Dodo Blog

For the next couple of weeks I’ll be doing a series of posts on the use of interactive animation in a number of notable games…

This week, Gothic.

I suggested recently that games could show skill progression in the movement of the player, making the animation more elegant as you level up, but some games are already doing this, Piranha Bytes’ action-RPG among them. Set in a medieval prison colony; the player picks up skills from various allies.

As in most RPGs you start out pretty helpless and your general incompetence is reflected in how you hold and swing a blade. Get some training though and you start showing a little more control in your movements, different slashing moves are unlocked and you can now use timing to your advantage…

The player becomes visibly more skilled.

It’s worth noting the animation doesn’t have to be perfect, as long it is effective and communicates clearly. All the better if it also looks cool, of course.