What's your favorite graphical style, plus a bonus!

[axlryder]

So I created this thread to ask about what "look" you enjoy most in a game. This could be an example of a specific game series (Assassin's Creed, Paper Mario, the Tales series, Boarderlands, Journey, etc.) or perhaps a general graphical trend (gritty modern FPS, anime cell shaded, retro, hand drawn cartoon cells, Sleek Sci-fi, modern WRPGs in general). Obviously there are almost as many visual styles as there are games, so get as specific as you want. Just try to define graphics that really hit a sweet spot for you and why, and maybe some games that really encompass that.

As a bonus question, what direction do you think visuals are going to head in? Obviously that's a very complex question with a lot of potential variables and no clear answer, but do you think a certain style will be emphasized in the next generation? Do you think certain styles will be downplayed? Are you hoping to see the resurgence or growth of a certain style? Do you think game budgets or other variables are going to directly influence the growth and development of how games look and in what way?


Personally, I'm a fan of most anime styles in games. Be it slick CG, cell shaded, high res or low res sprite work. I like it all as long as it's well done. That's just me.

I know this thread isn't fleshed out very well. Sorry. I sort of did it on the fly.

Also, sorry about the typo in the title if that's still showing up.

 

[Zhukov]

Actually, I'm fine with most graphical styles, so long as they're done well. Cell shaded, brown-and-bloom, ultra realistic (just get the damn faces right), happy happy cartoon style, whatever.

About the only one I don't like is anime style. Too much flash and extraneous glitzy effects. Although I'm sure even that could be done properly with a little restraint.

Kind of a cop-out answer, I know, but there ya go.

 

[Sean Hollyman]

I like them all, really... except too cartoony.

 

[odBilal]

I really love the graphical style of Okami. It looks like a painting and its a welcome change from all the brown and bloom. I dont know what the style is called but I know there is atleast someone who does.

 

[Vault101]

sci fi...obviously over the years this look as lent itself really well to videogames (plain metal surfaces,)

I love Sci Fi with its blue lights and atmosphere

Dead Space is a favorite

 

[Llil]

I don't care that much, but I can still pick a favourite. And that's the rotoscoped 2D. Games like Prince of Persia. It has really smooth animation, but still looks very simplistic. Ghost Trick also has that same style.

I'm also a big fan of the FMV cutscenes, regardless of how the actual game looks. It's a real shame that FMV cutscenes aren't used in new games. I don't even mind the cheesy ones, but with modern technology and bigger budgets, it would be possible to make amazing FMV stuff.

I don't think we'll be seeing either of these in almost any new games, especially the FMVs.

 

[Humble Grapefruit]

I'm really a fan of Edmund McMillen's art style in games like The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy. With that being said, I can really enjoy almost any kind of artstyle.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

I like it when developers try to do something at least slightly different from the norm. I think it gives the games a little more character.

Spoiler

It doesn't necessarily need to be colorful, just... different.

 

[WorriedSandwich]

Anything but photorealism. It's just boring, and it usually indicates that most of the budget has been spent on making it look pwetty instead of making it fun to play.

 

[everythingbeeps]

Really don't care. The graphical style usually doesn't matter that much, it's something that succeeds by simply not being distracting.

However, occasionally I'll get into it, and usually those cases involve cel-shading. I really like Borderlands' style, and Wind Waker was beautiful.

 

[General Twinkletoes]

Legend of zelda wind waker. God that game looks awesome.

[sub] oh jesus I'm doing it again aren't I [/sub]
Assassins creed.

I can't shut up about that game...
I'm sorry there's nothing I don't like about it, 30 bucks well spent. I love the way that game looks. How it's almost photo realism but it's just slightly over the top with the colours, and it does look a bit stylized in places. Mainly the design of the costumes look pretty amazing. Even Ezio's default cloak looks gorgeous, and most of the dyes and other outfits look pretty boss too apart from armor of brutus.

[sub] I need to stop talking about those games [sub] but they're so fun [sub] oh god why do I like them so much [/sub] [/sub] [/sub]

*Ahem*

I like it when developers try to do something at least slightly different from the norm. I think it gives the games a little more character.

Spoiler

It doesn't necessarily need to be colorful, just... different.

Those all look utterly amazing, I really like the fourth one with the cat thing, what game is that? I'm sure I know it from somewhere but I can't quite remember.

 

[Smooth Operator]

I'm a fan of them all as long as there is some work put into it, which is why I hate the gray/brown smeared games because they look like all work went into screen effects to cover up the lazy.

And photo-realistic stuff usually ends up really boring, for example I get distracted by something neat looking in Skyrim every 5 minutes, and in Dragons Dogma I'm only thinking "oh god oh god are we there yet".

 

[theSteamSupported]

For me, it's gotta be glowing, saturated colours on top of deep, dark ones. Subtle accents of pastel or naturalistic colour schemes are also welcomed.

Here is an example:
http://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/546929-super-metroid-snes-screenshot-our-heroine-samus-fighting-the.png

Here's also some music that fits well with this aesthetic:
<youtube=d56LCOThdzM>

 

[lRookiel]

Most are good, like the Isometric graphic style of games like Icewind dale and Baldurs gate

EDIT: Oh and Trine 2 is the best looking game I've seen in ages by far!

 

[gunny1993]

Cell shaded, looks great and ages incredibly well

 

[axlryder]

I like it when developers try to do something at least slightly different from the norm. I think it gives the games a little more character.

Spoiler

It doesn't necessarily need to be colorful, just... different.

That reminds me of that upcoming The Unfinished Swan. I can't think of anything quite like it. Also, El Shaddai is pretty unique looking if you haven't already played it.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

Legend of zelda wind waker. God that game looks awesome.


Those all look utterly amazing, I really like the fourth one with the cat thing, what game is that? I'm sure I know it from somewhere but I can't quite remember.

The screen shot is from Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga, but it follows the same art style as pretty much all the SMT games, I think the cat is also in more than one game, but of this I'm not sure.

Spoiler: meow

Persona gets all the love, but I like Digital Devil Saga more because it's more like a traditional jrpg except Shin Megami Tensei-fied...

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

snip

That reminds me of that upcoming The Unfinished Swan. I can't think of anything quite like it.

This... sounds like a freakin awesome game...

[spoiler ='trailer here']

Enter the surreal world of The Unfinished Swan and explore a mysterious, hidden kingdom. Your journey will be led by a runaway swan who guides you through strange levels filled with bizarre creatures. Discover the land through innovative new game mechanics such as splatting paint on a white surface to uncover your surroundings. Each level will bring new twists, challenges, and puzzles until you eventually come face-to-face with the eccentric King that built this realm.

[/spoiler]

Thank you for telling me about this, I'll be keeping an eye on it.

 

[Able Seacat]

Actually, I'm fine with most graphical styles, so long as they're done well. Cell shaded, brown-and-bloom, ultra realistic (just get the damn faces right), happy happy cartoon style, whatever.

About the only one I don't like is anime style. Too much flash and extraneous glitz effects. Although I'm sure even that could be done properly with a little restraint.

Kind of a cop-out answer, I know, but there you go.

Yeah I agree, I think I'm gonna go for the cop-out answer too. I think I have quite a collective taste. Games that particularly come to mind when I think of graphics are the whiteness of portal, the orange of Deus Ex: HR, the black of limbo but also the cell shaded views of Prince of Persia '08, the details of FFXIII and even the greens in Halo.