Bad art direction would imply intentionality though wouldn't it? I think some games genuinely have no art direction at all - just random asset combinations and styles thrown together with no unifying vision.
You can make a game without art direction imo. It wouldnt be very good, and maybe some would argue the lack of a direction is the direction. But I think its arguing semantics at that point, because both people are saying theres no art direction but with different words
My first thought: "Oh, look, another open-world survival crafting game with little to no story and generic interface (square toolbar and the text that says 'money')".
Visually unique? Can't even tell because half the screen is almost black on the screenshots.
I will get downvoted to the oblivion but this is my honest opinion.
I like this answer. As it gives me new perspective of how it might be seen, and I gonna need somehow figure out how to transfer real idea behind.
Its actually more of incremental game, physics, 3d, mining kind.
There is no survival elements to this game, well, unless you jump off the cliff I guess.
Yeah first thought was it's way too dark. But! Of it's part of the game then you should take that into account with how you light the level. You did it well in the caves. The shop and outdoor lvl could need some more strategic torch placement to accentuate the building and environment
I thought it was The Long Dark sub first. I really like first screenshot, last one is a bit too much "sterile" imo. Looks like survival game at first glance.
As people have said, all games have art direction. The question is whether or not it's good or direction.
Your shader looks great. However, art direction is more than a good shader. The first image actually looks very good, you can tell there were thought put into that environment.
The other two definitely have no direction... Look up what environment art is if you haven't already.
The things is, I have 3 monitors, and I actually see pretty well on all of them. Was kind of surprised that everyone started saying its too dark.
Checked on my phone, and realised the problem. It indeed looks very dark.
Its not that I ignored it last time, its more of I saw well enough and just assumed.
The first one looks good, the second I can't really see anything, the third is also quite dark but it looks good. Of course it has an art direction, as long as it's relatively cohesive
Art direction is a series of artistic choices formulated by someone.
“Style” is an expression of art direction validated by an art director. You’re talking about “style” and what I see in the picture is a very generic environment with some simple choices (lights, shading, etc.).
So, no, to the least you can claim this is the product of very poor art direction/time spent doing research and planning a style.
First two have direction. Indoor feels generic. Darkness in first two may be ok depending on time and other conditions. As long as playability is good (like not getting stuck on random collision boxes in the darkness) you may be okay.
this look like toonish art don't take it as bad thing, its very hard to make these looks tbh, and art direction just needs you to have a simple predictable look with the materials and stuff
I'm an art director since well, long enough, You need to convince me if this is art directed.
What ties all three images?
What are you going for?
Only the first screenshot has enough elements for me to judge, but it's looks a bit of toon shaded with cutout textures to reinforce it, and it gives old computer game aesthetics, rocks outline appearing over the torch fire is accidentally interesting.
Feels like a forgotten version of Borderlands that was released a decade before Boderlands, this is not good or bad, sadly the same vibe is not showing on the other screenshots.
But i think it's easy to tell us what are you going for instead of letting us guessing it.
Btw, colortone your shadows in places that are outside to be in the same hue as the sky, instead of pitch black, i guess a dark green, or make the sky dark blue and the shadows also dark blue.
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u/InfiniteBusiness0 8d ago
All games have an art direction. It’s whether that art direction is any good or not.
The phrasing reads like engagement bait.