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[SpacePirate Ridley]

This thread was made for Oscar in Toyland

Oh shit it's the fucking troll game I had when I was smaller for PC. Never could finish the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3HEivRRQTs
The intro theme still hurts my ears up to this day. The music is not bad at all, but the instrumentation is horrenous. I remember not even knowing you could use a yoyo until I played like 50 times before I knew what I was doing.

 

[teddybomber]

Akihiko Yoshida, not Nomura.

Though I definitely prefer even Yoshida's weirdest fashion designs to Nomura's designs at his very nadir. As bad as Vaan looks, he's no Nooj.

Thanks for the correction. After learning that it wasn't Nomuras doing I have to agree with you. But Vaan was still too much for me.

@DiipuSurotu
You can't compare Artworks to the final game. Amanos Artworks served as inspiration and never looked like the final product. Nomuras visions on the other hand were realized much more straight forward.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Soul Calibur 3 and newer really shit the bed artistically.

 

[Jac]

So, basically, what I have gathered from scrolling through this thread is that there is no consensus about what makes a good graphical style.

 

[truly101]

Akihiko Yoshida, not Nomura.

Though I definitely prefer even Yoshida's weirdest fashion designs to Nomura's designs at his very nadir. As bad as Vaan looks, he's no Nooj.

Vaan's design isn't particular bad , its THIS pose, nobody ever posts any other pictures of Vaan, just this one. If he was standing straight up, he doesn't make most of the lists he normally does.

 

[petran79]

didnt know whether I had to cry or be impressed.
stylistically game was one of a kind

 

[Kurita]

Is it bad that I love FFTA2's hero's design?

 

[someguyinahat]

Is it bad that I love FFTA2's hero's design?

Of course not.

I don't even recall that picture showing up in its entirety in-game either. It was usually just the headshot, and the character sprite doesn't show off all that. I guess it was just in the manual and some of the box art where that image came from - I bought the game used and didn't get either manual or box - so it really doesn't bother me all that much.

 

[HueyFreeman]

Not even trying with those designs.

Just ew.

Both those games might have some questionable character design, but the overall art design for them is awesome. Particularly beyond good and evil, I've never heard anything except good things. If you haven't played either game, I'd suggest you give them a go - very much well worth it.

 

[Riposte]

I find World of Warcraft fits this for me. Though I enjoy MMORPGs, I can't play WoW for too long before the oversaturation starts to make me sick. The stylization they chose only exacerbates this problem.

WoW is definitely a better choice than Final Fantasy (at least outside X). Compare FFXI to WoW.

 

[KiraXD]

Quantum Theory...so bad....

 

[Kirlia]

This thread was made for Oscar in Toyland

Sweet Jesus.

 

[DesertEater]

The atrocious art style was the only thing keeping me from giving it a try. I guess I'm just shallow.

Wow, I thougt I was the only one. I love side scrollers. And people have been saying great things about Dust. It's just that every time I look at pictures for the game I feel super turned off by it's art. Never played it. Probably never will.

 

[The Technomancer]

Nomura's style seems to teeter between good and idiotic.



I'm not a stranger to saying how much I hate the post-OoT LoZ art style. In another thread, I liken a slew of the characters you see in these games to "bargain bin Muppets". They are just, to me, visual poop:



I feel similar with the art style post-PSO. Phantasy Star 1-4, some really nice classic anime inspired designs. Then, PSO and everything after, we've been getting shit like this:



Odd one, though, I really love Akihiko Yoshida's art, and love FFXII, but some of his designs were pretty iffy. Penelo looks like a "banana angel"


Vaan, well, I don't even have to post a pic.

Basch, while badass in himself, dresses like he raided his little sister's closet:

Okay seriously the trend I'm noticing is asymmetrical leg coverings.

Seriously what the fuck is that half shorts thing Tidus is wearing?

 

[zruben]

Because classic Final Fantasy was much tamer, right?

Well, to be fair, those are concept art drawings... they did a good job "translating" those into the game. What you actually see on the game it's good and makes sense.

 

[blitzcloud]

i always call the sword that guy with that sword in the OP is holding the UMDsword

 

[Dark Octave]

It's weird when you compare it to the previous title's main character. It was like 'HE NEEDS TO HAVE MORE BELTS, AND HEELS, HE NEEDS HIGH HEELS'.

They look insane, especially the brown haired one. WTF. And why do they both have huge pizza cutters?

Well, to be fair, those are concept art drawings... they did a good job "translating" those into the game. What you actually see on the game it's good and makes sense.

I never liked Amano's art and never understood the point in paying a concept artist just to have to pay someone else to re-concept his concepts so that they actually made sense in the game.

 

[Mr. Poolman]

I disliked Unreal Tournament 3's character designs.

It didn't help that the game has this brown-grey color scale that mutes everything.

 

[jett]

Every Mortal Kombat/Netherrealm game ever made.

Aesthetic abominations. It makes baby Zyzz cry.

 

[zruben]

I never liked Amano's art and never understood the point in paying a concept artist just to have to pay someone else to re-concept his concepts so that they actually made sense in the game.

yeah, seems like a weird business decision; but Amano is a well-known and respected anime illustrator and character creator since the 60's (in Japan, I mean).

having him on board for the character conceptualization of Final Fantasy was huge for japanese players.

on a side note, FF8 and FF10 are two of my least favorites FF "on screen" art styles, I seriously think that whoever "translated" Amano's concepts didn't do a very good job.
Amano's Tidus:

Amano's Squall:

 

[DiipuSurotu]

yeah, seems like a weird business decision; but Amano is a well-known and respected anime illustrator and character creator since the 60's (in Japan, I mean).

having him on board for the character conceptualization of Final Fantasy was huge for japanese players.

on a side note, FF8 and FF10 are two of my least favorites FF "on screen" art styles, I seriously think that whoever "translated" Amano's concepts didn't do a very good job.

Amano didn't do the original designs for FF8 and 10. In those pictures you posted he is the one who translated someone else's concepts (Nomura's).

The ORIGINAL artists for the FF games were:

FF1: Kazuko Shibuya (yes, the sprites came first, Amano's concepts were based on the sprites, not the other way around)
FF2: ??? (either Shibuya or Amano)
FF3: ??? (either Shibuya or Amano)
FF4: Amano
FF5: Amano
FF6: Amano/Nomura/Kaori Tanaka
FF7: Nomura
FF8: Nomura
FF9: Amano
FF10: Nomura
FF11: Nomura and lots of different people
FF12: Yoshida
FF13: Nomura/Nao Ikeda
FF14: Yoshida
FF15: Nomura/Roberto Ferrari

 

[Tex117]

Surprise surprise...Ive disliked Nomora's Final Fantasy's the most.

 

[Shig]

I never liked Amano's art and never understood the point in paying a concept artist just to have to pay someone else to re-concept his concepts so that they actually made sense in the game.

I don't know why everyone seems to think he only designs the characters. He also did the lion's share of FFI-VI's enemy/monster design, whose sprites in-game are much more faithfully translated from his concept work for them.

on a side note, FF8 and FF10 are two of my least favorites FF "on screen" art styles, I seriously think that whoever "translated" Amano's concepts didn't do a very good job.

You've got it backwards. Nomura was at the helm for character concepts of those games, it's Amano that was the one doing the "translating" of someone else's designs for the pieces you posted.

 

[undersakura]

millenia's design is so odd compared to the rest of g2's cast

 

[CNCOMICS]

Putty Squad.

The background meshes with the characters, and it looks like an early '90's screen saver. This is not how a remake should look nor any game for that matter.

 

[Breakage]

Darksiders. The Warcraft-esque art style is awful.

 

[Flipyap]

didnt know whether I had to cry or be impressed.
stylistically game was one of a kind

I'm with you on this. Ecstatica's ellipsoid monsters made it disturbing in ways Alone in the Dark couldn't even dream of.

Eep. It's like they came straight out of a clown's wettest dream. Balloon animal elementals.

 

[zruben]

You've got it backwards. Nomura was at the helm for character concepts of those games, it's Amano that was the one doing the "translating" of someone else's designs for the pieces you posted.

Amano didn't do the original designs for FF8 and 10. In those pictures you posted he is the one who translated someone else's concepts (Nomura's).

The ORIGINAL artists for the FF games were:

FF1: Kazuko Shibuya (yes, the sprites came first, Amano's concepts were based on the sprites, not the other way around)
FF2: ??? (either Shibuya or Amano)
FF3: ??? (either Shibuya or Amano)
FF4: Amano
FF5: Amano
FF6: Amano/Nomura/Kaori Tanaka
FF7: Nomura
FF8: Nomura
FF9: Amano
FF10: Nomura
FF11: Nomura and lots of different people
FF12: Yoshida
FF13: Nomura/Nao Ikeda
FF14: Yoshida
FF15: Nomura/Roberto Ferrari

oh, thanks for the clarification.

 

[Diomedeskun]

I actually love the War of the Lions version of Luso. He's not a bad concept, just look up some pictures of what the Landsknecht or other mercenaries of the era wore. I enjoyed the more rakish look, as it had a lot more personality than the horribly bland yet overdesigned take on Ramza that the FFTA lead character was. The FFTA2 version was just cranked up to a ridiculous level. The WotL version was fairly realistic.

 

[Nachos]

I think a clear definition of what the OP means by garish needs to be established. Some people are talking about offensive color palettes and others are talking about bad wardrobe design.

Unless I'm totally off-base, they're also confusing art style with character design. Art style is the vehicle; character design is the content. Art style would then refer to the artist's use things like line work and color, while the design would simply be how all of those interlock to create something you actually see and can recognize.

NeverDead? more like never played, but it does have this guy as some sort of weird... battletoads.. thing.



by all accounts the game is terrible.

That dude looks great. Does anyone know who the designer for that game was.

 

[PensivePen]

I think many Western RPGs are just as guilty of this as JRPGs. Nothing signifies this better to me than the various kinds of spikey fantasy armor you'll find in them. Daerdric armor in Elder Scrolls comes to mind immediately.

 

[theJohann]

I hated the look of every character that wasn't Dust

I agree, the character portraits were very distracting, especially Fidget. The actual visual style of the game itself, which is what I believe this thread is about, was absolutely great.

 

[Lijik]

Come on, where is 35/40yo matureGaf? It's quite silly to read people mentioning Zelda, modern Final Fantasy and Psychonauts when we had stuff like this (Top Banana) on our Amigas almost on a regular basis. XD

Holy shit that looks like a game the girl in Yume Nikki would play hahaha

 

[Beelzebubs]

Nothing from Dragons Crown?

 

[canedaddy]

This thread was made for Oscar in Toyland

Now there's someone who understands what "garish" means. My oh my.

 

[Laieon]

I find World of Warcraft fits this for me. Though I enjoy MMORPGs, I can't play WoW for too long before the oversaturation starts to make me sick. The stylization they chose only exacerbates this problem.

Oh man, I completely disagree with this one. WoW has one of my favorite art directions ever, it's beautiful.

First game that comes to mind for me is Demon/Dark Souls. I haven't played it (the gameplay doesn't interest me at all), and the screenshots don't do them any favors. They look bland, boring, generic, you name it. Absolutely no interest in them. Elder Scrolls also comes to mind.

 

[Dark Octave]

I think many Western RPGs are just as guilty of this as JRPGs. Nothing signifies this better to me than the various kinds of spikey fantasy armor you'll find in them. Daerdric armor in Elder Scrolls comes to mind immediately.

Yeah but if you were a knight from back then and all you've seen up to this point was plain armor, I don't know who wouldn't be a little intimidated seeing this with a sword drawn in front of them.

 

[antibolo]

What the hell is that outfit doing to her breasts. It looks painful.

 

[Anura]

I think many Western RPGs are just as guilty of this as JRPGs. Nothing signifies this better to me than the various kinds of spikey fantasy armor you'll find in them. Daerdric armor in Elder Scrolls comes to mind immediately.

The "impractical" argument pretty much is "I don't like this design so here is a reason I just made up now so I can feel better about insulting it". Very few armor designs in games are practical even if they might seem it at first glance

 

[antibolo]

Any form of medieval-era full body metal armor is impractical, no matter how it looks. They were not made with common sense in mind.

 

[Dice//]

His nipple looks like scar tissue....or a light bruise.

 

[MagnaderAlpha]

Not particularly character art, but Yasuyuki Honne uses a lot of overly saturated colors in some of his background art. Sometimes it looks fine(a lot of times he tones it down and the work is just beautiful and less saturated), other times it's like fire on your eyes. I liken it to the feeling you get when you stare at the sun and try to blink afterwards but you still see that lingering image burned into your retinas.:

That one is fantastic.

It's nightmare fuel!

This thread was made for Oscar in Toyland

Looks like a Lisa Frank LSD trip!

 

[zruben]

thanks for reminding me about Chrono Cross...

I'm gonna answer this thread with:
Chrono Cross.

the art style of that game is a fucking mess, there's no consistency or clear patterns.
Also, 90% of the recluitable party members look WAY out of place.

I loved the gameplay, the music, and the story... but the art style has several issues.

 

[NoirVisage]

Anything drawn by Nagako Sakaki looks like total crap to me, especially the dumbly oversexualized female character designs. Not to mention, he (or she?) seems to know absolutely nothing about fashion. His/her work for Devil Survivor 2 are some of the biggest offenders:

Also, look at this motherfucker (he actually has an amazing outfit, but his face and hair pisses me off so much, I don't even know why)
Ugghhhh. Why Atlus, you have some amazing artists, like Kaneko, Soejima and even Doi. Why did you do that ;(

That made me laugh waay too much, and out loud too, i actually like the sexualized female designs, especially if they're demons.

 

[Christhor]

The "impractical" argument pretty much is "I don't like this design so here is a reason I just made up now so I can feel better about insulting it". Very few armor designs in games are practical even if they might seem it at first glance

Did he say it was impractical though? I thought the argument here was that it looks like shit. Which that armor certainly does.

 

[domlolz]

Also the new DmC from Ninja Theory. I loved Enslaved but the new Twilight/Justin Bieber look they were going for was just awful. Especially the monster design was a massive let down.

twilight? justin bieber? where are you getting that???

 

[NoirVisage]

Because classic Final Fantasy was much tamer, right?

Your tag fits perfectly, you're examples epitomize awesome, to be so minimal, they have more character than all the characters combined in most modern final fantasy titles.

 

[XANDER CAGE]

His nipple looks like scar tissue....or a light bruise.

Actually my main problem with FFXII's design was Vaan's weird abs. They look... inverted, or something, on his in-game model.

I think I see what they're trying to go for, but the way the highlights are a part of the actual texture makes it look wrong in pretty much any scene where he's not lit from directly above.

 

[Rolf NB]

Can I say Unreal Engine 3? As in -2 always-on myopia, glow, grimdark color degrading and piss-filters?

Look at this shit:

(Hunted: The Demon's Forge)

 

[Dr. Buni]

Wasn't Suzuhito Yasuda the guy who did Desu 1& 2's character designs? He also did this for Digimon World Reigitize:

But as for DeSu, Amane stands out in the original as having an outfit that makes no sense:

How is she meant to wear that without tripping everywhere? I actually really like DeSu, it's a good game. Just has one or two odd design choices.

None of these are really examples of garish artstyles, though.

I actually googled "Devil Survivor 2 artist" and picked the name that appeared. Either way, yes, it is the same guy who did the art for the PSP Digimon game. I think it is also the same guy who did the art for that Durarara anime, but I am not sure. I do like the games, quite a lot, especially the first DeSu. As far as SMT spin-offs are concerned, I actually prefer the Devil Survivor series over the Persona series.