Lurker > rwlh

42. Planet DOB
@Place
https://youtu.be/7Y0WaxAOnzg

Woah this is like LSD Dream emulator and Katamari Damacy's love child -a YouTube comment

I like to think that this 5-minute promotional video is actually the first 5 minutes you see when you boot up the game.

Planet DOB has a storied history of being essentially a vanity project for a Japanese band who decided to randomly make a bizarre PSX game. This trailer makes it seem almost like a proto-WarioWare, in addition to the similarities in the quote above (never mind that Im pretty sure this game predates both of those). The actual visual design is trippy. I had absolutely no idea what was going on at any point in time, even the parts that looked like they logistically followed each other. My take: our hero is a space alien who gets caught in a net and captured on Earth where his memories are harvested out to penis men. I will assume this is the correct interpretation even when proven otherwise.

This is one of those games thats constantly doing things. Even when you think its still, like five more things happen. Id find it exhausting to play, but its nice to look at and especially to listen to.

Here, have another writeup.

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43. Fullmetal Alchemist
@Mega_Mana

This nominator did not provide any videos or images. *wags finger* As such, I will be judging this series by a cursory Google Image search.

Fortunately for you, I am a little familiar with FMA (though not much). Things I found that I liked from the image search (and also from memory):

• the character designs are fun, particularly Eds, who is super pouty
• the way Ed and Al are juxtaposed next to each other is striking; Al is this hulking slab of metal and the composition is super effective
• the setting, which I think is steampunky, I remember being captivating

I dont know why but this image cracks me up, I just want to pinch his cheeks
https://www.looper.com/img/gallery/heres-how-you-can-watch-every-episode-of-fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood/l-intro-1613507565.jpg

So its all basically good stuff. I didnt look up any videos or anything but the color covers and portraits from the manga are very solid in terms of design and structure.

Today I learned something.

nailed it

Honestly I thought Warhammer had a whole universe built around it with novels and such. Is that all supplementary material?

44. Warhammer 40K
@Anagram
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/4/2/AACpsLAADyg-.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/4/3/AACpsLAADyg_.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/4/6/AACpsLAADyhC.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/4/7/AACpsLAADyhD.jpg

These pictures have strong my action figures can beat up your action figures vibes. Take image 2, Battlesector. We have a Space Marine fighting a Space Velociraptor. Now, one might take the side of the Marine, given the size of the gun (it even has a tiny skull with wings on it! How cute). However, Im leaning toward the Velociraptor. It looks agile, plus it can probably tear a hole in the Marines armor with its very pointy claws. Is this what Warhammer is? Having imaginary battles with action figures? Could Donkey Kong upset the balance of power in this fight? (If DK shoots them, its gonna hurt.)

I really like the design of the orc(?) in image 3. Green, muscular, and armed to the teeth. Whats happening with its mouth? Is that a bandana or does it have no jaw?

I like that these are all basically still shots in the middle of a fight, like the warriors all decided to pause melodramatically. (Comics do this too and I always find it distracting. You all just decided at once to stop and pose for an entire splash page?). These are generally fine. I like the designs and general layout. Theres also a nice mix of character types. Pretty fun!

Here, have another writeup.

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45. WWE (Boom Comics)
@Fluttershy_Pony
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/1/5/AAXIRqAADygj.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/1/6/AAXIRqAADygk.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/1/7/AAXIRqAADygl.jpg

Comics take themselves too seriously sometimes. Its good sometimes to laugh and have fun. (Remember that time Charles Barkley fought Godzilla?) So what better crossover to make comics goofy than professional wrestling? The WWE also straddles the line between silly and serious. Theyre a perfect fit for each other.

Although honestly, the only one of these images that could be considered goofy is the third, with a giant-sized wrestler fighting a giant-sized bear. The other two are pretty serious, but I trust in the good people at World Wrestling Entertainment to not be too serious. Im guessing image 1 is Jake The Snake Roberts? He looks really cool there, not gonna lie. Really, all of these images are excellently drawn, showing the wrestlers as figures of power who could destroy mankind if they wanted to. Aint that the truth?

Here, have another writeup.

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46. Warioware series
@paulg235
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvu37S3xcaU
https://fs-prod-cdn.nintendo-europe.com/media/images/06_screenshots/games_5/wii_7/wii_wariowaresmoothmoves/Wii_WarioWareSmoothMoves_03.jpg
https://gonintendo.com/system/file_uploads/uploads/000/047/501/medium/DiWujUXW4AErtyP.jpg
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UjtWqw61GkIwKwRejT_KVTLjPAI=/0x0:1920x1080/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:1920x1080):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22661137/warioware_acnh.jpg

Its sort of hard to judge this nomination as a whole. Part of what makes the video so charming is its deliberate lo-fi nature, with compressed audio and crispy graphics. The images are much sharper and more modern (well, not the first one, with the person drinking, but the other two).

So it behooves me to look for commonalities and judge based on that. The WarioWare series as a whole has this aesthetic of weird and frenetic, where anything goes. The video gives us lots of low-polygon microgames that arent super varied in appearance, but thats where the pictures come in. The dude drinking the water looks deliciously off-model and almost grotesque, but in a charming way. But I especially love the Animal Crossing image, with Dribble and Spitz disrupting the animation style and looking very pleased with themselves.

I imagine its hard to pick a selection that encapsulates what makes this series standout visual design, but you did a decent job! WarioWare sort of defies categorization, haha.

47. Metal Gear Solid
@Mega_Mana

This nominator did not provide any videos or images. *wags finger* This makes this nomination difficult, because it can be interpreted in many ways. Is this the whole MGS series? Just the first game? If so, is it the melty official art, or the in-game sprites? Or maybe even the codecs? This is why I asked for references...! *harrumph*

I will interpret the nomination as the melty official art from the first game. For reference:
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/5/5b/SnakeSubArt.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080312231008
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/6/6a/Psycho_Mantis.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20060802225149
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/1/12/Sniper_Wolf.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20060802225327

Fortunately, I like the official art. Its less melty than I remember I think Im thinking of the Game Boy games? Either way, the art is mostly static portraits, very formal-looking, like the characters are posing. You dont get a real sense of who they are or what their purpose is...which, you could argue, is the point, since theyre all pawns in a massive conspiracy. And you could even argue that its another step removed, since theyre all being played literally by you, the player.

Relevant:
https://www.theonion.com/video-game-character-wondering-why-heartless-god-always-1819566102

Anyway, its fine, its all fine. The character designs in MGS1 are very on point, so even this fairly basic display is enough to get that across. Snakes sneaking suit is so emblematic of his character, as is Psycho Mantiss gas mask and Sniper Wolfs sniper rifle. The art lets us see these things and associate them with the cast. Sometimes thats all you can ask for.

changmas posted...

i decided to avoid anything canon that could be construed as spoilers and just went with chapter cover art which is as representative of the style as anything else

Oh, that hadn't occurred to me. I appreciate that!

azuarc posted...

I feel like this one is a better representation of just what DeepBlueInk is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpXK0Gjah-U

This is also great but I think I like the original nomination more. This one honestly doesn't need to even be animated - apart from the "frustrated blush" on Jacob's face (which is terrific), it's all pretty straightforward.

Here, have another writeup.

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48. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable
@Bitto
https://imgur.com/a/C73C400
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1HGhFV3riY

All I knew about the artstyle of Jojo going in was that the faces are really off-putting. So imagine my disappointment when this anime clip had pretty normal character design! The highlight is Tamami, the swindler whos a completely different height from everyone else and walks like a drunk duck. There are some stylized things in the clip, like the blood streams from Tamamis mouth after he gets his tooth knocked out, and the glowing guilt boxes; I also, bizarrely, liked the animation of the ripped yen, which screamed despair to me.

Josuke and Okuyasu have such interesting designs. In addition to having plenty of symbols on their clothes, Josuke has a wicked pompadour and Okuyasu has markings on his face that look like the outline of a mask. Theres a lot of personality to this show. Im very intrigued!

49. Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (Concept Art)
@Fluttershy_Pony
https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy:_The_4_Heroes_of_Light_concept_art?file=FF_T4HoL_book.png
https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy:_The_4_Heroes_of_Light_concept_art?file=Pirate_CoveArtwork.png
https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy:_The_4_Heroes_of_Light_concept_art?file=T4HoLEquipment.jpg
https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy:_The_4_Heroes_of_Light_concept_art?file=T4HoLMonster.jpg
https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy:_The_4_Heroes_of_Light_concept_art?file=Adventurer-and-Fox.png

Final Fantasy spinoff games go through lots of interesting artstyles, from hyper realistic like Stranger of Paradise to cute and chibi like Theatrhythm. The 4 Heroes of Light definitely sides with the cute and chibi angle. I generally like art like this, so long as it isnt over the top, and this concept art is cute without being cloying. The characters play around in storybooks, try on pretty skirts, and fight evil hawk monsters, all while retaining a sort of innocence.

One thing Im not as into is that the characters all sort of look the same, particularly the boys, who both have silver hair. I get that their hair is styled differently, but I dont know, it wouldnt have hurt to see some more distinctive designs.

My favorite of the images is probably image 5, with one of the characters snoozing, their hat concealing their face. Its so chill and laidback; it sets the tone of relaxation, of having a good time, even in the face of adversity. Pretty neat!

50. One Piece
@changmas
https://i.imgur.com/5oDArkh.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/LAfxMjT.jpeg
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/onepiece/images/3/39/Chapter_872.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1200?cb=20171022010022
https://i.imgur.com/NHxEPt4.jpeg
https://preview.redd.it/o7co7oh4hcr71.png?width=2493&format=png&auto=webp&s=9daa6d343cfe88b8e60c7876e1b1e1decd28a21f

I wasnt sure what to expect from this nomination. One Piece has a reputation, at least that Ive encountered, of having a weird and somewhat off-putting art style. But these big, colorful images were nice! Every character is pretty much bursting with joy and laughter (Luffy has the same manic, gigantic grin in every picture lol). I feel like these must take place in between arcs or something, or maybe theyre just bonus pages, like the one that might be after 1000 chapters. Either way, theyre fun!

Whats interesting to me is theyre all different compositionally. In one, the Straw Hats are riding on a choo-choo train in the sky; in another, theyre stretching out and interacting with parrots; in yet another, theyre celebrating all the gold theyve attained. Character personalities are somewhat consistent. Luffy as I said is super excitable all the time, while the black-haired lady is always cool and collected. They all also seem to have stuff to do in every picture, whether its serving tea, hoisting up a treasure chest, or relaxing with some bird friends. One thing thats clear, even in these presumably non-canon images, is that these pirates care for each other.

So yeah, not quite what I was expecting. Next time give me some canon art with weird designs! ;)

51. DeepBlueInk's Drawfee animations
@MargaretAnnMid
https://youtu.be/Obms-x-J6uA

Drawfee <3 Great channel, but Ive never delved into their fan content before. My experience with fan animations of things like podcasts or Lets Plays or what have you is mostly that I love seeing the animators interpretations of funny moments or the hosts/creators themselves. I used to be really into some fandoms and would watch a lot of fan content, and it was always neat to see the different takes on sometimes very similar starting material.

Drawfee has a lot to work with, given the sheer amount of topics and riffing the four hosts do with each other. This animation, by DeepBlueInk, portrays the hosts personalities pretty interestingly, with Nathan just sort of giggling the whole time and Jacob nervously laughing. It took me a little while to get used to the Big Head Mode in the animation; I dont think its entirely my favorite, but it does work pretty well in establishing a consistent style. My favorite part is when the video shows Julia googling Blender; the difference in lighting and facial expression is solid. I also love the incorporation of other art styles, like the posters and browser windows. Thats one of my favorite things animations like this do.

hi sorry been a weird/not great day, but i am here to deliver some writeups

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52. Mario Party (N64)
@-hotdogturtle--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiAUjFYKB90&t=18s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uORccXbKtA&t=18s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKeteG-j3JA&t=45s
https://mario.wiki.gallery/images/7/77/MushroomMix-Up.png
https://mario.wiki.gallery/images/3/3d/Shell_Shocked.png
https://mario.wiki.gallery/images/3/33/MP3_Rockin_Raceway.png
https://mario.wiki.gallery/images/6/60/Mario_Party_2_Horror_Land.png

It takes a certain perspective to appreciate fifth generation graphics like this. Jagged polygons, low resolution frame rates, and a lack of detail mar the overall presentation.

...or do they? I find the N64 Mario Party design positively charming. Imagine what Nintendo was able to do with so little. In the first games intro, there is no change in anyones facial expressions, and yet a basic story is conveyed with charm. Mario Party 2 and 3 are more detailed, particularly 2, with its colorful stageplay theming. (I absolutely lost it at Peachs grand solution to just name it Peach Land.) The screenshots are also charming and colorful. The design of the Millennium Star is...not the strongest Nintendo has ever come up with.

Its tough to judge these games designs objectively. From a technical standpoint they dont hold up to more realistic and gorgeous modern graphics, but what truly matters is if they convey what they intend to convey. The Mario Party series is all about goofy fun (some might say all Mario games are about this), and the design is great at bringing that across. The appeal of such retro graphics, which embody a certain late 90s aesthetic, still lingers.

Stream is still ongoing!

One more! We are already in the throes of "I mostly like this." These nominations were really solid!

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53. Rakugaki Showtime
@Fluttershy_Pony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCfc--vqxkM

Before retraux gaming was a thing, there was Rakugaki Showtime, a PS1 game with graphics inspired by the ultimate in retro: childhood scribblings. The playable fighters span a multitude of designs from more traditional protagonist fare (like the fighter shown in the video) to robots and screen-stretching opponents. Its clear a lot of love went into the character designs. I actually feel like they could have gone even further, like making the stages themselves and the interactible objects scribblier too.

I also find it charming that several of the fighters have Rayman bodies: no arms, floating hands. Its actually odd that other fighters have all their limbs and some dont. Not a bad thing, just curious.

I dont have a lot to say about this one. I was honestly more intrigued by the gameplay than by the visual design, so I might look up a Lets Play in the near future to see what else the game has to offer!

Here's another (potentially controversial?) writeup:

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54. Danganronpa
@Anagram
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/1/2/AACpsLAADwxk.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/1/3/AACpsLAADwxl.jpg

Danganronpas big visual asset is character design, which is why I assume Anagram gave me two cast shots to work with. The series likes to go big with a lot of designs; I suspect the design comes first some of the time, and then the writers base the characters personalities and backstories off of that.

In the second image (the first game), highlights include bikerboi with heavy eyeshadow and a massive pompadour (he exudes style), swirly haired girl with the red jacket, dude whose hair is bigger than some of the other students bodies, and, of course, Akuma. Some of the designs are plainer, like blonde suit boy, but thats good because if they were all over the top, the effect would be dulled.

The first image (the third game) has fewer characters. The colors of these characters feel a bit more muted and less standout; everyone is in purples and blues. I also dont like how everyones eyes seem the same, compared to the first games cast. Maybe Id feel differently if this was a full cast shot, but these designs are less engaging to me overall. I do enjoy the random little dude in the biker jacket; he sticks out a ton.

One thing I appreciate from a gameplay-design perspective: some of these characters are more sinister-looking than others, but nobody really sticks out as clearly a murderer.

Let us drown our sorrows in another writeup.

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55. Sanvein
@UF8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klQUt5YvFKs

You know, its funny, I could tell this was a Playstation game before I even looked it up. Something about the aesthetic screams Japanese PSX game. This video is very chaotic, but I think its in a good way? The actual gameplay happens so fast and there are so many layers of nonsense happening at any given moment, but its charming and I was generally able to follow along. Its a game I wouldnt want to play but I think would be fun to watch.

I like some of the little touches in the non-gameplay portions, like the afterimages on the menu cursor, and the pulsating continue circle with shifting text. Sanvein certainly oozes style, and isnt that what were here to discuss? It was definitely a unique experience to watch the video, so for that alone its got to be at least a little high in the ranking.

will there be cookies

I don't know if I still need this topic, but I'm keeping it around for now.

56. Detective Conan
@handsomeboy2012
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/0/4/AAWGRBAADylE.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/0/5/AAWGRBAADylF.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/0/6/AAWGRBAADylG.jpg
https://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire2/266e7ee00a6b10600da304e9412806a41449006978_full.jpg
https://www.detectiveconanworld.com/wiki/images/3/36/Detective_Conan_Movie_24.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmmukBf0Kmw

Detective Conan feels very classic anime, whatever that means. Im no expert on different anime styles. Maybe its the character design? No prettyboys or sexy ladies. As a result it feels like less an anime to me and more like a Western cartoon? But Western cartoons have plenty of prettyboys and sexy ladies, so I dont know. What I do know is I love the bold poses and expressive faces. Poor Conan gets bullied into having his glasses stolen, and then hes riding a horse or something. Theres a lot going on.

I really like image 3, with Conan and some dude (big Conan?) staring each other down. Big Conan has a gun pointed at Little Conan, and Little Conan has a watch(?) pointed at Big Conan. I dont understand the context but I really love the composition.

The video is a bit confusing. Its mostly manga panels. Are these actual panels from the Detective Conan manga, or are they stylized depictions of events from previous series? Style or no, it does come across a little halfhearted to have an OP thats barely animated.

This entry has made me realize there are some series I have conflicting opinions on, and thats okay! There are also some series where I dont know much at all and I need to remind myself that instead of sounding authoritative, I can just throw my arms up and shrug and hope the writeup was at least a little entertaining.

(also apologies to handsomeboy, who was very excited for this topic and is now eliminated entirely! I hope you're still able to stick around and enjoy the rest of things)

57. Monster Hunter: World
@SSBM_Guy @Bitto (which account should I ping?)
https://imgur.com/a/E5FSkF9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBfHRcfaUBA

Putting aside the fact that the first image is a bunch of tiny images all in one (some of you really pushed the limits here...), its easy to see that Monster Hunter: World has a distinct visual style. The video does an effective job of capturing the unique setting of a coral landscape that, curiously, does not appear to be underwater! The rich purples and pinks provide great atmosphere and allow for the player character, in a suit of armor, to stand out. I also enjoyed the design of the main monster fought in the video (as per your instructions, I watched the first five minutes). Its threatening when attacking, but pretty cute when asleep!

The second image has an environment thats very different from the coral lands: a woodsy place with open paths and big trees. The monster has very realistic-looking fur. I guess thats neat.

The weakest part of this nominations is all the little monster logos. Some of them are very expressive, but a lot of them seem like recolors of other logos. I get that you cant give every monster a unique little thing (at least Im assuming theyre for each monster?), but the recolors feel uninspired.

I guess the costumes didn't stick out to me too much. I feel like I tend to not notice what characters (and also people in real life) are wearing - I honestly think there are very few mentions of character wardrobes in all of these writeups.

58. My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
@redrocket
https://youtu.be/jBCfZui8jJA
https://youtu.be/ahW_QncuNow
https://youtu.be/US17063NjE4
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/4/8/AAAjjZAAD1QE.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/5/0/AAAjjZAAD1QG.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/7/9/AAAjjZAAD1pj.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/3/9/AAAjjZAAD1WL.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/8/0/AAAjjZAAD1pk.jpg

Its fun to chart the evolution of a series visual design over time. The first two videos for Friendship Is Magic have, apart from the Mane 6, fairly basic NPC design, with a largely interchangeable template. But the pictures show some very creative character design, particularly the first picture, which has like buffalo and dragons and all manner of fun stuff. I appreciated the big musical number in the second video (the song is now in my head, gah) and the choreography was a nice touch. I also like how bright and colorful this world is. I mean, its a show about flying horses, so youd expect rainbows everywhere, but the fact that they follow through on that is good.

Im not sure what else there is to say. The main selling point is the character designs, and those are really only prominent in the pictures. Although I do like Discords design, clearly inspired by a Chinese dragon.

They should've called it Ionic Commando then. Nobody's taken that name yet!

59. Ion Fury
@Simoun
https://youtu.be/W8ofNHZ31fM?t=74

I skipped around this video. I also watched the sequel trailer, as was recommended:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K37l3-La-Go

Ion Fury and its sequel Phantom Fury seem like love letters to 90s FPS games, and that includes the graphics. This ones going to be tricky to rate because thats an area Im not very familiar with, so I can only judge some of the homages from a distance.

One thing I like about Ion Fury is that the developers really tried to make the graphics authentic in terms of 2d sprites and even some slowdown. The actual areas themselves are fairly boring, but thats probably because theyre emulating old games, so I cant really fault them for that. I appreciate the interface as well, with the guns being somewhat chunky sprites. Really, theres a lot to love and appreciate here; Im just not the best person to do it. Sorry!

60. Bill Sienkiewicz' New Mutants run
@Mega_Mana
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/5/9/AAALz5AAD0eP.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/6/0/AAALz5AAD0eQ.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/6/1/AAALz5AAD0eR.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/6/2/AAALz5AAD0eS.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/3/6/3/AAALz5AAD0eT.jpg

This one was challenging for me. I can appreciate the unique style thats a cross between hyper-realistic and dreamlike, but I had a hard time really finding things to grab onto with these pictures. It reminds me of the style that permeated American comics in the 80s and 90s, that sort of drab, no-frills art...except thats clearly not with Sienkiewicz is doing here. Hes presenting a combination of that, and an odd dream state.

The pages with the bear present the bear as this massive figure, larger than life, to contrast with the human-sized character. Its very effective. I also love the imposing final image of the character huddled with a blanket that slowly morphs into the demon bear. Wonderful use of colors. The other images, the issue covers, dont have the same impact for me as the pages, particularly the first image, with a fairly straightforward composition of heroes (though I guess its neat that they seem to be emerging from panels).

I respect that Sienkiewicz was doing this sort of thing in a time of limited experimentation. Its certainly unlike any other nomination. However, the competition is fierce and somethings got to wind up here! Apologies to Sienkiewicz I just dont think this style is for me.

61. Detroit: Become Human
@Raka_Putra
https://youtu.be/8a-EObAhYrg
https://youtu.be/EtF_iOZokiQ

Its tough to judge this one, because to me at least the visual design in these clips is near future, with little difference to our world. The graphics are crisp and in high detail I especially appreciated the rain shimmer but theres not much to really analyze in a vacuum.

I think the design of the androids is interesting in that they look identical to humans except for the Xbox circle on their temple. That likely helps them blend in and gives them more of an impetus to disrupt society. I also found Karas creation fairly hideous, like it looks like some sort of affront to nature. Which, hey, thats kind of what androids made in our image are, right?

The choice of setting this in the future and not giving a lot of future tech apart from robots is curious. American society still looks the same. I dont love David Cage but I appreciate that he and his team had an aesthetic vision they went for, and they seem to have succeeded.

One more, because I'm feeling SPICY.

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62. Steins;Gate
@handsomeboy2012
https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/412830/capsule_616x353.jpg?t=1604014646
https://static.zerochan.net/Steins%3BGate.full.552925.jpg
https://www.gamerbraves.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/steinsgate-2.png
https://wallpaperaccess.com/full/1291662.jpg
https://www.godisageek.com/wp-content/uploads/SteinsGate-2.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np4KjnKbSX0

Skyclad Observer~

Sorry handsomeboy, I couldnt view your second image, so Im just going off of the other four and the video.

Steins;Gate is one of those things Ive always meant to check out, but never have. Maybe its because I dont find its visual design to be terribly interesting? The OP (awesome song aside) suffers from that visual novel trope of were not going to animate the characters, so here are still images of them moving around. I understand that most VNs probably dont have the budget for that sort of thing, but its still a little off-putting.

The actual images are fine. I like the gritty feel of these characters. Rintarou Okabe looks like he hasnt bathed in a while; I laughed at image 5, when hes close to the camera in a fish-eye lens. There are, like, filters over the camera that make everything seem dirtier, particularly over the actual characters.

Whats fascinating about my relationship to Steins;Gate is I genuinely have no idea what its about, and this nomination doesnt tell me anything new. I cant decide if thats a good thing or not.

I'm so glad you liked Changes so much! My goal with ranking topics is never to do well (although it is nice to do well) but instead to expose the ranker to new things. It seems like I achieved that!

My favorite lyric to Changes is:

And still I see no changes
Can't a brother get a little peace
There's war on the streets
And a war in the Middle East
Instead of a war on poverty
They got a war on drugs
So the police can bother me

So good.

Thanks for this topic, as always!

63. Princess Remedy
@-hotdogturtle--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIVwxDbOoYQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0qrhW13yiU

This is going to be a very subjective writeup for one reason: I dislike black backgrounds, as featured in the Princess Remedy videos. They give me a headache. (Related: I cant use dark mode on apps or browsers for the same reason.) So while I can appreciate the ZX Spectrum homage Princess Remedy is going for, I would never be able to actually play these games without needing an Advil or an icepack.

Thats not to say theres not good stuff here. The enemies have designs at the intersection of cute and creepy. Theres a psychedelic feel when you kill an enemy, which leads to this massive, screen-shaking explosion. It feels like your standard Earthbound-inspired retro RPG, though with a Spectrum tint. If it werent for the black background, this might make it higher, so Im sorry for my UTTER INADEQUACY.

(Its got cool music though. I think you know my opinion on the soundtrack.)

handsomeboy2012 posted...

I would probably have used different videos if I knew you would factor in animation quality, like movements? All I did was to try and show art styles and designs and ended up with not so exciting videos

It's okay! I wasn't sure what I was going to focus on when I put up the topic. It also varies depending on the nomination. Sometimes I focus more on one thing than others.

The splash of color is a real selling point, yeah.

Oh, so you can! I'm learning so much about this website.

One more for tonight.

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64. League of Legends
@Chaeix
https://images2.alphacoders.com/913/thumb-1920-913622.jpg
https://assets2.ignimgs.com/2014/02/13/lol0127141280jpg-dc3acc_160w.jpg?width=1280
https://youtu.be/DcUq-6UpfHw?t=306

One thing Im learning from these nominations is Im gravitating toward the really colorful aesthetics. League of Legends doesnt disappoint in that area, with colors popping off all over the place. The first image is a gorgeous composition of blues and greens; the second, a battle scene, feels like blue vs. red. (Though, as always, I question the battle armor of some of these ladies.) The video doesnt really add to this aesthetic, instead showcasing the various colors in motion.

Overall theres nothing terribly exciting about LoLs aesthetic, at least evinced from this nomination, though I always appreciate a good rainbow.

It's an imgur folder. For some reason it only shows the first image in topic. There are quite a number of those throughout the topic.

Bitto posted... One thing I love about visual design is that it's easy to say what you like about it and what stands out about it, as opposed to other creative stuff like music.

I agree! That's a large part of what made this ranking so fun to compile. Anyone is welcome to post their thoughts as I go along.

Speaking of, another potentially controversial drop...

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65. Paper Mario
@Anagram
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/1/8/AACpsLAADwxq.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/1/9/AACpsLAADwxr.jpg

Ive always found the Paper Mario artstyle endearing. For being made of 2d material, Mario and the rest of his cast are very expressive!

These two pictures are crowdshots, sometimes with overlapping characters. There are some neat spins on common Mario enemies. Goombellas design is definitely superior to Goombarios, since she actually has a design more complicated than a Goomba with a hat. I also like the punk Lakitu with a mohawk. A lot of of the other designs are surprisingly conservative with changes.

Paper Mario strikes me as something that would benefit more from video footage than just pictures. That way youd get to see the cast in motion. Ah well!

Drift is great. Such a fun, bonkers theme.

and another

66. Brawl Stars (Promotional Artwork)
@DragonGargoyle
https://imgur.com/a/Q72TODh

I have never heard of this. After looking at the provided images, I guess its a mascot/party fighter game? The images are brimming with color. The character designs are actually a little plain to me in spite of all the color, but maybe thats intentional; maybe the game(?) banks on the brightness doing the job.

I dont know, its genuinely hard to judge this one. My favorite character is probably the blobby person in image 5, but overall I dont really get a strong sense of the personality of the work, which is so odd because everything is bright and vivid! I guess Im not really into the character designs, and paradoxically, when everything is so sunshiney, it all sort of looks samey. I do like all the bold colors and overall fun vibe though.

hi

67. Black Butler
@Raka_Putra
https://animereporter.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/blackbutler_vol18.jpg?w=333
https://www.nautiljon.com/images/manga_volumes/11/41/black_butler_31956914_vo.jpg?1643204235
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/08/6e/9f/086e9f0785b746e9883c8dc9222bdaad.png
https://64.media.tumblr.com/3635e5c3e9b1fc0e8da65c95f629326c/tumblr_inline_ooumqsgjyf1sc6vnj_640.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/82/e9/08/82e90830e920ccc58650baab93c6d725.jpg

Im not really sure anything about this art sticks out to me. The characters feel fairly standard waif-like prettyboy designs. Theres an aura of mischief and danger thats very apparent throughout several of the characters have smirks, one has a murder weapon, and another is cradling someone whos bloodsoaked. Im not familiar with anything about this series, so trying to piece things together based on these context clues is intriguing, but like I said its challenging to form an opinion! The only thing that sticks out is the pink highlighting in the last picture; against the black and white images its pretty striking. (I also laughed at the one dudes pouty face.)

68. Old School Runescape
@handsomeboy2012
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/1/4/AAWGRBAADyJG.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/1/5/AAWGRBAADyJH.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/1/6/AAWGRBAADyJI.png
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/1/7/AAWGRBAADyJJ.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/1/8/AAWGRBAADyJK.jpg

This is a very retro, very low-poly nomination. Back in the day, games like this were very effective at getting across what they needed to get across with minimal assets and polish. Theres something charming about this. I especially like the endless gray floor in image 5, and the barely bothered giant in image 4.

I dont have much to say about this. I never played Runescape, Old School or New School(?), so I dont have any particular affinity toward this nom apart from a general fondness of old things.

And another.

69. Last Exile
@MargaretAnnMid
https://youtu.be/DZVpwlMCd6M?t=302

I watched to around five minutes from the timestamp. The setting for this anime seems neat, a sort of World War I-inspired world. I didnt think the actual animation was anything to write home about though. The character designs were fairly safe from what I could see. There was also this strange focus on 3d models a few times, and I found it very distracting since I didnt think it was integrated all that well. I did like the emphasis on those placards in the cliff face; while I couldnt quite tell what they were, they stood out enough to convey their importance. Overall I didnt think the design was anything spectacular, but maybe Id feel different if I sat down and watched the whole episode.

Thank you to everyone for your feedback on number of writeups per today! After careful consideration I am going to ignore everyone's opinions and post them whenever I feel like it. This will mostly be once I deem a writeup has gotten sufficient attention or, failing that, when a writeup has gotten no attention at all.

So, moving on...

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70. Final Fantasy Tactics Manual Art (not game art)
@Anagram
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/1/4/AACpsLAADwxm.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/1/5/AACpsLAADwxn.jpg

Hmm...theres not really a lot to work with here, and it doesnt help that the images are kind of low-resolution. Im not somebody that has any affinity or nostalgia for Final Fantasy, so there may be references to other aspects of the series that Im just not picking up. I like the bright red Archer costumes. Some of their hats are funny, like Oracle (Mystic) and Time Mage.

Really the whole thing makes me think of a fashion runway, with anorexic models displaying odd-looking clothing. Im going to make that my headcanon now. Its more engaging to think of the Lancer (Dragoon) dude strutting down a runway, barely able to see from the massive helmet.

I dont know. When I spend most of the writeup coming with unrelated nonsense, I can tell the design isnt for me. Sorry! Like I said, if I knew more about Final Fantasy, maybe Id feel differently.

Fluttershy_Pony posted...

Definitely not! That animation studio also provided the cutscenes for the CD-I's "Mutant Rampage Bodyslam" and no one ever talks about those, in spite of a woman giving birth to a half-human/half-pterodactyl in the opening cutscene. Sadly (?) the other scenes are just generic and dull.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQhvpzjwfZI

Oh my goodness I had no idea that studio did anything else other than Zelda and Hotel Mario! Though I certainly never thought to look them up. These clips seem way more...controlled I think is the right word? Characters generally don't ooze all over the frame. And some of the designs aren't bad. And is that Mark Hamill voicing the announcer?

redrocket posted...

This is rapidly climbing the ranks of my favorite topics ever.

Aww, you're sweet, thanks. <3

azuarc posted...

What surprises me about the P5 write-up is that it's seemingly based exclusively on the provided images, which I assumed were just there for a starting point.

Yeah, it's almost solely based on the provided material. It was unfeasible for me to research 74 series on my own, so this was a method of making it easier on me.

handsomeboy2012 posted...

Its a strategy game so players are going to look at maps all the time. Theres not going to much variety anyway, but I think the artwork and maps do count as visual design?

Okay, so I wasn't missing anything. Thanks for clarifying. I did think it was a challenging nomination because I didn't feel like I had enough visual acuity to judge maps on their own, but I did like the artwork.

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Here, have another writeup.

71. CD-i Zelda games
@paulg235
https://cdn-uploads.gameblog.fr/img/news/393027_61a11193a0a34.jpg
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYmVmOTRjZDAtODU5MS00MTUwLWJhMmMtODNmOWMzNzdiZGZhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODEwMTc2ODQ@._V1_.jpg
https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/001/965/Morshu_-_Original__HD_1080__0-5_screenshot.jpg
https://cdn.wikimg.net/en/strategywiki/images/thumb/9/9c/Link_the_faces_of_evil-map.jpg/300px-Link_the_faces_of_evil-map.jpg
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_original/bfs5vcauhchtf1ao4hzt.png
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c0vDTMKlP0

I really want to give this, like, a top 5 placement for being so entertaining. But I wont!

What more can be said about the CD-i Zelda cutscenes (and I guess some in-game screenshots you posted)? The animation is so bizarrely constructed and confusing. The characters movements make no sense. Why does Gwonam the wizard pause after saying your sword is enough for what feels like two seconds, and why does he make a gesture with his arms for no discernible reason? Why do everyones bodies float around like theres an industrial fan blowing on them at all times? Whats with the facial expressions, like Links little smirk when Zelda turns him down, or the kings infamous FOR finger point? Theres just so much here, and all of it is weird, uncanny valley level stuff. Everything is disorienting. Its like a tornado of bad animation and off-kilter voice acting rampaging through the trailer park of your soul. The animation certainly looks like a tornado hit it!

I wonder if these cutscenes would be as infamous if they werent attached to one of the most beloved, critically acclaimed game series of all time? Probably not. I also wonder how often higherups at Nintendo have watched them, almost certainly against their will, and how much they influenced the decision to not license their IPs.

I could talk about all the meme dialogue, which fills me with laughter (Ive always especially enjoyed the underrated bit where Link asks What are all those HEADS? and we dont see anything other than the flying carpet lol), but in terms of a piece of visual design, this is shockingly...not at the absolute bottom? Its terrible, sure, but its terrible in an almost innocent way, like a child who zaps ants with a magnifying glass. I enjoy CD-i Zelda for what it is.

Now, if this were Hotel Mario, wed be in business...!

One more before bed.

72. Victoria 3
@handsomeboy2012
https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/529340/ss_d6c4af0150eee39e868201386238c20cc880d464.jpg?t=1665061167
https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/529340/ss_bc34110a48361c7232063830f1ae7467a0d07bff.jpg?t=1665061167
https://preview.redd.it/j8jr90bycox81.png?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=97310785b1a569f0ac9e6670b5593fb0d8c61dbb
https://img.championat.com/i/x/s/16616049221094285514.png
https://forumcontent.paradoxplaza.com/public/837795/DD50%2004.gif
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ftmdd1g4hE

What a curious nomination. Though there are some depictions of people and light animations, this nomination is almost entirely composed of maps. Am I missing something? Im not really sure what handsomeboy2012 is going for here. Should I analyze the fonts? I dont want to be rude, but I struggle to grasp what Im intended to analyze.

Theres nothing particularly egregious about the presentation. Victoria 3 sets out to tell a story of sweeping historical change over one hundred years, but to do this relies on gameplay and narration, not really visual design. Im sure the stories told are rich and captivating, but some media doesnt need visuals to succeed, and this seems like one of those cases? Again, it doesnt do anything wrong, but theres an absence of relevance to the topic (unless, again, Im missing something, which is possible!).

I do feel bad for the suffragist who got trampled by a race horse though. What a way to go.

*waves from rubble of topic*

I had a feeling that one would be controversial. I can definitely see why people like it - lots of people! - but I can only give you my honest takes, and my honest take was less than favorable.

Here's another. Maybe this take is also pretty hot?

73. Marvel's What If...?
@MargaretAnnMid

For as cool a concept as alternate realities, Marvels What If...? doesnt have the most...attention-grabbing animation. I would go so far as to call it pretty plain, actually. Some of the actual art from the comics feels more dynamic than this. Its hard to really put my finger on why this is, since theres lots of action in the trailer. Maybe its that the actual characters feel stiff in some way? I dont get a sense of who anyone actually is. To be fair, with characters as iconic as this, maybe they dont feel the need to reintroduce them to us. But it left me feeling nothing. I suspect Im just the wrong audience for this show. The Marvel movies never interested me I know the characters exclusively from comics, so this trailer doesnt excite me. But shouldnt it excite me, even if I dont know the source material? Isnt that the job of visual design?

I didnt dislike anything, which is why this isnt in last place, but I was disappointed by it. Sorry!

Well, at the very least I can post the bottom one now, and then worry about adding in direct links later, if possible.

74. Persona 5
@Chaeix
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_675,pg_1,q_80,w_1200/xcnhs0fx3usfexfnd6oc.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ys4QQyvEaCE/maxresdefault.jpg
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RMVAYUOpZU0uwH8C4nIK6ACxoeg=/1400x1050/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9836293/p5friends.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnDzJ9KzuV4

Hoo boy, starting things off with something that might be controversial.

Persona 5 goes for cool, but in sort of a playful way. Like, look at the font on these menus and tell me this is a game that takes itself seriously. (Or maybe I should say tell me this is a game that should take itself seriously.)

Everything is very stylish. Youve got these kids wearing Mardi Gras masks and a giant talking cat and a guillotine that executes monsters. The design is all over the place. Lots of quick camera shots and bursts of color. Its very disorienting. As an aside, I dislike this trailer: it just doesnt shut up. Someone says something every two seconds. Relax! But as this is about visual design, that complaint is neither here nor there.

I always thought I enjoyed P5s aesthetic, but I didnt enjoy this nomination very much. Its so frantic. Normally I like bright colors in design (which youll get to see as the list goes on), but here its loud, bombastic. Look at image 2. Does this monster need to be roughly the same shade of purple as the background? I will say at least the character designs in image 3 are roughly distinct, primarily in terms of like hair color and height. So thats something!

I dont know. Maybe Im old. I mean, I am old. But maybe Im too old to appreciate something like this. Persona 5s visual design seems specifically designed to appeal to me at first glance, but then when I pull back the layers on the yogurt cup, its bright purple and Im getting licked by Kamoshidas gargantuan, purple tongue. (So much purple!)

Is this the worst visual design Ive ever seen? No, of course not. But I didnt like it. In a ranking topic where I liked virtually everything, that makes it automatic bottom tier.

I think I just fundamentally don't get how this system works. I can post the link in text, but I can't upload the actual pictures - when I do, it gives me the error message of "more than 80 characters." This forum is paradoxically so old and yet too new for me!

I was hoping to upload the images directly into the topic, to make it easier for readers to follow along. But maybe I can't do that?

I'm trying to post a writeup but it says I have a string of too many characters, presumably from one or more of the images. Does anybody know a way around this?

I'm waiting for a few other people to weigh in on number of writeups per day, but in the meantime does anyone have any predictions?