Topic: How much do you like 'darkness' in games?

I love it when games have a dark atmosphere or story like Majora's mask but in terms of visuals, it depends on the game. For example, I think Twilight princess' visuals just looked too bland and lifeless but there are games that work well with dark visuals like horror games. They're are probably some games with a dark atmosphere and/or storyline that work well with dark visuals too that aren't horror games though. What do you guys think about this subject?

Depends, although I tend to not care either way as long as it's good. But I will say, most of the time, if you think you NEED to make everything so dark and grey to be "mature" or "dark" or "scary", you have the wrong idea.

Define Dark?

Dark visuals don't always mean the game is dark and vice-versa.

I mean Halo reach is a pretty colorful game, yet the subject matter is pretty defeatist as in the end you and all your teammates are KIA.

It's something I like in moderation. Generally I like things that are visually bright and colorful and cartoony and light-hearted in tone. I don't really go for things that are dark or grim or gritty, only occasionally. In recent years western developers seemed to have become obsessed with that style. But I think you can still do realistic without making everything dark/grey/brown, like that Mirror's Edge for example.

I must have liked Twilight Princess' style as I found it one of the most atmospheric and immersive games I've ever played, in the sense that it felt like such a real world.

LoZ TP looked good, same with Metroid Other M, however some games are just too dark to play during daytime, like Goldeneye, and Epic Mikey

At least from what I played, Epic Mickey was really the perfect example of a game trying to be dark and not being dark at all. Seriously, it made Who Framed Roger Rabbit look like the later levels in Conker's Bad Fur Day.

I know, I did mention the possibility of games having a dark atmosphere and/or storyline or dark visuals as well as games having both but maybe that wasn't as clear as it could have been.

I haven't played it but I can see what you mean as I really liked the look of the dark concept art that was shown and was disappointed to see the screens and trailers not living up to the concept art.

No more than Metroid Prime, Call of Duty: MW3, and Zelda: Twilight Princess. Okay, maybe a little more than that.

I like it this much.

Well it's far beyond that and I quite liked the look but I couldn't get into the "forgotten" theme of the game, which really was the only thing dark about it. Or at least, I've seen so much unexpected dark stuff in kids games that it isn't that interesting when a mildly bizarre, creepy for small kids boss appears. I mean, I love when stuff made for kids can also be really dark and interesting and doesn't treat it's audience like 2 year olds but it just...didn't work here.

Depends on what atmosphere the game is trying to create.

I'd take a dark game over a brown game any day though.

Depends on the exact type of 'darkness'.

Depends on the game for me really. If its a horror game or suspense full game than yeah I like it dark. If its something like NSMBW or Harvest Moon than no.

It all depends on the game... some are better dark, and some aren't.

I like when they throw in the occasional dark level in Kirby, like the battles with Nightmare or Marx.

I thought that. Then I played Nier.

i like darkness... to an extent. story is fine, be as dark (creepy, scary, whatever) as you like, but if you're asking in terms of actually playing the game (graphics/atmosphere-wise), i don't like straining my eyes all the time just to see what's going on around me. that kind of thing reminds me of The X-Files, where we used to joke about the 10-watt light bulb they used for every episode, lol... just gives me a headache, really.

I definitely agree about Goldeneye! Some maps like sewer and memorial are near impossible to play during the day unless you are really sheltered from the sun.

Generally don't like dark visuals in video games, I love color and cuteness. I'm only 22 for crying out loud.

Yeah, this is 100 per cent me.

I like dark themed games that understand that the colour palette doesn't need to be black and more black to suit the theme. I will forever use Alice: Madness Returns and Gregory Horror Show as two games that prove that bright and colourful can still be blacker than a goth's soul.