With titles like Tower of Fantasy on the market and Blue Protocol on its way for later this year, I thought it would be a good time to talk about cel shading as a graphical design choice. It’s a style that I’ve seen pop up in as widely diverse titles like Zelda, Borderlands, and even Dragon Ball Online.
It’s certainly a very distinctive choice as far as graphics go, giving game worlds a colorful, cartoony look at the expense of fine details and depth. I am quite partial to this style, to be honest, and wish it showed up more often, but I also know it’s not for everyone.
So what I’m wondering today is if cel shading is a net positive or negative for an MMO. Does it give games a “kiddy” veneer, limit their audiences, or set them apart in a delightful fashion? What do you think?
Every morning, the Massively Overpowered writers team up with mascot Mo to ask MMORPG players pointed questions about the massively multiplayer online roleplaying genre. Grab a mug of your preferred beverage and take a stab at answering the question posed in today’s Daily Grind!
