Retro is likely to go for a more high detailed Unreal 4 esque experience for their exciting IP from a cultural background.
Now we know Retro is working using what is likely to be a brand new Engine available for all first and second parties to use. This engine will allow any art style to specifically be tailored to the Wii U's hardware specifics. Which is why Retro's IP probably is taking a long time, because not only is game being developed but a whole new HD engine had to be developed alongside.
While Japan after Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan's world was turned on its head, what with this and a cultural work ethic which left very little fun time in the heart of a Japanese person's life, a flourish of bright colours and craziness ensured. Escapism to its max. Something which America and Europe in particular needed but dealt with in different ways after World War II - America as a latecomer to the War was the least affected still struggling between traditional Christian values and youthful rebellion of the 50s and 60s.
Retro is based in Austin - Texas - one of the largest fundamental christian strongholds of America. America has a split divide on realism and escapism and culturally has evolved differently. With subcultures mainly in America with the aftermath of Vietnam adopting comic books and Anime which as a solid root in more mature non-escapist themes, whilst being presented in a more bright, colourful and escapist fantasy worlds.
PS: I know comic book culture stems a lot further back, but I feel toward the 80s they finally got the mainstream recognition in the US they deserved.
This information alongside Retro's knowledge that Western audiences prefer a more realistic art style leads me to believe Retro's new IP will be taking on the Metroid Prime, Arkham City, Halo, Rachet and Clank hyper-real artstyle, but bringing in a grounded realistic detail with lighting, environment and character models, explosion particle and physics, pushing the Wii U to almost its limits visually in an art style that perfectly mixes escapism and realism together much like Anime and Comic books do.
ONE FINAL NOTE:
I'd almost like to see a parody of the Unreal 4 Elemental demo to show of the full capabilities of Retro's next gen Nintendo exclusive engine. Starting off with the close up of the Knight which looks like Bowser in hyper photoreal HD. It picks up the glowing red hammer and falls backward. The armour cracks open to reveal a small Hammer Bro rendered in crystal clear "cartoony" art-style, while Mario arrives in Smash Bros Brawl art-style (detailed dungarees but still cartoony) and squishes the hammer bro ready to Enter the photoreal Bowser's castle, only to be joined by Samus and Link rendered in different art styles.
This would show the Engines capabilities to do what Unreal 4 does and do it with different art styles
Edited by Penguin101, 09 April 2013 - 03:09 AM.