Animation is not limited to movies or television shows. It’s a form of art that has slipped its way into numerous other forms of entertainment—including video games.
Animation methods that modern games use usually are motion capturing, 3D animation, 2D sprite animations, just to name a few. The role this has in video games could range from essential features like character movements, or supplementary details like environmental animations and object responses. Animation can be used in order to improve immersion, storytelling, and dynamics.
So, here’s a list of 5 instances of animation in video games.
1. Half-life 2
Initial release date: November 16th, 2004
Genre: FPS, Survival Horror, Action-adventure
Platforms: Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Mac OS X, Linux, Android
Developer: Valve
In Half-life 2, players are presented with a gravity gun. It allows you to pick up objects of varying sizes and eventually, even other characters—namely enemies. When enemies are lifted and flung, the game utilises a specific type of animated movement. Ragdoll physics!
It’s done through procedural animation, and used to make motions feel more dynamic, rather than static or stiff. Characters become jelly-like, almost. In Half-life 2 particularly, the ragdolls were comical and exaggerated in their actions, which was then patched in later releases. However, there are fan-made mods you can download which emulate older versions of the game.
The Half-Life series has been influential to many beloved series—some big titles in the industry started off as a fan-made game of Half-life! If you enjoyed Cry of Fear or Counter Strike, check out its origins!
2. Terraria
Initial release date: May 16th, 2011
Genre: Action-Adventure, Sandbox
Platforms: Windows, Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, macOS, iOS, Linux, Xbox One, Stadia, Windows Phone, PS3, Xbox 360, PSVita, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
Developer: Re-Logic
This cult-classic side scroller serves as an example of animation in 2D games. From pesky creatures to elaborate boss fights, Terraria has animated sprites for all in-game characters.
Sprites are 2D pixel art bitmaps that can be animated to move. For example, the Moon Lord is an end-game boss, and is comprised of multiple small, animated sprites. This creates a battle that consists of a few phases, in which you’d have to damage different parts of his body that periodically become vulnerable. Throughout this whole bout, attacks and movements are fully animated as well. Tendrils that attach itself to the player would move, and projectiles are not exempt to this.
P.S: The background is animated too! Besides transitions from day to night, you can see clouds moving on the surface layer of the word, and lava cascades in the underworld!
There’s something for everyone in Terraria. If you like combat, sandbox building, or grinding for materials – this game is for you.
3. Shadow of the Colossus
Initial release date: October 8th, 2005
Genre: Action-Adventure, Puzzle, Fighting, Shooter
Platforms: PS1, PS2, PS3
Developers: Team Ico, Sony
This console game is a rightful giant in the genre of action-adventure games. The player would travel across an expansive, yet uninhabited world, with the sole objective of defeating the 16 Colossi.
As their names suggest, these beings are monumental in size. They've been brought to life through key frame animation, done so in a way that reflects their immensity—swings being heavy and movements languid. Evidently, the director strived for realism. This is reflected in other smaller details, like how non-playable characters and the environment responds to the player. Dust clouds would form around the feet of the colossi as it advanced towards its target; horses would fail to respond to player commands if it led to danger. Careful considerations like these were taxing to the production team, but it’s what made the game a landmark of immersion and art in its industry.
If you own a PlayStation, and you itch to experience elaborate battles and explore expansive lands, Shadow of the Colossus waits for you!
4. Fallout 1
Initial release date: October 10th, 1997
Genre: RPG, Adventure
Platforms: macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, DOS, MS-DOS, Mac operating systems, Classic Mac OS
Developer: Interplay Entertainment
This game is first instalment of the beloved Fallout series, before Bethesda bought the franchise. In the 90s, Fallout was a turn-based, trimetric perspective game—and it didn’t have the same technology we have today. Consequently, they turned to clay sculptures for animation. The talking heads of notable NPCs that players talk to were digitised models! Texture maps were made on photoshop, which was then transferred onto the heads- then animated. This created that uncanny look early fans have been accustomed to, a simulation befitting of the gritty wastelands players traverse.
If you’ve been looking for a good turn-based action-adventure game, I would suggest Fallout 1. It’s hailed as a classic for a reason, and its success has been reflected in the numerous titles that came after it!
5. Jazzpunk
Initial release date: February 14th, 2014
Genre: Art, Indie, Adventure, Comedy
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Mac operating systems
Developer: Necrophone Games
Jazzpunk is an indie game from 2014. It’s set in a fictitious Japanese city, where players take charge of a silent protagonist and engage in espionage. The most notable example of animation in this comedic adventure game, is the introductory cutscene placed right before the actual gameplay.
In this animated sequence, players are presented with an innocuous baggage claim carousel, as briefcases are shot out of the conveyor system—until a conspicuously human-shaped case arrives on the screen. The introductory reel then flashes, bringing players to fast-paced scenes where glimpses of in-game venues and events are shown, animated in both 3D and 2D. The style of animation displayed here is characteristic of the rest of the game. It’s vivid, retro futuristic, and surreal.
Inspirations of the game include “Thirty Flights of Loving,” and “Blade Runner”, and if you happen to be a fan of the game and/or the book, you’re likely to adore this singleplayer game!
Conclusion
Animation has always been a large part of video games—and it has made a lot of progress since the early years of gaming; from the simplistic way Pacman’s mouth moved in the 1980’s, to how Cyberpunk 2077 includes hyper realistic background characters that have their own animated routines. The next time you launch open a game, spare a moment to take in the art that has been put into it!
Author Bio
From Malaysia, Leia Emeera is a writer at TESSR, and a published author. She has been putting pen to paper ever since she learned how to, and has an anthology to her name, titled 'Ten'. Leia loves music, games and her beloved Labrador Retriever, George. She aims to further her studies in English Literature and Creative Writing the moment her gap year ends. 'Till then, you will find her sitting behind a desk, writing with TESSR.
Connect with her on LinkedIn: Leia Emeera
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