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[Omie]

There's a certain charm to RPG's with the super deformed characters that is lacking in realistic looking RPG's. For some reason RPG characters seem more expressive to me in a super deformed style than they do when they're done realistically. It seems like its easier for games designers to juggle between silliness and seriousness when the characters aren't portrayed realistically. For example Kefka from Final Fantasy VI. I don't think his character would be as effective had he been translated to a realistic looking character. He was downright silly at times and then just plain evil at other times. This is not a 16bit era vs Next Gen RPG's thread. I'm just comparing styles and curious how everyone else feels about the shift especially when it comes to the Final Fantasy series.

 

[BocoDragon]

Well, I thought FFVI was just about a little too SD for its own good. Of course it's coated with nostalgia now so please don't hurt me. I'd say the character sprites in Chrono Trigger got it right. Not too chibi, not too realisitc.

 

[Greenpanda]

Realistic, please.

(Although I agree that Kefka only works as a tiny sprite. But that's an exception.)

 

[BocoDragon]

Realistic, please.

(Although I agree that Kefka only works as a tiny sprite. But that's an exception.)

Hilarious for someone with Chu-Chu as their icon.

 

[sprsk]

Yeah i dont care

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

Wouldn't it be better to say normal proportions than realistic cause it can get pretty stylized than realistic in RPGs.

 

[ghibli99]

Regardless of whether characters are drawn/rendered in SD or realistic form, if the artist/animator fails to convey proper emotion through their work, then it doesn't matter.

If cornered for an answer, I would have to give the nostalgoggle nod to SD-style, just because my favorite RPG characters were drawn and animated that way.

 

[Pimpbaa]

Realistic, but only when they don't look like transexuals. As graphics get more detailed and capable of more realistic people, that shit starts to get really creepy.

 

[RevenantKioku]

The both have their time and place.
I would be sad to be without one or the other.

 

[belgurdo]

I prefer realistic. SD characters are just a holdover from the 80s when memory in CPUs were extremely limited, and I wished more companies would just leave them in the dustbin of time (especially since they almost never add anything to a game.)

One thing I've always wondered is why humans being depicted in a fantasy planet must look like earthlings...why can't they be 10 feet tall, or look like they came out an episode of Doug or something? It's help contribute greatly to the theme of it being a world that's not like our own

 

[RevenantKioku]

Goddamn Romancing Saga is the most UGLY rpg I've ever fucking seen just because of those character designs alone.

Man, get out of here! That game is triple T hot.

 

[Great Rumbler]

Depending on what kind of RPG it is, either can work well.

 

[lethial]

God wtf

"We welcome you to munchkin land!"

 

[RevenantKioku]

God wtf

I am not shitting you when I say I love it.
Reminds me of the super fami version, only better looking.

 

[mollipen]

It's funny, because I used to prefer RPGs to have SD characters, and couldn't stand more realistic proportioned characters in them. Now, I'm the complete opposite. I almost can't stand SD characters anymore. They have their place - they work really well in Animal Crossing, for example - but I want them nowhere near any RPGs I'm interested in playing.

 

[Chris Michael]

I don't really care, but I lean toward the realistic side. I find realistic character style to have more detail than the chibi look.

 

[ghostmind]

Deformed chars. was a nice way to hide technological deficiencies at the time - a time that has passed... now we hide it with BLOOM!

 

[Reilly]

I don't like either. What I like is artistic characters (if that makes any sense). Characters like in DDS/Nocture are awesome, though, I guess they might consider to be realistic to some.

 

[DarkAngyl]

I prefer realistic, but I will probably always have a soft spot for the little SD guys. Kefka is a prime example of SD done right.

 

[Jiggy]

Mixture, e.g. Pokemon, Star Ocean 2, Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Fire Emblem, Earthbound, etc.


This may or may not have to do with the fact that I have yet to play an enjoyable RPG with a realistic art style. If I found one, there would be a possibility I could change my mind, but right now it's got a long way to go to convince me.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

I don't like either. What I like is artistic characters (if that makes any sense). Characters like in DDS/Nocture are awesome, though, I guess they might consider to be realistic to some.

Yea, for the sake of this discussion are some of the recent Atlus games stylings considered realistic? I guess it's the abscence of SD you're talking about. Fine by me, I don't want super deformed.

I'm glad there's a wide variety. I can't stand the look of ToS or some of the more conventional anime designs.

 

[BudokaiMR2]

I have started to lean towards more SD ones because generally I realized my favorite RPGs are the old school SD ones.

It is also probably because all the companies are pushing these horrible man-boys on us.

 

[Warm Machine]

SD was done out of necessity in the old days. To make each character recognizable in only a few pixels you had to exaggerate their features. Now there is little reason to keep the style.

 

[kumanoki]

I remember playing FF: Tactics for the first time and thinking how great the sprites looked, how expressive they were, how wide their ranges of movement and emotion.

I just recently played DQVIII and I felt the same way about the 'realistic' characters.

I can't make up my mind. I like both. But I like both SD and realistic characters to be driven by a good story and gameplay. Otherwise, it doesn't matter what they look like.

 

[D2M15]

I'm easy, so long as they have enormous breasts.

 

[djtiesto]

I really couldn't care less... some of you folks are so picky when it comes to RPGs.

I have a friend who was all excited when I was showing him DDS. He loved the music, the setting, the intro... then when I showed him a battle - he refuses to touch the game because he doesn't like how your characters change into ugly monsters to fight. Some people are just ridiculously hard to please.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Sexy!

 

[Sapiens]

Goddamn Romancing Saga is the most UGLY rpg I've ever fucking seen just because of those character designs alone.

WORD. I thought I was the only who thought this. Man, if anyone likes it, they are insane.

 

[Bebpo]

I don't care either way. Though I'd guess realistic works for more realistic and serious games whereas SD works if it's lighter, more anime-ish, or more comical.

Oh and yeah....Romancing Saga.....it kinda scares me..........maybe SD should only stick to cute and happy stuff, not realistic looking munchkin people...

 

[MoxManiac]

Romancing Saga was an awesome game, but I gotta agree - the style is creepy. Strangely enough, I got used to it after awhile.

 

[Andrew2]

Other than the fact I would love to see some creatively designed characters, I love both

 

[Die Squirrel Die]

I think, in theory, you could do Kefka as effectively as a realistic character.

The obstacle is really the lack of expertise and care put into the writing, vocalising, animating and directing of the normal videogame cutscene.

 

[emomoonbase]

Whatever you call the ones in DQ8, that's what I like.

 

[RevenantKioku]

WORD. I thought I was the only who thought this. Man, if anyone likes it, they are insane.

Woo! Respect!

 

[chinmonster]

Whatever matches a specific game's tone and style.

Either can look good, imo.

 

[Attack You]

Whatever you call the ones in DQ8, that's what I like.

It makes me laugh that Charmles was bigger than Yangus. That kid eats his Wheaties!

 

[May16]

Doesn't matter to me. Both groups have the potential to look awesome or look like ass.

Just make sure the rest of the game includes a good battle system and dungeonplay that doesn't make me lapse into old drug habits and I'll be fine.

 

[ronito]

You know I'd like to say that it doesn't matter. However, I do remember Skies of Arcadia and having a hard time taking the characters seriously because they looked like lego figures. So I guess more realistic.

 

[Malakhov]

Realistic, please.

(Although I agree that Kefka only works as a tiny sprite. But that's an exception.)

Nope.

 

[jooey]

Nope.

it's annie lennox, run!

 

[Sabaku Ika]

For game characters in general, I prefer stylized-realistic. Like, not trying to look like a photo, but not munchkified either. It depends on the game. Chrono Trigger did get it right.

 

[∀ Narayan]

Realistic.

God, this thread is making me imagine what a FFVI remake would be like on the PS3.

(Drools).

Too bad it'll never happen.

 

[Sabaku Ika]

I've seen screenshots of the PS1 version of FFVI with realistified cutscenes. It was disgusting.

 

[Nostrildamus]

Goddamn Romancing Saga is the most UGLY rpg I've ever fucking seen just because of those character designs alone.

WTF! Romancing SaGa's character models are badass.

Best "RPG character style" = hyper-encephalitic pseudo-achondroplasia 4evar!!

 

[acidviper]

SD cute, not SD complex fucked up. FFVI is fine, Disgaea-OgreBattle is perfect. FFIX got too weird looking. And now its just too strange.

 

[NotMSRP]

Deformed or realistic? Depends on the artstyle used for a game. I am somewhat more biased towards deformed cause of the greater capability for expressions and emotions which in turn creates a greater gaming experience for me. I often gain little from realistic characters. They often feel flat, sterile; thus, a detachment from the characters. Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne is a good stylized realistic look and many of the monsters have decent expressions.

 

[John Harker]

I like it when the plot is serious, the threats are serious, but the characters are silly enough where its entertaining - for example, World of Warcraft or FF9

 

[sammy]

if we could get some good respectable drama, plight, dialogue, conflict, chemistry, etc. told in our RPG's --- then I'd be up for some real-world fully realistic character designs....

Since I've yet to play an RPG that moved beyond Saturday morning level of theatrics and storytelling, I'm still comfortable with the SD style to push me through a swashbuckling adventure of an rpg... I take it less seriously, and just enjoy a game.... rather than be embarrassed for game characters trying too hard to be real...

so yea... I like the SD ---- I *want* realistic, just hasn't been done to a level that's stimulating...

 

[DDayton]

I think it really depends on the game... I still find the style used in the classic FF games much more appealing than what they've used recently.