Why PS1 Cutscenes Look So Cool

I guess this is my fifth video...it's a look back at the PlayStation 1 era of FMVs.
Some of the coolest openings ever, and why I find the aesthetic of early pre-rendered 3D cutscenes to be quite charming in spite of their flaws.
co-directed by ‪@forkliftnino‬
@me: / juiceboxjoints
songs used: imgur.com/a/DGQdr7h
00:00 the intro
00:53 pre-rendered CG and FMVs
03:00 here I try to justify the creation and title of this video but probably end up sounding like a dummy instead
05:15 FINAL FANTASY VIII's FMVs were goated
07:59 how did survival horror use these?
14:26 this segment is brought to you by the FGC
21:06 more SquareSoft
22:52 more whatever
24:47 Ridge Racer Type 4’s opening is such a vibe
26:50 the outro
thank you for watching :)

[@CRTglow]

You did PS1 FMV's justice, nail on the head, muh dude

[@DRabbBeats]

Bro you putting the music titles in the description is not going unappreciated bro

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Real 🫡

[@devinkrispy]

No fr dawg you had some bangers

[@RGV_FALCO]

Aw man this video was FLAMES!! Having primarily grown up with a PS1 and PS2 a little later after their release (low income gang), CG FMVs hold a special place in my heart because everything about them is so damn mystifying compared to "the newer stuff" coming out at the time. I think the dreamlike aesthetic perfectly encapsulates why these were so special, because their early 3D charm can't be recreated today even if we tried. You could visually see animators continue to improve through the years, with each new game release somehow pushing the capabilities of what could be seen on a PS1. Though, as mentioned in the video when talking about FFX's FMVs, video games have progressed too far and too quickly to rely mostly on CG FMVs to do the visual heavy lifting during key moments throughout a game. Hell, by the time the Dreamcast rolled around in 1998 (and even more so when it launched in the west in '99), in-game character models were already producing facial expressions along with eye movements in REAL TIME. It was a sign of what was to come, and the fact that visual showcases like Soul Calibur and Shenmue used in-game rendering for their intros proved that it was already time for CG FMVs to take a back seat when it came to selling the player on the developer's true vision for a game, despite having only been in the spotlight for about 5 or so years. That being said, even after the rise and fall of CG FMV cutscenes, the PS2 had some of the CRAZIEST LOOKING FMVs I'VE EVER SEEN, EVEN TODAY. It's a shame most of them were delegated to openings, but that's fine!! They only served as a benchmark for what video games could look like in the then future, and I'm proud to say I've lived long enough to see the gap bridged between cutscene and in-game graphics. And as always, I'll be looking forward to whatever else you have in mind because you're always covering some dope shit. Your delivery and comedic timing is just... perfect! LOL ALSO BRUH WTF WAS THAT ROBLOX KING CHAIN THROW LMAOOOOO

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Bro you’re the one that should’ve made this video! You described why these FMVs have that particular vibe better than I could, and the way you broke down why pre-rendered CG cutscenes began to lose their prominence ever since real time graphics caught up is absolutely perfect! Thank you for sharing this. 🙏🏼 ALSO PUT SOME RESPECT ON THAT ROBLOX KING CHAIN THROW, THE ANIMATION IS GOOD 👊🏼

[@GuileWinQuote]

Another great one. Juicebox and the PS1 is an unbeatable combo

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Ayeee 🙏🏼

[@dasetman]

I will never get enough of FF8 boat landing scene.

[@partycrasher854]

Yes! Tekken 3 and Soul Blade intro were *chefs kiss*. You definitely didnt skip them.

[@devinkrispy]

I’m loving these retrospectives it’s always nice to see someone else’s perspective on games and the aspects of them

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Thank you sm bro!

[@thebyk348]

​@@JuiceboxJoints Ay dawg, you ever play powerstone?

[@JuiceboxJoints]

@thebyk348 Of course

[@Demonskunk]

This video was great. Very earnest. I have a lot of nostalgia for these janky old cutscenes myself.

[@averyark]

I love old game cutscenes too and I was even less alive to have any nostalgia for them. I just genuinely really enjoy the atmosphere and artistry. Like you know they had to put in a lot of work to get it to look like that, so you can appreciate every frame. I'm an artist, i draw, and sometimes i get inspiration off of them for my own stuff

[@Dre2000lbs]

I hope this video and your channel blows up. It’s great to see these FMVs are actually timeless for some younger ones like they have been for me.

[@greycat111]

Yo your narration is dope asf, keep doing it mang!

[@oreo311]

Square doing the "run in front of the FMV" gimmick was so insane i cant even begin, and ridge racer 4 is unmatched to this day. Ridge racer 6 got close but it seems like namco just cant get the vibe

[@velatacu]

daaaaamn my goat is back!! love your videos*

[@redfoxbennaton]

I love PS1 90's cutscenes. Especially the later ones of the late 90's early 2000's. It's a shame no one likes them anymore but it's what I grew up with. I love those often round colorful plasticy untextured 3D models, the realistic hair effects, the floaty animation, the cloth, the post processing, the raw ambition, the everything! It was perfection. PS1 FMV made me wish this was this aesthetic was a thing when the PS3 era when we got the power but got killed off. If I made a game. This is what the graphics would look like.

[@formeitsalwayslikethis]

cool video man, I got to know lots of games I didn't know about

[@greenlink246]

I wasn't born till the end of the PS2 and GameCube generation so I never got to experience that stuff as it was new but I got some weird second hand nostalgia for 90s and early 00s stuff especially games. All of your videos manage to say everything on my mind better then I ever could. Another amazing video also Jin T3 ending is so fucking goofy with all of those sound effects I can't be the only one who thinks that.

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Thank you! And yuh I agree, it feels like a shitpost lmao

[@thebyk348]

Brother man is back, my heart just tenderly busted a nut🥹

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Bruhhh

[@ScorePN]

This video was NOT ass, and thats a fact 👏👏👏👏

[@techy_ikp]

bro I love this vid I thought I was the only one who liked ps1 cutscenes...also first video I've seen from you. It was fire and you got another subscriber.

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Thanks!

[@KaiKennedy]

That's what I'm talking about 😩👌

[@FANBOY222]

love ur content ^___^

[@partycrasher854]

I feel the ps1 allowed developers to get fully creative with their games.

[@JuiceboxJoints]

3D console gaming was shiny and new…definitely a time full of experimentation!

[@oneinathousand2156]

I prefer the early-mid 2000’s console/PC generation for their pre-rendered graphics, because they’re more detailed yet still maintain that ethereal, often uncanny valley look, but I still really like a lot of the PS1 cutscenes, they’re a vibe of their own. As video game and animation tools get even more accessible, I really hope that one day we get an indie or AA game that recreates the pre-rendered look, but use today’s technology to make the whole game look like it.

[@carsonschutter]

Hell yeah just got out of work and there a new video!

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Let’s goooooo

[@thrilleex]

Samurai Shodown Warrior's Rage. that one had some amazing FMVs

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Yo I can’t believe I’m barely learning about this ShamSho game, you’re right! Wish I could’ve included some.

[@thrilleex]

@@JuiceboxJoints to be fair the game was nothing to write home about, was a nice try to get the series to the 3D world, but the FMVs stayed with me for years to come. Also the game has a collectable side to it where you can get the artwork of EVERY character from EVERY game on the series up to that point, that was really cool IMHO.

[@StagFabulous]

Soul Reaver's intro remains kino as shit. That is all.

[@RGV_FALCO]

real

[@MattTheHuman9]

Definitely agree that the atmospheric vibe these cutscenes gave were unique, probs due to the limiting aspects like I can imagine people going crazy over how Nina's hair moved in the Tekken vids back then. I definitely think the ones later in the gen hold up well and there's a reason why they were basically rewards in fighting games, they were hype af. I agree on the PS1 jungle mixes needing more Ape Escape lol, that game basically introduced me to the genre.

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Blessed music

[@TheGamer19856]

I spotted that Evil Zone footage early in the video, my man you gotta cover that game some day. Only real kings played Evil Zone.

[@JuiceboxJoints]

That’s the next one actually!

[@thelastgogeta]

Was hoping to see Destrega... Still any PS1 CG kino is kino. You did have to go this hard. On another note, some post-PS1 games accidentally (?) end up hitting that mark like Aeternoblade which can interesting to see. I imagine a number of indies not to mention PSP and (3)DS games may end up having some similarities in presentation.

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Oof I forgot about Destrega…I would’ve definitely included it. I do recall seeing an indie game that sought out to emulate the style and it was pretty damn convincing. I’ll check out Aeternoblade!

[@outlawdg]

shouts out to racing lagoon, only found out about it recently but man that art style just hits different

[@Arnozi_]

Dude you would love the cutscenes of Racing Lagoon

[@JuiceboxJoints]

I seen them! Included two clips at 21:18 and 27:12 :)

[@josipkraljevic8231]

Tomb Raider cutscenes are dope.

[@teamspimpulation6591]

I concur

[@stepfannify]

why is he talking like he is ultra bored or about to go to sleep?

[@thewave-qz9lt]

what's the game shown here at 2:21 ?

[@JuiceboxJoints]

Rival Schools: United by Fate!