What gen has your favorite art style?

[staticmoth]

I'll be the first to admit that I really miss the sprites from the pre-Gen 6 days. I think the games art style hit the peak with Gen 4, especially the colors. The spritework feels squishy and cute, and it holds up to this day imho.

That said, I'm sure others have different thoughts on this!! What is your favorite art style from the games? Do you have a favorite sprite/model? How about a favorite piece of key art from the games? An artwork that still evokes emotion in you to this day? Tell us!!

And please feel free to share examples!! (just remember that the maximum image size is 1000x1000 pixels~ )

 

[Rockapheller]

I love Gen IV artstyle. The color shades were the results of perfect choices, especially various shades of orange in HGSS during the sunset hours. Some Pokémon sprites were in very uncomfortable poses (especially in Platinum), but aside from that all the sprites were top notch especially the back sprites and HGSS front reworks. I could choose Gen III as well, but the designs were more stale than Gen IV in comparison, and Gen V was just too pixelated especially when zoomed in.

I love the 3D era, no mistaking on that, and I wouldn't want Pokémon to return to 2D again but instead work on the 3D models more efficiently (and honestly we've seen very good improvements for Pokémon models in SV, and I hope the trend of improvement continues in the following titles), but something about Gen IV sprites is just too special, added with the feeling of nostalgia.

 

[bugfacts]

This is sooooo difficult to answer definitively for me!! Augh!!

I think in terms of overworld/environmental style…. probably a toss up between Gen IV and Gen III, though I will say I don’t really like how FRLG look all that much compared to RSE and I don’t like how DPPT look very much compared to HGSS….

But in terms of like, character art style and all the ancillary stylization that makes up the game? Probably Gen V?? And in terms of Pokémon depictions, it’s definitely Gen II for me still. I’m in love with Crystal’s sprites….

This is so tough. Hrrmmmm.

I don’t know I’m gonna have to come back.

 

[ninazrdl]

I like the pre-Gen 5 humans, how they look sharp and smart and enthusiastic. There were more straight lines.

 

[cinderace]

hmm. i think it'd be different depending on what exactly we're talking about. sprite wise i think gen 5 was absolutely gorgeous and has really incredible art. but key-art outside of the game i really enjoy gen 4, a lot of the hgss character art is really memorable to me, but honestly so is gen 9's! especially the new legends z-a art has a lot of personality to me, im a big fan!

 

[Tenjiku]

My opinion is actually somewhat similar to bugfacts as well. For drawn illustrations I quite like gen IV and V's artwork, especially for the human characters and definitely the protagonists. Gen II and to a lesser extent gen I has my favorite drawn artwork for the Pokemon.

For spritework gen V just slightly beats out gen IV for me. I like the way the sprites look for the humans and Pokemon in BW/2, especially the latter as I just love animation the 'mons have during battle. The overworld for BW/2 is also just beautiful and on par with HGSS imo, while for DPPt it's mostly routes 216 and 217 as well as Snowpoint City and Floaroma Town that I really like the most for overworld/environment designs. Gen III does get an honorable mention for its overworld design, especially Hoenn's more tropical setting. Crystal's sprites for the 'mons and their short encounter animations are also pretty great and still hold up well, though I do still have a fondness for some of Gold's sprites for certain 'mons as well (especially Houndoom and Umbreon, for example).

 

[theclaw]

The supplementary art for Gen 1, such as the Red/Blue instruction manual.

Earlier volumes of the Let's Find Pokemon books are also examples of imagery I find most emblematic of what Pokemon had originally set out to be.

 

[virtualpet2001]

gen 2! the limited color palette is just so appealing to me

 

[WholesomeCryptid]

while i do really enjoy the art style of the trainers of gen 8 and 9 the artwork for the pokemon falls a bit flat for me, which is why i have to give my vote to generation 2 for having absolutely gorgeous artwork for both pokemon and humans. seriously some of Ken Sugimoris pokemon art from around then is genuinely gorgeous. even the sprites from that era are some of my favorites. Maybe i just really love Johto though.

 

[Anomolicaris]

Overall 4, but it is very close.
I love FRLG, but for some reason, RSE have always looked a little boring to me, something about the sprites just feel faded and I can't explain why.
Gen 2s tiny colour palette is really charming, but at times it is a bit ugly.
Gen 5 looks good, but if I'm being honest it has no nostalgia value to me so it loses alot of points.

 

[Battista]

In-game it's gotta be Gen 3. The overworld sprites are SNES-style perfection and the run speed is so satisfying. In battle everything works just fine on a single screen too.

Promotional material it's gen 1; we got both the classic watercolor style of the games and the mass-market style based on the anime. The current artstyle (Gen 3 art onwards) honestly feels like the two got mixed together but not in a good way. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad per se; I just miss what we had.

 

[RetroPokeFan]

Probably Gens 5 and 7 for me.

As far as the older games I think I like Gen 2's watercolor style more than Gen 1's cause it looks more much refined and cleaner.

 

[Nicolas721]

My Top 5 is:

1. HGSS-The sprites look cute, the colors are vibrant and reminiscent of the anime and the 3D effects look good. Battle backgrounds could use some work though.
2. SWSH-Extremely underrated, best artstyle on the Switch era so far. Characters have that Pokemon vibe, cities and buildings look amazing, water is fine and the UI really feels like a home console Pokemon game.
3. FRLG-Takes RSE's advantages and improves on them with saturated colors, cute blocky graphics, easier to read text and new sprites for Kanto Pokemon.
4. RSE-Like many users above me nostalgia is a key factor, but for a GBA game it looks really pretty that makes places cute and fun to explore and the special effects in both moves and the overworld are great and memorable.
5. SMUSUM-They have the advantage of taking place on a memorable and colorful region, but they do their job well with decent graphics and cool UI.