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MotorStorm: Pacific Rift

Also known as: MotorStorm 2

Bizarre size screw-ups in games

Did someone get the cm and inches muddled up?

Words: Justin Towell, GamesRadar UK

Killzone 2
There are so many first-person shooters out there where it looks like you're controlling a midget with a gun strapped to his face. But still, this is a bit odd. Look at this promo artwork with Sev at the front and Natko on the right.

Sev's an imposing figure, no? But here's the game, looking through Sev's eyes. No, we weren't crouching, and yes this is on level ground:


Above: "Quit pointing that gun at me, Sev." "Sorry dad."

Natko is supposed to be three inches taller than Sev. But going by that screenshot and the constant chest-staring, Sev's much shorter:

Far Cry 2
Killzone isn't the only recent FPS to feature a vertically-challenged lead character. Take Far Cry 2, for example. This is an odd one, as most of the time the perspective seems just fine. But then you get to the weapon shop and encounter this door...

Looks innocent enough, doesn't it? But note how low that handle is. Things get even stranger when you walk up to it:

The doorhandle's as big as a stop-cock compared to your hand and gun. And look at the lock. Doesn't it feel as though you're a tiny man hovering in space? Let's take a look inside.

That handle's incredibly low. But now we've got a proper eyeline on a level floor, we can see how tall we really are...

Looks like they hired a child to do a man's job.

And finally... Super Mario Bros

Shall we compare that to Bob Hoskins' Mario from the movie?

At least you get bigger if you eat it. Makes sense really.

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33 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
BodyDamage  - 9 months 19 days ago 
that KZ2 entry is very interesting.
Montag  - 9 months 19 days ago 
I've got a girlfriend so I don't have to shout first!!

Seriously I thought that about Far Cry 2, it bugged me for ages
ELpork  - 9 months 19 days ago 
SHROOOOOM!!!
MUSH-RUME  - 9 months 19 days ago 
Another example is Turok:Evolution (if any one has played it) cos u seem about 1 ft off the ground.
RonnyLive19881  - 9 months 19 days ago 
Haha midgets are funny in a sad way.
MacGyver1138  - 9 months 19 days ago 
A lot of FPS games seem to have this problem. I'm looking out of my character's eyes and staring someone square in the shoulder.

The size scaling is also sometimes screwy in your ability to jump. The COD games stick clearly in my mind as games where you can jump vertically all of about 6 inches, getting stuck on curbs and the like.
SkinnyJr  - 9 months 19 days ago 
I did feel a little short in KZ2
AnonymouZ  - 9 months 19 days ago 
everyone notices this kind of crap everywhere... but only gr makes it so fucking hilarious i just wake up the neighbors with my awesomely loud laughter and deep breaths that precludes its continuation. nice one justin.

anonymouz approves!
Spike_the_Dogg  - 9 months 19 days ago 
I noticed it also in Metroid Prime Hunters when two samus' could stand next to each other and look up at each other. It was wierd
gutlessVADER  - 9 months 19 days ago 
pretty strange
iKOemos  - 9 months 19 days ago 
In almost every FPS u seem to play as a midget.
Romination  - 9 months 19 days ago 
WHAT?!?
KILLZONE 2 HAS PARFECT HIEGHT!! FAIL!!!

Yeah, yeah, there's a jackass like me every killzone reference...that road rash picture made me laugh.

anyone else like those jump boots from Mario?
rollaire  - 9 months 18 days ago 
LOL, I just love the punch buggy in the Ferrari! Priceless!

RT
www.anon-tools.us.tc
60Hertz  - 9 months 18 days ago 
i mean really we can go on ripping MOVIES apart about laws of physics, and nature... i really don't get the point of this article other than to show how much smarter the author is than the developer except, interestingly enough, it seems like he's never actually made a game... i'm tired of this type of journalism.
Yellowhat17  - 9 months 18 days ago 
The same issue was in the original FarCry also.
Yellowhat17  - 9 months 18 days ago 
@60hertz
Either you're a Killzone fan boy, or you're just humorless. It doesn't REALLY matter, it's just something that bugs us.
swizzler  - 9 months 18 days ago 
the door thing isn't new, look at counter strike, people are roughly 64 units standing up, and some doors in that game are 128 units! twice the size of the person, and no, they aren't those big showy doors, they're like... office doors.
darthspongebob7  - 9 months 18 days ago 
i dont think anybody cares
GoldenMe  - 9 months 18 days ago 
Justin + This article = WIN.

And it's also has a "hate on 60hertz for being a prick/fanboy" comment page.
DasavageJ  - 9 months 17 days ago 
HAHA nice article GR. I noticed this too, especially in FPS games. I believe its because although your character model are the correct height in comparison to the rest of the game, when the developers put change the camera they make it at the guns height for general ease of aiming purposes. Still a great article though.
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