the cut to the (in-game) camera move through space past the massive mothership was and to many people still is one of the most stunning moments in the history of gaming cinematics...
i also always enjoyed the command and conquer cut scenes -- the more CGIish ones, rather than the james earl jonesy, terrible acting ones.
after 2:25 of bad scrips and classic 1982 sci-fi adventuring, you get to the cool part. you're the bad guys, you just took over the world, and now you get to flex your muscle by blowing shit up for the sake of blowing shit up.
totally your choice, too.
white house, eiffel tower, big ben, or brandenburg
I've, of course, been talking about how good Mass Effect is. This intro is just a small example of the cinematic style that makes the game more involving and fun. Keep in mind that the first bit of dialogue is totally dependent upon what three backgrounds you take. Essentially, everything except the "What about Shepard?" part will change.
One of my favorite aspects of the game is the blending off cut scenes with gameplay.
whomod said: I generally don't like it when people decide to play by the rules against people who don't play by the rules. It tends to put you immediately at a disadvantage and IMO is a sign of true weakness. This is true both in politics and on the internet."
whomod said: I generally don't like it when people decide to play by the rules against people who don't play by the rules. It tends to put you immediately at a disadvantage and IMO is a sign of true weakness. This is true both in politics and on the internet."