One Incredible Detail At The (Very) End of Titanfall 2

00:18:16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebixv1k9beo

Zusammenfassung

TLDRThe video explores a fascinating 10-second scene in the 2016 video game Titanfall 2, emphasizing the remarkable use of two-dimensional art in a modern gaming era. The speaker analyzes how this artistic choice evokes nostalgic feelings, akin to older films and games that used matte paintings for immersive environments. Despite being an older game, Titanfall 2 receives praise for its unique art style and engaging gameplay, comparable in fun to classics like Mario 64. Each game level is critiqued through a tier list, showcasing the varied artistic backgrounds that enhance the game. This review reveals a deep appreciation for games that effectively blend high-quality elements with simpler, yet meaningful artistic choices, and maintains engagement without solely relying on cutting-edge 3D models. Overall, it’s a tribute to creative, unconventional game design that both intrigues and captivates its audience.

Mitbringsel

  • 🎮 Titanfall 2's artistic choices enhance its charm.
  • 🖼️ The game uses stunning two-dimensional art.
  • ⏳ Nostalgic art techniques in modern gaming.
  • 🎨 Creative environments enrich player experience.
  • 👾 Technology hasn't overshadowed classic aesthetics.
  • 🏆 Art quality varies, yet cohesively impactful.
  • 🕹️ Engagement without cutting-edge technology.
  • 🚀 Gameplay and art balance maintain intrigue.
  • 🌌 Skyboxes and environments are uniquely designed.
  • 📜 Creative storytelling through visual elements.

Zeitleiste

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    The video starts by highlighting a unique 10-second scene at the end of the 2016 video game Titanfall 2, which despite its simplicity, leaves a powerful impact on the viewer. The narrator describes a certain two-dimensional element amidst a generally high-tech 3D environment, comparing it to older video games and movies that used matte paintings and flat backgrounds. This style creates a stark contrast within a modern game and shows an appreciation for traditional artistic methods. The narrator insists that viewers do not need to have played Titanfall 2, or video games in general, to appreciate this clever artistic choice. It leads into a promotion of Factor, a ready-to-eat meal delivery service, emphasizing convenience and quality for those who prefer not to cook.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:00

    Moving into the content specifics, the video details a tier list evaluation of Titanfall 2's levels based on their background art quality, particularly focusing on 2D art elements. The first few levels are discussed, with a combination of immersive 2D smoke paintings and stark, blank backgrounds noted as both an artistic decision and a limitation when compared to modern 3D technology. The video argues that simple, 2D elements can enhance the immersive experience by invoking nostalgia and artistic creativity, much like older video game and movie techniques. It notes the freedom players have in Titanfall 2 to interact with and explore these detailed environments, granted by its gameplay mechanics allowing players to switch perspectives.

  • 00:10:00 - 00:18:16

    The final segments of the video delve deeper into the art of Titanfall 2, particularly praising two-dimensional skyboxes and distant landscapes for their ability to evoke a more powerful image compared to fully rendered 3D models. As the narrator ranks more levels, they highlight how these art styles contribute to the essence of the game. The climax reveals that an important part of the ending sequence—a spaceship in the final mission—is also realized in two-dimensional art. This decision underscores the charm of incorporating traditional flat art techniques within a contemporary game, offering an unexpected and delightful visual experience. The narrator concludes the presentation by contemplating the philosophical aspect of combining good and less polished art elements to create overall dynamic and engaging game experiences.

Mind Map

Video-Fragen und Antworten

  • What is the importance of the two-dimensional art in Titanfall 2?

    It serves as an artful, subtle way to emphasize the aesthetics of the game, keeping a traditional touch in a modern game.

  • Is Titanfall 2 worth playing after all these years?

    Yes, the game offers engaging gameplay and unique artistic elements that make it still worth experiencing.

  • How does Titanfall 2's use of art compare to older video games?

    It employs techniques similar to old video games and films by using matte paintings and flat art to create immersive environments.

  • What makes the end scene in Titanfall 2 so compelling?

    The subtle two-dimensional art adds depth and a nostalgic touch, making it refreshing compared to modern graphical trends.

  • Are there other notable moments in Titanfall 2 involving art?

    Yes, each mission has unique background art worth exploring, with some integral to the setting’s ambiance.

  • Does the tutorial level provide hints of what to expect later in the game?

    Yes, the aesthetics in the tutorial level already showcase the unique artistic direction of the game.

  • How does the game manage to keep players engaged with its environments?

    The game creatively uses flat art and skyboxes that are artistically pleasing and intriguingly dated, invoking curiosity as players explore.

  • How does Anie Austin view the balance of art quality in Titanfall 2?

    He appreciates the dynamic flow between high-quality and more simplistic art, believing it enhances the game’s overall charm.

  • How does the video convey the speaker's passion for Titanfall 2's art?

    Through enthusiastic and detailed descriptions of skyboxes and the juxtaposition of old and new art techniques.

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Automatisches Blättern:
  • 00:00:00
    there's a scene all the way at the end
  • 00:00:01
    of the hit 2016 video game Titanfall 2
  • 00:00:05
    that lasts for about 10 seconds almost
  • 00:00:07
    nothing happens and it's the most
  • 00:00:09
    incredible video game thing I've seen in
  • 00:00:11
    at least the last 2 to 3 months which
  • 00:00:13
    obviously doesn't sound like a lot but
  • 00:00:15
    it is now if you know nothing about this
  • 00:00:17
    game the scene that I'm referring to is
  • 00:00:18
    not going to spoil anything important
  • 00:00:20
    but it's blurred right behind me in case
  • 00:00:22
    for some reason you think that after 8
  • 00:00:23
    years of ignoring the game you're
  • 00:00:24
    suddenly going to decide to play
  • 00:00:26
    Titanfall 2 which we both know you won't
  • 00:00:28
    but you can keep living in your Fantasy
  • 00:00:30
    Land if you want that was your only
  • 00:00:31
    warning though because I have to show
  • 00:00:33
    you I have to show you this look at this
  • 00:00:36
    do you see what I see this right here
  • 00:00:39
    this this is
  • 00:00:40
    two-dimensional what why is this
  • 00:00:42
    two-dimensional this game is from 2016
  • 00:00:45
    it was released on the Xbox One it came
  • 00:00:47
    out after Metal Gear Solid 5 it's on the
  • 00:00:50
    same console as Red Dead Redemption 2
  • 00:00:52
    why is this two-dimensional I really
  • 00:00:54
    love the look of this and how it's
  • 00:00:55
    subtle enough to leave an impression
  • 00:00:57
    without making you feel like they were
  • 00:00:58
    trying too hard however this this isn't
  • 00:01:00
    even the most amazing thing on the
  • 00:01:02
    screen right now there's something else
  • 00:01:04
    even more incredible but I can't tell
  • 00:01:05
    you about it yet in order to understand
  • 00:01:08
    why this thing that I won't tell you
  • 00:01:09
    about is so incredible you're going to
  • 00:01:11
    need a little bit of context and no that
  • 00:01:13
    doesn't mean you have to play Titanfall
  • 00:01:14
    2 you honestly don't even have to need
  • 00:01:16
    to have played any video games at all
  • 00:01:18
    you just need to have a passing interest
  • 00:01:19
    in cool stuff if you've ever watched old
  • 00:01:21
    movies you may have seen how they
  • 00:01:23
    occasionally will use large complex
  • 00:01:25
    matte paintings as backgrounds to make
  • 00:01:27
    it look like the characters are in some
  • 00:01:28
    foreign land star St Wars is the example
  • 00:01:30
    that I always think of you know when
  • 00:01:32
    they're trying to make it look like
  • 00:01:33
    they're in Cloud City or standing in a
  • 00:01:34
    large hanger but it was common for
  • 00:01:36
    decades even before that I think that
  • 00:01:37
    old um uh what is it Metropolis that old
  • 00:01:40
    movie used these mad paintings they're
  • 00:01:41
    really cool sometimes artists would use
  • 00:01:43
    moving pieces of two-dimensional art as
  • 00:01:45
    well like how Disney used to do their
  • 00:01:47
    fancy Zooms in old cartoons that's like
  • 00:01:49
    a video that's a meme every 3 months you
  • 00:01:51
    can see that if you've been a longtime
  • 00:01:52
    viewer of my channel you'll know that
  • 00:01:54
    this is very similar to how a lot of
  • 00:01:55
    video games have represented their
  • 00:01:57
    environments as well the beautiful flat
  • 00:01:58
    Sky boxes of Doom the flat trees in
  • 00:02:01
    Mario 64 the stunning background
  • 00:02:03
    painting of the original Halo even if
  • 00:02:05
    you didn't realize it this trick has
  • 00:02:06
    been employed in video games liberally
  • 00:02:08
    for years but lately you don't actually
  • 00:02:09
    see it that much technology is good
  • 00:02:11
    enough now that you don't even really
  • 00:02:13
    need to use flat Skies anymore at all
  • 00:02:15
    and the idea that a big budget game in
  • 00:02:16
    the year 2024 would even think to use a
  • 00:02:18
    flat cardboard tree for example is
  • 00:02:20
    laughable so why the heck does Titanfall
  • 00:02:23
    2 have a flat cardboard planet in the
  • 00:02:26
    climax this is Titanfall 2 this game was
  • 00:02:28
    made by the Call of Duty people well the
  • 00:02:30
    Call of Duty man it was made by well it
  • 00:02:32
    was made by many people but the Call of
  • 00:02:33
    Duty man was involved I should have
  • 00:02:34
    known something remarkable was going on
  • 00:02:36
    with Titanfall 2 when I first booted it
  • 00:02:38
    up and the tutorial level looked like
  • 00:02:40
    this I think it was thrown off because
  • 00:02:41
    the intro cut scene to the game looks
  • 00:02:43
    like every other mediocre 2007
  • 00:02:45
    firstperson shooter reveal trailer and
  • 00:02:47
    it immediately set off my this game is
  • 00:02:49
    not going to be as cool as this
  • 00:02:50
    cinematic alarm so when I first played
  • 00:02:51
    through the game for the most part I
  • 00:02:53
    really wasn't paying that much attention
  • 00:02:54
    to the details of the environments I
  • 00:02:56
    know uncharacteristic of me but honestly
  • 00:02:58
    Titanfall 2 had been sold to me as a
  • 00:03:00
    gameplay first game and I felt I still
  • 00:03:02
    feel like the environments are kind of
  • 00:03:04
    generic up close and that led my brain
  • 00:03:06
    into a false sense of artistic
  • 00:03:08
    mediocrity that was only shaken Loose by
  • 00:03:10
    the aforementioned ending scene the good
  • 00:03:12
    news for Titanfall 2 though is that the
  • 00:03:13
    game is fun in an almost Mario 64 kind
  • 00:03:16
    of way so I was eager to replay it and
  • 00:03:18
    firstly tried to gather all of those
  • 00:03:20
    they have these little severed heads
  • 00:03:21
    gathered around you can gather so I
  • 00:03:23
    wanted to go get those but also I wanted
  • 00:03:25
    to take a closer look at the art hiding
  • 00:03:26
    in the background of every Mission and I
  • 00:03:28
    do mean every Mission because they all
  • 00:03:30
    have something cool hidden in the
  • 00:03:32
    background and some of them have stuff
  • 00:03:33
    that you really don't see in games at
  • 00:03:34
    all anymore which I love now believe it
  • 00:03:36
    or not making a hypers specific video
  • 00:03:38
    primarily focused on a 10-second
  • 00:03:40
    sequence at the end of a 2016 shooter
  • 00:03:42
    that didn't even sell very well is not
  • 00:03:44
    exactly a recipe for a viral video but
  • 00:03:47
    I've honestly never been the type to
  • 00:03:48
    follow predefined recipes anyway I'm not
  • 00:03:50
    good at following recipes I prefer my
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    food to be just ready to
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    eat quickly and
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    easily are you following me here our
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    sponsor today is ready to eat meal
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    I'm sure you've heard me talk about them
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    before obviously they've been on the
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    that if you don't want to cook or you
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    don't have time to cook or you are in
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    any way a convenience oriented eater
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    great supplement to your groceries on
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    weeks where you would rather spend your
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    time doing other things like in my case
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    trying to tell the world about how great
  • 00:04:39
    Titanfall 2's background art is why
  • 00:04:41
    spend time cooking when you can spend
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    time evangelizing skyboxes you think I'm
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    joking but I'm not that's that's how I
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    shipping on your first box you might be
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    asking yourself why do your words not
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    match what your body's doing right now
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    well I may have misread the email and
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    gotten the promo code wrong and so now I
  • 00:05:12
    have to redo it so now I'm just doing it
  • 00:05:14
    and I didn't want to refilm it cuz I'm
  • 00:05:16
    lazy so you just have to deal with it
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    look there's me this is not what I'm
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    saying but yes the code is 50 any Austin
  • 00:05:22
    get it right now the way we're going to
  • 00:05:24
    tackle this is we're actually going to
  • 00:05:25
    make a tier list of all eight levels in
  • 00:05:27
    Titanfall 2 from coolest 2D background
  • 00:05:30
    art to least cool 2D background art and
  • 00:05:33
    then once you have all that knowledge I
  • 00:05:34
    can finally tell you why in that context
  • 00:05:37
    this ending scene is so amazing okay
  • 00:05:39
    great let's do it level one the first
  • 00:05:40
    level starts off with your character
  • 00:05:42
    falling through the clouds onto a
  • 00:05:43
    hostile planet and lo and behold the
  • 00:05:45
    clouds that you're falling through are
  • 00:05:47
    beautiful they really do look stunning
  • 00:05:49
    compared to the more volumetric Cloud
  • 00:05:50
    simulations we've gotten used to in
  • 00:05:52
    recent years they're just very Lush it's
  • 00:05:54
    like a Bob Ross painting you crash land
  • 00:05:56
    down on the planet and the sky boox of
  • 00:05:57
    the game is made up of three distinct
  • 00:05:59
    parts my favorite part is this smoke
  • 00:06:01
    which has a very cool stiff not quite
  • 00:06:03
    right look to it this is of course
  • 00:06:04
    because it is not smoke it's a flat uh
  • 00:06:07
    painting that they're trying to bend as
  • 00:06:08
    though it's smoke then there's the
  • 00:06:10
    Skybox piece itself which is some kind
  • 00:06:12
    of planet in the distance that's
  • 00:06:13
    surrounded by asteroids also very
  • 00:06:14
    beautiful and then lastly if you
  • 00:06:16
    actually take the time to stop and look
  • 00:06:18
    behind you in this Mission it's just
  • 00:06:19
    Blackness infinite dark nothingness
  • 00:06:23
    these three pieces make this intro feel
  • 00:06:25
    really surreal and closed in I think
  • 00:06:27
    almost kind of dreamlike which fits
  • 00:06:28
    really well with these about how this
  • 00:06:30
    Mission has like gone wrong no one knows
  • 00:06:32
    what's going on and you have to try to
  • 00:06:33
    fight your way through the chaos a
  • 00:06:34
    little later your character gets knocked
  • 00:06:36
    out and you wake up during the daytime
  • 00:06:37
    the art during the day is a little bit
  • 00:06:39
    less interesting but there are still
  • 00:06:40
    some neat distant mountains and trees to
  • 00:06:42
    look at overall the first level of the
  • 00:06:43
    game B tier level two is also a little
  • 00:06:46
    bit on the dull side overall but there
  • 00:06:47
    is this giant building on fire to look
  • 00:06:49
    at beyond that just some minor textures
  • 00:06:51
    off to the side here and an otherwise
  • 00:06:53
    Bland looking level but this is the
  • 00:06:54
    first level that's meant to be primarily
  • 00:06:56
    played inside of this giant mech suit
  • 00:06:58
    Titanfall 2 you basically play as a
  • 00:07:00
    giant robot or you play as a little foot
  • 00:07:02
    soldier guy one of the things I really
  • 00:07:03
    like about Titanfall 2 is that uh you
  • 00:07:05
    can get in and out of the mech suit at
  • 00:07:07
    any time even when it doesn't make sense
  • 00:07:09
    so in these larger levels that are meant
  • 00:07:10
    as arenas for the bigger Mech you can
  • 00:07:12
    still hop out and walk around as the
  • 00:07:14
    human there's not much to see obviously
  • 00:07:16
    they weren't built to be explored in a
  • 00:07:17
    close-up uh way but the ability to do
  • 00:07:19
    that is part of what makes Titanfall 2
  • 00:07:21
    feel so light and open at all times this
  • 00:07:23
    is in sharp contrast to like vehicle
  • 00:07:25
    levels in most games where you're tied
  • 00:07:27
    to the vehicle itself and you have to
  • 00:07:29
    stay in that preset pathway if you
  • 00:07:31
    remember that um motorcycle sequence we
  • 00:07:32
    talked about in the Call of Duty video
  • 00:07:34
    imagine if at any time in this sequence
  • 00:07:36
    you could just get off hop off the
  • 00:07:37
    motorcycle anywhere you wanted to even
  • 00:07:39
    if it means getting instantly killed cuz
  • 00:07:41
    like you're getting chased by 50 police
  • 00:07:42
    officers just like the freedom to stop
  • 00:07:45
    and actually get around and walk to me
  • 00:07:47
    that makes things so much more affecting
  • 00:07:48
    because it's like then it becomes real
  • 00:07:50
    with I mean not real it's a video game
  • 00:07:52
    but like within the fiction it's real
  • 00:07:54
    anyway level two of Titanfall 2 D tier
  • 00:07:57
    it's okay level three has some truly
  • 00:07:59
    stunning artwork including a segment
  • 00:08:01
    inside of a fake Hunger Games esque
  • 00:08:02
    Arena with a fake sky box and these two
  • 00:08:05
    stunning Landscapes of a huge Factory
  • 00:08:07
    I'm a big fan of this one in particular
  • 00:08:09
    because if you look closely you'll see
  • 00:08:10
    tons of little paper cutouts moving
  • 00:08:12
    around giving it a sense of life but it
  • 00:08:14
    still looks like a painting so rather
  • 00:08:15
    than feeling like a real factory it
  • 00:08:17
    feels like we're looking at a diarama of
  • 00:08:18
    a factory and I'm a big fan of diaramas
  • 00:08:21
    like that mini airport thing in Sweden I
  • 00:08:23
    have no idea if it's in Sweden it
  • 00:08:24
    probably is oh it's in Germany sorry
  • 00:08:27
    sorry to the Germans you I love your Di
  • 00:08:29
    arama Germans that airplane thing really
  • 00:08:31
    cool I stared at this one for a while
  • 00:08:33
    after clearing out all of the enemies in
  • 00:08:35
    the level and after walking back and
  • 00:08:36
    forth a bit I noticed something really
  • 00:08:38
    interesting I think this isn't quite 2D
  • 00:08:40
    I mean it is 2D but it's kind of 3D like
  • 00:08:43
    there is some Parallax to it so like if
  • 00:08:45
    you if you walk back and forth and we
  • 00:08:47
    speed up the footage you can see that it
  • 00:08:48
    does seem to move as though it's painted
  • 00:08:50
    onto a 3D model and that's not even the
  • 00:08:52
    coolest thing about this level to me
  • 00:08:54
    check this out this Sky Box the one
  • 00:08:56
    inside of the fake Hunger Games Dome is
  • 00:08:58
    actually you know what I can't do the
  • 00:09:00
    rest of this tangent right now or or I'm
  • 00:09:02
    literally never going to finish telling
  • 00:09:03
    you about the rest of the levels let's
  • 00:09:05
    put a pin in this and then I'll come
  • 00:09:06
    back to it later I promise okay it's
  • 00:09:08
    really cool though level three s tier
  • 00:09:10
    level four is most people's favorite
  • 00:09:12
    level in the game because it has a
  • 00:09:13
    really fun time jumping mechanic it is a
  • 00:09:15
    great level I think I like level three
  • 00:09:17
    slightly more I actually made a whole
  • 00:09:18
    video about level three on my patreon if
  • 00:09:20
    you want to watch that you can join the
  • 00:09:22
    patreon for $3 if you don't want to join
  • 00:09:24
    and you still want to watch the video
  • 00:09:25
    just find the link I'm sure someone will
  • 00:09:27
    give it to you DM me on Blue Sky I'll
  • 00:09:28
    send you the link level four has some
  • 00:09:30
    beautiful distant building artwork and
  • 00:09:31
    getting to flip back and forth between
  • 00:09:33
    two time periods lets you watch and see
  • 00:09:35
    how the artists change the Skybox to
  • 00:09:37
    show it aging and getting destroyed the
  • 00:09:39
    cloud work here is very strong as well
  • 00:09:41
    and the level almost gives me a Camino
  • 00:09:42
    from Battlefront 2 Vibe put up a picture
  • 00:09:44
    of Cino from Battlefront 2 oh yeah love
  • 00:09:48
    that the TitanFall 2 one does feel like
  • 00:09:50
    bigger in scale like this old one
  • 00:09:52
    obviously feels more like a piece of
  • 00:09:53
    cardboard with paint on it but they're
  • 00:09:55
    both good overall level four C tier
  • 00:09:58
    level five
  • 00:10:00
    is a tier it starts on a cliff Side High
  • 00:10:02
    up in the clouds and off to the right
  • 00:10:03
    are these amazing flat mountain models
  • 00:10:05
    sticking out of a beautiful sky ceiling
  • 00:10:07
    below the little lowquality trees on top
  • 00:10:09
    the blurry obviously flat mountains in
  • 00:10:11
    the distance this little thing whatever
  • 00:10:13
    it is I genuinely honestly think that
  • 00:10:15
    stuff like this is way more immersive to
  • 00:10:16
    look at than actually 3D modeling
  • 00:10:18
    mountains themselves and I'm really
  • 00:10:20
    curious if anyone else feels the same
  • 00:10:21
    way I find it just makes such a stronger
  • 00:10:23
    image in my mind of places I've been in
  • 00:10:25
    a game when they use this kind of like
  • 00:10:27
    slightly low resolution to art like do a
  • 00:10:30
    side by side right look at this who's
  • 00:10:33
    going to say that the 3D looks better it
  • 00:10:35
    doesn't it's a fact this is also the
  • 00:10:37
    first mission in the game where we get a
  • 00:10:38
    really clear and clean look at a
  • 00:10:40
    recurring Skybox element this Moon which
  • 00:10:43
    is called orthos I think is being torn
  • 00:10:45
    to shreds by an experimental space
  • 00:10:47
    Weapon It's a stunning thing to look at
  • 00:10:49
    it's almost scary it kind of has like a
  • 00:10:50
    Halo one effect on the sense of scale
  • 00:10:53
    for the whole place the rest of the
  • 00:10:55
    mission is just a bunch of fun jumping
  • 00:10:57
    around and stuff but there's no more
  • 00:10:58
    cool 2D art but the art in the initial
  • 00:11:00
    area is so good that like I said this
  • 00:11:02
    mission is a tier next up is a mission I
  • 00:11:04
    think is very underrated where you
  • 00:11:06
    assault the enemy base in a big group of
  • 00:11:08
    robots very cool obviously it's another
  • 00:11:10
    great example of a space that is built
  • 00:11:12
    for huge robots but if you get out and
  • 00:11:14
    walk around after killing everyone it
  • 00:11:15
    has just like a really cool empty Vibe
  • 00:11:17
    the art in this mission is also good
  • 00:11:19
    it's a closer version of the blown apart
  • 00:11:21
    planet from the last mission but with a
  • 00:11:23
    red tint half concealed by The Horizon
  • 00:11:25
    there are some clouds there are some
  • 00:11:26
    ships getting blown up whatever it's a
  • 00:11:28
    fun mission but not like the Great 2D
  • 00:11:29
    art overall I do really like this really
  • 00:11:31
    ugly Mountain though C tier for Mission
  • 00:11:34
    Six F 5 six next up is the second to
  • 00:11:37
    last mission in the game which has us
  • 00:11:38
    flying over the surface of the planet
  • 00:11:40
    trying to catch up with a ship before it
  • 00:11:42
    gets to a place to destroy the world or
  • 00:11:44
    whatever this level doesn't have much in
  • 00:11:46
    the way of cool 2D Skybox art but we
  • 00:11:48
    still do have hints of that big moon
  • 00:11:49
    thing being destroyed one thing this
  • 00:11:51
    Mission has that I love is the
  • 00:11:52
    infinitely scrolling World Trope lots of
  • 00:11:55
    cool action games have sequences like
  • 00:11:56
    this where you're technically like
  • 00:11:58
    heading towards something but the game
  • 00:11:59
    doesn't want to lock you into a time
  • 00:12:01
    limit and so they just have to keep
  • 00:12:02
    generating more world for you to see and
  • 00:12:04
    the object that you're heading towards
  • 00:12:05
    never actually gets any closer a lot of
  • 00:12:07
    like scrolling Shooters like Star Fox 64
  • 00:12:09
    have stuff like this it's fun to stop
  • 00:12:11
    and like just stare at this stuff
  • 00:12:12
    scrolling by infinitely it looks like a
  • 00:12:14
    window screen saver as far as 2D art
  • 00:12:16
    though this is a d tier because it's
  • 00:12:18
    mostly just a slightly less cool version
  • 00:12:20
    of the level before now the last mission
  • 00:12:23
    the bulk of the last mission of the game
  • 00:12:24
    has you sprinting through enemies in a
  • 00:12:26
    Mad Dash to stop some guys from
  • 00:12:28
    committing a some sort of disastrous
  • 00:12:30
    crime it's very urgent uh but obviously
  • 00:12:33
    for the most part and pretty much like
  • 00:12:34
    any moment in this game whenever there's
  • 00:12:36
    like a time limit on something you can
  • 00:12:37
    just stop and look at stuff the big
  • 00:12:39
    exploding planet is still there and it's
  • 00:12:41
    still cool but aside from that the only
  • 00:12:42
    other big thing going on here are these
  • 00:12:44
    great 2D mountains in the distance I'm a
  • 00:12:46
    fan of these and of 2D mountains in
  • 00:12:48
    general because they remind me of late
  • 00:12:49
    '90s early 2000s PC games like Cube if
  • 00:12:52
    this was all that the last level had to
  • 00:12:54
    offer I would give it a c tier but it
  • 00:12:56
    turns out that in the very last moments
  • 00:12:59
    of the very last chapter of the very
  • 00:13:01
    last mission there is a blink and you'll
  • 00:13:03
    miss it detail in the background that
  • 00:13:05
    brings this level from C tier all the
  • 00:13:06
    way up to a tier your final action as
  • 00:13:09
    the player character in this game is to
  • 00:13:11
    LEAP across exploding debris to an
  • 00:13:13
    extraction point where a ship will pick
  • 00:13:15
    you up to escape and this is actually
  • 00:13:17
    one of the few times in the game where
  • 00:13:18
    if you do stand still uh you will
  • 00:13:20
    actually die it's funny cuz there's
  • 00:13:21
    actually a sequence right before this
  • 00:13:23
    where they're like yelling at you being
  • 00:13:24
    like quick you got to disarm this bomb
  • 00:13:26
    it's at 99% it's going to blow but even
  • 00:13:28
    in that very explicitly time sensitive
  • 00:13:31
    moment you can just stand around and
  • 00:13:32
    explore if you want to the rising alarm
  • 00:13:34
    tone just keeps like subtly cycling down
  • 00:13:36
    like a shepherd's tone anyway in this
  • 00:13:38
    bit if you stand still you will die but
  • 00:13:40
    in the background of the very last
  • 00:13:41
    portion you can see a lava situation
  • 00:13:43
    sort of occurring which I believe is the
  • 00:13:45
    planet disintegrating and if you stop
  • 00:13:48
    just before you're supposed to make the
  • 00:13:49
    final jump you will see
  • 00:13:52
    this holy cow this is some the low
  • 00:13:56
    resolution rocks the lava this is in my
  • 00:13:59
    my opinion exactly what a linear
  • 00:14:01
    firstperson photo realistic shooter game
  • 00:14:03
    should look like except obviously in
  • 00:14:05
    cases where it should look differently
  • 00:14:06
    of course but you know good Lord I love
  • 00:14:09
    this because it's really cool and
  • 00:14:10
    interesting to look at this if you take
  • 00:14:11
    the time but it also takes nothing away
  • 00:14:13
    from the experience if you just play
  • 00:14:15
    through it as intended it's perfect and
  • 00:14:17
    that is why the final mission of the
  • 00:14:19
    game is in fact an a tier Mission you
  • 00:14:21
    know having the having the tier list
  • 00:14:24
    laid out like this is interesting
  • 00:14:26
    because uh when you rate things in this
  • 00:14:27
    way by saying whether it's like good or
  • 00:14:29
    bad you really do lose the context of
  • 00:14:31
    each piece and the role that it plays in
  • 00:14:33
    the whole game which on the face of it
  • 00:14:35
    is like yeah obviously but that's the
  • 00:14:36
    whole point of a tier list but I think
  • 00:14:38
    it's sort of Insidious in the way that
  • 00:14:39
    it makes us think about a piece of
  • 00:14:41
    entertainment or art let me boil it down
  • 00:14:43
    for you by asking two hypothetical
  • 00:14:44
    questions question one would Titanfall 2
  • 00:14:47
    be a better game if every Skybox we
  • 00:14:50
    looked at was an S tier Skybox this
  • 00:14:52
    sounds like a simple question but I
  • 00:14:54
    really don't think it is because at the
  • 00:14:55
    core of it what we're asking is if we
  • 00:14:57
    increase the quality of each constituent
  • 00:14:59
    part does it necessarily increase the
  • 00:15:02
    quality of the hole if the side salad
  • 00:15:04
    tastes just as good as the cheeseburger
  • 00:15:07
    is the meal better for it I'm a
  • 00:15:09
    philosopher I think you see what I'm
  • 00:15:11
    getting at with these rhetorical right
  • 00:15:12
    and I'm going to leave them as
  • 00:15:13
    rhetorical because ultimately the answer
  • 00:15:15
    to these questions leads us to my second
  • 00:15:17
    question question two can this s tier
  • 00:15:20
    Skybox be an S tier Skybox if this
  • 00:15:24
    Skybox isn't a d tier Sky boox I think
  • 00:15:28
    this is a really interesting thing to
  • 00:15:30
    discuss with your friends about the
  • 00:15:31
    video games you enjoy because some
  • 00:15:32
    people genuinely just prefer if their
  • 00:15:34
    entertainment is just a series of good
  • 00:15:36
    bits strung together where other people
  • 00:15:38
    prefer their art to be dynamic with es
  • 00:15:40
    and flows in quality throughout
  • 00:15:42
    personally I can't stand when my
  • 00:15:44
    entertainment is just a consistent trip
  • 00:15:46
    of equally great moments and I've
  • 00:15:48
    struggled with a lot of well-liked media
  • 00:15:50
    because of that I seriously earnestly
  • 00:15:52
    genuinely prefer if my games have parts
  • 00:15:54
    that are boring I think all great games
  • 00:15:56
    should have Parts where you grind or
  • 00:15:59
    fetch Quest or wander around or
  • 00:16:01
    backtrack and as we've learned how to
  • 00:16:03
    make games better we've kind of lost
  • 00:16:04
    touch with that I think a little bit so
  • 00:16:06
    throughout the game Titanfall 2 uses
  • 00:16:08
    beautiful 2D art to show huge Vistas
  • 00:16:11
    mountains Skies celestial objects large
  • 00:16:14
    clouds of billowing smoke and that's
  • 00:16:16
    mostly in line with how games use 2D art
  • 00:16:18
    in general Sky boxes right Titanfall 2
  • 00:16:21
    has some great work in that regard but
  • 00:16:23
    none of it transcends what a game would
  • 00:16:25
    normally use this type of artwork for
  • 00:16:27
    which brings us back to the very end
  • 00:16:30
    after you take that final leap of faith
  • 00:16:31
    and land on the rescue ship the screen
  • 00:16:33
    Fades to Black and then it fades back
  • 00:16:36
    into the scene we were talking about all
  • 00:16:37
    the way back at the beginning of this
  • 00:16:39
    video given what we've seen throughout
  • 00:16:40
    the game when you look at this it's not
  • 00:16:42
    that surprising that this massive
  • 00:16:43
    planetary explosion is being done with
  • 00:16:45
    2D art but watch the top of this
  • 00:16:48
    spaceship and and watch it move and as
  • 00:16:50
    you watch it move you'll notice
  • 00:16:51
    something amazing it's subtle and it's a
  • 00:16:53
    little hard to see because you can't
  • 00:16:54
    move the camera that much but this
  • 00:16:57
    spaceship this piece this is also
  • 00:17:00
    two-dimensional art this small piece of
  • 00:17:02
    ship is handdrawn
  • 00:17:05
    Art there are literally tens of 3D
  • 00:17:09
    spaceship models in this game there's a
  • 00:17:11
    model of this exact ship a 3D model you
  • 00:17:13
    literally just jumped onto it before
  • 00:17:15
    this how did they not just use that
  • 00:17:17
    model why is this 2D and why is that so
  • 00:17:20
    cool to me I don't really know honestly
  • 00:17:22
    I appreciate the thoughtfulness
  • 00:17:23
    obviously and I love when you see things
  • 00:17:25
    in a game that make it clear that the
  • 00:17:26
    people who made it were actually having
  • 00:17:28
    um like active thoughts about the
  • 00:17:30
    project but the real answer ultimately
  • 00:17:32
    is that it's just something about The
  • 00:17:33
    Vibes if I was a better writer or if I
  • 00:17:35
    knew more words I might be able to
  • 00:17:37
    elucidate it more clearly but honestly
  • 00:17:40
    whatever I you guys get it it's just
  • 00:17:42
    cool you know and that my friends is how
  • 00:17:44
    you get 500,000 people to watch a
  • 00:17:46
    10-minute video all about an
  • 00:17:48
    unremarkable 10-second segment from an
  • 00:17:50
    8-year-old game that not many people
  • 00:17:52
    have played I'm Anie Austin thanks for
  • 00:17:54
    watching
  • 00:17:57
    [Music]
  • 00:18:00
    you get everything you get everything
  • 00:18:02
    you
  • 00:18:04
    [Music]
  • 00:18:11
    want go slow
  • 00:18:14
    [Music]
Tags
  • Titanfall 2
  • video games
  • art
  • 2D art
  • game design
  • gaming analysis
  • nostalgia
  • aesthetics