Not be able to understand? Is that really your only way to debate around here? You're that shallow?

Considering I studied graphics and visual arts, and recently started taking classes to become a concept design artist, I find your assumption here quite amusing.
When I talk to people like you, it's really funny to see that since their object of fascination gets scrutinized, they go back in a corner pretending that they're somehow enlighted to what should be accepted as beautiful and/or technically impressive, and that anyone saying different are somehow incapable of grasping the greatness of such divine manifestations because they lack that little something special to see and understand properly.  

When in actual reality, no one questions the resulting beauty of such things. People don't say the game doesn't look beautiful, and neither do I. People are saying it isn't technically impressive in any way compared to what was shown on the PS4 or that it simply doesn't look next gen. But guess what? Games like God of War 3, Uncharted, Halo 4, Forza 4... they don't stop being impressive looking just because they're not "next-gen". -__-

But sure... Art style and all that jazz. 

Also, I've never hid the fact that I think Super Mario Galaxy is one of the most beautiful games I played this last gen. So, there you have it. Try harder next time.

Maybe because, well, the polygons are being spent elsewhere, like in the huge detailed environment? No current gen console game has better character models than Heavy Rain, but there is a strong reason for that.

Well, I knew this would happen sooner or later.

Some people just can't let other people be happy. Though yeah I don't like the face either but lets look at something shall we?

Old shulk face

New face

Reyn old face

New Reyn face

It seems to me they tweak the models last because the original build for Xenoblade was pretty much complete except UI, some character/monster models and color. 

I don't worry too much.

Interesting. This post is very interesting.

The huge detailed environment? With sprite based folliage? Flat watter edges on that beach? The draw distance is good. Maybe a bit better than what was seen on console with games like Skyrim, Red Dead Redemption, or Farcry 3. While at the same time, JRPG's don't make extensive use of physics in their enviroments. Most everything is pre-calculated or just animated in a way because it looks cool that way. 

It does have a certain cool factor when it comes to its looks. But that's not due to technical feats.

Was that really necessary ?

Nem specifically asked for it. =P

Yea someone just messed with the colors in the video. Either way the game looks amazing and I can't wait to play it!

I'm talking about the polygon count. The environment seemed quite high poly for me when comparing to current gen games. You also need to think that the game was probably alpha when it was shown, so sprite based foliage and flat/square water edges can be excused till we get new screens of the game.

I highly doubt the sprite based folliage is gonna change. That's the method they used for Xenoblade Chronicles. It was effective though. As for the environment being high poly... I don't see that. Mountains are painted with good textures, and the ground and water all look flat. But the textures are used to give the impression of added geometry.