Like the OP, I'm actually NOT happy with the cutscenes and cinematics in the game AT ALL. they are poorly crafted and poorly executed, and it has nothing much to do with the overall graphical quality. The writing is bad, the choreography is bad, and the execution is bad - even for the important supposedly major scenes.
Another thread by an individual with far more training in this particular area than I have made an excellent post and video (for those who would rather watch and listen for a couple of minutes, with visual examples, rather than read), and I'd very highly recommend that folks here take a moment to remind themselves of it:
https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=739508That video was excellent btw. Thank you for linking.
In watching it, it struck me why I generally like cinematics in these types of games, even when they are not great. I am the type of person that usually has to watch things like, say, recorded lectures or conference talks, at 1.5 speed. Why? Because I read so much faster than narrators, teachers, snd game companions talk. And I cannot stop myself from doing it. At all. So, when I play a game like, say, DOE2…which I just happen to be playing now…I inevitably miss the narration and voice acting completely. Because they show me a wall of text with responses that I read and decide on before the slow voice actors finish ‘emoting’ the first line.
This is not something I enjoy. It is a legit mental block I have. If you try to read text to me that I can see, I am simply compelled to shut your voice out and take over. Yes, I know you are trying to emote and make me care about you. But my brain latches onto written words like a starving tadpole.
Cinematics, even when poorly executed, FORCE me to actually shut my brain down a notch and listen and enjoy the characters. So for me, the best games, in terms of immersion, are either cinematic or fully text based.
