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[Ratrat]

Well, it's a subjective question, isn't it.

Personally, it's probably EU > NA > Japan > Korea/China - speaking very generally, obviously.


Historically, I think that Japan had the best character designers and character artists in the world, but the rest of the world has caught up while Japanese designers have (had to?) retreat into very niche design spaces that don't really appeal to me. It's no coincidence that many of the Japanese designs that are being praised in here are from the Souls series - which sports distinctly European designs.

What does it say when those no name Fromsoftware artists are beating western artists at their own game? This would be like a western game with an eastern style more beautiful than Okami. Which I'd love to see. Speaking of 'distinctly European', most fantasy games are hideous wrecks like Oblivion, Fable, Dragon Age etc. The Witcher 2&3 are outliers as much as the Souls games.

 

[Crossing Eden]

With all due exceptions, and in regards to humanoid characters, western devs do not even do "character design", most of the times they create a realistic model based on someone's physique and/or face, if not they just try to recreate generic humans with mildly generic clothes and props.

ITTeople trying to redefine character design as something that doesn't have actual believable proportions or believable faces/costume design.

 

[Heypoppy]

 

[Quocia]

I really love Japanese character designs

For western character designs... I'm not sure what I like to be honest

Where is this from ? Kinda like it too

 

[keuja]

I really love Japanese character designs

For western character designs... I'm not sure what I like to be honest

This game does have incredible art...

Where is this from ? Kinda like it too

Stranger of Sword City

 

[Quocia]

Thanks, never heard of it before

 

[Spinluck]

Not really close honestly. A lot of the more popular designs are inspired by the west too which makes it harder. You couldn't find me video game chargers from the west with this much type and simplicity. Let alone as well known as some of the characters listed above. Basic shapes, basic color palettes, and easily distinguishable silhouettes.

Hell, Smash Wii U's roster puts almost anything from the West (character design wise) to shame.

 

[Wanderer5]

Some more JP goodness. Going through armor designs for Monster Hunter (well monsters, locations, weapons, etc too ) can be so wonderful to go through:

Sign me up for the artbook that will be about the 4th gen of the series.

 

[RedSwirl]

I guess one advantage Japan has is those developers often get experienced manga artists to design the characters and look of their games. I feel like western developers should seek out comic artists more often. Like I said in my earlier post, it would've been better had Netherrealm perhaps got a DC artist to direct a whole cel-shaded look for Injustice. Maybe they did I don't know.

 

[ItsTheNew]

I guess one advantage Japan has is those developers often get experienced manga artists to design the characters and look of their games. I feel like western developers should seek out comic artists more often. Like I said in my earlier post, it would've been better had Netherrealm perhaps got a DC artist to direct a whole cel-shaded look for Injustice. Maybe they did I don't know.

I personally liked the look of both Darksiders 1&2

 

[……forgetit]

Not really close honestly. A lot of the more popular designs are inspired by the west too which makes it harder. You couldn't find me video game chargers from the west with this much type and simplicity. Let alone as well known as some of the characters listed above. Basic shapes, basic color palettes, and easily distinguishable silhouettes.

Hell, Smash Wii U's roster puts almost anything from the West (character design wise) to shame.

Pretty easy, also donkey Kong was redesigned by rare, so he's also a western design.

 

[Ravidrath]

Hahaha.

 

[PSqueak]

This should shut up this type of discussion.

both sides have a varied arrange of character design and it's easy to cherry pic the fuck of either side, people can cry "but western dante!" and they can get refuted with a picture of Luso or a 10000 year old dragon loli.

 

[plasmawave]

You haven't seen a hobo in your life then.

Have you???

 

[magwizsorc]

Linking images is a pain in the ass, but the lack of Warcraft and Warhammer is super weird. Illidan, Tyrande Whisperwind, Chaos Marines, the library dudes, and all that good stuff. I also like the Illusive Man, Altair, Garrett, ,The Stranger, Starkiller, Adam Jensen, Blinx, Kameo, Jak, Sly, the Team Fortress dudes, and a lot of Dota guys.

 

[Khaos_Knight]

Looking kinda master race-y on that right side.

Spoiler

I'm joking, a race of blonde girly men will never take over the world.

 

[Caronte]

Have you???

The fact you had to post an image of a person who became famous for being attractive confirms you haven't seen a hobo in your life.

 

[djtiesto]

Japanese character design is much more iconic. Western char design usually falls into a few categories for me:

-the bald space marine/crew-cut square-jawed military guy
-the basic 30 year old white guy with an average build, brown hair, and a face based off one of the game's designers
-googly-eyed, slightly creepy mascot characters
-(and for indie games) pixel art that resembles classic Japanese games
-women with man-jaws and big lips
-knights with huge pauldrons and bulky armor

There are some western designs I like (I think the Witcher games does a pretty decent job at aping realism while having a bit of style, Altair and his robes were pretty cool even if his game was lame) but on average they are just forgettable.

Of course, in the olden days, Japanese character design was even more iconic. How many iconic western character designs can you remember from the retro days? The MK ninjas, Crash, Earthworm Jim, uhh... even back in the early 80's, you had the Atari games with their realistically-proportioned stick figures, while Japanese devs opted for a more cartoony and expressive look.

And enemy designs, Japan is in a league of its own. Whether it be cartoony (the Slime from DQ) or horrific (Silent Hill) or just plain stylish (Monster Hunter)...

 

[RockTurtle]

Japanese character design is much more iconic. Western char design usually falls into a few categories for me:

-the bald space marine/crew-cut square-jawed military guy
-the basic 30 year old white guy with an average build, brown hair, and a face based off one of the game's designers
-googly-eyed, slightly creepy mascot characters
-(and for indie games) pixel art that resembles classic Japanese games
-women with man-jaws and big lips
-knights with huge pauldrons and bulky armor

There are some western designs I like (I think the Witcher games does a pretty decent job at aping realism while having a bit of style, Altair and his robes were pretty cool even if his game was lame) but on average they are just forgettable.

Of course, in the olden days, Japanese character design was even more iconic. How many iconic western character designs can you remember from the retro days? The MK ninjas, Crash, Earthworm Jim, uhh... even back in the early 80's, you had the Atari games with their realistically-proportioned stick figures, while Japanese devs opted for a more cartoony and expressive look.

And enemy designs, Japan is in a league of its own. Whether it be cartoony (the Slime from DQ) or horrific (Silent Hill) or just plain stylish (Monster Hunter)...

you also forgot the fact nobody smiles in promo art