Oh, and btw Luckmann the conceptual "after" screen shot on your signature is misleading. The "after" graphics have literally improved, its not just a change in art style. If you look at the stairs, you'll notice a new layer of shading, new cracks in the floor and better textures. Also if you look at the rail leading into the lion, you'll notice that the rail got another layer of paneling. The base that the lion is sitting on got new layers of paneling as well, not to mention the overall advancement in lighting effects. It's a cheap illusion of graphical advancements. In fact the art style never changed. Actually the graphics were improved and the colors were toned down. I'll give you that the lion itself didn't go through a graphical advancement, but that's about it.
The art-style in Diablo 3 looks more like a playable painting than a cartoon. I think the art style is very different, but certainly not inferior. At times the characters appear to be moving around on an interactive canvas....and a very violent one. It may not be quite as dark as diablo 1 or 2, but in the mix of all the blood, chaos and screams, I doubt you'll be seeing any orcs, pixies and disney characters walking around.
I don't mean to bash, but Diablo 2 spammed the same art-style throughout nearly every enviornment. It was so dark it even looked like night-time in areas that were clearly meant to take place in broad day-light. LOD's gleaming, snowy mountain-tops of Act 5 were a breath of fresh-air away from the static art direction of the same old, same old grit and darkness of every D2 act. (Yes when you think about it, act 5 had the best art direction and for the most part, the brightest and least dark art direction.)
Just take a look at what they're doing with Resident Evil 5. The game is a survival horror game (Something that Diablo isn't supposed to be in the first place.) and yet the setting is very bright and vibrant in contrast to previous resident evil games. The fact that you're fighting hordes of hell's minions in broad day-light with a rainbow in the background, creates a sort of "I'm not safe anywhere" or a "hell on earth" vibe, and adds it's own unique kind of ambience.
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Blizzard Artwork Trailer, showcasing their current art direction.
Improved graphics does not = new art style.
I don't mean to bash, but Diablo 2 spammed the same art-style throughout nearly every enviornment. It was so dark it even looked like night-time in areas that were clearly meant to take place in broad day-light. LOD's gleaming, snowy mountain-tops of Act 5 were a breath of fresh-air away from the static art direction of the same old, same old grit and darkness of every D2 act. (Yes when you think about it, act 5 had the best art direction and for the most part, the brightest and least dark art direction.)
Just take a look at what they're doing with Resident Evil 5. The game is a survival horror game (Something that Diablo isn't supposed to be in the first place.) and yet the setting is very bright and vibrant in contrast to previous resident evil games. The fact that you're fighting hordes of hell's minions in broad day-light with a rainbow in the background, creates a sort of "I'm not safe anywhere" or a "hell on earth" vibe, and adds it's own unique kind of ambience.