That fire effect is an old one - it was done really well in Doom 3...though in this case the effect is worthwhile as it's not some cheesy normal-mapped poly character..I tell you the same people who raved about normal-mapped this and normal-mapped that will cringe in a few years time when they look back, like those outrageous flared trousers in the 60's it will become a bit of an embarrassment. Gritty bumps and smart straight edges on the same object just look pathetic in my opinion, especially on an animated object.