Cel-Shading (when is enough, enough?) ..

Ah, yes .. "Cel-Shading," the ultra-hyper-new-cool trend in the video game industry today. An effect that gives your polygonal heroes a "hand drawn" feel to them as they run around their lush, 3D enviroments. It was barely noticed when Jet Set Radio hit the store shelves, but now nearly every game has cel-shading, so what's the deal? Is there something so special about it?

First off, companies are now cel-shading games from a genre that have never had a cel-shaded titled before. Why? Simply to be "innovatove," and "creative." Well, unfortunately for those programmers, the "Innovative Express" left, and you were not on it. You see .. Cel-Shading is nice with certain games, but when it is over-used, then the appeal of it begins to wear off.

Now, I'm not one to decide which games should be cel-shaded, and which games should not. I'm just saying, games like Auto Modellista, and XIII are really not the greatest titles for cel-shading.

From what I have seen, cel-shading adds a "cartoon-like" appearance to the video game itself. Granted, Auto Modellista looked nice, but it's main selling point was that it was the "First Cel-Shaded" racer. What kind of marketing standpoint is that? What happened to the gameplay? Same goes for XIII, it's the first cel-shaded FPS (first person shooter).

Games that are actually helped by cel-shading, are platformers, and various action titles. The majority of high-profile platformers hitting the market right now are all cel-shaded, and I need not forget the new Zelda coming our way soon. Personally, I would have preferred if Nintendo did not go the cel-shaded route with the new Zelda. Granted, it looks nice, and adds a cartoon feel to the enviroment. I preferred the detail that can be presented without the effect though, like some of the earlier "teaser screens" that were released. Now, if Nintendo can pull off impressive detail with the cel-shaded effect, than thumbs up to them. If anyone can, it's Nintendo.

I also think 3D remakes of classic 2D games could benefit from cel-shading, too. For instance, Rockman (Mega Man) X7 would look fantastic cel-shaded, and that's what CAPCOM is doing. I had hoped this game would come with the feature, because the jump to 3D could alienate a lot of gamers, but the cel-shading could possibly keep some of that 2D feel to the game.

Perhaps Street Fighter could benefit from cel-shading if they ever bring it back to a 3D premise. The EX series never had the right feel to it, but perhaps if CAPCOM worked on it, and maybe added that cel-shaded feature, we could have a top-notch 3D fighter from CAPCOM. I already touched heavily upon this topic in the last editorial, which can be found here if you are interested in reading.

So, that brings us to the big question .. When is enough, enough? Personally, I think it is not enough, if done right with the right game. If the only marketable feature of your game is the fact that it is cel-shaded, than you have a poor excuse to even bother making it. However! If the cel-shading helps immerse the player further into the video-game enviroment, then go for it.

Such as with any trend, this one is slowly beginning to die. It makes you wonder what new things the programmers out there can unlock in their games. What new features are available that haven't even been touched upon. Only the future could tell ..

From 2002 and beyond, I remain ..
D'