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Victor Fiori @VicHD

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Game Graphics: Artistic Vs. Realistic

Posted by VicHD - June 8th, 2011


Does anyone remember the old days with Atari, NES and SEGA when realism didn't matter and the graphics were creative and original? Over the years I've played a lot of games in my life, but what I find curious is that more and more games are striving to look more realistic ever since the 16-bit era of Video games (like Doom and MK for example), maybe even earlier than that. Though I don't mind the approach at times, I just think "realistic graphics" in gaming is being abused a lot lately, like in sport simulation games, adventure games and especially in First Person Shooter games. Now, don't get the wrong idea, I'm just saying that with realistic graphics in games, characters just start to look generic over time. Of course, this varies on the game's stories and characters.

Take "LoZ: The Wind Waker" For example. This game was initially criticized for looking "too cartoony" to most Zelda fans and even some players described it as a kiddie game, when it was intended for all audiences. Why? Because gamers were spoiled with the concept of realism in future titles and we wanted the character to grow up along with us. Now, looking back, I admit that TWW is an artistically beautiful game, though a bit easy at times since most of us adapted to OoT's control scheme. However, seeing that this game didn't sell very well, what did Nintendo do? Introduce Twilight Princess to win back their lost fan base with realistic graphics and a more mature storyline, though later they continued with Wind Waker style graphics in future DS installments.

Now with Skyward Sword, the same thing is happening again. Some players support the new artistic style inspired by impressionism, while others simply don't like how it looks expecting something more realistic and hi def. My point here is: STOP JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER!

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good variety of games every now and then, but people need to realize that realistic graphics don't always make a better game. In my opinion, there always needs to be a good balance of graphics, control, gameplay, music, and story, otherwise if you focus more on certain elements rather than the game as a whole, the game itself will be completely unbalanced.

Now all ranting aside and out of complete curiosity, what kind of Games do you prefer?

A) Games with an artistic and original appeal.
B) Games with a realistic and serious approach.
C) I don't care as long as it's fun to play.


Comments

I personally love artistic and visually appealing games, and I love creativity and originality. Realistic games can be boring.

I honestly think graphics don't make one lick of difference. Nintendo 64 is my favorite system. Those graphics are forever outdated, as even phone games can surpass them, but it's mostly about the gameplay.
An amazing game with terrible graphics is still an amazing game, but a terrible game with photorealistic graphics is not worth playing.

Depends on the game,
I can't imagine something like Fallout looking "cartoony" or anything else. Realism is how a game like that needs to be, down and gritty.

Then there's Madworld which is basically a graphic novel made game, it works because it focuses all your attention on the twisted gameplay itself.

Street Fighter is now semi-realistic as the anatomies are all perfectly believable, yet comical and exaggerated expressions are very common.

The story, gameplay, and graphics all need to compliment each other and I feel the above mentioned do that despite their differences. SF really is in a middle ground, Fallout is dead serious, and Madworld is all about the gameplay. All of their graphics emphasize these qualities and that's why they're good.

Zelda seems to be in a middle-ground for me, not like a SF middle-ground but I mean that it doesn't seem to matter. If Zelda has realistic graphics then it increases the idea of it being an "epic" story, which it kinda' is. "Cartoony" graphics will emphasize the idea that the game is fantasy, only a story and you could just sit back and enjoy it.
So let the developers do what they want in that case.

Call me old fashioned, but I subscribe to what Cranky Kong would say about the current state of video games:

Cranky: "You whippersnappers are getting spoiled with flashy graphics, catchy music and sounds, and overly fancy controlers with more buttons than a remote control when the only thing that makes games successful is great gameplay! You get so engrossed in the asthetics that you cannot complete the overrated game. You kids wouldn't last two minutes in a real game, while I can probably get through these newfangled "games" with one life-easy!"

LOL, so true.

Well as long as it's fun thats all that matters, but for the record, I will say that Toon Link is one of the most epic Links out there and he did bring a whole new set of fans to the Zelda universe, you've got to admit that.

I'm not denying it.

Originality is my preference in the way of graphics. TWW graphics may have looked a bit catoony but sometimes you just gotta go for what's fun!

I choose C.

I choose C since games like halo are unique but overall a serious war game. Duke Nukem forever is another good example. Simplistic games are fun too like the original sonic the hedgehog games and castle crashers. I've played wind waker and I didn't like it due to lack of challenge and replay value. Too be honest games are evolving and will continue to evolve in the years to come. Soon enough all games that come out will be in 3D as well as televisions and television programs. The 3D will most likely have an on/off switch for people who get motion sickness like my mother, and if it doesn't people will eventually get annoyed with it.

I admit that at first I was a little disappointed when I saw the new art style for Skyward Sword, but after a while I started to love the beautiful. Games nowadays need to have a balance of gameplay and graphics in my opinion. A game might hove the best graphics ever, but if the gameplay is horrible, whats the point of playing it. On the other hand, If the graphics are horrible, even if the gameplay is the best ever, many gamers nowadays will not even look in its direction.

to be honest, I'm halfway between A and B, but not quite C. games like Halo or COD actually NEED to be realistic, but cartoony graphics really emphasize gameplay in a fantasy game like Zelda.

C)

I'm so in love with zelda game in SNES. Those graphics are basics and so niiiice. The game is just tooooo awesome! Sure, I really like Twilight Princess (Link's sooooo handsome *drools*)

So yeah, I like the game, not the graphics

I have to say, to me it doesn't matter if the graphics are good or not, the main thing that matters to me is if its fun, and it requires a decent amount of game time unlike some games that can take an hour or two to beat or there is nothing new afterwards so then your left with a game that you have absolutely no idea what to do with it once you beat it.

I'll go with all of the above, as I will play any game if I think its good, but also that certain games need certain styles. Zelda is one of the series that is great that both cartoon and realistic graphics work for it. I didn't actually think TP's graphics were that good, and I liked WW much better just because it had a lot more content (and the amount of rupees you can hold).

Man i completely agree. Look at Valve's Team Fortress 2 for christ sake! The game is completely "cartoony" and it's one of the best selling mutliplayer games for PC.
And as for your question i go for C. It's allways good to have some variety. ^_^

If I have to choose, I'd say C. But I really do like artistic graphics. Ever played Okami?

Although my voice in this doesn't really matter, and my opinion might be bias because of the generation I live in (13-years-old and growing), I enjoy games that have an original appeal and are artistic, but also, they need to be realistic and serious to me. I do realize that getting powers off, let's say, an explosion of some sorts isn't really "realistic" but that's besides the point. For example, one of my recent game series, "Uncharted," has some realistic features to it and has a very serious approach and it could actually express the opinion of someone of some lost treasures held sacred to the world. But bringing out that opinion gives it its own little original appeal and artistic integrity. Through this game's eyes, it brings to life such beautiful artwork that would be a magnificent sight to see; it has such an "If only it were real..." feeling to it.

That's what I really search for in a game. Of course, if it's just a time-killer type of game, than I suppose that if it's just fun to play than it's good enough.

I hated the art because...

well...the people were too used to the graphics of OoT and Majora's Mask...

I prefer B...I play alot of realistic looking games (Like Portal, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead...)

And actually, SS does look like WW, but it looks more like TP to me.

I never played any game of the legend of zelda for the graphics, if I played for the graphics, better buy an Xbox 360 or a Playstation 3

Personally, I think a game with a little bit of both a & b are best. Too bad there aren't many games out there that can pull that off. :/

Depend on the game, FPS can't have no realistic graphics but other styles of game is great the artistic appeal, need to fit the game.

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