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"Fixed Camera Angles"

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Sun 23/09/01 at 22:51
Regular
Posts: 787
Fixed camera angles are used in games such as the Resident Evil series, Dino Crisis 1 and 2, In Cold Blood, Omimusha Warlords and quite a few RPGs. In fact, over half of Capcom's game use fixed camera angles. Basically, instead of using a camera that follows you around, or a 1st person view, the environments are basically like photos, but with moving characters inside. And every time your character gets a certain way away from you, it suddenly changes to another 'photo.'

Now, it seems to me like quite a few people like fixed camera angles...I mean, the Resident Evil and Dino Crisis series' were both highly acclaimed, and are very popular. Many people love RPGs, and as I said, I'm sure quite a few RPGs use them. Ominusha Warlords is also meant to be a good game.

So what do I think of them? To be honest, I think they are worst part of the gaming world. I think they are the worst thing EVER introduced to games. If I see a game, and think, "Hmmm, that sounds good," the first thing I check for is the camera angles. If it's 1st person, or if it follows your character around, then that's fine. However, is it has a fixed camera angle, I will basically dismiss the game.

Who don't I like them? In my opinion, they take all atmosphere out of gameplay, and they can also make controls very annoying-especially movement. Also, I like to see what's in front of me. On Dino Crisis 2 once, my character was walking further and further away from me until he was right at the edge of the screen. This meant I didn't see the vicious Velociraptor, which promptly leaped on top of 'me,' and killed me with it's sharp teeth and claws. I was intensely angry.

Back to the subject of movement though. On In Cold Blood, (surely one of the worst games ever, read my review to find out more,) I was trying to walk towards a door. I went to the edge of the screen, and then the camera angle suddenly changed. I had the analog button held down, and when the angle changed, it meant that I was going the wrong way! I ended up heading straight back into the background I was in before! I mean, it took me a couple of weeks to finally get the hang on the control system, only to realise it was one of the most boring games I've ever played.

Today, I read that Devil May Cry, (a highly anticipated shoot 'em up, which was one of my upcoming favourites on PS2,) has fixed camera angles. And look who makes it? Capcom! Capcom have now become one of my most hated games developers, thanks to the CONSTANT use of fixed camera angles.

I much prefer 3rd person views, in which the camera follows the player. This means, that if you're in a really exciting, fast and chaotic part of the game, that it doesn't get broken up by the camera angle changing all the time. You can continue on your 'journey,' without having to stop every 2 seconds, to work out which direction you should be going on.

I hate fixed camera angles. I detest them. I guess many others disagree, but I just can't see how anyone can even slightly enjoy a game with such a...such a handicap!

So I'd like to thank Capcom for making me spend around £60 of my money on your games, which I didn't enjoy at all because of the fixed camera angles. I also want to thank them for giving one of the best upcoming PS2 games, Devil May Cry, fixed camera angles, and for totally ruining any hopes I had of liking this game.

Thanks for reading, Ant.
Sat 29/09/01 at 22:09
Regular
"Fishing For Reddies"
Posts: 4,986
Never really thought about it...

I suppose they're good in some ways... you can't see exactly what's going on, and you've limited options when a zombie 'gets' you.

I don't like Survival Horror games, maybe it's because of the camera angles... I don't like not being able to see where i'm going...

I suppose they're like umberellas, good when you need them, damn annoying when you don't...

:D

Game
Sat 29/09/01 at 16:38
Posts: 0
Ultimately we should have a choice of what angle type and control system we get to use in these games!
Sat 29/09/01 at 15:40
Regular
"Back For Good"
Posts: 3,673
Fixed camera angles can be a pain because not only is it hard to see, it can also be hard to judge distance.

Devil May cry isn't fixed camera angles but there a bit annoying, originally the control system was the same as resident evil but now it's left to make the character go the the left of screen no matter which way he's facing and right goes right etc.

fine until the camera switches, fix it capcom or I'll come and get ya :-)
Sat 29/09/01 at 15:35
Posts: 0
Fixed Camera Angles are useful in that they restrict the field of play so that your not overwhealmed by zombies etc comming up behind you killing you without you knowing.

Unfixed camera angles can be just as if not more annoying than fixed camera angles!
Tue 25/09/01 at 08:28
Regular
"I like cheese"
Posts: 16,918
Strafex wrote:
> The footage of The Devil May Cry i saw on TV didn't look like it had fixed
> camera angles.
Infact fixed camera angles wouldn't suit it with it being an
> action game. It's not like Resi much at all.

As for Resi 1, wasn't it being
> re-made in full 3D and the other 3 simply being graphical updates?

That's what I thought, as the game is meant to be very fast...well, it certainly looks it.
Mon 24/09/01 at 21:38
Regular
Posts: 9,848
The footage of The Devil May Cry i saw on TV didn't look like it had fixed camera angles.
Infact fixed camera angles wouldn't suit it with it being an action game. It's not like Resi much at all.

As for Resi 1, wasn't it being re-made in full 3D and the other 3 simply being graphical updates?
Mon 24/09/01 at 20:25
Regular
Posts: 23,218
isnt it harder playing with fixed camera angles?
Mon 24/09/01 at 20:21
Regular
Posts: 23,216
Turbonutter wrote:

"It all just makes me wonder though, what's Resi 1 GC going to be like?"


Same old pre-rendered backgrounds. Same game[ish], just better visuals.
Mon 24/09/01 at 20:17
Regular
Posts: 23,218
tower cam and ball cam our good
Mon 24/09/01 at 19:57
Regular
""
Posts: 2,925
I love footy games only for the reasons they're normally good plus the variation on the camera angles! Goal cam, Free cam......

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