Brief update (Separate Ways Cutscenes)

Hello! Since this is taking me ages, I’m going to post some comparison images about the last thing that remains to be done for Separate Ways: Chapter 4 and 5 cutscenes.

Keep in mind, this remastered cutscenes won’t be implemented until some coder finds the way to force the game to load these video files instead of the original 512 x 336 pixel low resolution pre-rendered videos.

The coder that was working for me almost got it, so it’s a matter of time some other coder (or maybe the same one when she has the time) polish her work and the videos can be used.

And below you can see a few examples of what I’m doing.

There are countless remaster methods used, most times several of them used in the same camera angle: From a simple AI upscale to a complete re-creation. Sometimes several AI methods are used in the same camera angle, because some portions of the image look better using certain AI upscale parameters while other portions look better using another configuration. And, of course, most background stages use the HD textures from the HD project (remember the camera data for the SW cutscenes is still there). But most times I need to adjust lights and effects to make them match the original lighting of the low-res pre-rendered videos before capturing the backgrounds, and sometimes I need to adjust lights and effects for just for one camera angle…! Well, I could do an entire series of videos explaining the process… XD

Enjoy the comparison shots!

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38 responses to “Brief update (Separate Ways Cutscenes)”

  1. NEGAARMAX says:

    Wow
    Realmente se nota el cambio, no puedo esperar para poder jugar Separate Ways y disfutarlo visualmente.
    Excelente traabajo Albert.
    Espero que se logre terminar el codigo y salgan junto con el proyecto finalizado.

    Estaré al pendiente de más actualizaciones.

    Saludos

  2. Felipe says:

    This looks gorgeous!

  3. Xuru says:

    This is insane work Albert, it looks better than what I could have ever expected.

  4. Frank Nitty says:

    Thanks for the status update… The after HD image is a complete night and day comparison to the original. Keep up the good work, guys. Looking forward to the final product.

  5. RightClickEmpty says:

    Incredible looking! It’s a god’s work. What about main game? Cutscenes in it fully remastered like in SW?

    • Xuru says:

      Most of the cutscenes in the main campaign are not pre rendered, but the ones that are (castle bridge moving, Verdugo’s POV) have been completely recreated. I’m not sure about the opening cutscene though, but I assume it’s been AI upscaled like the SW ones.

    • albert says:

      As they’ve already said, Leon’s campaign cutscenes are realtime (keep in mind this project is for the 2014 PC port, not the 2007).
      You can take a look at previous videos in my YT channel and you’ll see how they look 😉
      https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChMsyCDGy9eGSGT-ygqBZhA

  6. Frank Bloemer says:

    Nice to hear an update of your amazing work, Albert! I can’t wait to play your project, keep up the excellent job, and be sure to take as much time as you need to make it perfect! You’re incredible and I really admire you. Much love from your brazilian friend! 😉

  7. Harban says:

    RightClickEmpty: There are no pre-rendered cutscenes in the main campaign. The game is based on the GameCube original, where all cutscenes were real-time, except for a short introduction video.

    • DarkSamus says:

      Actually to fair there is also the castle bridge moving, the Verdugo’s POV scene and the end credits.

      • Gamer says:

        And Albert already improved those a while ago I think, although not sure if he was able to add them yet either.

  8. Necdilzor says:

    The improvement is really insane!
    These cutscenes are infamous for their low resolution and now they look better than ever.
    Thanks for the hard work!

  9. Victor says:

    Seeing new updates is always a huge highlight for me!
    I love this project so much!

  10. V I D A L says:

    “Well, I could do an entire series of videos explaining the process… XD”

    I wouldn’t mind that. ;P

    • V I D A L says:

      Great job as always. It’s crazy how much work you are putting into it.
      Slightly concerning that you are spending all this time enhancing those cutscenes and as of now you can’t even be certain it will be possible to have them playing in the game? I thought that was already sorted.

      • albert says:

        Haha yeah XD
        It’s half done. I’m pretty confident that it will be fully possible in a near future. Anyway, they can be used in the old 2007 port, at least 😛

    • Andrzej says:

      Add me to the list. I love me some behind the scenes on video game production. Or modding.

      • Gamer says:

        It is clever how you remake them, most other people would probably keep to upscaling the original videos.

  11. Its awesome, i hope the mod become ready soon!

  12. R says:

    La verdad que esta comparativa me dejó impresionado, espero con ansias el siguiente vídeo!

  13. Mike says:

    Amazing work as always, last picture the interior of the helicopter looks too different though? is that WIP?

    • albert says:

      Nope! that’s the HD project version of that texture. I’ve been taking a look at military helicopters and they usually have some kind of padding surface (you know… so you don’t break your head in case of some abrupt helicopter maneuver…)
      and the original one was really loooow-resolution. So it’s logical it looks so different

  14. Pliskin says:

    That shot of the helicopter going off into the sunset looks beautiful nicely done. The background texture when Ada is in helicopter looks a little odd, like old bathroom tile rather than metal. Otherwise this is a great upscale!

    • albert says:

      Thanks!
      It’s a padding surface so Ada don’t break her head in case of some abrupt helicopter maneuver. It’s very common in military helicopters
      The original one was so low-res it’s almost impossible to identify what the hell is that made of…

  15. Gamer says:

    Those differences are impressive.

  16. mofail says:

    awwww no video000 ▶ ༼ ºل͟º ༽ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (☭ ͜ʖ ☭) (ง’̀-‘́)ง
    I’m starting to wonder about the cutscene stuff, glad there will be patches later down the road & looking forward the main campaign. good luck peeps

  17. Nick says:

    This project is what I live for. I just beat RE8, which was worth the wait definitely; but the moment I play through entirety of RE4HD is the moment when I can pass on to the afterlife.

  18. nipkow says:

    Hey Albert! Amazing work as always.
    If you’d like to talk about the coding stuff to get the game to load the high res fmvs, send me an email. I’d like to help if possible.
    Cheers!

  19. Spoony says:

    Sorry if this has already been asked before but are there any plans to fix the couple of code issues for the 60fps option? i.e. the rifle reloads and QTEs requiring double button mashing speed.

    • albert says:

      I hope my coder colleagues can fix some or all this issues at some point! As I mentioned in a couple of videos, I’ll release the 1.0 version of the project when my work is finished, and the extra programming stuff will come later as and additional small patch. (So people that is not worried about these “small” problems can enjoy the project as is, and also I want feedback in case there are some problems or graphic details to fix)

  20. gabriel says:

    Hi!, have you ever played the wii version or the game cube version with component conection? it looks very good. The game cube version has a graphic glitch I think, the image looks contracted when you play in widescreen format, this was fixed in the wii version (the black bars does not appear).

  21. Nimo says:

    I like to see this project is still active!
    I will be donating a small amount to support your work.

  22. Jim says:

    Am I seeing this wrong or did you figure out how to sharpen the cutscenes and get rid of the aliasing because these pics give me the impression that the aliasing was almost completely removed.

  23. Master Chen says:

    …what happened to the “previous coder”? Some drama, or life issues?

  24. Éric says:

    Hi Albert,
    Can you will add an option to have a more current gameplay like RE2 Remake?
    Best ++++

  25. Jose says:

    sera posible que publiques un link con solo las cinmeticas de separate ways, para los que solo tenemos la version de 2004?, gracias por tu increible trabajo, ten por seguro que en el futuro disfrutare de este excelente remaster.