It's a bit of a tough question, also because there can be variations within the same style (the manga of Always Remember Me is VERY different from the manga of Planet Stronghold or Loren).

Anyway, just to make some examples:

manga style = http://www.winterwolves.com/rememberme.htm, http://www.winterwolves.com/theflowershop.htm, http://www.winterwolves.com/planetstronghold.htm and http://www.winterwolves.com/lorenamazonprincess.htm (even if this one could also fit under the comic/western style)

comic/western style = http://www.winterwolves.com/verablanc.htm, but that game had also the problem of using images too much zoomed in. So you can imagine any Marvel/DC comic art, or a mixed style like http://www.winterwolves.com/lorenamazonprincess.htm

rendered/painted style = http://www.winterwolves.com/cinders.htm is a good example. Other examples are the various Hidden Object Games art. This is probably the most expensive but also more realistic style



I'd be also curious to know if there's a style that you absolutely don't like - for example I had several people admitting that they were put off by Planet Stronghold character art, and then played the game and liked it. I like manga art, but I like all good art, so I've been thinking of doing other games with other art styles. I thought that it wouldn't work because Vera Blanc sold really poor, but that was probably due to other aspects of the game itself, and not just the art

Since you were so nice to ask, I absolutely can't stand most forms of western comic style.

Some painted styles are also problematic for me, they are simply so overloaded with details that I can't really see what the scene is about. One of the reasons it's used for hidden object games of course.

Though, if I had to choose between those two, I'd take the painted style without a second thought. My favourite is the manga style though.

I tend to march to the beat of a different drummer (since I like the Vera Blanc art and stories), so you'd best ignore my opinions on art.

I HATE anything done with Chibis.

I like well done 3D art (obviously this excludes the early stuff I've made), but 3D art tends to raise the hackles of VN players to the point where they won't play anything with 3D art. This is weird in my mind, since mainstream games (such as the Sims) are made with 3D art.

3d real-time is one thing and provides several "bonus" like animations, and facial expressions. Applied to a VN (see Walking Dead by Telltale) can bring really awesome storytelling experiences. Pre-rendered 3d (what most indies could afford ) is really ugly in my opinion, even if is well done. Hard to explain, but if you take out the animation from 3d, seems to look at a puppet, while well done hand drawn 2d has something magic/artistic in it All in my opinion of course!

I prefer art done well. I like details. I dislike "rough" art, art that looks like colored sketches. The style is secondary to me, the quality is what counts. The more love that I can tell went into the artwork, the better it becomes (love often = details, to me). The more it looks like the artist was just doing a job, the more I skim over it. If it looks generic, the artist probably didn't feel a thing, other than the ka-CHING of cash, when creating it. If it has personal touches, the artist probably felt inspired, which more often than not, shows in the end result.



I don't care too much for anything that is highly unrealistic to look at, but most manga style artwork doesn't overstep my personal tolerance for that. Sometimes I even prefer that. Take "Long Live the Queen" from Hanako Games - the artwork in that game is just right for it, and the death chibis are simply phenomenal!

I hadn't given this a lot of though before, but I think one of the reasons I liked Loren's art so much is because it took the good parts of comic and manga style and built from there. Comic style by itself can get a bit dull if it's done badly, but manga can get cartoonish to the point where I can't take it seriously (though that's not such a bad thing for some of the VNs you've done).



I dunno if I can vote in the poll, since I think both art styles basically do different jobs. And I'm not familiar enough with painted style to really have an opinion. "Go manga style for lighter stories, comic style for darker" is about the best advice I can really give.

Not sure I can vote either, and for similar reasons to Foelhe.



I like both manga and comic style art, but it needs to fit the game: super-simple cute anime-ish stuff (like Long Live the Queen!) are adorable, but wouldn't fit Loren's story very well. (or would cause SEVERE mood dissonance).



Generally, I prefer manga style, but that's because most of the art I've seen for it tends to be cleaner/crisper and show emotional depth. (Really though, that's more about the artist than the style itself)



The rendered/painted style is GORGEOUS, but can be a little distracting, as well as looking 'stiff' since doing small animations (blinking, shifting posture; not that it's really animated, but I mean like how in Heileen for example, in the course of a scene a character's expression may shift) look more out of place. Plus it's so detailed that sometimes I feel like I'm spending more time staring at/trying to get past the art instead of getting immersed in the story.

Interesting opinions. I agree, that's why when I see some JRPG that use super-cute artwork, like Flower Shop style, and have a serious/dark/dramatic theme... I really have hard time to play them. I also think is the same reason why many western players don't like JRPG at first glance. Hard to disagree, to be honest. I couldn't imagine Loren or similar games with a cute art. Planet Stronghold one was almost borderline, though I think the artist is great, but anything more cute and probably would have felt out of place.

Some examples of what I mean by western style:

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/130/a/1/tj_18_colors_by_joemand-d4z84ul.jpg" style="max-width:100%">

and rendered:

http://th04.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2010/228/9/7/Iryx_by_poibuts.jpg" style="max-width:100%">

But I guess mainly depends also on the game theme/setting indeed.

Loren, hand's down! I believe I voiced my opinion on how much I love that art before and I'll say it again!

For CGs & special scenes, rendered is beautiful... but for the entire course of the game, I want something a bit simpler on the eyes.



(Also ended up voting after all; I voted for both Japanese and Western style, though I still hold that rendering/painting is wonderful for 'special' scenes.)

I prefer art done well. I like details. I dislike "rough" art, art that looks like colored sketches. The style is secondary to me, the quality is what counts. The more love that I can tell went into the artwork, the better it becomes (love often = details, to me). The more it looks like the artist was just doing a job, the more I skim over it. If it looks generic, the artist probably didn't feel a thing, other than the ka-CHING of cash, when creating it. If it has personal touches, the artist probably felt inspired, which more often than not, shows in the end result.

Nothing more to add, this is exactly what I think about comics - no matter if mangas or western styles or anything else, I am sure that you see the love put into them - but, it's not always a fact that details show their love - there are artworks which work very well with puristic styles - sometimes it's the art of knowing how to handle minimalism which shows the effort an artist put in his works.

That really depends on the game. I loved Cinders' art. It was the main reason I played it. But It wouldn't fit with Loren.

Then there is Planet Stronghold which doesn't fit with anything. Err...I mean I understand It has its fans but I dislike it. Which is fine because I don't care much for Planet Stronghold.

You don't care because you don't like the sci-fi genre, or... ?

You don't care because you don't like the sci-fi genre, or... ?

I prefer fantasy over sci-fi but that wouldn't stop me from enjoying a sci-fi game aside maybe, from the combat. I have several reasons for not liking Planet stronghold. One of them is the art. Another is the story which I considered to be weak at best (from the demo). I also just couldn't get over the fact that there is a "human king" with a crown and everything

Ah ok I see. Well the sequel will have much better story and combat system, but the art indeed will be the same Maybe you can try Bionic Heart 2 when is out, it's sci-fi but has a very good story and nice art

After seeing the girl before the spaceship picture, I just had to choose "western style"...



Though there is nothing wrong with the art in Planet Stronghold, or Loren for that matter. Also the painted style can be nice.



In the end, it very much comes down to how good the artist is, and how much the art matches the rest of the game.

Ah ok I see. Well the sequel will have much better story and combat system, but the art indeed will be the same Maybe you can try Bionic Heart 2 when is out, it's sci-fi but has a very good story and nice art

Ok Im a bit of a noob in this area. My brother is a big fan of this but I dont know anything about anime and similar stuff. I happen to like a style that is serious in how it looks so anything that is more comedic, I cant get into. For me, I like Planet Stronghold and Loren not just because they are rpgs, but because they are serious yet have humor that you can find. Some of the best rpg creators that add humor to their games, makes all the difference. I remember playing Avadon for the first time where I was arguing with a wretch, he handed me a raspberry and turned away. I thought that the humor was hilarious yet still showed menace as I had to fight the little bugger.



I really dont know what category that would classify.

Hm, Loren's art is a mix of manga style and the western style, in my opinion. I loved Loren's style so I don't really know what to pick.

Yeah true I should have added a 4th option