FFXIV and the graphics trap hole

[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What some people call artstyle, I call outdated graphics.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.

[FuturePastNow]

I think if you found a gamer who wasn't familiar with either game and showed them a screenshot with characters from XI, and a similar screenshot from XIV with no other information, they'd probably guess that the latter is a sequel to the former made ~10 years later. There is a clear lineage to the art direction and style.

[DiaDeem]

If you can't tell XIV's style at a glace, you either don't actually play the game, or you're not very good at discerning art styles, and if you're an artist... that's concerning, OP.

[sindriiisgaming]

If you can't tell XIV's style at a glace, you either don't actually play the game, or you're not very good at discerning art styles, and if you're an artist... that's concerning, OP.

not sure why throw the dig in lol. especially since this is entirely YOUR opinion. but i never said i couldn't see 1, just that the 1 this game has is bland and generic squex stuff.

[Thurmnmurmn]

not sure why throw the dig in lol. especially since this is entirely YOUR opinion. but i never said i couldn't see 1, just that the 1 this game has is bland and generic squex stuff.

So most of the art you see that's similar is actually copying Final Fantasy art style. Is it truly bland and generic if you are one of the main reasons that art style is so popular?

[DiaDeem]

"Guys, this game is very bland and non fantastical "

[All_Nonsense]

OP you fail to realize that Final Fantasy dominates its art style so thoroughly and has done it for so long that you just see it as uninventive or plain. You can go back to Advent Children and even the pre-rendered cutscenes in Final Fantasy X from 21 years ago and see the same art style - realistic anime character rendering. Just because their art style is a paradigm now doesn't mean that it lacks any qualities or characteristics that less popular ("unique") art styles possess. There's a reason why only one of those games is more popular than Final Fantasy 14 and spoiler alert: It's not because of the graphics.

Also Miqo'te ears are thoroughly good and Miqo'te in general are a great (and unique to FF) spin on catgirls