Hellblade 2 Shouldn’t Count On Photorealism To Win Players Over

Highlights

Realism in gaming graphics is evolving with photorealistic details, but it shouldn’t overshadow other unique art styles.
Not all realistic games deliver on content and gameplay, highlighting the importance of creativity beyond graphics.
Alternative art styles like ‘virtual realism’ offer originality and escapism, showing that realism isn’t the only measure of success.

The latest debut trailer for Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra demonstrated just how far technology within the video games industry has evolved, especially when it comes to photorealistic graphics. Using a blend of Nanite and Lumen tech within Unreal Engine 5, the facial likeness to Black Panther actor Khary Payton and Captain America performer Drew Moerlein rendered within the trailer was uncanny and set a precedent for the growing “realism” art style, while also highlighting that there’s more excitement for the Marvel GamerVerse of late than the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

However, Marvel and Amy Hennig’s team aren’t the only developers impressing the industry when it comes to realism. The upcoming Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is flaunting hyper-realistic environments and character details, right down to the dirt and sheen of sweat on the Pictish warrior’s face. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, albeit featuring a roster of anime-inspired characters, also packed pin-sharp visuals into the high-octane sequel that effectively brought a fantastical world into reality. Despite these games being impressive within their release window, the realism art style has its flaws within a rapidly advancing technical industry, and shouldn’t overshadow other, stylized graphics that have a better shot at withstanding the test of time.

Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra’s First Trailer Is Blowing Fans Away With Its Uncanny Graphics

While there’s no gameplay in the trailer, the facial animations in the cutscenes are a sight to behold.

Go Realism Or Go Home

Rise of Hydra also added fuel to a fiery debate that every next-gen release needed to run and look like real life. 4K specs with no less than 60FPS (yes, we’re looking at you, Hellblade fandom) is the expected minimum now, even though some gamers are willing to sacrifice top-tier graphics for a more fluid performance. Anything below the pristine, realistic scenes we see in pretty trailers is quickly dubbed a “PS3 game”, which was the case during Rise of the Ronin’s debut. However, realistic graphics shouldn’t be the only hook to a successful game, and several titles in the past have even used this art style to promote their game, but what transpired was nothing more than a dangling carrot preceding a half-baked experience.

Anything below the pristine, realistic graphics we see in pretty trailers is quickly dubbed a “PS3 game”…

The disappointment felt after The Day Before’s disastrous build-up was in part powered by promotional material advertising a profound sense of realism in the graphics, but the finished product was far from even being a complete game. The older, 2019 shooter, Anthem, promised crystal clear graphics, and for the most part delivered on that front, but most players agreed the content, mechanics, and substance were well below par. Another example is The Callisto Protocol, which appealed not only to horror fans but to technically savvy gamers too. The trailer graphics blew everyone away, but the actual game failed to be anywhere near memorable.

Aside from serving as a red herring, realistic graphics also have time as their enemy. A great example of projects that stand the test of time is Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. By using a combination of prosthetics, hand-made armor, miniatures, and fully-constructed elven sets with just a sprinkle of CGI, the Oscar-winning trilogy has remained a visual spectacle to watch, even after 20 years. With technology advancing so rapidly, these stunning, realistic graphics are bound to look dated in as little as five years. Tech has a lifespan, especially computer-generated components seen in movies and video games, which is where other art styles and methods reign supreme on that front.

Alternate Art Styles Aid Escapism

ori and the will of the wisps hiding dark

The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 will lean into something called “virtual realism” or “stylized realism” within its graphics, as it’s not trying to mirror reality but create a highly saturated, dream-like version of our world that makes the environment that much more inviting. Advocating an artistic alternative to realism also gives concept artists the chance to hone their own style and experiment beyond structural or costume designs. Additionally, unique art styles carve originality in the industry, where realism gives several triple-A titles the same polished look. Artistically striking games like Ori and the Blind Forest, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Limbo are designed to transport you into a different realm from our own and each game is visually memorable thanks to its unique art style.

Ultimately, realism is a valid art style under the umbrella of techniques, but it shouldn’t take precedence over alternative art forms nor be put on a pedestal.

Some gamers believe that acute realism in video games should be saved for racing simulators or sports games like FIFA and WWE, when the content is trying to mimic real life. In Alan Wake 2’s case, there was a mix of high-end graphics blended with live-action footage, teeing up another part of the industry’s future when video games and movies will begin bleeding into one another — especially when it comes to audience interaction. With so many gamers logging into new releases to escape reality, it’s easy to see why the comforting pixel art of Stardew Valley or the pop art vibrance of Fortnite aids in that escapism.

In short, realism as an art style shouldn’t be the yardstick of gaming, nor should it be a mandatory ingredient for a new release to be impressive. Artists’ creativity expressed through a myriad of mediums is commendable, inspiring, and stimulating, while capturing realism down to the last pore is a technical marvel but artistically limited and somewhat devoid of character without a good cinematographer behind the lens. Ultimately, realism is a valid art style under the umbrella of techniques, but it shouldn’t take precedence over alternative art forms nor be put on a pedestal.