JLA What-If Week 3 - Behind the Scenes

Well it's another week and another What-If, and this week saw the "release" of no other then DARKSEID!

You may be wondering, "Just how much detail goes into these game images anyway?"

Well, it's time for me to explain.

First I model the characters and pose them by telling the computer how to move their arms, legs, etc. using a process called "rigging". I basically draw a skeleton on each model, and the skeleton tells the computer how to move the model.

The dots and lines represent the skeleton of the character in the 3D editor.

 As you can see, I've already added the fog effect, which is a tag that I can place on the camera. When I'm really building the scene, all the characters are already textured, because I import them into the scene fully textured, but for the purposes of "peeling away" the scene, that's what it would look like if I rendered it without textures.

Then I light the scene. Here's what it looks like without the anti-aliasing effect, (which makes it look like it's from the game).

Here it is with the HUDs added, plus a few modifications to the image, and it's done!

If you have any other questions, as always I'll answer them in the comments section below.

-- SHSOFan.

JLA What-If - Week 3

Note: the following post is fictional, and does not represent any actual gameplay or announcements from Gazillion Entertainment, Marvel or DC.

---

The new mission was released today, entitled "Darkseid of the Moon". The title also doubles as a handy mnemonic for how to pronounce "Darkseid".

Anyway, let's jump right into the mission review!

---

DARKSEID MISSION REVIEW

MAIN GAMEPLAY

Darkseid is one of those really overpowered JLA enemies, and I imagine it must have been tough to figure out which of his powers to use. They do a pretty good job of showcasing all of them, though. Darkseid shoots plasma blasts, teleports, grows to the size of a giant, shapeshifts into your teammates, and even controls you during the mission! Darkseid has taken control of Justice League members and throughout the mission you fight evil red-eyed versions of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Flash. I expect Green Arrow and Green Lantern will be added when they are released. It reminded me of the Onslaught mission a lot, especially since it took place mostly in an alternate dimension.

I give the MAIN GAMEPLAY a 3.5/5!

BOSS BATTLE

Darkseid is a powerful enemy, but during the first part of this boss battle, you don't even get to fight him! Instead, he shoots plasma blasts at you with his hands ala Dormammu, and his JLA minions fight for him.

After you defeat him, he comes down to the actual battle stage and fights you.

It's nothing we haven't seen before, but it's still fun.

I give the BOSS BATTLE a 3/5!

OVERALL: A fun mission with one of the JLA's best and most powerful enemies, but it lacks originality and feels like a remix of Onslaught and Dormammu's missions.

I give this mission OVERALL a score of 3/5!

---

Well, I'm excited to play this mission through once again with Green Arrow and Green Lantern, who are most certainly coming next week! (Or maybe they'll pull another Mysterio smoke and mirror trick on us!)

Let's hope not!

-- SHSOFan.

JLA What-If Week 3 - Teaser

Something's on it's way...

what could it be?

-- SHSOFan.