Aesthetic Inspirations: A Discourse on Style and Taste

[Retro Doomer]

Good day, my most esteemed Ladies and Gentlemen,
Pray, allow me to pose a matter of some curiosity to your refined sensibilities. I am eager to learn of the aesthetic styles within the realms of gaming, cinema, and beyond that captivate your distinguished palates. Are there particular genres—be it Atompunk, Steampunk, Weirdcore, or any other—that you hold in the highest regard? Conversely, are there styles which fail to meet your approval or fail to resonate with your sophisticated tastes?
My dear Hilde and I are quite eager to be enlightened by your discerning preferences. We would be most obliged if you would graciously indulge us with your insights and favorites.
With the utmost respect and anticipation, I remain,

Yours sincerely.

 

[RanmyakuIchi's icon RanmyakuIchi RanmyakuIchi]

I'm a pretty big sucker for Samurai/Ninja or Feudal Japan settings and aesthetics in video games. Sometimes the setting can even elevate an otherwise mediocre game to be more enjoyable for me.

 

[Retro Doomer]

I love the Steampunk and Atompunk Aesthetic personally but I also totally dig a bit Surreal Aesthetic from Time to Time
and here the Refined British Version ;).
Ah, I must confess, I have a particular fondness for the Steampunk and Atompunk aesthetic, finding them utterly captivating in their inventive charm and nostalgic elegance. Nonetheless, I do find myself quite taken with the Surrealist aesthetic from time to time, appreciating its whimsical and thought-provoking qualities that delight the imagination. A truly delightful blend of visual artistry, I dare say.

 

[Samatonic Samatonic]

On one side, the Ottoman era of aesthetic was something to behold, then there's the Egyptian era, similar to Assassins Creed: Origin / Mirage. On the other side, there are the old Japanese aesthetic. Each aesthetics have their own charms and beauty in them. I wish to see everyone's as well. Maybe I'll learn about something new.

 

[Retro Doomer]

On one side, the Ottoman era of aesthetic was something to behold, then there's the Egyptian era, similar to Assassins Creed: Origin / Mirage. On the other side, there are the old Japanese aesthetic. Each aesthetics have their own charms and beauty in them. I wish to see everyone's as well. Maybe I'll learn about something new.

Yes the Arabic Aesthetic and the Persian and Egyptian Aesthetics are very underrated and underused sadly,because I really like the style in Clothing and the Architectural style of the Middle East and the Ottoman Empire something Like Aladin for Example or the Prince of Persia.

 

[vulonkaaz's iconvulonkaaz]

whatever style Omori is i guess

some say I draw in omori style but I had that style way before knowing the game, ofc as soon as I saw one (1) screenshot of the game I knew I absolutely had to buy it

 

[RageBurner]

I'm very keen on cyberpunk, distinguished sir.
As dreary, dystopian and hopeless as these realities are, there's just something beneath it all that is alluring. Maybe it's all the neon.

 

[Retro Doomer]

I'm very keen on cyberpunk, distinguished sir.
As dreary, dystopian and hopeless as these realities are, there's just something beneath it all that is alluring. Maybe it's all the neon.

I very good Choice Esteemed Sir,but I must admit it feels more and more like we are moving towards a Cyberpunk Future.I do personally prefer the Atompunk Version as it posts a more optimistic picture of the Future and Humanity with much more clean Environment especially the Car and House Designs are just hmmmm a chefs kiss.And Ignore Fallout in that Regard its more Atompunk leaning but its not lets say Optimistic.

 

[RageBurner]

I very good Choice Esteemed Sir,but I must admit it feels more and more like we are moving towards a Cyberpunk Future.I do personally prefer the Atompunk Version as it posts a more optimistic picture of the Future and Humanity with much more clean Environment especially the Car and House Designs are just hmmmm a chefs kiss.And Ignore Fallout in that Regard its more Atompunk leaning but its not lets say Optimistic.

That's the thing, I am not at all optimistic about most things, so I guess it fits, haha.
I agree though, for sure. I think Fallout is a weird mish-mash of Atom and Solar Punk in a sense? the whole retro styling push isn't necessarily Atompunk? don't quote me, though.

 

[Retro Doomer]

That's the thing, I am not at all optimistic about most things, so I guess it fits, haha.
I agree though, for sure. I think Fallout is a weird mish-mash of Atom and Solar Punk in a sense? the whole retro styling push isn't necessarily Atompunk? don't quote me, though.

A fellow Pessimist I see :) yeah Atompunk comes more from the 60 to 80s where People had a Rose Colored vision of the Future.And I wished they where right but at last they where not.According to them we would have already had Flying Cars in the Early 2000s
,

I wished so badly that we already would have Colonies on the Mars and the Moon and Regular Space Travel a Cool Space Fleet and so on Clean Water and Quickly prepared Food no Microplastics in our Food and Drinks and a Servant Robot not AI though I don't need a Skynet Uprising and the Cars are just so fine looking.And the Most Important Things is Unlimited Clean Energy for everyone.

 

[RageBurner]

A fellow Pessimist I see :) yeah Atompunk comes more from the 60 to 80s where People had a Rose Colored vision of the Future.And I wished they where right but at last they where not.According to them we would have already had Flying Cars in the Early 2000s
,
View attachment 77472View attachment 77473
I wished so badly that we already would have Colonies on the Mars and the Moon and Regular Space Travel a Cool Space Fleet and so on Clean Water and Quickly prepared Food no Microplastics in our Food and Drinks and a Servant Robot not AI though I don't need a Skynet Uprising and the Cars are just so fine looking.And the Most Important Things is Unlimited Clean Energy for everyone.

Ah, that would be the dream, my friend, that would be the dream. Then, perhaps, a "good future" version of our world, borrowing from Sonic CD's terminology. Alas, it's bad future for us.

 

[Retro Doomer]

Ah, that would be the dream, my friend, that would be the dream. Then, perhaps, a "good future" version of our world, borrowing from Sonic CD's terminology. Alas, it's bad future for us.

Well Even in my Pessimist Outlook I can only say Humanity is not Completely lost yet,it needs much Repairing to do and pretty much a Wonder but not all hope is lost we never will see such a bright future but perhaps our future descendants will.Humanity overcame much worse than the Corrupt and rotting Society of today and we will prevail somehow.I hope maybe by connecting people and Managing Community Activities like Cleaning the Lakes and Parks from trash furthering a Community Feeling of Solidarity avoiding Drugs and Alcohol to keep the mind Clear and Standing together as a Community against the uglification of Cities trough Soviet styled Block Buildings that lack any soul that would be maybe a Start ah and if you have a Balcony try to plant at least something like Mini Tomatoes,but those are just my Recommendations.

 

[RageBurner]

Well Even in my Pessimist Outlook I can only say Humanity is not Completely lost yet,it needs much Repairing to do and pretty much a Wonder but not all hope is lost we never will see such a bright future but perhaps our future descendants will.Humanity overcame much worse than the Corrupt and rotting Society of today and we will prevail somehow.I hope maybe by connecting people and Managing Community Activities like Cleaning the Lakes and Parks from trash furthering a Community Feeling of Solidarity avoiding Drugs and Alcohol to keep the mind Clear and Standing together as a Community against the uglification of Cities trough Soviet styled Block Buildings that lack any soul that would be maybe a Start ah and if you have a Balcony try to plant at least something like Mini Tomatoes,but those are just my Recommendations.

It's really an admirable outlook. You're quite the character.

 

[Retro Doomer]

It's really an admirable outlook. You're quite the character.

I can't give up hope completely yet,as I still need a reason to life and I think we all have that reason we where not brought to this world to just sit there and let the world go down.Everyone has a purpose each person just has to find there purpose.I am not an Optimist by any means though I seen to much shit for that but like I said I also have seen what humanity is capable off if we get our shit together :)

 

[UnDubious]

I like modern-set games from '90s or early '00s the most, especially if they're set in a city, or in Japan. A mystery or supernatural touch is cool too. So that spans from Persona 2 (great setting IMO) to Earthbound, basically. Yakuza is another example.

 

[Advil Lavs]

I like the Y2K and skeumorphism aesthetics, mostly in the electronics, internet and animation. I like the strange metallic gadgets bubbles, gradients and optimism mixed with edgyness of that time (and I did try using this in my website).
Having something that can fit into your pocket while also being able to render 3D graphics was amazing back then and they sure wanted you to know that (also, I really like clamshell and sliding devices).
I'm not sure if any new games use any of these aesthetics but I've seen some devices that have tried to mimmick it, like the new foldable phones. I'm not that big of a fan of those so I stick to my older gadgets, like my 3DS and Nokia N95.
I also like some of the music of that time (like my favourite band, Tally Hall)

 

[_Lorenzo_]

You've touched on an interesting topic — aesthetics, whether applied to video games or any other form of art. The way I see it, it's always a very subjective matter: it varies from person to person, depending on their sensitivity and their ability to grasp what is "beautiful" and what evokes a deep feeling that stirs emotions within them.
There is no universal concept of what is "beautiful" or "ugly." For instance, as far as I'm concerned, I was never really into the cyberpunk style, but I eventually began to appreciate it thanks to video games (one example: FFVII).
Calling oneself an "aesthete" as such strikes me as rather presumptuous, based on the reasoning I just laid out...

 

[Retro Doomer]

You've touched on an interesting topic — aesthetics, whether applied to video games or any other form of art. The way I see it, it's always a very subjective matter: it varies from person to person, depending on their sensitivity and their ability to grasp what is "beautiful" and what evokes a deep feeling that stirs emotions within them.
There is no universal concept of what is "beautiful" or "ugly." For instance, as far as I'm concerned, I was never really into the cyberpunk style, but I eventually began to appreciate it thanks to video games (one example: FFVII).
Calling oneself an "aesthete" as such strikes me as rather presumptuous, based on the reasoning I just laid out...

In the end everyone has there own Aesthetic Style they prefer and that is good so,I for Example do Like Atompunk mostly for its clean look and the Optimistic outlook on Humanity,and Steampunk has also its charms in a what if scenario and I do like all the Gentleman Stuff and weird tech that comes with Steampunk.But I also sometimes to like the Surreal as some form of Escapism and wondrous aspects that completely throw of the laws of nature where the only laws about what is possible is your own Imagination.

 

[99nereids]

i think acid fantasy is pretty cool. i think it was first coined to describe whatever Lunacid & Dread Delusion have going on but has since been used to describe older titles like Baroque & Majora's Mask (getting most of this from this backloggd list, lot of interesting titles here)

 

[JackNoir413]

i like steampunk but in the way the order 1886 did it. mixing aristocracy with steampunk. i also liked the way mike mignola did it for his sir edward grey stories.