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With next generation consoles popping up right left and centre, its obvious to even the blind that graphics are now reaching new heights with amazingingly detailed worlds and locations, smooth animation, and life like polygons that form into the shape of real creatures. Ok maybe we aren't that good enough just yet, but one day we'll reach the limit seen in the Final Fantasy : Spirits Within film. Until then we can continue to push the boundaries with new original styles. Cell Shading being one of them.
Cell shading is one of the more recent types of computer animation that has stormed the gaming world. It creates a special Manga anime look in games by defining light sources. The end result is something that looks smooth and stylish, and gives games instant sex appeal. Who would have thought that games could be trendy?
Jet Set Radio was the first to start off the Cell Shading trend. The first real "cool" game that oozed style. Now it seems every game wants to copy the famous Jet Set Stylee. Including the ever-famous Legend Of Zelda, and now Sega's own House Of The Dead 3.
The Legend Of Zelda is a famous long running Nintendo RPG that has become even more famous thanks to the 3D N64 version, named Ocarina Of Time, being the number one game since its realise years ago. Yet Nintendo have always made games that would appeal to children as well as adults. This has earned them the reputation of making game consoles for kids and not adults, and is something they need to shake off in order for their latest baby, the GameCube, to be a success.
When the GameCube Zelda demo was shown many moons ago, people rejoiced at what appeared to be "an adult Zelda". Indeed, it looked fantastic. Yet what the loyal Zelda fans expected turned out to be wrong, as the new look Zelda that was revealed shocked everyone and Nintendo soon found themselves amongst bags of hate mail. Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto decided to use Cell Shading, turning Zelda into a living cartoon, something that will question their reputation.
In a bizarre turn of events, soon everyone wants to steal Cell Shading. Recently the first ever screenshots of The House Of The Dead 3 were unveiled. The series have always been based around Zombified horror, blood, guts, and guns. There is no other light gun game like it. It mixes the best shooting elements of old age Virtua Cop and slams in some Resident Evil. So why choose Cell Shading?
Both Zelda and The House Of The Dead 3 look like living breathing cartoons now, and is that really a good thing? Jet Set Radio is one cool mutha of a game, but then the actual game itself is cool, with or without the Cell Shading. It makes sense to use it. But with a game like Zelda that needs to barge its way into the adult market? It just looks deformed and will not suit the gameplay Zelda fans know and love. In this case graphics DO make the difference! The House Of The Dead 3 should go hide back behind a rock. Do the developers really want to make a zombie infested gore shooter "trendy" by introducing Cell Shading? If you ask me they should make it much darker in its style, literally turning it into survival horror with a light gun. Turning into a cartoon does no justice at all!
Cell Shading itself is very very sweet, but only if used in the right genres of games. What will we see next, Virtua Fighter using Cell Shading? More and more developers now turn to Cell Shading. Lets keep it for the cool games that are supposed to be cool ok? Not all of those wannabee's.
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