Daily Debate: How Much Does The Game’s Art Style Affect Your Opinion Of It?

From the surreal tones in Majora’s Mask to the sweeping watercolors and cel shading in Skyward Sword, each game in Zelda franchise has its own unique look that sets it apart from the rest. Each style is carefully crafted to evoke the mood and feel of the overall game. The recent reveal of Link’s Awakening for the Switch treated players to a new art style that was reminiscent—yet still distinct—from A Link Between Worlds. The light and colors are lush, everything feels particularly round, and the overall impression is akin to a child’s music box.

Much like The Wind Waker, Link’s Awakening has been met with a fair amount of backlash over its art direction. With so many art styles to choose from, what happens when you just really dislike how a game looks? How do you carry on through 40+ hours of gameplay hating what’s assaulting your eyeballs every step of the way? Is it truly possible to hate the art style, but love the game?

So, how much does a title’s art style affect your opinion of it? Have you ever had to stop playing a game because you couldn’t stand how it looked any longer? Let’s get chatting in the comments!

This Daily Debate was inspired by Discord user @Skip#7785 on our Daily Debate Channel.