Does anyone else think that Civ IV looks too Cartoony?

[zulu9812]

I've been looking at the screenshots of the strategic map and leaderheads and the aesthetics of it all just look...silly. Agree/Disagree?

 

[Civrules]

Look at Saladin. He looks less cartoony.

 

[zulu9812]

No, that looks pretty cartoony as well. Whilst it looks very pretty, the head-body proportion is just annoying.

Oh, and I don't like the borders either

 

[Civrules]

I think Saladin's leader-head fits in style with some of the Civ III leader-heads we've seen. At least he's the closest to that. Hopefully the others keep improving as well.

 

[vbraun]

I like the slight cartoonish look.

 

[BarbarianSlayer]

I heard so many people say WoW looked to cartoony. It's turned out to be the most popular game of it's class (and I've played many MMOs). I like the look of the graphics, and i hope the gameplay is at least as satisfying.

 

[Lucky The Fox]

Can't really complain about the heads. I think that making them little cartoony really adds to their personalities.

As for Saladin, am I the only one who thinks that he looks like a less white version of Saruman? With a less impressive beard too, of course.

 

[BarbarianSlayer]

As for Saladin, am I the only one who thinks that he looks like a less white version of Saruman? With a less impressive beard too, of course.

Lol, i can see that.

 

[Bast]

Everything else is fine but I don't like the leaderheads. They look ugly! Ugh!

 

[Jaybe]

The leaderheads are different than Civ3 and 2. We'll get used to them -- unless we decide not to. A little word of advice: don't decide not to.

Cartoons are useful for emphasizing emotional states. If we just had floating heads, it would be awkward to have shrugging shoulders or flinging arms and hands suddenly appear.

 

[Meleager]

I think the cartoony look adds "flavor"...

 

[TrailblazingScot]

I don't mind the leaderheads, in fact I think they look good. It is the appearance of the units, terrain and cities that I think makes the game look cheap and tacky.

Edit: Having looked at the most recent gameshots, I think that the cartoony look may just work at least for the ancient period.

 

[warpstorm]

Yes, I agree. Hopefully the gameplay shines.

 

[joethreeblah]

I don't mind the leaderheads, in fact I think they look good. It is the appearance of the units, terrain and cities that I think makes the game look cheap and tacky.

Edit: Having looked at the most recent gameshots, I think that the cartoony look may just work at least for the ancient period.

Aren't these latest "screen shots" actually more like concept art?

The game looks great to me in the videos, especially that last one (IGN?)

EDIT: It looks like the trains are going to crash into a couple trees...

 

[Mr. Hyperbole]

I think the cartoony look adds "flavor"...

I have to agree...they put me in mind of caricatures.

Also, as we are still nearly four months from the 'projected' release date, we are more than likely looking at placeholder art...there are still gaps I believe...behold the pic...

 

[Louis XXIV]

Personally, I'm indifferent towards the leaders, but I really like the borders. I guess I don't mind cartoony, though.

 

[frekk]

I've been looking at the screenshots of the strategic map and leaderheads and the aesthetics of it all just look...silly. Agree/Disagree?

Its been bugging me too ... it looks completely tacky, but I think they're trying to appeal to a younger generation. Most of us who've played civ since its inception are in our 30s now and I imagine do not represent a signifigant market for the franchise ... this stuff is obviously geared to the anime/pokemon/whatever generation, but financially that makes complete sense.

We can always mod out the tacky stuff. I don't find the look of the game itself too bad, but the leaderheads are really awful.

 

[The Last Conformist]

If anything, it looks less cartoony than CivIII ... which of course isn't saying much.

Cartoony gfx isn't really what I'd like best, but as long as they work gameplaywise I don't mind.

 

[Mongoloid Cow]

Also note, most of these graphics are still placeholders. I don't think they'll be finishing the graphics until the very end (which is what most game companies do because the graphics are the easiest things to change). Though the more I see the graphics, the more I think they work.

 

[mitsho]

I don't like the new leaderheads, too big heads, simply. But I guess I'll get accustomized to them and there are really bigger problems to me than this...

mitsho