The Gaming Restoration
Tekken 5 Opening FMV
Remastered in 4K using ESRGAN [AI Machine Learning]
ESRGAN is an AI Neural Network software that is capable of upscaling and reconstructing low-resolution images, while retaining most of their elements and details intact.
I took the original video file from the Biohazard Outbreak PS2 disk, and used ESRGAN with the Manga109 training model to upscale the video 4 times its original resolution.
Since Tekken 5 FMV files are encrypted, I had to record the opening cutscene using PCSX2.
I used AutoDeblock, FineDehalo, KNLMeansCL and LSFmod to remove some noise, sharp the edges and reduce the compression artifacts. Then I used ESRGAN with the Manga109 training model to upscale the video 4 times its original resolution… And the results are beautiful.
Original resolution: 640×448
[Resolution based on PCSX2’s internal buffer; SDTV 480p Progressive Scan output]
ESRGAN Upscale: 2560×1920
04:06 ESRGAN vs Original
PRESS THE CC BUTTON FOR LYRICS & SUBTITLES IN ENGLISH
ESRGAN: https://github.com/xinntao/ESRGAN
Manga109Attempt.pth: http://www.mediafire.com/file/w3jujtm752hvdj1/Manga109Attempt.pth.zip/file
fvsfunc (AutoDeblock): https://github.com/Irrational-Encoding-Wizardry/fvsfunc
FineDehalo: http://avisynth.nl/index.php/FineDehalo
KNLMeansCL: https://github.com/Khanattila/KNLMeansCL
LSFmod: https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=142706
Source
Hi everyone.
This is the original Tekken 5 Opening cutscene upscaled to 4K using ESRGAN and a few filters and plugins. Keep in mind that the differences can be better appreciated with an actual 4K screen, but 1080p and phone users will still be able to notice the sharper and cleaner look.
During the next weeks I will upload numerous cutscenes and trailers from PS1, PS2 and even PS3 classics, all upscaled using this method. And I'm also planning on doing a detailed tutorial on how to work with these tools, so that everyone can start remastering their own videos and sharing their results.
I have a lot of Tekken cutscenes already processed, but I'm also working on some FMVs from Parasite Eve, Onimusha, Tomb Raider, Tenchu 2, etc.
Additionally, I'm also working on the Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways cutscenes (although that will probably take more time to finish), and I'm doing an experiment with the Far Cry 3 Stranded Trailer that I'm sure will impress everyone.
But first I would like to take the time to explain a few things that people usually misunderstands or doesn't take in account:
I'm sure a lot of you folks would love to see the openings or cutscenes of your favorite childhood games coming back to life with these amazing upscaling tools, but you have to understand that ESRGAN, Topaz Gigapixel, etc, are NOT magical tools. They're able to reconstruct lower resolution images with ease, but they can't just magically enhance details that weren't there in the first place.
Lately I've been seeing this small trend of YouTube channels that don't stop spamming videos like "X FMVs REMASTERED IN 4K 60FPS USING AI MACHINE LEARNING", when in reality all they do is grab these highly-pixelated 15fps FMVs from the PS1-era, put them on the AI software, and make them look even more pixelated and messy. In consequence, their results are almost comparable to a simple sharpening filter in Adobe Premiere.
The problem is always the source material; you can't expect an AI to upscale some noisy and compressed 320×240 footage to 4K with a few clicks. Sometimes it's just impossible to improve the quality of these old videos, no matter how good these AIs get.
One should always try to find the right resolution for upscaling. Upscaling a PS2 video to 4K is usually a good idea, because the standard MPEG2 PS2 video already has a good enough bitrate and resolution to get amazing results. But trying to upscale a Sega Saturn FMV from 1995 to 4K is only going to highlight its imperfections even more. Try to upscale it to 1080p first, and see if it actually looks better. If you're lucky the end results will look acceptable in HD, but in my personal experience, it's a 50-50 shot.
[Also, it doesn't matter if the end results look a bit noisy because once you upload it to YouTube, the low-bitrate conversion will hide those imperfections nicely].
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this video and the future ones. Feel free to give me some feedback or ask for more videos.
The water droplets on feng look amazing!
Lol I was actually working on a tekken 5 opening remaster using machine learning 2 months ago but I had to drop it because the source video I used was soooo dark and I only realised after I had upscaled every frame
video starts at 0:16
Holy shit the graphics were ps4 like
Any chance you could remaster the Unknown ending cutscene from Tekken Tag 1?
nani
This is my favorite Tekken intro.
3:46 3:51 3:56 3:57
Okay this video actually made some things quite clear for me.
At 3:07 I noticed Steve actually got a small scratch on his cheek just like Hwoarang.
I never noticed this whenever I watched the intro up until now.
Hwoarang's you obviously notice very easily, but Steve's is so small you barely notice it.
Cool stuff!
do tekken 3
One of the best intros in any game ever!
honestly, tekken 5 had the best cutscenes/intros/endings. Starting 6, most of them were already rendered using the game engine itself and mostly looked half-assed
Asuka saving the cat is the best bit of this trailer.
I’m not even gonna pretend or lie, bruh I thought I saw a pink rotating (starts with a V. ) and I saw the girl, I had to take a double take just to make sure I was on YouTube for a second their.
WHTA SOFTWARE IS PLEASEEE
This is my childhood.. To me, this is how it looked back in 2005… To see something like this in absolutely astonishing quality is amazing to say the least.
This is so nostalgic, but is also so frickin campy….
2:00 to 2:03 hits a lot different now that both of his voice actors are dead! RIP Daisuke Gouri and Unsho Ishizuka…
I noticed a bit of shakiness with the footage and it was very noticeable once the "Namco Presents" title faded in, and also there are lines that are almost forming a chessboard pattern but zoomed in (vague and confusing description, but you get the idea. There are lines visible in the footage). Also Wang's detailed marks on his clothes were almost wiped away in the 4K transfer.
You did a great job considering how maddening it must be to render a 360p or 480p game footage into 4K. Great job. A few mistakes here and there, but great work.
😮
Hi! This week, I got into upscaling with ESRGAN. One question I have is how do you upscale videos using ESRGAN? I can't find any good answers online, so I would love to know if you see this comment. I'd also love to know from others who knows how as well.
1:46 NANI?
Great intro, but never realized how weird the lyrics were
watch in 480p for original quality
even some particles have been restored, astonishing.
4k my ass
2:12 ultra hype
Great way to show case the new characters, Feng: Kills his master. Asuka saves kitten
Looks seriously impressive, why is it so jittery though?
Hi! Amazing job! All the feels I had in childhood restored in 4k lol, thanks a lot ❤️
Why in Tekken 5 when I choose Bryan Fury the game is always crash
do it the battlefield 2 intro game pc version
My favorite tekken
Jin is going, ohhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa👹dream yahhhh
best intro, i think everyone made appearance. Miss the realistic designs of the characters.
Looks the same as original to me
3:56 And now let the King Of Iron Fist Tournament 5 begins!
0:50 I thought Heihachi said, "Kazuya! Get Ready!".
Shitty black bars
My fucking childhood! Tekken 5 was a game I've spent YEARS playing. I didn't get to master the characters or the combos, I merely enjoyed playing it and rising through the ranks on Arcade Mode, reaching Tekken Lord on almost three characters, one of which was Jin, my series main.
This AI upscaler looks absolutely amazing. I'd love to see emulators use this as a default renderer for better looking gameplay.
Heihachi Mishima is dead…and live, and dead again