LogInThe Mélancolie Diabolique team demonstrated how to set up smooth combat animations on a budget.
While motion capture undeniably remains the preferred method for creating game animations and rightfully maintains its status as the industry standard, numerous smaller developers may find themselves financially constrained when it comes to investing in expensive mocap suits or hiring professional mocap studios.
An example of an indie team facing this challenge is Mélancolie Diabolique, who recently demonstrated their approach to achieving seamless gameplay animations on a limited budget.
Opting to use the technique known as Rotoscoping, the team recorded real-life footage and then used it as a reference to create an attack animation for their upcoming Unreal Engine 5-powered soulslike game. According to the developer, the animation was 100% hand-animated in Blender, a free and open-source 3D software.
Additionally, Mélancolie Diabolique leveraged Artell's Auto-Rig Pro, a remarkable add-on for Blender to rig characters, retarget animations, and provide FBX/GLTF export, to bring the animation into Unreal Engine 5. Attached above is the demo shared by the team that shows how the final animation looks in-game.
Image Credit: Mélancolie Diabolique, Baphomet
Image Credit: Mélancolie Diabolique, Baphomet
Baphomet, the game itself, is a soulslike action RPG situated in a medieval French castle filled with alluring succubi and unyielding skeletons. Your character is a knight entrusted by the king with the mission to investigate the castle and overcome the malevolent forces that lurk within. Armed with a sword and magical powers, you'll need to face your enemies and save the world from the spreading evil.
Image Credit: Mélancolie Diabolique, Baphomet
Image Credit: Mélancolie Diabolique, Baphomet
"Engage in epic battles as a skilled knight, wielding a powerful sword and harnessing the power of magic. Customize your combat style with a variety of abilities, including swift and heavy attacks. Upgrade your skills with mystical enhancements, infusing your weapon with the fury of fire or the chilling embrace of ice to amplify your damage. Choose your approach: strike with your trusty sword in your right hand or unleash the elemental might of magic spells from your left hand."
Image Credit: Mélancolie Diabolique, Baphomet
Image Credit: Mélancolie Diabolique, Baphomet
Here are a couple of behind-the-scenes gameplay demos shared by the team:
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