We used an audio medium to talk about a visual one—art styles in video games! Was this a mistake? Only you’ll be able to decide when we start discussing the hands of Final Fantasy characters as an example of evolutions in graphical fidelity!
In all seriousness, this fun episode of The Punished Podcast has us reflecting on why and how visuals shape our impression of video games, what art styles have longer staying power, which games are the most beautiful, and if Toon Link is better than Twilight Princess Link.
12/13/2024 Update: I meant to talk about Okami! Re-pushing the audio to include it 🙂
– Amanda Tien, Editor
The Punished Podcast Episode 11
Check out the latest episode below. A reminder that you can listen here, download the MP3 file, or catch us wherever you get your podcasts. Happy listening!
MP3 Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts
Amanda Tien | David Silbert | Kei Isobe | Sam Martinelli | Vaughn Hunt | Zack Gulinello
Timestamps:
- 0:00 – 5:00 – Intros and Beautiful Games
- 5:00 – 34:43 – What Makes a Game Look Good, and Why Does It Matter?
- 35:48 – 50:00 – Visuals in Remasters and Remakes
- 50:00 – 59:19 – Indie Games and Standing Out Visually
- 59:20 – 1:08:30 – Uncanny Valley and Realism
- 1:08:31- 1:17:09 – Who Ya Got?! Vote and Debate
- 1:17:10 – Outro: What We’re Playing
Episode Intro by Sam Martinelli
“Let’s discuss video game visuals. While any video game experience centers on play and control, visuals and visual design have always been an essential pillar to the medium. After all, the main way companies build hype and excitement for a game is through visual media: trailers, screenshots, gameplay demonstrations, etc. But what exactly do players want visually from their games?
To some extent, graphical fidelity vs. art direction has been a subject of discourse for decades, but now that upgrades to hyper-realistic graphics are getting smaller and smaller and AAA budgets keep ballooning, the nature of that discourse seems to be changing. It’s also worth noting that we’ve seen somewhat of an indie game revolution over the past decade-plus, where smaller studios—most of which are unable to produce graphical fidelity on par with their AAA counterparts—are forced to be more creative and intentional with their visual design.
So to start, let’s go around and describe what we think makes a game look ‘good,’ and whether you think fidelity matters more or less than style…“
Song Credits:
- “Porkrind’s Provisions” from Cuphead by Kristofer Maddigan
- “Lord Shimura” from Ghost of Tsuhima by Ilan Eshkeri
- “Dung Defender” from Hollow Knight by Christopher Larkin
- “Grasslands Theme” from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth by Masashi Hamauzu
- “Mii Plaza Theme” from the Wii by Kazumi Totaka
A video game outlet that blends quality words with inclusive voices. For business inquiries and review requests, reach us at press [at] punishedbacklog [dot] com.
Zack has been hooked on games ever since his older brother taught him where to find the secret warp whistles in Mario Bros. 3. He has never felt more joy than when Yoshi congratulated him on getting 120 stars in Mario 64 or more sadness than when he played Kingdom Hearts 3 after waiting 14 years for it. Zack mails a letter to Nintendo every day asking them to bring back Chibi Robo and will gladly tell you all about why it’s one of the greatest games of all time. He was hoping that writing for the site would help him get through his backlog, but it actually just made it worse now that he’s hearing about so many more great hidden gems. Oops…
Vaughn Hunt is writer who has loved video games since he picked up a controller. His parents wouldn't let him buy swords as a child (he wanted the real ones) so he started writing, reading, and playing video games about them. A historian at heart, you'll often find him deep into a rabbit hole of culture, comics, or music.
Huge video game, comic book, and anime fan. Spends way too much time watching things he doesn’t like. Hates Zack Snyder. Mains Falco.
Sam has been playing video games since his earliest years and has been writing about them since 2016. He’s a big fan of Nintendo games and complaining about The Last of Us Part II. You either agree wholeheartedly with his opinions or despise them. There is no in between. A lifelong New Yorker, Sam views gaming as far more than a silly little pastime, and hopes though critical analysis and in-depth reviews to better understand the medium's artistic merit. Twitter: @sam_martinelli.
David is the founder of The Punished Backlog. He has a problem finishing games he starts. Just beat: Nine Sols, UFO 50. Working on: Metaphor: ReFantazio. Can't wait for: Hollow Knight: Silksong. Follow David on Twitter at @David_Silbert to keep up to date with all things The Punished Backlog.
Amanda Tien (she/her or they) loves video games where she can pet dogs, punch bad guys, make friends, and have a good cry. She started writing for the site in 2020, and became an editor in 2022. She enjoys writing about mystery games, indies, and strong femme protagonists. Her work has also been published in Unwinnable Monthly (click here to read her cover feature on Nancy Drew games), Salt Hill Journal, Poets.org, Litro Magazine, Public Books, and more. She was the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Columbia University's Culinarian Magazine, and served for two years as the Managing Editor of Aster(ix) Literary Journal. She recently graduated with a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. Her writing, art, graphic design, and marketing work can be viewed at www.amandatien.com. She does not post a lot on social, but you can find her on X and on Instagram.
