Early video game CGI

[mel]

When it comes to opening/ending scenes I generally prefer cgi cutscenes over in engine ones.

Armored core - chrome ending

Arcanum - intro

 

[Mago]

Wait I'll also add these to the mix. More clunky but still stylish!

Also Obsidian and Riven have some really nice cutscenes as well!

 

[J.B’s rabbit den]

Now that we’re on this topic,What would be the best and most easy way to try and react early ps1 and Dreamcast 3D cutscene graphics or animation style

 

[Anim8rDude]

While I do like PS1 cgi, they're always a bit on the short side & unfortunately show their age. Now PS2 cgi? That's my jam. I can never get tired of 'em!

 

[Samatonic]

Bare Witness True CGI:

 

[C-Puff]

I went looking in my "Game Art" folder and the first thing that hit me in this category that I've saved are the CG renders made for the PS1 re-release of the firsts 6 Final Fantasy games. Which were based on Amano's art more than the modern Nomura designs the series would go on to lean into. I still low key want a CG Final Fantasy game based on Amano's work.
The ones done for FF6 are my favourite since I still think it deserves a remake the most.

 

[diapered]

 

[Havacross]

Bare Witness True CGI:

I LOVE THIS LMAOOOOO
I hope he never speaks again i love him so much lmfao

Post automatically merged: Mar 4, 2025

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im so interested to know what game this is, the designs remind me of legend of dragoon a bit but i cant be sure never playing them n all
Edit: nvm i just read the file names lmao

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

When it comes to opening/ending scenes I generally prefer cgi cutscenes over in engine ones.

Armored core - chrome ending

Arcanum - intro

Nine ball's death was kinda stunning, even decades later.

 

[Kamako]

Army Men Sarge's Heroes, love that one

Nightmare Creatures always really stood out to me too, proper dingey

And alot of them just looked like the Butt-Ugly Martians

 

[PhrawzT]

I always enjoy the Chrono Cross scenes.

 

[Ikagura]

Abe's Oddyssey.

 

[Pandaprewmaster325]

I think blizzard are and will always be the masters of CGI and cinematics.

That being said blizzard clearly had a good idea on how to make these also they looked a lot less janky than others at the time.

What I like about these is the strong color contrast and the lighting being great , you can take a look at diablo 2 which came out in year 2000 having pretty dark darkness that's the best way I can put it not to mention the diablo 1 intro which really captured that game eerie vibes

The second company worth mentioning in terms of good cinematic is square , they like blizzard seem to have really been very fond of CGI going as far as creating unique cinematics for their PS1 ports of 2d Final Fantasy games most note worthy one being Final Fantasy 6 intro which I think holds up pretty well mind you it did come out in 1999 and by that time most CGI was getting better.

Another favorite of mine has to the silent hill intro the artstyle just sets the tone very well I mean the entire CGI work is impressive but the intro is unmatched.

Resident evil had some of it and its good I like the licker scene its your first ever encounter with these things and they get introduced through a pre render cutscene idk about you but capcom clearly wanted to convey something with it.

Overall you can see some Japanese companies starting to compete in CGI field but none would come close to blizzard and their whimsical and fantastic cinematics would result in finally creating to us the ultimate CGI ever:

 

[Elpetro]

This level of CGI mixed with the cheesy intro is absolute perfection. Wouldn't want any other way

 

[Adrastia]

Virtua Fighter was my first real exposure to video game CGI.

Well he's not wrong...

 

[G.L.a.D.O.S.]

It's kind of cheating, but Skylight Freerange 2 on the PSVita is from 2016.

But I really like the late 80s and early 90s DOS look of the game.

 

[stealthRUSH]

Blade Force (1995)

 

[ThunderBoy]

Tekken 1 has some of the worst not gonna lie

 

[Kyyo]

Does this counts as CGI? I don't know... But it's one of my favorites.

 

[_Lorenzo_]

The first Blood Omen LoK has an introduction that is still fabulous in its clumsiness:

 

[spacebear]

Not exactly a specific game basis however one thing I kinda miss is how sparingly it was used. Because of memory limitations even during the CD era CG cutscenes were largely used for big story moments so it really felt like you accomplished something whenever you hit one.

 

[merzbun]

Adore that era of 90's PC point and click for this exact reason, so many incredible pre-rendered environments and objects, often pulling just insane shit with animations and cutscenes and stuff. Thinking about Gadget: Past as Future, Obsidian, Garage, Myst, Drowned God, Dracula: Resurrection, etc

 

[stealthRUSH]

Blam! Machinehead (1996)

Grid Runner (1996)

 

[AnonymousCookieMonster]

 

[GardeniaSky]

God what was that fkn game....you were a dude trying to save your kidnapped girlfriend or something, and there were elephants...? Mobster elephants? Why can't I remember the title.

The CG for that was wildly cursed.