I'm not entirely sure why you'd expect hand-drawn art and a 3D model to look exactly the same when they're using different mediums to work with and thus, have different limitations on what can or can't be done...
Printable View
I would love to see certain races look like some official art or fan art but...for the most part it's not exactly reasonable. We are comparing apples to oranges here.
Look up Star Ocean 4's 3D models versus their anime art portraits. Going from anime to 3D doesn't look too great...unless its GranBlue.
I like the art more too, but it's a lot easier to make adjustments to art than models.
The miqo'te in the art looks older than the models, and is much more shapely.
Unless they add more faces and body types it all just boils down to preference though.
It's the eyes and symmetry. The faces look /too/ nice while straddling the line of hyper-realism which is what triggers the uncanny valley effect. The eyes don't help either. They're not bad but there's a level of blankness to them that just enhances that feeling. It's actually why I prefer FF14's models. They straddle stylism and realism quite well, which helps them side step those very issues because it isn't making our stupid brains try and play 4D chess against themselves in an attempt to reconcile the lack of errors.
I mean it is just not with ff14 style
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...JO8blkRLbvWu63
It's more accurate to say that the artwork you linked is off-model compared to the in-game characters.
They invite guest artists to do the event art usually, though I don't recognize that N.M signature on this one.
Elezen in game wish they looked this good:
https://i.imgur.com/pIsbnVl.png
Excuse you. We're perfect the way we are, giraffe necks and all. D:<