FFXIV and the graphics trap hole

[Anarnee]

I have to disagree, the reason why I gave FFXIV a try in the first place is because back in ARR it distinctly reminded me of the FFXII art style and direction, which makes sense because to my understanding a lot of those artists from the Ivalice games were shuffled over to CBU3. The art of XII is very dark fantasy but there's tons of beauty and whimsy and the XIV models had this painted look that I adored before 7.0. I will say a lot of that style was lost to the models in DT, but there is still a lot of beautiful vibrant stuff in Tuliyollal that was pretty to look at when the new lighting wasn't making me ill.

[Kes13a]

as an artist.. have you played WoW since the start? because in the beginning.... being very cartoony kinda took me out of any kind of "immersion".

here is very little about FFXIV that I would remotely call "realistic" and I have yet to meet people or places that resemble what is in the game. the reasons I enjoy i aside from the game play, is everything you point out as being "wrong". I enjoy the fact that it isnt that cartoony.

so, if everything seems hyperrealistic and non-fantasy to you.... where is this place since it must have mi'quote, viera and hrothgar to make them seem... normal to you.

[LukaRoselia]

The only thing I find comically hilarious personally is how ridiculously overhyped the graphical update was by Yoshi-P and a lot of the community and genuinely if I didn't follow news and wasn't made aware of it through online media I legit probably would never have noticed they even did it. The amount of times I laughed myself to tears during Dawntrail cutscenes looking at some of the textures was truly something, I even screenshot the bed in the Tulliyolal inn to mock in my FC Discord because it legit looked like an N64 asset.

Ultimately I don't really care though. If the games graphics bothered me then I wouldn't have played it for 7 years now. They're fine.

[Router]

Grand Exchange - OSRS

You could at least post actual OSRS graphics and not this ugly puke mod

[Jojoya]

If a game can be identified from a random screenshot, it's safe to say it has a unique art style. If it wasn't unique, it would be difficult to identify the game.

Changing a game's art style in the middle of its lifespan is not a good idea. Even WoW's art style didn't actually change. It was just impacted by the graphics update allowing more detail. You could still tell it was WoW.

[Valence]

As an ex environment artist that worked in the industry, I must say that I am extremely puzzled by the OP...

It sounds to me that you're more attracted to very cartoony art styles or styles with extreme strokes, but that doesn't invalidate other types. Unless you specifically have in mind the huge mix and mash of random MMO elements like lvl1 glam gear, clown costumes and whatnot all clashing down in the middle of the game (which is another issue altogether)? If you want to see something that truly has no art style, just open Unreal Engine and start using the generic assets with the default lighting...

[Jeeqbit]

What some people call artstyle, I call outdated graphics.

[PercibelTheren]

I understand enjoying stylised graphics. I like them, too. There are games instantly recognizeable thanks to their art style like Darkest Dungeon. I even understand the argument that style is more important than realism now because Unreal Engine 5 makes it so anyone can have nigh-photorealistic characters. HOWEVER, FFXIV doesn't really look realistic. It's very anime-esque, especially some of the faces and emotes.

[PercibelTheren]

What some people call artstyle, I call outdated graphics.

With Runescape especially. All old games around that time period looked like that.

[Ilisidi]

With Runescape especially. All old games around that time period looked like that.

FFXI, of the same age, looks more like the art direction of FFXIV.