Halo: Reach Forum
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Subject: How to make cutscenes more interesting
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Quite frankly, Bungie has been up and down with cutscene quality. No matter the content of a cutscene, the way it's shown can ruin it.

In Halo: CE and Halo 3, the cutscenes are pretty boring and don't keep me interested very much however, Halo 2 and Halo 3: ODST have cutscenes that keep me at least more interested, and I think I've found out why.

Halo: CE and Halo 3 cutscenes look exactly like the game. None of the environments differ greatly from the in-game scenery, and the characters don't have different movements. Halo 2 and ODST have more interesting cutscenes with more action (Beginning of Outskirts, the various cutscenes on Delta Halo and Regret, the one with Gravemind, Chief entering the Dreadnaught, etc. from Halo 2 and the opening, NMPD HQ, the zoo level, and everything on the last level from ODST, for example).

EDIT - Some exceptions to what I said about Halo: CE are the opening cutscene, which I liked a lot, and possibly my favorite cutscene of all time, the Private Jenkins clip.

So, what can be done to improve the cutscenes in Reach?
-First-player view for some cutscenes would add a different perspective, as shown in various scenes throughout ODST
-A "shaking camera", like in Band of Brothers (though honestly, any concept of the action scenes of the show would be epic)
- Different animations, as in the more exaggerated gestures of ODST and action scenes
- Different environments, like the scene at the end of Regret in Halo 2, with the Chief running as the temple behind him is glassed, only to be captured by the Gravemind and brought down into the depths of Halo
- More dialogue than in Halo 3

Summary
The cutscenes for Halo are sometimes boring, but Bungie can liven them up by making them look different from the game itself


If anyone has some comments, criticism, or ideas, please post.

[Edited on 11.13.2009 8:18 AM PST]

  • 11.12.2009 1:35 PM PDT
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  • Exalted Legendary Member

I apologize in advance for all the crappy jokes I make.

I agree.

  • 11.12.2009 1:37 PM PDT

Mattman jr

i really like your ideas. another cut scene that made me happy was the one when the chief was leaving New Mombasa at the end of the scarab level in halo 2. i like when the camera pans out to show you whats really happening. such as when the elite ships arrive at the ark in halo 3 where the camera pans outside the ship so you can see the Covie ships coming towards it.

  • 11.12.2009 1:42 PM PDT
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Posted by: mattman jr
i really like your ideas. another cut scene that made me happy was the one when the chief was leaving New Mombasa at the end of the scarab level in halo 2. i like when the camera pans out to show you whats really happening. such as when the elite ships arrive at the ark in halo 3 where the camera pans outside the ship so you can see the Covie ships coming towards it.
That too

  • 11.12.2009 1:52 PM PDT

Golf Wang. Brony.

The reason behind the cutscenes looking exactly like the game in Halo CE and Halo 3 is because they were made with the same engine and environments. I guess they were aiming for consistency.

I like your ideas, btw

  • 11.12.2009 2:18 PM PDT

I don't really agree. I loved the cutscenes in Halo CE and 2. In CE, you were THERE, it was really personal, it all added up immensely in the immersion and scale of the game (mystery, being lost on the ring without really knowing what's happening and with no "outside" contact.

In Halo 2, the scale was much bigger, you added Earth and the Covenant's perspective, the cutscenes considered that. It didn't really felt that much like a movie (Halo 3), maybe just not too Hollywood, it felt as if you were reading a book and told the story in a non... "epic, look at this, it's a movie called Halo and it's so epic, it's humanity last stand and the end is nigh!". You know what I mean? Halo 3 had some kind of obvious our game is epic feel. Well, I may be exaggerating, but some scenes were a little too much like that. In halo 2, it was much less personal but it was on par with the scale. With MC, there was always MC around, keeping a level of immersion. Same with Arby except in the beginning, where like in Halo CE, you don't immediately see the hero.

The problem with Halo 3, is that the cinematics weren't handled like a game, but a movie where you add big orchestration and special camera angles and all to make everything look big... well that doesn't really work in video games, at least not with me, it breaks the immersion. Again like movies, some scenes were way too short (like the beginning of the Ark).

My 360 is broken so I didn't played that much ODST, but from what I remember it was OK. There was no real important central character so the cinematics took it that way, but some of the dialogue was awful and cheesy.

I think the main problem, is mainly HOW it is handled, HOW they want their game to feel, it IS translated into cinematics (poorly if the team sucks). Personally, I think the cinematics are perfect the way they are in Halo CE and 2, so if they should base them on any game, I'd say any of the two, a mix of both I'd say. And please, good dialogues between the spartans, no cheesy though space marine thing, particularly not when they have zero personality.

  • 11.12.2009 2:41 PM PDT

Corn, Oil, and Wine... We need more wine...

Hmm... They probaly aren't that far into development on the cut scenes, so this could happen.

You are approved.

  • 11.12.2009 2:44 PM PDT
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Posted by: Evil Johnny
I don't really agree. I loved the cutscenes in Halo CE and 2. In CE, you were THERE, it was really personal, it all added up immensely in the immersion and scale of the game (mystery, being lost on the ring without really knowing what's happening and with no "outside" contact.

In Halo 2, the scale was much bigger, you added Earth and the Covenant's perspective, the cutscenes considered that. It didn't really felt that much like a movie (Halo 3), maybe just not too Hollywood, it felt as if you were reading a book and told the story in a non... "epic, look at this, it's a movie called Halo and it's so epic, it's humanity last stand and the end is nigh!". You know what I mean? Halo 3 had some kind of obvious our game is epic feel. Well, I may be exaggerating, but some scenes were a little too much like that. In halo 2, it was much less personal but it was on par with the scale. With MC, there was always MC around, keeping a level of immersion. Same with Arby except in the beginning, where like in Halo CE, you don't immediately see the hero.

The problem with Halo 3, is that the cinematics weren't handled like a game, but a movie where you add big orchestration and special camera angles and all to make everything look big... well that doesn't really work in video games, at least not with me, it breaks the immersion. Again like movies, some scenes were way too short (like the beginning of the Ark).

My 360 is broken so I didn't played that much ODST, but from what I remember it was OK. There was no real important central character so the cinematics took it that way, but some of the dialogue was awful and cheesy.

I think the main problem, is mainly HOW it is handled, HOW they want their game to feel, it IS translated into cinematics (poorly if the team sucks). Personally, I think the cinematics are perfect the way they are in Halo CE and 2, so if they should base them on any game, I'd say any of the two, a mix of both I'd say. And please, good dialogues between the spartans, no cheesy though space marine thing, particularly not when they have zero personality.
I highly agree with your perspective of Halo 3 being a movie, and I doubt that I could conveyed it more fluently.

As far as Halo: CE being better, the only scenes that I really liked a lot were the opening and the Private Jenkins clip (loved that btw). A lot of the rest weren't as good; I just think it looked like you were just kind of... watching yourself play the game; which isn't what I think it should look like. Cutscenes should develop plot and not look like the game is being played, but explaining what happens imbetween the missions.

I suppose that I didn't give Halo: CE enough credit, but I still like the styles of Halo 2 and Halo 3:ODST more.


[Edited on 11.12.2009 6:22 PM PST]

  • 11.12.2009 6:22 PM PDT
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If you say add Quicktime Events to cutscenes....

  • 11.12.2009 6:23 PM PDT
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Posted by: Methew
If you say add Quicktime Events to cutscenes....
What?

  • 11.12.2009 6:24 PM PDT

Posted by: mneo
I agree.

  • 11.12.2009 6:31 PM PDT

Why do people feel the movements in ODST are exaggerated? Has anyone actually watched a persons more flirtatious movements in real life? They actually do take the entire body, and they are slow, and they aren't really as fluid as sped up motion capture makes them seem in video games.

  • 11.12.2009 7:50 PM PDT

I actually really enjoyed a lot of CE's cut scenes. My fave being the one where the chief finds jenkins helmet. Not the helmet cam, but before that, it's very suspensful and the rest of level really added to the atmosphere of the cutscene.

The level that you play on and the video you watch should complement eachother.

  • 11.12.2009 7:55 PM PDT
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Posted by: disgruntledfan2
Why do people feel the movements in ODST are exaggerated? Has anyone actually watched a persons more flirtatious movements in real life? They actually do take the entire body, and they are slow, and they aren't really as fluid as sped up motion capture makes them seem in video games.
It was mainly just a few scenes that I'd consider "exaggerated", and that might be a misnomer. The thing that comes to mind is the opening scene; there are a few parts where they just do more movement than people in real life do. It's not a problem INO: I actually think it would be pretty good for making cutscenes more different from the game itself, which is what this thread is about.

  • 11.13.2009 7:28 AM PDT
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No.

Posted by: Evil Johnny
I
My 360 is broken so I didn't played that much ODST, but from what I remember it was OK. There was no real important central character so the cinematics took it that way, but some of the dialogue was awful and cheesy.



That was the whole damn point.

But the thing about the animation in ODST was that is was PURPOSEFULLY cartoony. But no one seems to understand the look Bungie is going for, so everyone complains.

I really hate motion capture. Not only is it NOT fluid at all, but it's the easy way out.

Anyone played GOW2? Every time it zoomed into Dom's hand, it was VERY apparent how many shortcomings motion capture has.


[Edited on 11.13.2009 7:48 AM PST]

  • 11.13.2009 7:42 AM PDT
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Posted by: master piraka
Posted by: Evil Johnny
I
My 360 is broken so I didn't played that much ODST, but from what I remember it was OK. There was no real important central character so the cinematics took it that way, but some of the dialogue was awful and cheesy.



That was the whole damn point.

But the thing about the animation in ODST was that is was PURPOSEFULLY cartoony. But no one seems to understand the look Bungie is going for, so everyone complains.

I really hate motion capture. Not only is it NOT fluid at all, but it's the easy way out.

Anyone played GOW2? Every time it zoomed into Dom's hand, it was VERY apparent how many shortcomings motion capture has.
Yeah, the Rookie was a Silent Protagonist so that the player can try to "be The Rookie"

  • 11.13.2009 7:52 AM PDT

Long post my ass. I scrolled down on the scroll bar and was so dissapointed.

...I suppose it is longer than the "Put scrabz in r3ach plz" thesises that most people like to have.

As for your idea, I kinda like it when the cutscenes have graphics simillar to the actual game, so my eyes don't need to adjust from one scene to the other.

I wouldn't mind a few first person perspective cutscenes, though its nice to have some third person ones so you can actually see your character.

  • 11.13.2009 7:56 AM PDT

Making the cutscenes look like the game makes it feel like your part of the cutscene, or atleast it tries to. I'm not saying it wouldn't be cool to have much better graphics in cutscenes but the way it is now makes you feel more immersed.

Look at Halo Wars. The cutscenes were amazing but gameplay itself was ehish. I really just played the game to see the next cut scene, I didn't feel like I was a part of the game, felt more like a movie with some bad scenes inbetween cutscenes.

  • 11.13.2009 8:00 AM PDT
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Posted by: TS AGRawr2
Making the cutscenes look like the game makes it feel like your part of the cutscene, or atleast it tries to. I'm not saying it wouldn't be cool to have much better graphics in cutscenes but the way it is now makes you feel more immersed.

Look at Halo Wars. The cutscenes were amazing but gameplay itself was ehish. I really just played the game to see the next cut scene, I didn't feel like I was a part of the game, felt more like a movie with some bad scenes inbetween cutscenes.
Well I'm not saying that they should improve the graphics of the cutscene because they'll almost definitely go with the (I forget the name of it) system that uses the in-game models for the cutscenes.

What I am saying, is that the cutscenes of Halo 3, for example, are, in my opinion, boring. They don't "feel" like cutscenes, it just seems like the game is playing out before me, and I don't get fully immersed into them.

You mentioned the Halo Wars cutscenes and they are the epitome of cutscene win; exactly what I'm talking about. I didn't mention them in my post because they used different graphics than the game itself so it's obvious that they'de look different.

But with the Halo Wars cutscenes I really got into them because they were not only interesting, but different. It's the same thing with a lot of the ODST cutscenes; they had a different feel than the game, so it was fun, and different, to watch them.

  • 11.13.2009 8:13 AM PDT

1.Arkham Asylum, 2.Mass Effect, 3.Halo CE, 4.Mass Effect 2, 5.Halo 2, 6.Splinter Cell Double Agent, 7.Gears of War 2, 8.Medievil, 9.Oblivion, 10.Crash Team Racing

I don't like the idea of first person cutscenes. Basically they are like the Cortana interruptions in Halo3. I also didn't like how Buck looked at his gun in the beginning of Tayari plaza. The Oni bridge thing was cool only because of the posture - I'd like to look behind corners like that as well in-game.

First person cutscenes don't really have a point. With good animations and scripting they could be a lot more interesting in active game than when stopping me with cutscene. I rather jump through a window by myself than see it done 1st person in cutscene.

The last Warthog run of Halo1 could be made through a cutscene, but how lame would that have been? Freedom makes it so much better.

1st person view means I'm the one in control and so I should be in control.

  • 11.13.2009 8:35 AM PDT

Bacon

Halo wars had the best cutscenes, especially when Forge fought against the arbiter with the spartans..Epic.

I liked Halo 3s ending and ofcourse when the Arbiter slays Truth.

  • 11.13.2009 8:37 AM PDT

XBL: Badjoe7.

/ Booting A.I. 89-120,6...
/ Ready...
/ Initiating world domination plan E-75...

yeah but those were also CGI and while they looked nice they kind of felt like they were separated from the in-game cutscenes.

  • 11.13.2009 11:04 AM PDT
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No.

Posted by: EliteForce 115
Halo wars had the best cutscenes, especially when Forge fought against the arbiter with the spartans..Epic.

I liked Halo 3s ending and ofcourse when the Arbiter slays Truth.


Pre rendered wankfests.
Yawn.

I want to see what the game engine can really do. That's part of what makes ALL Halo cutsenes amazing. It shows off just how good some things can look.

  • 11.13.2009 9:19 PM PDT

The thing is video games give you more benefits than movies do. If you look at Assassin's Creed and COD 4, then you will see what I am talking about. It feels like you are actually in the game, controlling the character all the time. Do this for Reach and cutscenes will be a lot better.

  • 11.13.2009 9:49 PM PDT

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