Character movement...

spookymia

One thing I don't like about some MMOs is the movement and models they use for NPCs and PCs. For example, Age of Conan is regarded as one of the best looking MMOs on the market but I can't get over the fact that the the models and movement they use for running and combat just don't look...well, natural and fluid. All Points Bulletin is a game I really enjoy but the characters all look a bit hunched and wooden. The remaining games I have played, Global Agenda, City of Heroes, Champions Online and Star Trek Online, IMHO all have much better movement and fluidity with their characters. Does anyone else find this?

I was looking to have a bash at Hellgate but from the screen shots it looks similar in this sense to Age of Conan which will put me off. I will check out some videos of it before downloading.

CujoSWAoA

Conan and APB have really great character models, but the animation for them is very lackluster.

The MMO with the best character motion and models that I've played is currently Vindictus.

Loke666

But AoC uses motion captures, so the animations should be pretty realistic?

Sure, realistic can be boring but I frankly have no problem with how people walk there.

CujoSWAoA

The animations themselves are just fine in AoC.

Its the way that animations work in conjuction with how your character moves.

Take Red Dead Redemption for example.  That game uses the Euphoria Engine so it renders animations based on physics.  Such as if the character steps onto to steep of an incline, he'll stumble and potentially even fall entirely to the ground.

Loke666

Originally posted by CujoSWAoA

The animations themselves are just fine in AoC.

Its the way that animations work in conjuction with how your character moves.

Take Red Dead Redemption for example.  That game uses the Euphoria Engine so it renders animations based on physics.  Such as if the character steps onto to steep of an incline, he'll stumble and potentially even fall entirely to the ground.

Ah, Ok. Get what you mean.

But I have a frankly more important issue with MMO animations and that is the fact that you never actually hit your opponents in MMOs. Your blade or spear just pass right through the opponent in all games and that is a lot more annoying that the fact that he doesn't stumble on stuff. For some reason arrows often hits as they should but not melee weapons.

DJJazzy

Originally posted by Loke666

But AoC uses motion captures, so the animations should be pretty realistic?

Sure, realistic can be boring but I frankly have no problem with how people walk there.

 Yeah, I'd say that AoC has the best animations of any mmo that I've seen.

But since we are in general gaming, probably the best animations that I've played (regarding movement, combat, etcetera) are in the Assassin Creed series.

spookymia

Perhaps it's just me then. Perhaps I'm looking for a less realistic but more cartoon / comic book style. CO does comic book style very well with some great exaggerated movements and stances. 

STO is more of a blend of cartoon / realism with not so many exaggerated movements but the characters still have bold facial features etc.

To me though it appears that AoC and APB both try to be more realistic but have less of the fluidity of a moving human body.

This thread was just to see what a few people's opinions are. I think character movement is one of the less important features of determining whether a game is to your liking.