You bust have incredibly low standards for what makes a AA game, because I have never seen an indie game even come close to AA quality, that being a game like Bayonetta 1/2, Vanquish, SM3DW, Unfamous, Sunset Overdrive, etc.

Also, it costs less time, resources, and money to make retro-style games. That's why they do it.

I made this thread a long time ago.

In my honest opinion, an indie game is a game made by an independent developer, without any kind of help of bigger companies or publishers aside from publishing the game (I find this step acceptable).

That's the only requisite, really. Budget, team size or time poured into developing does not void an indie status, if that game is made from scratch to the end from an independent developer.

But that looks good? :P

There are various reasons why a lot of  indie devs choose this approach. Some of it is that it's an easy, but also nostalgic and identifyable direction. There's a lot of more complex but far worse looking 2D and 3D art styles that they could replicate.

The game you've chosen, everything is done by 1 person. I think we should be cutting him a bit of slack in the graphics department. As long as they're functional and you know what you're doing, I don't see a problem. In fact, I actually do like the visuals in that game.

Is it really that simple though? I don't think it is. Indie doesn't really mean independent game any more. It has become its own style. Those games are of the indie style and are therefore indie games.

eh, they are both overrated meh games to me. Why not call them the same thing.