Similarities between the Hylotl and the Pfhor

Heya, forum-goers.

Just a heads up: I'm merely talking about some similarities between both species. I'm not saying that race A was inspired by race B, or anything of that nature. I'm not even talking about which one predated which -> Just stating a couple of things I found interesting because I felt they were alike.


If you're familiar with the Marathon Trilogy, then you're quite sure aware of the alien race of slavers known as the Pfhor.

Anyways, here are a few pictures of the Pfhor:

Obviously, the first, and most clear, similarity between the Hylotl and the Pfhor is the layout of the eyes. Both races have a triangular shaped set of three red eyes. That's pretty clear.

Afterwards, we have the head fin/prop/extension.

Here are a few Hylotl done in a Pfhor fashion:


Even the Pfhor drones have that feature, as may be seen below:

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Moving on,

The image shared by Tiy in the 1st of October update is the following:


The furniture has a quite blocky feel to it (in a good way), which reminds me of the Marathon scenarios as well. It being one of the first FPS games with a decent 3d surrounding, it still was very pixel-blocky when it came down to it. And I think that's another similarity that ends up crossing over. Perhaps not very directly, but at a "smoother" semi-subconscious level.

Also, the background in that image (and furniture too, for that matter) has a quite futuristic feel to it, which something you could pick up from the Pfhor as well.

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Finally, we don't know much about the Hylotl lore yet. Whatever it may be, it could bring some more resemblances to the Pfhor backstory. That'll just be a matter of time, though I have to say I'm quite curious!

Nonetheless, we're already aware of the Asian vibe-bit for the Hylotl, which was not the case with the Pfhor.


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Anyways, this whole Hylotl - Pfhor thing was on my mind, so I felt the need to share it with the forum. Just a funny/minor thing. Feel free to share your thoughts on this.

 

Pfhor look more buggy than fishy to me.

 

Haha!

 

Take only the best parts of the Pfhor, combine with a healthy dose of Nautiloid, then sprinkle with a dash of Japanese culture and violá!

The Hylotl.

 

0_0

I never noticed that. Also this reminds me i need to beat infinity still.

Also reminds me how when i was talking with a friend about Starbound I said I wanted to have a human char run into a room screaming "Frog blast the vent core" or whatever it was then explode.

 

Now that you mentioned it...

...something tells me humans are Starcraft terran rip-offs!

 

You are right, they both have two eyes!!! Someone call Chucklefish legal right now!!

 

Wait... Chucklefish has a legal team... so does Disney... BY GOSH.

Nah but in all honest, intentional or otherwise this was a neat find.

 

Yeah it's pretty cool, but when comparing pixel characters there is not as much detail to play with. If you look at some of the Hylotl art, the general idea of what they look like in high detail looks nothing like the slaver race aside from three eyes which is a long standing science fiction/monster trope.

I know it is fan art, but this is basically how I see the Hylotl

 

The only thing that looks similar to me are the eyes. Which is pretty candid I'll admit, but with as many alien species out there as there are, there's bound to be some similarities here and there.

Also, as MrLevi mentioned, they're almost certainly an insectoid race rather than amphibious. The Hylotl do have one dorsal fin shape that's remotely similar to the pfhor's, uh, horn thing, but ultimately it's a different texture and feel entirely.

So yeah, I'd say it's just a coincidence.

Nah, they're just 'inspired' by them. It's totally legit

 

I do not think it was intentional either. It was just what came to my mind.

There are, of course, differences between the Hylotl and Pfhor as well, but that'd make a poor topic.

 

I didn't design the Hylotl (though I sprited them after the designs someone made) but I'm working on their furniture a lot including those ones in that picture.
I can confirm I have no idea what any of this stuff is consciously or subconsciously. After reading wiki a bit I'll just say at that time I was pretty much exclusively Nintendo.

 

I really don't like when people try to make such (far-fetched) connections.
Also, it switches my brain into "someone is wrong on the internet" mode.

Ok, let's begin.

Comparing furniture to blocky graphics in another game? Isn't this a little far fetched?
Also, my bookcase is rather blocky as well and I think it predates Marathon (maybe it inspired Marathon then ;D )
Perhaps blocky Hylotl furniture is based on real world blocky furniture? Wouldn't that be more reasonable?

About the eye. I think that this is a rather common place for designers to put a third eye in. Partially because of the shape of the head I think- if the third eye would be below the two eyes it wouldn't look right, especially if there was a nose below (in case of Hylotls it could be seen by some as a silly, red clown's nose [cause our brains are annoying like that]). Also: forehead -> lot's of empty space to put eyes on ;b

The fact that the eyes are red in both cases also, most probably, is a coincidence. Red is an agressive color- many enemies in games have red eyes.
In case of Hylotls- can you imagine them having a different coloured eyes? I think that red matches best their different skin tones. Again- no inspiration from Marathon, the designers just chose the most fitting combination.

 

As I've stated, I'm merely talking about some similarities between both species. I'm not saying that race A was inspired by race B, or anything of that nature. I'm not even talking about which one predated which -> Just stating a couple of things I found interesting because I felt they were alike.

Regarding their furniture, one of the things I've mentioned is that you can pick up a certain futuristic vibe from it, which was something you could get from the Pfhor as well, at least to me (and from other races in the Marathon trilogy). Yes, you can get a futuristic vibe from a ton of things, but this was simply another thing I felt the need to mention. About the block vibe, the Marathon scenarios consisted in areas where we'd be able to find lots of squares, for lack of a better word right now. That combined with the blue and grey color patterns quickly brought a particular Marathon map to my mind (namely this one), which was a base the Pfhor were using as an outpost of sorts. Perhaps that's where the connection came from.


About the eye, actually, (little fun fact), the Pfhor in the first Marathon game had the set of eyes in reversed position, as may be seen below:

Also, haha, hadn't thought of that as a clown nose.


Then we also have the fact that we lack a decent chunk of Hylotl lore. With this, I mean that perhaps what Chucklefish will offer us may yet be another aspect the races have in common.

There are lots of things wrong on the internet, but I really don't think my little game-comparing topic qualifies as one.

Once again, I feel the need to mention that I'm just after some aspects I found alike between both games; also how decently the Hylotl look when conceived in a Pfhor fashion via the character creator. I'm not after conspiracy theories or the like.

 

Yeah, I was working alongside Fetalstar and Rho in designing the Hylotl, and these dudes weren't brought up at any point, I didn't even know about them 'til now. So yeah any resemblance isn't intentional.

 

We do get it man, but the point some are trying to get across is that the three eyes are basically all there is that is similar. Judging from some of the pictures provided they actually have seven eyes with helmets only making use of three eye holes. I can see how it reminded you of the race, but perhaps the topic should have been "Hylotl remind me of...". Since the simularities are lacking

 

So uh giant boobs giant eyes generic TV openings and the main character bumps into on the way to school but then they fall in LOVE. Meh.

 

not sure if clueless ex-anime nerd elitist response or sarcasm...?

 

[quote="torrent57, post: 1226551, member: 106923"]not sure if clueless ex-anime nerd elitist response or sarcasm...?[/quote]

Every generic anime has all those points though (Minus a select few good anime). And I have no idea how this could be elitist or come from a ex anime nerd etc. Also don't get me started on every generic anime opening.