PES 2014 - Teaser Analysis
We've decided to pay our respects to the new Fox engine by diving into some up-close analysis of the PES 2014 teaser trailer.
The clip closes with the phrase "EEE" or "Everything is engineered with emotion", and that's not wrong. The faces of the players in this teaser trailer look superb - with unmistakable looks of anguish and despair. We had anger on PES 2013 - but the visibility of skin imperfections, pores and follicles on PES 2014 takes it to a whole new level.
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/grahamday/Facecloseup_zps66ddf627.png
The first shot, a close up of a player, gives you a mixture of textures, depths and lighting on the player's face. You can clearly see the pores in his skin, and his designer stubble facial hair. PES 2013 had facial hair - but it looked more like colourign on the skin, whereas this lifts off. Notice the construction of the ear too.
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/grahamday/Grass_zpscf723acd.png
We jump a few frames forward and see the feet of a player running out onto the pitch - a pitch that has textured grass on it, with individual blades. We can see from a later shot in the teaser that a player's foot will sink into it slightly too - it definitely has more depth, and shading when compared to its predecessor.
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/grahamday/emotionveinsweat_zps78aee099.png
Next we move to another emotion shot. This appears to be a man on the deck - and whilst it becomes obvious that it isn't a real person the longer you look at it, you would be forgiven for being fooled at first. Look at the vein sticking out of his neck - much more convincing than previously. Other details that stand out are the scunched up nose, the furrowing of his brow and the crows feet on the side of his eyes.
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/grahamday/Crowdflares_zpseadd9bc5.png
More emotion now, but away from the pitch. Gone are the days of cardboard cutout fans - if this is in-game footage then the atmosphere of matches will be much more intense. Smoke and flares, rhytmical bouncing... The Copa Libertadores matches could potentially be insane!
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http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/grahamday/clothingfit_zpsc2075f48.png
Clothing fit - nice and simple but makes a great aesthetic difference. Here, the players shirts appear to be hanging from their bodies - as opposed to be stuck to them. We can't see to what extent at this point, but could be a great for physical tussles.
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/grahamday/anger-despair_zps2f9334c8.png
This is possibly the most emotional shot of the lot - a man raising his hands to his face in what looks to be despair. Has he just been sent off, or lost a major final - we can't tell but you can see his pain through the realistic shaping of his mouth and screwed up eyes. The detailing of his hands is also superb.
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/grahamday/stadiumcolouring_zpsf2c2e04c.png
There isn't much colour in this video but this stadium shot injects some - probably to highlight what looks to be a new atmospheric feature. Notice the tiles in the stands, producing that 'mosaic' art effect that can often be seen at big games.
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/grahamday/legmuscles_zpsda0680e9.png
Probably not the clearest example, and one that will require a little further analysis; the legs on the models in the video had very clearly defined muscles, but in this shot I'm trying to show that it isn't always the case. The muscles looked to be changing in definition, flexing if you will, but can't be entirely certain with the monochrome palette.
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae97/grahamday/Foxball_zps16201f80.png
Not a graphical or emotional detail as such - but the ball clearly sports the Fox Engine logo, and rightly so too. If this is a sign of things to come then I, for one, am very excited for the future. Everything is engineered with emotion? I'm certainly full of it right now, bravo Konami. Roll on E3.