I like the style for really. It looks more and more like my favorite game ever:
Nuclear War from 1989.
With the difference that Civ6 has no SDI!!!
![]()
Because cartoon graphics run better on mobile devices, of course.
Same reason they picked Cleopatra for Egypt, easier for mobile phones to handle.
In the words of C.S. Lewis, "To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence."
Honestly, I've loved the art style of Civ6 since I first saw it, and have only loved it more the more I've seen of it. Aside from the gorgeous leader scenes, Civ5 was an eyesore. Sure, I wouldn't mind the colors in Civ6 being slightly more muted, but if the bright colors are an affront to your masculinity the problem is with your own insecurity, not the colors. I applaud the Civ6 art team for embracing such a unique style rather than caving in to the ever-popular, frequently-dull ultrarealism. The measure of art is style, not verisimilitude, and Civ6 has style.
Yes, I think Civ5 looks hideous. I don't think it looked great on release, and six years haven't done it any favors. Don't get me wrong, Civ5's leader seens are glorious and to some degree I'll miss them, but Civ5's muddy map textures, tiny units, 2D terrain features, and boxy cities are an eyesore that I won't miss. The problem with Civ5 is it looks generic. It lacks style or direction, which is a frequent problem with games that try too hard to be "realistic."A lot of talk about the lifespan of graphic styles, realistic graphics don't age as well as stylized. 6 years after Civ V was released does anyone think it looks bad? I don't.
I do agree, however, that Civ6's forests are disappointing, both that they're too sparse and that they only occur as conifer forests.
It's basically just aiming for the left peak of the uncanny valley... If you don't know what that is, I suggest googling a youtube video on it, Extra Credits does a really one on it.
Basically they have the choice to go for these Vibrant expressive, albeit stylized characters, and we can appreciate the human traits they gave them... or invest so much more to try and go for some photorealism and most likely fail on some level at which point all we could look at are the flaws.
I love the more board game aesthetic. Incidentally it keeps the turn times and computer requirements lower.