Video game graphics have come a long way. What were once simple pixels have evolved into 3D models that border on photorealism, but realistic graphics can only go so far. If a video game character can’t properly mimic facial expressions or body movements, much of the magic is lost. Through real people acting with motion capture, though, game developers can easily copy the movements of the human body and maintain the illusion. E3 was full of games with good body and facial animations, but a few stood out from the rest.
The Last of Us 2
E3 2018 Games that Nailed Facial and Motion Capture
The Last of Us might be about surviving against the greatest myconid menace since the Matango, but as George Romero has taught us, zombie apocalypses are less about the brain-eaters and more about the human condition being laid bare in the wake of overwhelming tragedy. Human determination, grit, and despair; it’s all there, and the survivors experience all of it sooner or later. You can’t just say that the humans experience these emotions, though; the best way to show off an emotion is to show it through raw and powerful facial expressions, which is where face capture comes in.
The Last of Us Part II’s E3 trailer featured Ellie and somehow crammed almost every emotion possible into its 11-minute runtime. Not only were the emotions displayed with impeccable animation, but the face capture technology allowed Ellie to seamlessly shift from one expression to another. And that was just during a cutscene. When the trailer demonstrated gameplay, Ellie moved with the grace and gravity of a human forged by life-and-death struggles. She savagely swung weapons at bandits and gripped her arm whenever she was hit, and when Ellie hid under a truck and aimed her gun at an approaching person, she visibly shook with fear. You could literally taste each of Ellie’s emotions throughout the E3 trailer thanks to face and motion capture. And the same could be said of every other character in the trailer.
Death Stranding
E3 2018 Games that Nailed Facial and Motion Capture
Hideo Kojima is known for two things: plots that are batshit insane and plots that aim for the emotional centers of their audiences. Normally, you would think those wouldn’t play together well, but from what we’ve seen of Death Stranding, the insanity and the feels jell together perfectly thanks to the facial animation and motion capture.
Not only does Death Stranding look positively photorealistic, but the animations on display in the trailers make the fictional world filled with jar babies and invisible oil ghosts seem almost grounded. When Sam (but we all are going to call him Norman Reedus) saw the hand prints of an approaching oil ghost, you could feel his fear thanks to his subtle facial expressions, and don’t tell me you didn’t wince when he pulled off that bloody toenail. He gritted his teeth and gingerly touched the toenail before ripping it off; it all sold a bloody and visceral reaction that made Sam seem real. Also, one look at Lea Seydoux’s face and you could just tell that, no matter how brave she tried to look, she was ready to run when faced with the ghosts. That’s not an easy emotion to convey, but Death Stranding does so masterfully.
Gears of War 5
E3 2018 Games that Nailed Facial and Motion Capture
Gears of War started as a series of fun, genre-defining, cover-based third-person shooters. The games had a continuous narrative, but the focus was on how many ways you could carve up enemies like Thanksgiving Day turkeys rather than the plot. But then the fourth game came along and (spoilers) teased that the long-theorized connection between Human and Locust does indeed exists. How do in-game characters react to this kind of revelation? If the trailer for Gears of War 5 is any indication, realistically and with gusto.
The emotions of characters were at the forefront of the Gears of War E3 trailer, all created beautifully with face capture technology. Not only are the facial animations fluid, but just one look gives you a peek into the inner workings of each character’s mind. You can see the gears turning in their heads (pun intended) and know exactly what each person is thinking, be it concern, sorrow, fear, or betrayal. You don’t get this kind of raw emotion from most third-person shooters. But then again, most shooters don’t have face and motion capture quite like Gears of War 5.
Ghost of Tsushima
E3 2018 Games that Nailed Facial and Motion Capture
Original video game IPs are a dangerous proposition in the current market. Plenty of gamers would rather fall back on what they know and love rather than risk being disappointed by a new idea. That’s why most games these days are sequels, reboots, or remakes. It’s not impossible to make a successful new IP (just look at Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and Overwatch), just difficult. Drawing players in with expressive animations created thanks to face and motion capture can make the process easier, though.
In Ghost of Tsushima, players will take the role of a Japanese samurai as they fend off invading Mongols. The developers at Sucker Punch seem to have been watching old samurai movies, because the animations are almost ripped straight from those classics. From the way the main character holds his sword aloft after slicing a Mongol in two to said Mongol staggering around before realizing he’s dead, every inch of the game feels like a tribute to those films. It’s one thing to emulate a samurai movie’s style, but requiring each motion capture artist to meticulously copy all the mannerisms and movements synonymous with samurai films is bound to turn Ghost of Tsushima into a must-buy for any Akira Kurosawa fan.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
E3 2018 Games that Nailed Facial and Motion Capture
Square Enix has breathed new life into the Tomb Raider series. The previous two entries in the reboot trilogy have put Lara Croft through hell, and gamers have experienced every excruciating step of the way. A mixture of tight game design and expressive animations through face capture have made gamers fall in love with Lara all over again, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider seems as though it will continue that proud tradition, especially in the animation department.
The face capture from the E3 2018 trailer gave viewers an in-depth look into Lara’s moment-to-moment thoughts. When she tried to steady the plane, her face showed she was determined even though she knew doing so would a long shot, but seconds later, when the cockpit ripped away from the plane, you could see the fear in her eyes. Lara knew she was about to die, and even though she tried to buckle herself in, deep down she thought it was a fool’s errand. You have to give mad props to a game that can demonstrate those kinds of thoughts through facial expression.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
E3 2018 Games that Nailed Facial and Motion Capture
Resident Evil 2 Remake has been on everyone’s minds since the original Resident Evil was remade over a decade ago. Everyone waited with bated breath for a game that seemed like it would never come, especially after Resident Evil 6. However, the wait has been worth it, because time has allowed Capcom to develop face and motion capture technology that ramps up the scares.
The remake’s zombies shamble like any other zombie, but this time there’s a weight to their shambling that makes them feel almost sympathetic, like they aren’t just enemies to be killed but sad souls that need to be put out of their misery. Sure, the zombies want to eat your brains, but their limp movements make them far more pitiable than the average zombie. Plus, the developers made sure to make every bite look as though it hurts like crazy. A great way to make audiences root for a character is to make them seem brave by fighting through pain, and that pain is captured brilliantly by Resident Evil 2 Remake’s motion capture.
Published: Jun 14, 2018 09:28 pm