Image source: Gamespot.com
What to gamers want? They want flawless graphics that are so absurdly realistic that most people can’t tell the difference between the video game and real life.
Actually, no. Graphics get promoted all the freakin’ time, but to be perfectly honest style is much more important than graphics. Obviously there are some games where realistic graphics are super important. If you’re creating a realistic racing simulator or a World War I gritty first person shooter, then you should probably go for realistic graphics. Past that, though, you should feel free to break loose from the constraints of hyper-realism and go with crazy, stylized options. Want proof? Some of the most popular video games in history have been extremely stylized.
1. World of Warcraft
When you’re talking about popular video games, you’re pretty much obligated to talk about World of Warcraft. This MMORPG has been the most popular game in its niche ever since it was released nearly a decade ago.
Image source: Wowgoldspace.com
Now, the important thing to keep in mind here is that WoW was released back in a time when most people had never even heard of terabytes or WiFi. The technology comparatively sucked back then, so WoW had some major graphical limitations. The artists overcame those hurdles by creating a unique stylized look that could look fairly good even on low-power machines. Even to this day, WoW is a beautiful game.
Image source: Joystiq.com
2. Ratchet and Clank
Shooting games are practically overflowing with realism. That’s one of the reasons why Ratchet and Clank is so incredibly refreshing. The bright, cartoonish world is in stark contrast to the endless sea of brown and grey found in most other shooter games. Ratchet and Clank is practically its very own style now. In fact, some people even reference Ratchet and Clank when they see similar art style, like in the upcoming MMO Wildstar.
Image source: Giantbomb.com
3. Okami
Okami is kind of what it would look like if a traditional Japanese art were transformed into a video game — appropriate, considering that painting is one of the game’s central mechanics. The unique gameplay and compelling style made Okami an instant classic.
Image source: Stealthybox.com
4. Limbo
This indie game pretty much only comes in four colors: black, grey, white, and creepy. OK, creepy isn’t really a color, but creepiness nonetheless permeates Limbo. This game proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that you don’t need lots of colors and flashy graphics in order to create a beautiful game. All you need is a boatload of style and enough artistic talent to put it to good use.
Image source: Giantbomb.com
5. Team Fortress 2
The designers behind Team Fortress 2 really went all-out and created iconic characters. Each of the playable characters is basically a parody of itself, mocking the absurdity of its own design. The art style supports that theme with its cartoonish look.
Image source: Amazon.com
Clearly, you shouldn’t trap yourself into thinking that you have to create hyper-realistic art 100% of the time. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box with unique stylistic choices. Not only do gamers usually prefer a hefty does of style, but it’s also usually easier to process stylized games. It’s a better choice no matter how you cut it!.
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