Article written by Gastos84.
Published on 04/08/2011 at 05:00 PM.
Having read Dan’s review of Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, I found myself desperately wanting an Xbox again just so I could play this one game (you fortunate ones can enter the amazing competition. Not that I’m bitter). It then struck me that, as someone who fell well and truly out of love with gaming, the games that have been tempting me back to my console of choice are those that dare to be different and, more often than not, these have a unique and distinctive art style.
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, an unlikely system seller?
I know there have been countless discussions about whether video games count as works of art but I’m not here to discuss that, mainly because everybody finds art in different things, rather I wanted to see if the styling of a video game will sway you to spending money on it?
Having very recently bought Limbo based purely on this aspect and anticipating Journey purely based on this aspect, it has become a very powerful marketing tool for me personally. And there seems to have been a dramatic increase in games which feature a distinctive style. Is this because we are now in an age where graphics are expected to be great and physics are expected to be nailed? With many different studios using the same engines and mechanics, is the styling of a game the one area where it can truly be defined and made to stand out?
Limbo is still the poster child for inspiring art style in downloadable games.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not naive enough to think that the future of video games rests with the art department, that’s ridiculous; after all, look at Modern Warfare. Here is the biggest selling entertainment release of all time and yet it couldn’t look any more generic and default if it tried.
It’s a glimmer of hope though that perhaps we’ll begin to see more and more people putting a unique creative stamp on the games that we buy and that can only be a good thing, right? Because I’ve rabbited on a bit, I’d also like to reiterate my earlier question. How important is the styling of a game to you and would you ever purchase something purely based on how it looks?
The art on both of these was enough to sell them to me.
Me too.
And I bought Brink due to the art style, and XIII on PS2. My wife bought Mini Ninjas due to it being “cute”, and the new Rayman games looks awesome.
…and Borderlands to name another!
I disagree with everyone on Limbo. I personally think its art for arts sake without good gameplay mechanics behind it. I hated limbo. The designer wanted to create a game that looked different and thats all.
With you on XIII and Borderlands there Youle. Excellent art style that doesnt spoil a single thing, infact makes it endearing.
Prince of Persia is also one that was great to view yet when i look at final fantasy xiii with what is, quite frankly, the most beautiful game i have played this gen i begin to think i dont have a taste in art style.
If the game works, it works regardless of art….being a bit ‘out there’ may attract a certain type of person. Personally im all about the gameplay and story and graphical/artistic prowess is very far down my pecking order.
XIII totally needed a sequel, I absolutely loved that game, and it only went and ended on a cliff hanger!
with you on XIII and Borderlands. Also, Katamari had the graphical impact on me
I think the art can attract you to a game, afterall I usually see pictures and videos before anything else. But there does still need to be something about the game to keep you interested.
@ Jaffa-the-Cake…I disagree with Limbo. The black silhouettes are great, for example had you been able to see all the detail on the spider, and had the spider been on lovely green grass, it wouldn’t have been nearly as creapy! If you don’t like the gameplay then that’s fair enough but I think the art is apt.
XIII DEFINATELY needed/needs a sequal. I thought it would have been great on PSP – the PSP might have been able to cope with the graphics since they were 2D.
Can’t we have both?
The perfect answer. They’re not mutually exclusive but sometimes one suffers for the other. Seeing that gap close would be great.
I wish, but like Bunimomike says, I think, especially on full-blown disc releases, one aspect is usually reduced.
Braid.
I should be picking up Limbo based on it’s look. I didn’t get into the demo but I’m sure the full game will be good. I also enjoyed Flower and I’m looking forward to Journey.
Ditto for me with Journey. Should be a nice game to play with my little girl.
I wouldn’t buy something based purely on its looks but am open to it catching my initial attention. Also, if it’s a fairly solid game, I’ve noticed that a strong art-style can win me over into purchasing said title simply because the art-style might make me so happy that it’s just a joy to behold. Microbot, a small PSN game, has visuals that replicate us coursing through the arteries, veins, etc, and the way blood cells look as they tumble and flow through the viscous-yet-translucent liquid is captivating.
Limbo has captivating visuals even though they’re eerily drawn and resemble darker movements like German expressionism.
Your thoughts on current generation hardware are spot on. I’ve commented on a recent podcast about how we’re finally reaching a situation where technical achievement is now starting to visually level out and what an art director brings to the table is more important than ever before.
The future’s bright… the future’s filled full of black & white mofo-sized spiders that scare me half-to-effing-death!
Great to see you posting articles on TSA! :-)
It was a quick musing I had. I think the tech is now causing the focus to fall on art which I actually like the thought of.
Wow German Expressionism, High Brow
This is Mike we’re talking about? ‘German expressionism’ stands for ‘porn’
*claps* Ha! Amazingly, not this time.
moshi – How dare you question my… duh… *thinks* brain! Yes, brain. :-)
As it happens, when I was studying History of Art (on my Product Design degree) I used to read about the topics beforehand and catch my lecturer completely off-guard with my knowledge. I’d only remembered a bit, but just enough to catch her out as she’d read it the night before too. Cunning academia and their night-before tactics. Oh, she was a redhead and pretty hot. That was another good reason. *happy sigh* :-)
I know you don’t like Zelda, but would the art style of Wind Waker tempt you? It’s beautiful and one of the reasons I love that game.
Wind Waker was gorgeous. To think that the vast majority of fanboys rejected it out of hand at the time, as well… Fools.
I love the art style to Wind Waker but, as you say, I just don’t like Zelda. :)
Saw Gastos84, read the article :-)
It’s not so much the art that draws me in it’s wether the world is immersive – if you play the game and it illicits an emotion.
Agreed, but the art style can play a huge part in that too although it helps to have great animation, believable characters, or whatever components are required for any given title. When it comes down to it, we’re a visual species and Limbo is phenomenally striking which catches our attention whether we like it or not.
Agree, but don’t you think it’s the art that affects that the most? Also you need to have that initial hook, no?
Music as well.
I appreciate we’re not discussing music but it’s also so important as a hook. I can guarantee you I wouldn’t have bought (and endured) Sword & Sworcery on the iPhone if it wasn’t for the sensational soundtrack. Awesome to think iDevice games are now having such professional sounding music.
I must admit i am draw quite a bit to a game by it’s style or art, for me Enslaved and Demons Souls did this best (out of my gaming collection). The way the world was designed in both games, and especially the demons, was stunning and very much an art to me. The concept art book included with demons souls was also very good to look through and contained some great pieces or artwork.
However, I still think it is the story/emotion that draws me to a game most, with Heavy Rain and LA Noire being the most notable. I could engage with the game more.
Saying that i would still probably buy a game just based on it’s looks and style or even it’s uniqueness. I agree that this generation there’s not much difference in technical abilities so if theres anything new/unique or that flare in a game which catches your eye you know you will definitely buy it.
Sum of all that, to answer the question yes I would!
forgot to say, great article :)
Hmm, it’s a funny one, art style is definitely interesting, but for me substance will always come first.
Although…this is probably due to me not wanting to spend money on something that I’m likely to only use for a short while.
Gotta give a shout out for Borderlands which in my opinion covers both grounds.