Not at all! But some games do rub me the wrong way with their stylistic changes. This is more a question about relative game experiences - which I’ll get into.
But I find some of those “cutified” game entries in franchises that are traditionally a different art style, particularly FF games (certain Crystal Chronicles games, FF9), certain Xeno-games (Mainly Xenoblade Chronicles 2 character art), and Zelda games (Celda) to be a turn-off. Graphically alone, I find Breath of the Wild vastly more appealing than Link’s Awakening on Switch - one style seems right for the franchise, the other seems wrong. I understand games like Link to the Past had kind of a cutesy look to them, but relative to the other games of the time, Link to the Past wasn’t a cutesy title, and didn’t seem to be going for that style - not going for the Yoshi/Kirby/cutsey look (in other words).
At the same time, going the other way (making games more “mature” in art style) is also against my tastes: Xenosaga Episode 2, that Bomberman game. These games look wrong to me as well.
If it’s not clear, I have no problems with a series that began cutsey (Animal Crossing, Kirby, etc…). Some of those games are among my most played of all time.
But, it’s all relative. If you got into Zelda later on, you might not be rubbed the wrong way by the cutsified art style of Celda and its derivatives. And some people don’t develop art style preferences and it’s mostly just cosmetics to them.
Last edited by Jumpin - on 30 July 2024