The Witcher 3 Fan Recreates Bathtub Scene With PlayStation Graphics
A clever fan of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has reimagined the game’s opening scene with humorous additions and a graphical downgrade. Those who have wanted a chance to see The Witcher 3 as if it were de-aged to 1994 now have the chance to do just that.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is regarded as one of the best role-playing games of the generation, with many even rating it among the best video games of all time. The massive open-world fantasy RPG opened with its iconic main character, Geralt of Rivia, resting in a hot bath before his adventure starts anew. With the introduction of a major character and an unwanted guest, the scene has become almost as iconic as the White Wolf himself.
It’s no surprise, then, that when developer Anders Lundbjork set out to recreate a scene from the Witcher’s third video game installment in the style of the original PlayStation, he chose the bathtub scene at the beginning. At first, the piece is consistentwith the original game, right down to little wobble of Geralt's pony-tail and the slightly uncomfortable parting of his legs. However, things take a turn once Yennifer enters, and fans of the meme-generating Witcher 3 should be pleased with the number of references Lundbjork crammed into the one-minute video.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBO-f5Si99g[/embed]
Today’s gaming enthusiasts can take for granted that modern consoles generally have the same features; what works on a PlayStation 5 will usually work on an Xbox Series X with minimal differences. Older consoles such as the PS1 and Nintendo 64 often had drastically different hardware capabilities that gave their games distinct visuals. Viewers who owned a PlayStation back in the day will noticed the tell-tale warping on objects, a product of the PS1’s inability to display perspective-correct textures. This little detail makes the hardware inspiration instantly recognizable and lends an authenticity to Lundbjork’s work.
With the new generation of consoles pushing 4K resolutions, 120 FPS and insane special effects, it’s surprising to see how far technology has come. Many critics of the industry argue that the quest for ultra-realistic graphics has led to the dumbing-down of video games as a whole, losing depth for prettier visuals. While games like The Witcher 3 offer a counterpoint to that argument, there’s no doubt that graphics are heavily emphasized in the modern industry; new consoles are often advertised and sold on their graphics power alone.
Little videos like this remind the world of a different time in game development, where the polygon counts were low and animations were simple. The industry has recently been putting out quite a few remasters and remakes of games that were created in the early days of 3D, so consumers can expect to ride this nostalgia train for a while longer.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch.
Post a Comment