Graphics - Realistic or Stylistic?

[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

 

[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.