HA2 Task 2 – Artistic Styles

Create a report that explores these four different artistic styles found in games:

PHOTOREALISM
CELL SHADING
ABSTRACTION
EXAGGERATION

Choose a wide range of examples and remember that you are trying to describe and explain your findings. Illustrate as required and remember to cite any sources you have used in your research, both written and visual.

Photo-realism is used in many games to make the visuals of the game seem alot like real life. This is usually used in games that are meant to be realistic in some form and they are not usually used in alot of 'tongue in cheek' games.



Heavy rain is a great example of photorealism. The game itself is very serious and any other form of art style in games would not be in place. In turn the game uses dark colours like alot of browns and blacks. The game in some parts of it are very gory or graphic and the art style is used so that you can get an emotional link with the characters. A website also says "Another aspect of Heavy Rain that pulls the player and viewer out of the experience comes from clothing. In most video games, clothing gets “attached” to the characters." This is another way that they added Photo-Realism to the game.


Cell Shading is also used in some games, these games are usually not as serious and the artistic style helps this massively.




In Borderlands 2 this type of style fits in perfectly. It is an RPG based on another planet and this is heavily used. As the game uses different creatures that we are not used to seeing, them being cell shaded gives them a better visual rather than them being in Photorealism.



Abstract art was mainly used in retro games. This was because real objects were very hard to translate into becoming an asset in the game. There fore they used the easiest method they colour with was Abstract.


Geometry Wars was a game that was created as an early arcade game on Xbox Live Arcade. Due to this the funding on the game would have been tight, therefore they used a simplistic art style. However I feel like this kind of art fits the game perfectly. This is because the flashing lights that you can see on the game amke it look very unique and that is was the series is known for. It is also designed to give the effect of being a traditional 'arcade' game.

Exaggeration is used in alot of JRPG games. Usually they will exaggeratedifferent aspects of the game, whether that be the character, the background or the weapons.





The character in the Final Fantasy series Cloud is a great example of this. Although he is not exxagerated the sword that he holds is huge compared the Cloud himself. I believe that this series uses exaggeration in their games because it makes the character feel alot stronger than if he was just holding a sword of a smaller capacity.






http://www.gametrailers.com/games/goy5bd/heavy-rain
http://www.geek.com/games/heavy-rain-photorealism-1175772/
http://www.destructoid.com/these-borderlands-2-screens-will-make-you-high-209092.html
http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/21/geometry-wars-galaxies-review-2
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Cloud_Strife