Square Enix have released another developer diary for Final Fantasy VII Remake, this time focusing on the graphics and visual effects.
This includes interviews with Director and Concept Design Tetsuya Nomura, Character Modeling Director Masaaki Kazeno, Lead Animator Hiroyuki Nagatsuka, Cutscene Director Hidekazu Miyake, Lead Animation Programmer Ryo Hara, Facial Director Akira Iwasawa, Battle Animation Director Hiroyuki Yamaji, Environment Director Takako Miyake, Producer Yoshinori Kitase, Graphics & VFX Director Shintaro Takai,
This includes discussion on how the film Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children inspired them with a realistic look, while trying not to lose the style of the original game. In addition, the team first looked at the original concept art for the characters- by Tetsuya Nomura.
Even when using real people as a reference for bone structure and muscle tone, some liberties were taken. For example, Cloud was based off a male ballet dancer (due to their slim yet incredibly muscle-toned build), rather than the larger muscles that would actually be required to lift the Buster Sword.
The game also utilized motion capture (including using a real gymnast for the scene when Cloud jumps off the train in the game’s introduction), and facial capture.
For cutscenes conversations with NPCs, the game’a AI automatically generates lip synching based on the lines. This also changes when the game’s language is changed.
This is combined with a system that places pre-recorded facial expressions on an axis of emotions. For example smiling is opposite disgust, while a glad expression is between a surprise and a smile.
You can find the Inside Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode 5: Graphics and Visual Effects below.
In case you missed it, you can find the past developer diaries here [1, 2, 3], and more information about the game here [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9].
You can find the full rundown of the game (via PlayStation) below.
The world has fallen under the control of the Shinra Electric Power Company, a shadowy corporation controlling the planet’s very life force as mako energy.
In the sprawling city of Midgar, an anti-Shinra organization calling themselves Avalanche have stepped up their resistance. Cloud Strife, a former member of Shinra’s elite SOLDIER unit now turned mercenary, lends his aid to the group, unaware of the epic consequences that await him.
A spectacular re-imagining of one of the most visionary games ever, the first game in this project will be set in the eclectic city of Midgar and presents a fully standalone gaming experience.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is available on PlayStation 4. In case you missed it, you can find our review here.
