Jet Set Radio: a flop
From its first prominent use in the Dreamcast’s Jet Set Radio, the distinctive cel-shading graphical effect, which mimics hand-animated style visuals, has been the perfect illustration of why developers are forced to be so conservative in their art design.
Not only was Jet Set Radio a flop, but almost every single game that has used the same effect flopped too: from Viewtiful Joe to XIII and killer7.
Even The Wind Waker was the worst selling 3D Zelda. Unfortunately, Okami already looks like it will be joining them.
"Will anyone have the courage (or money) to create a whole game in, say, the expressionist style?"
If games that break away from the visual norm have consistenly become box office poison, it creates a very depressing future for artistic expression in video games.
It’s probably too much to hope that anyone will have the courage (or money) to create a whole game in, say, the expressionist style.
However, Okami proves it would be technically possible - which makes it all the more shameful that more such attempts are not being made.
The Wind Waker
The ongoing quest for photorealism in video games is a long and entirely justified pursuit, but it is one that requires technical, not artistic skill.
However, when developers do decide to abandon realism in favour of more abstract design, the end results are often disappointingly bland.
6th March 2007
