I beg to differ, the characters in XC1 and XCX are absolutely anime, even employing numerous anime animation tropes and habbits in their presentation.  It's not even up for debate.  And now you've stepped back to semi-realistic and I reiterate that XC2 thus far firmly sits in that area of the spectrum.  Just because the characters are anime inspired doesn't negate that the game is otherwise comprised entirely of "realistic" textures, folilage, meshes, etc etc etc.  Just like with XCX's first trailer, if the faces were hidden from camera the whole "cartoony" debate wouldn't even arise in any capacity.  

That is not to say Metroid won't be MORE realistic.  But this whole, realistic and cartoony dicotomy doesn't make any sense.

The characters in XB2 are 100% anime and that entirely negates any claim the game can have to being non-cartoon.

So are the characters in XC and XCX, so that entirely negates any claim those games can have to being non-cartoon.

If you want realistic graphics that bad, go game on PC, PS4 or XBO.

They're not though, they have proper non-toon textures and shaders.

Just like Nuvandil said, you are arbitrarily selecting what passes and what doesn't passes as anime. As if a little too much of it may put into question your manhood.

Years I've been here, and you're always whining and crying over what Nintendo does. Just jump ship already.

Nowhere to jump to. 

That comment seems to come from a position of ignorance. I game on almost all consoles, and there's plenty to like on all of them.

You're always focused on the technical aspects of the games. You'd be right at home on the competing hardware and PC. 

And besides, X2 imploys realistic shaders and effects for its characters as well. The exploration video you yourself posted earlier showcasing new environments speaks to that effect. The game certainly ain't Persona 5, stylistically.

Too tired/stressed/anxious for this right now. May revisit tomorrow after work.

You guys can define things however you like, all I'm saying is that Nintendo is simply not meeting my standards for stylistic diversity at the moment. Prime 4 may change that however, and hopefully it does.

Maybe it's the lack of a actual nose, or the fact the sun always reflects in the same spots on there eyes, or the lack of pupils, or the lack of lower eyelashes and lower eyelids, or may be even the fact that there hair mostly are made of clumps than actual strands and how that is essentially shaded (by which I mean in entire clumps sharing the same shade instead of strands having different shades giving a 3d effect to the hair, like it's layered instead of drawn)  I'm gonna say yeah, the main protagonists look anime.

The sad part is when you realise that Nomura's characters look better... Excuse me while I throw up in my mouth.

Certainly a tall order to acomplish, given that Nomura art style is excellent.