Art Style Perspective

This game has so many promising features, especially for a player like me who prefers the rp part of an mmorpg. Features that could keep me playing and invested for a very long time! However, there is something that holds me back from getting too excited.

I know that many people will disagree, but I cannot be the only one who prefers a more cartoonish, stylized mmo over a realistic one. Games like elder scrolls and dark souls come to mind when I see the art style of this game, as in... nothing new or special. An art style that doesn't age well, is cold, and uninviting of exploration and wonder. The more realistic a game looks, the more small and otherwise unnoticed mechanics that aren't quite realistic stand out and become jarring. Thus, taking away from the enjoyment of what the game has to offer.

There is an element of a stylized cartoonish mmo that makes more people interested and stay interested over time. This might be true for all rpgs. World of Warcraft, The Sims, Fortnite, and Zelda come to mind as games that can be enjoyed by all ages and have stood to be very popular over time. Part of that might be that stylized games can be played on more computers and are more accessible. The highest graphics setting isn't needed for these games to provide the same feeling to the player.

I am not suggesting a change in the art style completely, but to just offer the other perspective. If the game suddenly became more stylized, I would be much more excited and invested.

Is there anyone else who is having this opinion with me?

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Comments

Talents

I massively prefer AoCs art style compared to more stylised art like WoW or Wildstar. In fact the main reason I didn't play Wildstar when it released was because I hated the art.

Some genres I don't mind a more stylised art style, but for me, I prefer realistic art to stylised in MMOs every day of the week.

JustVine

AoC's art style was in fact stylized in UE4 and was one of the things that drew me to the game originally. I wonder if the fact that realism is easier in UE5 is going to drain away their stylization as development progresses given how a lot of the stylization had to do with lighting, texture, and color choices.

Nelirya

I am so happy that Intrepid decided to go with the style that is currently in AoC, especially with the fact that they will now be migrating into UE5. I am not a fan of WoW/Fortnite art styles, and it would actually have been a considerable turn-off for me if Intrepid had decided on those kinds of art styles for AoC.

The artists that Intrepid have working on AoC are very talented and are doing amazing work with the chosen art style for AoC and I am really excited to see the final product.

Baibarss

I get what you’re saying. I loved WoW’s style because it was ‘unique’. The team at Blizzard called it the ‘Blizzard look’. And it showed up in all of their games.

Having said that, I also don’t mind a more ‘realistic’ approach as long as it is not ‘generic’. I think that the artists at Intrepid can accomplish that even with a more realistic look but in other ways. The thing is…what made WoW look the way it did was because Blizzard wanted to carry the legacy of Warcraft (its own history and lore) forward, so it made sense to use that style. I hope AoC’s world is inspired by its own history and lore, which will inform the design. I find that helps in creating and informing what everything should look like.

George_Black

I dislike cartoonist styled games ever since realistic graphics came to be.
I wish an mmo would go full on dark souls in design.

JustVine

George Black wrote: »

I dislike cartoonist styled games ever since realistic graphics came to be.
I wish an mmo would go full on dark souls in design.

What about ESO misses the dark souls like graphical style for you? They seem pretty close to me.

George_Black

Eso zones feel like a walk on the national park if not at the city park.

Walking on ds3 makes you feel that there was greatness there once and now just doom. Sad doom. And you have to stay alive.
No mmo has captured the dark souls theme.

JustVine

If ESO had open PvP and gloomier dialogue would it be closer to the feeling you want? Or is this more about the large gothic architecture and ruins?

George_Black

Eso is very natural to the point it becomes boring. There is no mark of ages past.

Gaul_

I like the current realistic art style; I think it makes the high fantasy moments much more immersive and effective in creating an emotional response.

Atama

There’s a glut of cartoony games out there. AoC works best with the realistic, majestic graphic style it has. Also the excellent music from Emmy- and BATFA-wining composer Bear McCreary wouldn’t fit if they made the game look like Fortnite or whatever.

Noaani

Blizzard games just look lazy to me.

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