SPEAK YOUR MIND ! NOW ! (game graphics/aesthetics topic)

[n0wh3r3]

Hello once more fellow Codexers! Consider this post as some kind of personal research which would help my game-development process (your participation will make you part of something GREAT!). I would be more than glad if any of you readers of this topic could answer to the poll and to the questions coming right after this word:

1. What would you think about a game with artstyle similar to the following ones?
2. Is there any art-style that would be a deal breaker? Which one?
3. Can you rank them from the one you like the most to the one you like the least?
4. What do you think of minimalistic aesthetics in general?
5. Does a minimalistic aesthetic raise the expectations of the player?
6. For a game with a minimalistic aesthetic to be appreciated or even taken into consideration is there the need to be far above average in the pleasure derived from it?

Wait! There is more... Not expected but hugely appreciated if you could submit your thoughts for each artstyle.

An heartful thanks from me.

 

[Falksi]

Hello once more fellow Codexers!

I think they all look like shit apart from the two quoted.

We need more CRPGs with realistic approaches to visuals like Skald, so the top game quoted would definitely be my preference.

 

[JoacoN]

ehhhh i really hate the sort of super chibi pixel art style, especially stuff like the third and fourth images that look especially simplistic, boring, and ugly.
but, if I had to choose I'd say either 1 or 2, chibi is a little better looking with contrasting colors, so just 1 color sprites against a black background ain't so bad

 

[d1r]

You should number them.

2>14>1>8>19=20>21=22>3>25=26>23=247>4=5=6=10>9>11=12=13>15=16=17=18
2 is absolutely pleasant to look at. No visual overload. Strong colours. Nice drawings. Low resolution. Just great.

NON-deal breaker art styles:
1,2,3,14,19,20

Minimal art style can be great if done right and in a more unique fashion. Though I have to say that I am pretty sick of seeing of it thanks to the completely overflooded market of shitty indie games with even shittier minimalistic art style.

 

[Frank Capicoli]

I didn't bother going back through to count which games these are but these were the only ones I liked:

Spoiler

For anything that is 'strategic' or 'tactical' having a clear presentation of what is going on at a first glance is a must. For example base Warcraft 3 may be an ugly game and the textures may be more advanced in Refunded edition but in the moment to moment gameplay things started to blur and blend together.

 

[Gandalf]

Hello.

1 - Looks OK, but I don't like character sprites,
2,3,4,5,6,7 - Hard pass, not my cup of tea,
8 - I love the first screenshot, it has the best sprites, second screenshot looks too zoomed out, I'd like if the game had the same zoom level like in the battle screenshot all the time,
9 - Not my cup of tea,
10 - I'd play that one, but those vibrant colours are hard on the eyes,
11 - I've played that game and remember to dislike the graphics,
12 - I played that one and love it,
13 - Not my cup of tea.

Bonus screenshot I like. I love those sprites:

 

[Dark Souls II]

This one would be the only immediate hard pass. Looks like tranny dogshit.

 

[gooseman]

Dungeon crawl stone soup / Dominions for sprites.
World of xeen / wizardry 7 / darklands / grimoire for UI embellishments and backgrounds.
Heroes of Might and magic games have beautifully done overworlds that fit perfectly together even with procgen (for the most part).
Don't like: chibi stuff, blurry sprites, shitty fonts. Flat colors are ok for minimalism, otherwise it needs shading.

What's this game? I like the look too.

Blurry, shit font, the tiles are too bright. It'd be good otherwise.

Spoiler

 

[Gandalf]

What's this game? I like the look too.

It's Magic & Mercenaries which unfortunatelly seems to be a vaporware title at the moment.

 

[Odoryuk]

This looks nice

The sprites and backgrounds here look very good, but the World of Warcraft style icons and interface ruins everything

 

[NecroLord]

Looking pretty decent.

 

[Gandalf]

4. What do you think of minimalistic aesthetics in general?
5. Does a minimalistic aesthetic raise the expectations of the player?
6. For a game with a minimalistic aesthetic to be appreciated or even taken into consideration is there the need to be far above average in the pleasure derived from it?

4 - 5. I like it, but the gameplay must be interesting, something unique must go on, so it will stand from the rest of other minimalistic looking games.

Examples:

Cogmind


A Legionary's Life


Minicraft Plus


6. I play such games about 30 minutes a day to have an adventure and escape the reality, so it is connected to the pleasure in a way, but it does not seem to be clocking abouve the average than other, non-minimalistic aesthetic games (in my case).