Why does it matter? The game itself is still far away (unless, due to the circumstances of delayed finalisation, we get it during the first half of 2018). Since December is the month of significance for PS, we are still (maybe) getting something, which is all that matters.
They just need to give us some sort of example of what they were doing and what they plan to do. Even if we have to wait, I want some solid expectations and fan communication.
I hope the direction used on Kilik & Sophitia there is how they're going to design the costumes. I'd like to see the more detailed decorations and armor parts over the characters bodies to remind us they are warriors again, because Sophitia has been getting really bare lately losing her actual armor each game and Elysium was just one game away from just making her naked. I don't like that. I want to be in awe from the armor designs and embroidery on them. So PR should design the new characters if thats the case because I liked the SCIII vibe I got from seeing these two concepts.
I kinda hope Vergeben's right about those designs being real, since I really like all of them.
Hmmm, I tried to think of any story meaning that could lead to these designs, but Kilik aging and Sophitia not kinda screwed me, because I'm not sure she is supposed to be aging or not. We would not be able to see wrinkles on her in a sketch and the third concept of her in the link you provided make her look older, while Kilik's only indication of aging is his beard, which is more obvious. Besides, when women age in a japanese game, there is never really a huge indication save for maybe one or two marks on the face attempting to emulate wrinkles. Still, if they are actually aging, that means that SC5 is scrapped, because in that game Kilik was not capable of aging, since despite many years, he is still the exact same. All I can say about the others is that I hope Nightmare and Natsu get the new movesets instead of keeping the old ones, because I expect Taki to return and having movesets that are quite similar Nightmare/Siegfried and Taki/Natsu would be boring, specially now that they scrapped the weapon variations, the characters themselves MUST bring a lot of variation between them.I decided to bring up last years' PR concept arts because @Vergeben heavily implicated that they were the real deal after we thought it was debunked by the company themselves. If they're real, let's discuss the implications of that.
There are four character concepts, plus a stage. Kilik, Natsu, Nightmare, and Sophitia, and a new place called Sacred City. I'll go over each one:
The artwork depicts him as older, actually looking like he physically aged from the time skip compared to him not looking a day past 23 in SCV. He also holds the staff, though his SCV concept depicted him with it too, the leaks confirmed that he is indeed returning to the staff after being a mimic in the last game. Also, he clearly has an eagle theme with his mask, designs, and codpiece. Overall, I like this look for him.
The other concepts also have him with the eagle theme. I wonder, with Xianghua confirmed and Kilik reverting to the staff, what this means in general. We'll find out soon enough.
This one brings up some interesting questions. First of all, Natsu looks a bit older than 17 in this picture, which could suggest any lapse in time. Second, she's not using the dual kodachi. Instead, she's using a pair of short swords that are sheathed on her lower back as opposed to having her master's style from the last game. Also, the other concepts depict her having different styles, like Vergeben specified. One style has her holding a bladed staff, the other has her holding a sword while powered by her demon. In any case, the reason is pretty obvious: She was changed to allow Taki to return using her classic style.
He said that PS would likely want to bring Taki back, but also salvage Natsu's character by removing her "replacement" status, which would be a start. After all, those who hated Natsu for being Taki's successor might be more willing to give her another look if she's in the game alongside her, not in her place.
The image alone sparks a number of questions. As the mascot and icon of the series, one would think Nightmare would look consistent across all games. That's... not the case with this concept. While they share the same "dark and evil" theme, the differences between the past Nightmare designs and this one is night and day (no pun intended). First of all, he isn't even using a zweihander. Rather, he has these spikes attached to the top of his hand that I think he'd be able to extend and retract at will. Second, this concept has a lovecraftian horror vibe to it, with the eye in the center, the tentacles, the wings, and the general monsterous design. Prior designs varied, but he was either a man in an armored suit or a demonic energy in an armored suit. This here is completely non-human in every sense of the word.
Other concepts of him were made, which does feature him with the zweihander. This could be an example of the "weapon switching" thing they were planning and only partially implemented. Even then, they're completely monsterous, so clearly Nightmare isn't using a human host anymore. Was Zasalamel involved with this like the first time?
It seems Sophitia has come back to life (if she ever died given the "missing" retcon), and looks no older than before. She looks sexy as always, too. I like how Sophitia has an armored bra, but still looks like a decorated Greek warrior and holds true to her look. It's both new and familiar, I like that. With this, Sophitia is in the game and that's not really a surprise. Makes me wonder about her family members as well. Other concepts exist, and both are appropriately revealing, but I like this one the most.
This concept seems to depict a holy city, perhaps not even of this existential plane. From the looks of it, Sacred City is very high in the sky, given the clouds. Is it some kind of heavenly place? Is it related to Astral Chaos in some way? Was Sophitia part of this after her initial "death" (if she died)? Only the creators know, and we'll have to learn for ourselves.
What are your thoughts on this?
I think he hinted at it? It was "I won't say those designs are real, but I also won't say they're fake" or something like that. I can't be bothered to go digging for his comment, lol
Neither could I. By her face in that picture it does seem like the artist made her look more serious than PS did. I hope they are told that this is what fans would prefer. Give her more badass snake motifs to her as well to reflect her curse too.
Thats something I noticed too, a lot of the character colors looked very washed out in SCV to me. They aren't as strong or as bright as the 2D art depicts them. Especially Natsu & Zwei's clothing colors.
Just the fact they went to a hentai artist to design ''costumes'' for the characters already shows how far the series has fallen with the marketing. They don't seem to represent the characters with any respectability for who they are to the fandom.
Wait can you point out any sign of Sophitia aging because she doesn't look a day older to me. Besides it's not out of the realm of possibility considering hardly anyone aged last time.
