Favorite graphical style?

[Explorer of Time]

The Pokemon series has spanned nine generations across six generations of Nintendo consoles. Though the Pokemon designs might have stayed the same for the sake of consistency, everything else has had quite a lot of changes, from monochrome 2D sprites on the original Game Boy to detailed 3D models of everything for the Switch games, and quite a bit in-between. Which art style was your personal favorite?

My own favorite is the entirely 2D, non-tile-based, graphics of the Pokemon Ranger trilogy, in late Gen 3 and throughout Gen 4. I've always liked 2D sprite art best, compared to 3D, and the Ranger games had the most advanced 2D sprite art before the series moved to 3D. Ranger also untethered the map design from grid-based maps well before the mainline series did, allowing much more creative freedom in area design, and though the Pokemon sprites were small, there was a lot of effort put into them and their animations. Here's an example screenshot from Shadows of Almia, taken from Bulbapedia.

 

[Rock_Salazar]

I do love the graphical style of the ranger games. I'd say you've chosen a good image. Outside of Ranger I love the graphical style of the Mystery Dungeon games, and how most Pokemon have a portrait with expressions.

 

[Devalue]

Generation 2. Appreciates the fancier 2D art of later generations too. (Typically uses Generation 5 sprites for VPPs too, although partially for more consistency.) Comes down to nostalgia. Grew up on pixel art games. Likes seeing the...grittiness(?) of pixel art. Says "Pokemon" more.

May not extend to other games, though. Could prefer smoother 2D of a completely unfamiliar game over a more pixelated version.

 

[Sheep]

Wow, I love the Almia screenshot! It is absolutely gorgeous.

For me… probably gen 2 or 5. 2 just had a really charming feel to it, and I really loved the pixel style there in particular. Maybe that's partially due to nostalgia, but either way, I just think it is gorgeous and everything flows wonderfully together.

And 5 just felt so smooth and nice to play. ❤️ Was also very appealing visually. Again, could be Unova bias, but I have always loved this style from day one.

 

[Azurefel_Raphleshia]

The 2D art style is the best in my opinion, especially the NDS games!

 

[WddB03]

I know this is a hot take. But I actually love the gen 6 art style. It's a great middle ground between the chibi style of 2d games but still transiting it into a 3d world and having full models in the overworld. Some spots in gen 6 look absolutely stunning. I know I'm in the minority on that, but I love it!

 

[Explorer of Time]

I know this is a hot take. But I actually love the gen 6 art style. It's a great middle ground between the chibi style of 2d games but still transiting it into a 3d world and having full models in the overworld. Some spots in gen 6 look absolutely stunning. I know I'm in the minority on that, but I love it!

I don't particularly like 3DS-era Pokemon models, which is why I didn't put Gen 6 as my favorite, but the Kalos overworld was amazing! There were so many cool places to go in that region and the graphics did all of them justice.

(Hoenn, I think works better in 2D because the region was built around it. ORAS couldn't play to the strengths of 3D graphics like Kalos could.)

 

[RadEmpoleon]

I really love the Rumble series style because everything looks so goofy. It has a charm to it, even though lots of Pokémon end up looking really silly. The most ridiculous one I can think of is Regigigas's Rumble sprite:

 

[_confused_piplup_]

Older gens for sure. PLA > SV too though. My fav styles are from gen 2,3,4. I like a lot of gen 2 pokemon designs and sprites, and I think gen 3 is just iconic. Gen 4 nothing much to say lol, everyone know how obsessed I am lol. And yeah, Ranger games have a great style indeed!