What type of graphics do you prefer in video games? Why?

[dixincide]

1. Which type of graphics do you prefer in your video games?
2. Why do you prefer them?

[Revi]

Don't have a preference as such, but I don't like when games prioritize "realism" to the point where it's just ugly and cluttered. Graphics should be "clean" enough that you can easily tell what's going on, rather than straining your eyes.

[dixincide]

Don't have a preference as such, but I don't like when games prioritize "realism" to the point where it's just ugly and cluttered. Graphics should be "clean" enough that you can easily tell what's going on, rather than straining your eyes.

I'll agree with this, but for reasoning that dates the game against the test of time. I can pick up something like psychonauts today and not feel like it's more than 10 years old from the graphics because it isn't realistic. but something like Golden eye for the N64 really shows how old it is.

[Mistame]

Don't have a preference as such, but I don't like when games prioritize "realism" to the point where it's just ugly and cluttered. Graphics should be "clean" enough that you can easily tell what's going on, rather than straining your eyes.

Pretty much. Since upgrading my video card, I can only player Witcher 3 for about 15 minutes before I start getting eye strain, nausea and dizziness. Sucks, too, because I love the game. :/ I even disabled all blur effects.

[Tryuk]

Whatever sort of graphics is the best fit for the game, and doesn't sacrifice gameplay for looking pretty.

[Grym]

It needs to depends on the game and suit the theme it is based on.

For game that promote realism, FPS and such, realistic graphics is better, however something like XIII is a very good exception.

Games like Sonic and Mario you can make them cartoony realistic is best you can do, can you really imagine a proper realistic Mario and Sonic?

As long as it work well with the theme to bring you the experience that matches the game it is good.

[docterfreeze]

bioshock/guild wars. Realism to the point of playability. No extreme, computer melting graphics but no overly exaggerated features either.

But gameplay>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>everything else.

[Thrif]

Out of the ones listed, cartoon/realism. I've always loved the graphics in War3, and to some extent wow.

[dixincide]

It needs to depends on the game and suit the theme it is based on.

For game that promote realism, FPS and such, realistic graphics is better, however something like XIII is a very good exception.

Games like Sonic and Mario you can make them cartoony realistic is best you can do, can you really imagine a proper realistic Mario and Sonic?

As long as it work well with the theme to bring you the experience that matches the game it is good.

At first I thought like this too, but games like Undertale and Limbo had very gloomy themes but an interesting art style (Limbo had a fantastic graphic choice/artstyle but could have had just as big of impact as a realistic) title.

[Adam Jensen]

As long as it fits the theme of the game, "all of the above."

[Grym]

At first I thought like this too, but games like Undertale and Limbo had very gloomy themes but an interesting art style (Limbo had a fantastic graphic choice/artstyle but could have had just as big of impact as a realistic) title.

I am not sure if Limbo would have worked as well in other style....

Maybe a more 2-D realitic or old school Sonic sort of graphics? But that would take the gloomy level right down.

Also the choice of graphics in Limbo is another reason that it was so special and refreshing.

[Anevers]

All of them.

[DeltrusDisc]

Cartoon realism hybrid ftw.

[taliey]

The bare minimum - that way graphics doesn't take away from the gameplay.

Too much emphasis on graphics tends to crowd out gameplay analysis (like does it work, is it engaging...).

[vindicatorx]

1. Which type of graphics do you prefer in your video games?
2. Why do you prefer them?

I'm indifferent to the graphics in comparison to immersive gameplay. I honestly don't care what most games look like I would rather play an old game that looks terrible than play a game like SW Battlefront where it looks amazing and is a terrible game.

[Zoaric]

Cartoon and stylized tend to age better and take less power while conveying their
world with more ease, I find. However, this isn't true for every game, of course.

[McNeil]

It very much depends which fits the game the most. Out of the poll I'd say Hybrid Stylized/realism is my favorite. I kinda like realistic graphics, but sometimes it tends to get to ugly and brown, and they don't age as well.

[Mellrod]

I would have chosen stylized if you didn't put "Borderlands" next to it, because when you attach a specific game to a very vague term, it contradicts itself (and also Borderlands falls under the term Cell-shaded). The point of stylized graphics is that it has no strict look or archetype. It can be anything you want it to, and the sky is the limit for how your story looks. Because in a limitless medium, always going the path of realism, while pretty, seems VERY shortsighted. If we had too many Skyrims and Fallout 4s, it'd be boring. Sometimes the look of a game even affects the gameplay itself, such as in White Night's (pictured below) artstyle being directly involved with it's biggest mechanic: darkness. When you look at how games like Bastion, Grow Home, or Overwatch are all so radically different with their painted, minimalist, and cartoony graphics respectively and yet all just as gorgeous, it really says a lot.

Here are a few examples of truly stylized games that I really like:

Journey


Banner Saga


Oxenfree


Antichamber


Lara Croft Go


Kentucky Route Zero


White Night


Grow Home:

[kail]

I have played and enjoyed too many games that encompass soo many graphics and art styles to really have a favorite. The only one I will mention here is realistic. That art style tends to be the common denominator among poorly optimized games. If it works though, I have only praise.

[Nutri]

Since installing the Pinnacle of V mod for GTA V (4k/realistic graphics) I must say I wouldn't want to play that game in any other way. It just blows me away and makes the game feel completely different.

That said, often the problem with realistic graphics is that they look realistic now, but in time look really dated.
Here comes the 'cartoony' art style in play as that style withstands the test of time better I think. So it's a toss between the two, even tho they differ 180 degrees from each other :-P