New Final Fantasy XV "Dawn" trailer

[SubiyaCryolite]

LMU Uncle Alfred said:

SubiyaCryolite said:
The biggest issue I have with the trailer is the melodrama, the "over acting". We get it, he's sad, but the "omg sorrow" facial expression is just ridiculous. And the super innocent, super cute kid resting on Dads shoulders, way too cheesy. This is the biggest problem I've had with newer Final Fantasy games (Snow anyone). Noctis' father might as well be walking around with a "please feel sorry for me sign" sign. If you're going for emotions, it has to be realistic, it has to be subtle, it has to be intelligent. This feels like a parody or really bad movie.

See, here's the thing.  This is the best Square Enix has done in a long time in terms of tone.  That's why it's such an important trailer.  That's how FF games have always been anyways since the beginning.  The father wasn't necessarily overacting since we don't know everything that was happening before and what will happen afer.  He didn't look that sad anyways.  It looked like he was thinking too, so give credit where credit is due.

FF games have always had melodrama though, so don't expect them to have relatable western-based facial expressions or acting anyways.  It's also based on Japanese  culture and how their language is more static with an emphasis on symbols more so than English which can make more use of slang and such.  It's important to keep that in mind.  But quite honestly there was more subtlety in it then I think you give it credit for.

In recent FF games, we would never see the camera stay on a character this long or even see another character whisper into another character's ear.  It doesn't seem like much, but for SE it is quite a lot.

 And comparing that moment with anything that Snow (or anybody from FF13 besides maybe Sazh)  has ever done acting-wise is completely asinine.  We'd never see Snow do anything like that or react in the way any of the important characters shown were reacting.  He would yell like an idiot 24/7 about anything he does.

The soundtrack was the only thing that was over-the-top in that sequence, but still a very impressive piece of music nonetheless.

Technology today allows for emotions to conveyed in subtle and yet convincing ways. Square is clearly capable of creating scenes like the shot of Elena in U4 for example. Instead you have this character trying way too hard to be sad, holding this kid that is asleep (amp the emoness) while posing dramatically with a sword at the same time... In the rain... With no umbrella..... Why? The scene feels forced and over the top, so I'm not enjoying it. It could have played out so much better while getting the same point across.