Graphics - Realistic or Stylistic?

[Truly-A-Lie]

Depends on the game. I like the graphics whether they're realistic or stylised so long as it fits with the game itself. For a game like Jet Set Radio, which is purely about style, the cel-shaded graphics added to the experience loads (and blew my mind when it first launched). Whereas the serious Heavy Rains or MGS4s wouldn't have the same effect if they looked cartoony, so the realistic look draws you into the atmosphere.
It is nice when someone finds a good middle ground though, like Uncharted 2, which looked lifelike yet also exagerrated due to the colours everywhere.

 

[mrsketchy]

I prefer stylised games, it shows that there was some intuitive. It adds to the atmosphere

 

[Kimarous]

Little bit of Column A, little bit of Column B. Overall, though, I think stylized is better on account of the aging factor.

 

[shaboinkin]

realistic with unrealistic play never fails

both please me however

 

[RatRace123]

I think realism is good if it can be pulled off convinvingly, but stylization is good as well. You can have a stylized-realism look, in fact I think most games tend to have that, it's what keeps them from going all uncanny valley.

 

[CriticalGriffin]

Okami of course.

... Yes, that has everything to do with anything, shut up.

 

[Yureina]

I'd go with either, because I don't play games for how nice they look, but how much quality is within the game itself. A bad game with good graphics ultimately means nothing except that it took more work out of your processor to run it effectively.

 

[zombiesinc]

I love a stylistic approach (Borderlands, Okami, TF, Mad World, etc), it's not something you see as often, and it's just something that catches my eye. But I don't really prefer either type, just for them to be done well.

 

[phar]

I dont mind either, as long as its graphics are fitting with the game like TF2 is.

If every game had the same graphical style the gaming world would be quite a boring place wouldnt it.

 

[Doug]

I don't mind realistic stuff, but it has a tendency to get kind of samey.

This is my problem with 'realism' too - that and it seems to be stuck in a browner, greyer reality than this one. But overly, I think it really depends on the mood and tone of the game. And of course, the wrong style for the tone can be more toxic than realism for the wrong tone, heh.

 

[acosn]

I once heard someone claim the graphics in Team Fortress 2 weren't up to the standards of Call of Duty or Battlefield Bad Company 2, as they 'aren't realistic at all'. Obviously, this is bull. IMO, the graphical style is far superior to the 'realism' in those games. But it's not just TF2. There are tons of other games with awesome graphical style, even old games (I'm thinking Wind Waker or Okami here).

On consoles like the Wii, 'realism' is pretty much out of the question. Not that Wii games can't be realistic, but not to the standards of other consoles, and especially to the PC. This is why games like Red Steel 2 or No More Heroes are commended for choosing a unique style.

So what I want to know is (and obviously there will be exceptions), would you rather a game had good, 'realistic' graphics, or a unique graphical style?

Both work provided it's not a gimmick. If the potential is squandered then it defeats the purpose. Wind Waker is actually a perfect example of this- the cells shading isn't really gimmicky (as opposed to the damn over world) because the style is fully used. It feels expressive rather than tacked on, and it makes Link feel more like a person and less like the silent lone wolf. Oddly enough they pulled it off again in TP but Wind Waker gets the credit here.

And on the other end? Well there's effective graphics and good graphics. Crysis's graphics are both good and effective. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's graphics are good, but not effective. Starcraft's graphics are effective, but not really good. World of Warcraft's graphics are effective, but even when it came out the graphics were "old" and right now they're not "good."

What counts for graphics is how effective they are- or rather, how well they age. When you pick up WoW or SC the first thing that comes to mind wont be that the graphics are old. When you pick up a game like Metal Gear Solid or FF7 that is though.

 

[NickCaligo42]

Either works depending on what you're going for, but here's the thing: if you commit to a stylized look, you have the benefit of knowing when you're actually finished with the art assets. If you try to re-create realism, you can get stuck for weeks trying to get everything to match up perfectly with real-life and still fail at it quite miserably.

 

[robmastaflex]

I think for some games realistic, and other games, stylistic.
But please, please, PLEASE stop using cel-shading.
NOW.

But cel-shading is one of my favourite graphic styles...

 

[Flight]

I don't mind realistic graphics as long as they don't hit the uncanny valley too hard. Unfortunately, most titles I've seen with more realistic graphics tend to do just that, so I'm going to say stylistic.

 

[Baneat]

Thread could use a poll.

Stylistic, every time.