Download VFX assets: Niagara particles and other effects for Unreal Engine
If we talk only about visual effects, they can be divided into two main types (based on the task they perform):
- Gameplay effects are various explosions, magic, weapons, etc. That is, everything that affects gameplay in some way. Explosions damage the player; and magic he can cast. The situation with weapon is more interesting and complicated – It requires filigree balance. For example, take a flamethrower. To properly fit the fire effect into the game, you first need to project the flamethrower itself. You have to project the flamethrower into a proper area of effect, which is quite difficult in terms of balance.
- Environment effects - all the effects that somehow affect the graphics, but do not affect the gameplay and balance (or affect them minimally). We are talking mostly about all sorts of flares, godrays and other things.
By the way, among all other genres, gameplay effects are more important in fighting games and RPGs. You can download various high quality FX effects for Unreal Engine 4 and 5 on our website, which will perfectly complement the picture of what's going on. But in general, there are some game genres, such as FPS (especially realism-based), where environment effects are as important as gameplay effects. In this case, the artist responsible for natural effects becomes practically an environment artist and basically collaborates with this team. Examples of natural effects are waterfalls, fog, rain, etc.
If we talk about what has the greatest impact on the player, the first place by a huge margin is, of course, light. It is a really powerful tool to guide the player. It costs nothing to get carried away with the detail and lose sight of the overall picture. For example, it is very important to visually separate the floor and walls, so that the player can easily navigate in the location. More game elements should be visible even from a distance. This is where the color marking comes to help. Many game designers and architects have a tacit rule that the surface, with which the user will interact, should always be marked somehow. If we are talking about games, it is customary to mark such places with some color or effect. We have good FX effects in our catalog, which will help to focus the player's attention on this or that detail.
Generally speaking, consistency is our everything when it comes to implementation. Ideally, you want to create a set of rules that the player learns and follows throughout the entire playthrough. Sometimes it can be difficult because these rules can go against the artistic vision, but playability should still come first. The FX effects from our marketplace for UE4 and UE5 cleverly balance these two things, offering both high quality decals and particles and relevance.
