Did L2 get a facelift?

I recently started playing again, and it seemed like some mobs have more detail, than they used to. Did they upgrade some things, or is it all in my head :P

*BTW besides the new HDR settings*

Mobs and NPC's have idle animations; they changed the battle and idle stances on all characters it seems; characters now blink, graphics feel more detailed yes. Probably has to do with a couple of updated textures. :p

There has been an across the board update to the graphics in general for players and mobs in both C3 and C4. You're not imagining things, it is better.

nice thing is, not only is it pretty, the extra pretty-ness doesn't seem to be adding extra lagginess, or at least not that much.

and the new HDR options are so coool.

I will give credit where its due. L2 does in fact look alot better than ever before, and that really is saying alot.

Yeah, but the animation that was added that I hate so much is the one where the little box appears that says "Crit Error" It causes all other animations to cease and all of the sudden I am looking at my desktop. Yeah, I could have lived without that little addition.

L2 is super hot graphically :)

But, does anyone have this problem like when you run and you turn your camera, you get like a slight lag or delay or something? It can get very annoying quickly.

I never had this problem in C3, the settings are on max like before and currently on 4x anti-alias, glow effect A (both with no shadows on).

Try with less or no antialias. Most textures got a boost; and the new monster idle animations tax the graphics a bit; I would have expected a more severe hit on performance, but it's neglible.