Graphics - Realistic or Stylistic?

[Idlemessiah]

It really depends on the tone of the game.
Something like CoD or GoW needs the gritty realness of close to reality graphics to enhance immersion. Whereas something like Brutal Legend, Team Fortrees or maybe Jak and Daxter can capitalise on the cartoon graphics because it allows them to do wacky things and create greater extremes of environment.

 

[RicoADF]

As long as the artistic style fits the game style I'm good with both. In the end their meant to work together to create the immersion that sucks you in.

 

[Kollega]

Let's see.

- Stylized graphics look more original. There's only one reality, but there are an infinite amount of art styles. There's a place for games stylized like impressionist paintings or Silver Age comics...
- Stylized graphics can look way more beautiful, even taking into account the beauty of some real landscapes. Case in point: Team Fortress 2 looks as good as Uncharted 2, if you ask me.
- Stylized graphics age much better. Case in point: Quake 3 looks butt-ugly by today's standards, but Sheep Dog 'n Wolf, a game stylized as Looney Tunes cartoon, still looks decent.

In summary, the so-called "realism" is just useless, pointless, etcetera. And if you want dark grittiness, go learn a couple of lessons from Machinarium.

 

[SpecklePattern]

I want them both!! Don't make me choose Well TF2 and BFBC2 are just not the same. Other is war-simulation-thingy and other is cartoon-shooter. Love them both by the way. Actually I am just happy with current state of craphics. The actual gameplay is always the thing I watch for. Still I really want to see what they invent next in the 'realism' and the 'cartoon'-like graphics.

I actually like the new battle field so much that I might be a bad player (because of the nice graphics). If you see a recon running and planting C4 in the trees and blowing them up just to see how pretty it looks like... thats probably me

 

[o_O]

Both I guess, but I prefer stylistic - makes it feel more like a game and less like a chore.

Borderlands Graphics < CoD's graphics, IMO - because Borderland isn't afraid to cock up graphics wise and goes for the full on cartoon outlines, which are damn cool.

...What? I'm confused. Are you praising Borderlands art direction or criticizing it? As is, with the less than sign, it seems more like you're bashing it, yet then you go say it's cool?

OT: I find stylized ages better, though we're getting to that time when even realistic games don't age poorly. >_>

 

[Petromir]

Let's see.

- Stylized graphics look more original. There's only one reality, but there are an infinite amount of art styles. There's a place for games stylized like impressionist paintings or Silver Age comics...
- Stylized graphics can look way more beautiful, even taking into account the beauty of some real landscapes. Case in point: Team Fortress 2 looks as good as Uncharted 2, if you ask me.
- Stylized graphics age much better. Case in point: Quake 3 looks butt-ugly by today's standards, but Sheep Dog 'n Wolf, a game stylized as Looney Tunes cartoon, still looks decent.

In summary, the so-called "realism" is just useless, pointless, etcetera. And if you want dark grittiness, go learn a couple of lessons from Machinarium.

'Realistic' can look very original, it depends on the setting. The reason most tralistic war games look so similar is they tend to be set in the same locations, so of course they will.

Realistic also tends to throw in its cards with gritty, so fantasy settings often look less imagintive than they could. You can do either without the other. Now styalised has realised this but realsitic rarely seems to have.

 

[OceanRunner]

This problem is most apparant when new consoles are released. The game developers are fixated on making a realistic looking game to show of to gamers and, in the case of format exclusive developers, their rivals.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

i prefer stylistic, after playing the last final fantasy, half of that game i just spent looking around and admiring the whole world

 

[conflictofinterests]

The original Paper Mario will always hold a special place in my heart as not only the first non-pokemon videogame I have ever beaten, not only the first RPG I have ever played, and not only the game I have the most great memories associated with, but as having the most fun, lovable art style I have ever experienced in any game. /enormous fangirlishness

 

[Mechsoap]

if it fits the game its good

 

[RadioactiveTurtle]

I prefer stylistic: Borderlands, Prince of Persia and TF2 are all great games in my book.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Both I guess, but I prefer stylistic - makes it feel more like a game and less like a chore.

Borderlands Graphics < CoD's graphics, IMO - because Borderland isn't afraid to cock up graphics wise and goes for the full on cartoon outlines, which are damn cool.

...What? I'm confused. Are you praising Borderlands art direction or criticizing it? As is, with the less than sign, it seems more like you're bashing it, yet then you go say it's cool?

OT: I find stylized ages better, though we're getting to that time when even realistic games don't age poorly. >_>

Sorry, my fault -- meant to put Borderlands graphics > CoD graphics.

 

[superbatranger]

For me it depends on the game itself.

 

[Anticitizen_Two]

Stylistic. I wouldn't ming realistic graphics if devs realized that making everything brown and grey is not realistic.

 

[mikey300]

I personally prefer stylistic graphics as they give the game a unique look and feel. But I it dosen't really bother me, it's the game play that matters.

 

[sneakypenguin]

Realistic for me by far

Spoiler: real life or cryengine