I like the latest version of Maggie best. Frankly, I'm glad they went the cartoony style. If this game ever sees the light of day, it has higher chances of not looking outdated with a cartoony look.
While they do look very different, it's only in improvement ways to my eyes. That core base is still there, they haven't completely moved away from the initial design and idea. I think we'll be able to create some very unique characters and I'm looking forward to using the Paramaker.
as much as i loved the 2020 style, from afar i felt like it was too reminiscent of disney styles, and even ts4/concept art we’ve seen for ts5. the current style looks hand drawn close up and further away, and the line definition supports that. thanks for the overview erin! it was rlly fun to see the progression laid out in such a visual way
ah! an interesting point. I will agree that the current and perhaps final style is a little more unique welcome! I wanted an excuse to look back ha. I've been more or less following since Alex showed one of his first previews, and it can be easy to forget certain things
i agree. i think what i like about the 2020 isnt the disney look, but the shading and coloring. i much prefer the proportions and style they currently have
8:08 The middle one does look good but I think they realised it was getting too close to looking like a sim and pivoted direction. They don't want to be seen as a sims clone but something that can exist on it's own.
I think they also wanted something more proportional without looking uncanny by trying to go the semirealistic sims route, also preset features might have been way more of a pain to make in that middle style
i love the current look of the parafolks. the storybook artstyle is so unique and fascinating to me and i prefer that it stands out to the bg. it also looks the most 3D and detailed to me, compared to the older looks where there werent any hls, lines, or outlines. ofc theres still a few tweaking that id prefer, but its not urgent and it could always be changed. love the video btw!
glad you enjoyed it! I will agree it has a bit of a storybook quality and I also think overall the game has a charming and distinct visual identity. I think it has had a decent visual identity since they revealed Maggie's loft
I liked how the parafolk looked in 2020, but I think they were looking for a more iconic and recognizable art style to set them apart from others. And as a person who overly blushes my art and sims, I adore the changes we currently have.
September 2022, which isn't much different than what we have now, geanted But I love how Maggie fits with the environment. I was never anti outline. I thought they were cute, and it emphasized the stylization they want to go with. 2020 Maggie is cute. But when I see the 2022 Paras I instantly go, yup that's from Paralives! It's lovely, it's gentle. I can't wait to play.
I never have had an issue with the exterior outline either- I see what they mean. If you have a hand drawn look, it can be tricky to make sure characters are easily visible
I definitely prefer the Maggie and Sebastian 2020 look as it seemed to mesh with the environment a bit better than the current art style of the Paras. Some of the shading and detail feel a little harsh to me. However, that doesn't take away from the charm of the game itself. They seem to be taking a lot of care and consideration of the finer details and I'm always excited to see more.
I also prefer the dec 2020 look cos it seems to blend better with the 3D environment, but that might just be the lighting. I hope they show more of the recent parafolk design in different lighting environments to see how the latest skin textures interact with them. The most recent design looks good too tho and certainly a more distinguishable art style which is great for branding.
@@SimmerErin aw that's unfortunate. I hope they'll consider implementing that in the future, maybe later down the line in early access or something (idk how game development works 🫤).
i really do think the parafolks have come a long way! i will say i prefer the 2020 look, but the current look is also so pretty! i am excited to make my own parafolk soon!
I love the look of the Para’s simply because they are so distinct and recognizable as a brand. After Life By You went the way it went, I can appreciate the distinct look even if it’s not my favorite aesthetically. I can temper my expectations as long as the style of the game is strong.
It's crazy to look back on how the Parafolk improved. I actually agree that the Parafolk looked best when we saw Maggie in the Paramaker with the holiday outfits. Though part of that might be because of the lighting made the "blush" less noticable, and the tights she's wearing hid the sharp knee outlines. Those are still my biggest critiques on the Paras, even after the (substantial) improvements.
true, she has heavier clothing on, so it's hard to judge it entirely. The collarbone area etc seems softer to me, but it's not an ideal comparison based on that
This video was an awesome look at the evolution of the Paras!! Very nostalgic in a sense, I felt the excitement I had when I saw those clips for the first time. This made me realize I hadn’t been paying attention to Paralives and I need to again. 😊
thank you that's really good to hear! It's nice to just look back sometimes honestly there's been so much going on, in gaming alone let alone real life, makes since you may not have been paying as much attention. though they post, it's been a quieter year than some of those years
@@SimmerErin see I was just sitting here thinking I haven’t seen them post as much. I did see the terrain tools post the other day very exciting. I also never became a patron which I need to!
I really liked that 2020 version of Maggie a lot, but I liked her because I sensed a familiarity I couldn't pinpoint at the time, and now I can. It's because that version of her reminds me of specific Disney and Pixar characters (for me, a little bit Raya and a little bit Rapuzel....not the full body/style of course, but particularly in the face). The smoothness of the skin as well felt very fine-tuned, almost giving the vibe of zero lines. Like full body makeup, which is unrealistic for most people and I don't imagine what they were going for. I respect that they made those changes to the Parafolk because of the reasons they mentioned, and because I do agree with their vision and needing them to feel distinct. I personally never had much issue with any of the outlines. I appreciate needing to spot a Para because sometimes I find it hard to find my Sims in their houses, especially children and younger. I like to build, and I often build with a lot of clutter. I know this is something you've discussed a few times now, but I can't be more grateful that the blush overlay is removable. To me it makes them look sunburnt. It's not a look that appeals to me. I'm not much for makeup myself in offline life, but on my characters I create, I tend to go with more natural looking makeup. I always turn the opacity of the blush way down in Sims if I use blush at all. Most of the time I prefer no blush unless I have a very specific sim in mind who does their full face in makeup. This was fun. I enjoyed seeing that evolution of Parafolk. I think Sebastian is one of my favorite townies so far that we've seen. He also reminds me of a friend of mine, so that probably has something to do with it.
some very interesting points.. and to that end talking about smoothness, something I do prefer in the current iteration is that there are more fine details,. Prob my 'ideal' is a blend between dec 2020 and current and yes minus the (removable) blush
Before I decide which version of parafolk I like better they would have to show them to me without the "blush" they all look sunburned to me, but all have thier own pros/cons otherwise.
Since we can remove the blush I think it'd be great to include paras without in some of their Patreon posts, maybe showcase the difference to remind people
I like the December 2020 look the best. I really like the lighting in the showcase and how the blush isnt overly done in the new and how the lines are also more subtle in her clothes.
well stated. I couldn't quite put to words why I liked that one most. The softer look is achieved with just a little more subtle touches, yet Maggie has a bit mote dimension than the first reveal
@@julied7546 I don't like it as much as the 2022 look for my taste. Its way too bold with its lines and blush. I also like her facial portions better in the 2022. For me it feels like a downgrade.
@@tawksick8190 Don't worry, they'll keep improving the style as you go and it'll get better and better. The reason why Maggie and Sebastien are clearer than in 2002 is that there was a technical problem with their texture that has since been corrected. You can remove the blush in the paramaker and make the edges less pronounced.
I legitimately think the parafolk look great and always had. As a person who grew up on online dress up games, their 2D art style is such a throwback to those times. It's lovely, detailed lines and all 💜
I actually really love the cartoony style they have done with the Para people, if some people don't like it, they've already said that modding support is going to be built in and encouraged -- so people can simply use skin retexture mods!
It's really stupid for people to complain about the art style. If it's constructive feedback for anatomy or functionality issues, I understand but not for style. The developers don't need the players' opinion for this.
I personally prefer the 2020 look as well, but I think it's great they decided to have their own niche style, they definitely did it! (But I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope for mods to be able to give me something drastically different later on)
that thumbnail is so edible that’s the only way i can put it i’m so excited for this video, im always craving more paralives content especially focusing on the beautiful art style!
I even had fun making the thumbnail. Love seeing the comparisons and evolution! Even if their decisions aren't 100 percent my preference, I find what matters most is that they are the devs, and seem to exude confidence with openness to critique too. that's a hard balance to strike, and I think it has thus served them well
The 2020 version is my favourite one too. The Parafolk in the other versions seem to be a different art style to the environment they're in, especially since they're the only things in their world that have outlines. The 2020 Parafolk are more consistent to me, as well as more aesthetically pleasing.
I like the detail of the third version paras, but I do wish they'd take some of the shading back from 2020, just to give them a *bit* more definition; I think that's what I like about the 2020 Maggie, her facial features are more defined by the shadows. You can actually see the shape of her nose. Like in the final shot of the dude lifting weights, I feel like he could stand just a few darker shadows in some places. Like if they could add one more shadow dimension, I feel like that'd do the trick, but I'd have to try it to know for sure.
I mean overall I'm fine with the current artstyle. But I fully intend to mod the hell out of it so it kinda doesn't matter that much to me lol? Edit: Honestly, that's one of the bigger reasons I'm not interested in Inzoi you really can't customize it's artstyle to your taste like you can in Sims 4 or Paralives.
@@SimmerErin The filter really isn't enough (it's just a line filter and bumps up the saturation/contrast). The amount of effort it'd take to mod Inzoi to have a truly different artstyle that also doesn't look uncanny valley (assuming a full suite of mod tools) vs. just modding sims 4 or paralives which are already half way their. Like you could do it people modded FO4 to have a (very creepy) anime artstyle it can be done but it's really not worth the effort.
@@zomaru3 I agree with that: that if you don't like the realism they are going for it would be challenging. For any game, you can tweak characters and how they look (assuming mods) but the overall environmental components would be a different discussion
I'm not confident that the art style of Paralives is something you'll be able to mod that much. It just looks cartoony at its core. What is making you confident about it? It's honestly the one thing stopping me from saying I'll jump on board when it releases, so I'm curious.
@@somuchsong I still plan to lean on it's cartoonyness. But, if TS4 has taught me anything that even something as simple as changing textures can have a dramatic effect on how the game looks. It'll be the same for Paralives too. And that's just modding within the bounds of what they give us. I definitely want to try to "break" the game too to see what I can do.
the two first maggies are just trailers. the last one I can believe is from the game's engine. clearly, they haven't worked on the light yet and might go the ts4 route of where it does not affect in-game character in any way... just evenly illuminated depending on the time of the day and don't catch any shadows from surrounding items, etc.
I preferred the 2020 Parafolk too. I thought it was a good blend of realism with just the right amount of stylisation. Still looking forward to playing this game, will be buying it the day it drops.
7:39 Here you see how bad the knees are getting. The earlier Parafolk had clean art styled knee in the last the knees are penciled instead of using clean look of color as defining edges. That's horrible. I hope someone tells them. No sugar coating it. Everyone wants a good product to look at in Life Sim. Otherwise why the massive interest in CAS clothing and facial details. They really need to carefully look at their final product designs. Love you updates on this future game, Erin! I hope the new school year treats you well. 🤟 🖖
I don't personally feel it is horrible, just overdone, but of Course, we all differ in the degree we feel about such things. I get it: they want it to be distinct and they want details just think it's a bit harsh if that makes sense . Thank you! It's going OK so far ha . Hope you're well
I do like the new lined character art, it definitely gives them a signature style, but I'm concerned about how out of place these outlined cartoons are going to look in houses and environments with smooth 3d rendered objects without outlines or cartoon details at all. To make the characters harmonize with the environment I think they need to add cartoon detail to the world or reduce it further in the characters. They harmonized the pallet but not the textures.
if you listen/ look at their pillars, I do believe them sticking out is purposeful. For me it looks okay, but ob some feel differently. the best look I'd say would be at the live mode early access preview , which can be more helpful admittedly than stills. but certainly many do feel the deference is too stark. I think 2020 dec kinda hits that balance best for me
Now that I see it one more time in a long while, I actually understand why you like the Dec 2020 look the best. I don't know how but it certainly gives me a Nostalgic look and feeling now, like a bit of Sims 2 style but refined? I don't know if it's the eyes, but I get it. To be honest, I feel like it's a bit ironic how my preference kinda goes May 2020 > Dec 2020 > Current 😅 I mean I'm still fine with the current one we have, it's just a bit unfortunate how the previous ones were slightly better, at least IN MY OPINION. Anyways, I just remembered since you mentioned Hair Physique. I remember a while ago, one of the more recent ones, but I don't really remember which one, I noticed that the hair looked incredibly stiff and was lacking the physique. I was wondering what happened to that? Did they abandon it or perhaps they just haven't been working on it for that particular hairstyle. Well, I don't know how it works for sure, whether they have to program it to every single hairstyle one by one or they could just program it and apply it to all of the hairstyles at once. I'm just hoping I can see it in action again soon coz I was indeed concerned at that time.
yeah.... I can kind of see that. and maybe I have some nostalgia itself coloring it too ha, not that that was a good year for anyone, but it was a good time to be following the game- plus the theme of the video too. I think the lighting there is also flattering. someone did rightfully point out she has on more clothes/ more covered than some other ones, so that could be part of it. but overall I find the outlines and lighting and much of her look to be a bit softer ' I don't think they have abandoned it, but I honestly don't know,; could very well be they are sorting it out more too
I am so looking forward to Paralives. 🎉 In the three Maggies line up, I liked the middle one best. She has a look of curiosity which is cute. I’m glad they’re going after a unique style. 😊
Thanks for this review of the Paras over the years. I'm still not sold on the Paras' look or getting this game. I'll wait until I see simmers like you do some early access gameplay when this comes out.
Wow, I never realised just how much the art style has changed until now! I noticed myself feeling less excited for the game when seeing recent previews and I think this might be why. The December 2020 look is what I had in my head for the characters, and I find the changes in style to look a bit uncanny. Upon hearing their reasoning I completely get it, but I do hope they bring back the stylised anatomy. I feel like that fit the game’s style much more.
I feel like there could also be a happy medium: like keep some of the more detailed features but without so many harsh lines? what do you prefer most about the 2020 versions
@@SimmerErin Agreed! I think the softness is what I loved most about the 2020 versions, so taking away some of the harsher lines would be a great compromise.
I actually like the unique style they are going for. The previous designs could be any life sim, the outlines are what makes Parafolk Parafolk. Any life sim with a more cartoony approach with hard outlines will be accused of copying Paralives - just like any open world game with flat pastel lightning is compared to Breath of the Wild. That said, drawing people with hard outlines is tough, a single line can ruin everything. I can only imagine that it's even more true for textures on a 3D model. Knees and noses need completely different outlines when viewed from front or the side. Whatever texture they use, it has to be a good compromise.
Ι agree with you. Dec 2020 Maggie is my favorite. She looks semi-realistic if you know what I mean.I love the textures so much, she looks polished and expensive if that makes any sense haha
8:42 there's an accessibility option in ultrakill where you can turn on borders for enemies/adjust the pixel size of said border. i wonder how easy it is to add something along those lines (haha lines)
i don’t understand why people don’t like the art style and it being the only argument they bring up when they say they don’t like the game, every game that’s being released atm just seems to try and GO bigger with graphics when it comes to being realistic but paralives actually LOOKS CREATIVE like art instead of just replicating life itself and then burning your computer in the process.
It's close for me between 2020 and current. I'm leaning towards the current iteration but would like to see some of that earlier softness blended into the current design. Graphics aren't everything of course and the Para's certainly look ready to go. The aesthetic appeal of the characters is quite important for me but without interesting gameplay it doesn't matter how good they look. Imo the Paralives team is striking a nice balance and I'm enthusiastic about the game's future. Thanks for this thoughtful update video Erin❤👍
honestly that sounds like it'd be a great balance,. I really think the current one could benefit from more softness as a whole... while I can see how the current day ones the features imo have a bit more detail which I can appreciate (facial features that is)
I actually liked the evolution of the paras. But there is one thing I'd like to see, though this is likely not something many others are thinking about. I actually can't make myself in Sims because of a number of factors. One is that I am a very masculine presenting person with very masculine features, though I was assigned female at birth. Using the female sims features means my sim is overly pretty and far too delicate to look like me. If I use the masculine overlay, they look like a guy. just a guy with boobs. I would like to see you be able to choose masculine or feminine features for aspects of the body. For example, masculine shoulders with a feminine waist and hips. The other factor is something similar to how you can choose eye colors through dimensions. I have a congenital birth defect, which means the right side of my body is larger than the left. An example is I wear a large glove on my left hand and a 2Xl on my right. It would be cool if I could create this difference in create a para. I know its one of those things most people wouldn't care about, and it's not a deal breaker for buying the game, but it really would mean a lot to me if it were an option.
thanks so much for this comment. I don't fully know the details yet of frames, how they are coded etc. The paramaker reveal did show a pretty decent extent of customization for body type, breast size and so forth.. but as to the details of all you can do say if you start with a masc frame idk I know they have a gender neutral frame too, but idk if it can be coded to your choosing
2:26 - The style at that point is one I'm fairly natural about. It doesn't do anything for me, but it doesn't excite me. I think the style you most like is a higher quality version of that style. While the current art style for the parafolk - Almost like a coloured pencil sketch rendered into 3d - is one that excites me, although there might still be room for improvement with it.
@@SimmerErin I generally enjoy that almost sketch-like aesthetic, but more significantly it feels more novel as an art style for a game, and one that feels like it suits this style of life sim. As for, the knees on some of the life stages might have a little too much detail.
The first showing of Maggie I remember that I didn’t liked it at all and for the longest time I wasn’t into the style and I remember showing my husband and him asking what was wrong about that they looked nice to him, and that’s when I realized oh damn it’s just that I’m only used to sims 4 maxis style because that’s all I play once I stopped comparing it I started to enjoy the style more and looking back it doesn’t seem all that bad to me and I think that’s a lot of simmers issue we are comparing to the sims when it’s not. We don’t compare NFS with GTA we shouldn’t compare simulation games now. Now having that in mind I feel current style really set them apart I it looks paralives the first looks to mobile game and the second feels similar to sims 4 or even mobile style. IMO. Really nice video as always really enjoy your balanced view! 😊
good point here; what one is used to can play a big role. The very first reveal I was very unsure, prob as I hadn't played games with a style much like it. It took me a bit, to adjust
I really like the 2020 art style the best. I won't lie, the current one creeps me out a bit. It feels uncanny, so I'll definitely have to use cc to play it
I love the look now but I loved it a bit more in Dec 2020 admittedly 😅 This is making me itch to get my hands on it and create different paras. When I'm not playing Coral Island I've been playing Sims 3 and having a blast creating sims.
For Maggie, I think the most recent model is the best, but for Sebastian, something makes me love the original version. Idk why, I can't point my finger at what makes me prefer it, but it has a place in my heart
I also really loved the 2020 version of the Parafolks/Maggie (Dec 2020). But I have come to love the current look of the Paras now and the overall aesthetic of Paralives. I just love the progression of the development of this game and to see how far they've come is something special. Can't wait until 2025 when the EA launch goes live
i love how the game looks rn. im not crazy about the heavy blushies look, but if the gameplay is good i wont care. like you said previously, it will be great to be able to control the blushing look on each para. not to compare, but i just watched a video about how the og sims came about and seeing the parallels makes me very hopeful for this game!
I remember commenting how I really didn’t like the older models, but now seeing detailing of the skin in the newest model type, I kinda want them to go back. It’s very comic book shading inspired, like it feels very harsh? Maybe they’ll have graphic toggles kinda like inzoi, where the lines aren’t so harsh. 2020 is definitely the best
I kinda feel like a blend would be good? like I really like the softness of past models, but I do see some pluses with say the greater attention to some features, - I agree the current is a little harsh
I like how it's shaping into, so I'll likely like its final appearance the most. The current style is achieving the comfy/cozy aesthetic Paralives has been suggesting is its brand. But rather than softening the outlines, I'd rather the default blush overlay was more translucent (more subtle). That degree being what seems to be the default is unappealing af and would be far too tedious to have to manually remove. It gives it individuality, sure, but it's never been a design choice I like to see. PLUS, folk into it rarely do it well - they exaggerate it so everyone can see it without doubt THAT SAID THO I abhor they're using "we have too few staff to do better than this!!" BS. That's not why, and anyone's a fool for accepting it. It's because they're taking this seriously with the core principle of "Gameplay + Functionality > Aesthetic". The need for a final look is unnecessary until just before its official release. Small or big, this is always the case. If they discover or hire another person (long or short contract), a whole new means could be discovered or need to be implemented which would maybe change the models yet again. But until the game itself is done, how the models look is a low priority task, esp in terms of finalization.
Feel free to skip this bit, it's a tad ramble to mention why gameplay + functionality is priority: - LBY got flack for being fug because it didn't know that gameplay needed to be shown as high priority, nor a hint they knew what they were trying to do with the game. Simply mimicking some TheSims gameplay doesn't work, so it needed to at least look seriously considered. - Vivaland's demo (Home maker) was so poorly done and shows a decent lack of concern for doing what it promotes as its primary gameplay, Build/Buy Mode, that it's so easy to forget is even in development. - inZOI has "insane" graphics, but its focus is to replicate actual life while appealing to those who want a more modern/crisp aesthetic that's popular in places like Korea (those of us who like Chinese, Korean, or Japanese stuff should be aware of this). Even without as honest transgression from its inception to now like Paralives wisely did, we can see snippets of where they're trying to improve with the two playtests and its CAZ demo. - TheSims franchise doesn't even use actual models to show its coding. iirc they were showing some stuff with Rene development (which isn't TS5) where character models are barely different shape from rando decoration, there's no actual bkg, and there's barely any sign of life. Even with the failure that is TS4 (a mobile game's engine they refused to remake into a game engine fit for a PC or longevity), we know there's a degree of gameplay guaranteed and the models won't be horrendous. Stylized, sure, but not a mess like LBY pretended was an aesthetic.
I like christmas Maggie, but the newest artstyle has something whimsical to it. Those outlines and lines and they way they colour hair - it makes me feel like it's a fancy book and not n actual game, and while i'm not sure if i like how it looks next to rendered in different way background, I love the way th parafolks look!
I love the middle version of Maggie the most but only because I like the ability to adjust the blush tones on the characters. I love all versions of Maggie because I want them to focus on the gameplay mechanics. Any cosmetic issues/preference can be fixed with CC like they do in the Sims. P.S that toddler was the cutest thing in the world, I hope they don’t change. So adorable 🥰
I do still like orginial Maggie I guess it was because it was so different from another game I had seen and played with. I also like 2020 since it was similiar to the orginial Maggie but I do like the blush on current.
7:45 When I look at the evolution of Maggie, I like that she got more definition, but I am not sold on the body definition being outlined with black lines. That said, I wouldn't know how I'd like it better. But ever since I heard the blush had a slider so I could turn the blushes off, you won't hear me complaining anymore. At some point the blushes on all the Paras were so extreme my association was: "They all look like cartoonish drunks", so if I can turn that off, I'll take the rest for granted.
yeah you kinda articulated what I feel too. I like that the face is more detailed but I prefer the overall softer appeal of the body and features of the dec 2020 rendition.
I like the 2020 version the best too, but I think they all look great independent of one another. I’m most interested in the gameplay so I’ll take the art style however they decide it’s best.
Great summary! I am so looking forward to this game. I just hope my potato will be able to run it. As far as the looks of the go I actually like the first look best but I don't dislike any of the versions. It'll be interesting to see what they land on in the end.❤
A dev responded to a question recently in the discord about outlines for parafolk, you're actually able to disable them through the modding tools (and also the blush on the parafolks' boy was shown to be toggleable in the paramaker showcase since there was a little box while customiziing the skintone that said blush, so it's public and has been confirmed for some time), so although it would require someone to make a mod of it, it shouldn't be hard to achieve since the modding tools seem to be easy to understand, so seems to me all the main worries people have about the looks of parafolk will be able to be changed if you have a certain preference, I could also see people making custom skin textures if they so wish etc. I see a bright, bright future ahead of us life sim players. Paralives seems to be the game for us.
2020 middle Maggie was my fav and the environment/lighting was 🤌. I understand they are going for a specific art style but the current Maggie and environment looks more flat which, again, maybe the goal.
it's a bit disappointing for me seeing the older and newer versions side by side like this. i didn't realize how much the paras have changed, i feel that the december 2020 iteration both looks better in general and fit the graphics style of the game more overall :( i really wish they had kept going in this direction with the models, just made them look less 'disney/pixar'
it can be easy to forget or not realize especially as it happened over a few years and we prob have mostly gotten used to seeing the current iteration maybe they were worried it would not look unique enough or not stand out enough in the environment
I think the 2020 version’s skin texture looked the best, but the faces of the more modern parafolk look much better in my opinion! Another comment said it looked to be similar to a Disney style, and I agree with that. Something about it is really uncanny in the 2020 version and cartoonish in a bad way. I think the modern version overall could use a little bit of perfecting but there’s definitely been an upgrade and it’s been great to see their style develop in real time.
I can see that for sure! The modern day I prefer the attention to detail and proportion of faces a bit more, but def prefer the overall skin and softness of that earlier version
I like 2020 Maggie but not Seb, Seb had really awkward proportions. I found the artstyle a bit too simplistic, and blush is just always a bad idea imo, but on that time i thought "yes this one chara has blush but all others won't have". The artstyle was functional, easily readible, and my brain was able to identify them as humans, especially the earliest Maggie. I'm sad that they said you'll be able to remove blush manually, but never confirmed a no-blush option or something like that, to not have to jump into para creation of EVERY SINGLE PARA of the town, to remove the blush. With 2021 the paras weren't recognizable as humans by my brain anymore. Which means of course that i give all 2021+ variants a 0 of 10 rating. It's very strainibg for me to try to see them as humans. Now also was the time when blush started transitioning from "too much" to "omg heavy sunburn", same with the body, the harsh lines started transitioning from "too much" to "omg they have scary wounds on their knees and shoulders" (which they toned down a tiny bit again, but honestly, it didn't make much difference) tl;dr: 2020 functional, cute, with much room for making it more complex. Early 2020 was my favorite as an early concept 2021+ lost me completely None of them were really aesthetically pleasing, but i don't expect that from a game
2020 early Maggie or Dec? I think seb was in between those reveals so could mark a slight adjustment there too True... on the blush I am happy to remove it, but I prefer an option like you mention. I also just think they could start with a preset that is way toned down too
I like early Maggie actually more, but only as base for something way more complex and way more details - but I'd have been fine with it staying to feel 2D Dec Maggie feels 3D but not with enough details, not fine enough in texture. Having few details&3D-feel feels a bit off
To me, the parafolk's style just got worse with each iteration and I feel really bad about it because I'm really excited to play this game. The more lines and details they added, the ugliest it got for me, I remember I was so happy in the beginning and now this seems to be affecting how I look forward to the release. I've seen many people complaining about the lines and they even backed up a bit and removed some, but it will never be as good as the first one to me and I still think it's a lot. It's not "flowy" and cute anymore, they seem stiff and dirty (and, as an artist who works a lot on anatomy, I see some anatomy proportion "mistakes" that make me go aaaaaa)
I think you can be both excited and wish the art direction had gone differently- that's def. valid. I can understand it's prob hard for the team to balance feedback plus what makes sense for their game yeah they did indeed remove some lines, which was good, but it didn't go back to the earlier softer looks
I am one of the people who really enjoyed the first Maggie look or rather the home and Sebastian and the art style back then. It was warm, soft and cartoony but not overly so like it is now. Now it looks too much like those Episode games art style. More like Tale Tale games. It's not bad but not really my fav. 2020 Maggie was best!
that's fair! I wonder if they felt the current style more alligned with their concerns/ designer pillars for the characters to stick out more so to speak
I think I prefer the parafolk design from the 2020 December Maggie As well. I don’t really like the overly cartoony feel right now, and it doesn’t match with the style environment.
It feels quite flat, and lacks the details and depth of the environment in which they are in, which gives of that vibe to me. It just feels like it is a different art style for the parafolk and for the rest of the game.
I like the latest version of Maggie best. Frankly, I'm glad they went the cartoony style. If this game ever sees the light of day, it has higher chances of not looking outdated with a cartoony look.
the stylized option works well for their budget and crossover in indie/ cozy games; I also think it has a distinct but whimsical look
Exactly
The current style is very much my favorite cause it kinda reminds of the Telltale Walking Dead games and I love those games so I see that as a win.
2nd Maggie
While they do look very different, it's only in improvement ways to my eyes. That core base is still there, they haven't completely moved away from the initial design and idea. I think we'll be able to create some very unique characters and I'm looking forward to using the Paramaker.
certainly , it's more of an evolution. they stuck with the original direction they wanted to go with
as much as i loved the 2020 style, from afar i felt like it was too reminiscent of disney styles, and even ts4/concept art we’ve seen for ts5. the current style looks hand drawn close up and further away, and the line definition supports that.
thanks for the overview erin! it was rlly fun to see the progression laid out in such a visual way
ah! an interesting point. I will agree that the current and perhaps final style is a little more unique
welcome! I wanted an excuse to look back ha. I've been more or less following since Alex showed one of his first previews, and it can be easy to forget certain things
@@SimmerErin i’m also excited to see that the thumbnail has “part 1” ? 👀😄
i agree. i think what i like about the 2020 isnt the disney look, but the shading and coloring. i much prefer the proportions and style they currently have
@@cryingwatercolours 😆 YUP. I am already making "part 2" lol
I love the latest iteration of the parafolk style!! It feels like a moving colouring book, as if an artist's work came to life. :)
yeah I can see that. Def has a whimsical feel!
8:08 The middle one does look good but I think they realised it was getting too close to looking like a sim and pivoted direction. They don't want to be seen as a sims clone but something that can exist on it's own.
hmm, now I want to see what it looks like compared other sims games ha
I think they also wanted something more proportional without looking uncanny by trying to go the semirealistic sims route, also preset features might have been way more of a pain to make in that middle style
i love the current look of the parafolks. the storybook artstyle is so unique and fascinating to me and i prefer that it stands out to the bg. it also looks the most 3D and detailed to me, compared to the older looks where there werent any hls, lines, or outlines. ofc theres still a few tweaking that id prefer, but its not urgent and it could always be changed. love the video btw!
glad you enjoyed it! I will agree it has a bit of a storybook quality and I also think overall the game has a charming and distinct visual identity. I think it has had a decent visual identity since they revealed Maggie's loft
I liked how the parafolk looked in 2020, but I think they were looking for a more iconic and recognizable art style to set them apart from others. And as a person who overly blushes my art and sims, I adore the changes we currently have.
*puts blush on cheeks and nose and ears and finger tips and shoulders and knees and-*
@@cryingwatercolours How I do my irl makeup lol
They just made everything customisable about blushes to line intensity so you can still do but they made the changes according to feedback
@@sarmaangel same 😅😅 my art gets covered in blush and so does my body
yeah, I agree that perhaps the current style is more unique. It certainly is good to see them have their own visual identity
September 2022, which isn't much different than what we have now, geanted
But I love how Maggie fits with the environment. I was never anti outline. I thought they were cute, and it emphasized the stylization they want to go with.
2020 Maggie is cute. But when I see the 2022 Paras I instantly go, yup that's from Paralives! It's lovely, it's gentle. I can't wait to play.
I never have had an issue with the exterior outline either- I see what they mean. If you have a hand drawn look, it can be tricky to make sure characters are easily visible
Completely agree, I love the outline and style.
I definitely prefer the Maggie and Sebastian 2020 look as it seemed to mesh with the environment a bit better than the current art style of the Paras. Some of the shading and detail feel a little harsh to me. However, that doesn't take away from the charm of the game itself. They seem to be taking a lot of care and consideration of the finer details and I'm always excited to see more.
oh agree. I think that the game was plenty of charm in its overall art and animations direction
I love the current Maggie, just think they have to tone down the definition a bit (like on the collarbone and arm creases , knees etc.)
They need to be toned down for sure the skin will be top mod for me
yes, I think I would agree with that.
Such a cool breakdown of the evolution of parafolk. Thanks, Erin!
welcome! really enjoyable to look back and see where they've come from
This is a great video! It is awesome to see Parafolk change over time. I actually like where they are now.
thank you! it is really interesting to see what choices they made- and it kinda makes me appreciate, regardless, all the thought that goes into it
I also prefer the dec 2020 look cos it seems to blend better with the 3D environment, but that might just be the lighting. I hope they show more of the recent parafolk design in different lighting environments to see how the latest skin textures interact with them. The most recent design looks good too tho and certainly a more distinguishable art style which is great for branding.
soooo I was just reading a dev chat an hour or so ago and for now it says paras will not interact or be impacted by lighting
@@SimmerErin aw that's unfortunate.
I hope they'll consider implementing that in the future, maybe later down the line in early access or something (idk how game development works 🫤).
i really do think the parafolks have come a long way! i will say i prefer the 2020 look, but the current look is also so pretty! i am excited to make my own parafolk soon!
yup I can see pros with the current. the evolution of features and coming into their art style has been really fun to watch
I love the look of the Para’s simply because they are so distinct and recognizable as a brand. After Life By You went the way it went, I can appreciate the distinct look even if it’s not my favorite aesthetically. I can temper my expectations as long as the style of the game is strong.
yea, it is important to have a visual identity so to speak, and I'd say paralives very much does. sadly LBY really didn't
It's crazy to look back on how the Parafolk improved.
I actually agree that the Parafolk looked best when we saw Maggie in the Paramaker with the holiday outfits. Though part of that might be because of the lighting made the "blush" less noticable, and the tights she's wearing hid the sharp knee outlines.
Those are still my biggest critiques on the Paras, even after the (substantial) improvements.
true, she has heavier clothing on, so it's hard to judge it entirely. The collarbone area etc seems softer to me, but it's not an ideal comparison based on that
This video was an awesome look at the evolution of the Paras!! Very nostalgic in a sense, I felt the excitement I had when I saw those clips for the first time. This made me realize I hadn’t been paying attention to Paralives and I need to again. 😊
thank you
that's really good to hear! It's nice to just look back sometimes
honestly there's been so much going on, in gaming alone let alone real life, makes since you may not have been paying as much attention. though they post, it's been a quieter year than some of those years
@@SimmerErin see I was just sitting here thinking I haven’t seen them post as much. I did see the terrain tools post the other day very exciting. I also never became a patron which I need to!
I really liked that 2020 version of Maggie a lot, but I liked her because I sensed a familiarity I couldn't pinpoint at the time, and now I can. It's because that version of her reminds me of specific Disney and Pixar characters (for me, a little bit Raya and a little bit Rapuzel....not the full body/style of course, but particularly in the face). The smoothness of the skin as well felt very fine-tuned, almost giving the vibe of zero lines. Like full body makeup, which is unrealistic for most people and I don't imagine what they were going for. I respect that they made those changes to the Parafolk because of the reasons they mentioned, and because I do agree with their vision and needing them to feel distinct. I personally never had much issue with any of the outlines. I appreciate needing to spot a Para because sometimes I find it hard to find my Sims in their houses, especially children and younger. I like to build, and I often build with a lot of clutter.
I know this is something you've discussed a few times now, but I can't be more grateful that the blush overlay is removable. To me it makes them look sunburnt. It's not a look that appeals to me. I'm not much for makeup myself in offline life, but on my characters I create, I tend to go with more natural looking makeup. I always turn the opacity of the blush way down in Sims if I use blush at all. Most of the time I prefer no blush unless I have a very specific sim in mind who does their full face in makeup.
This was fun. I enjoyed seeing that evolution of Parafolk. I think Sebastian is one of my favorite townies so far that we've seen. He also reminds me of a friend of mine, so that probably has something to do with it.
some very interesting points.. and to that end talking about smoothness, something I do prefer in the current iteration is that there are more fine details,. Prob my 'ideal' is a blend between dec 2020 and current and yes minus the (removable) blush
Before I decide which version of parafolk I like better they would have to show them to me without the "blush" they all look sunburned to me, but all have thier own pros/cons otherwise.
@@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059 i think some of the other characters, sometimes shown in paramaker patron posts that turn public, have less blush
Blush is a slider
Since we can remove the blush I think it'd be great to include paras without in some of their Patreon posts, maybe showcase the difference to remind people
I like the December 2020 look the best. I really like the lighting in the showcase and how the blush isnt overly done in the new and how the lines are also more subtle in her clothes.
well stated. I couldn't quite put to words why I liked that one most. The softer look is achieved with just a little more subtle touches, yet Maggie has a bit mote dimension than the first reveal
The New art style is not bad
@@julied7546 I don't like it as much as the 2022 look for my taste. Its way too bold with its lines and blush. I also like her facial portions better in the 2022. For me it feels like a downgrade.
@@SimmerErin I also like the portions of the parafolk better and the colors they used beforehand were also more subtle. Its very much bold now.
@@tawksick8190
Don't worry, they'll keep improving the style as you go and it'll get better and better. The reason why Maggie and Sebastien are clearer than in 2002 is that there was a technical problem with their texture that has since been corrected. You can remove the blush in the paramaker and make the edges less pronounced.
I legitimately think the parafolk look great and always had. As a person who grew up on online dress up games, their 2D art style is such a throwback to those times. It's lovely, detailed lines and all 💜
ohh cool, do you recall which games you played? I didn't get much into online ones, but I suspect I am a little older than you
I actually really love the cartoony style they have done with the Para people, if some people don't like it, they've already said that modding support is going to be built in and encouraged -- so people can simply use skin retexture mods!
always a plus
It's really stupid for people to complain about the art style. If it's constructive feedback for anatomy or functionality issues, I understand but not for style. The developers don't need the players' opinion for this.
this !! it’s not changing regardless and it’s up to the devs what style they want.
I agree of course that there is a difference between feedback within the general style vs a comment like "It should be realistic like inzoi " ha
I loved the second one. Dec 2020! That’s my favorite.
Yes, I really like it too! soft but a bit refined, hard for me to describe why I like it
I only heard about ParaLives last year, so I had no idea about its early stages.
oh cool! how did you hear about it, and what do you think about what you have seen so far
I personally prefer the 2020 look as well, but I think it's great they decided to have their own niche style, they definitely did it! (But I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope for mods to be able to give me something drastically different later on)
for sure. one thing that is important, is showing confidence in your own development. I expect that they have, while balancing it with feedback
that thumbnail is so edible that’s the only way i can put it
i’m so excited for this video, im always craving more paralives content especially focusing on the beautiful art style!
I even had fun making the thumbnail. Love seeing the comparisons and evolution! Even if their decisions aren't 100 percent my preference, I find what matters most is that they are the devs, and seem to exude confidence with openness to critique too. that's a hard balance to strike, and I think it has thus served them well
I think the 2020 reveal is the best as well.
same 🙋🏻♂️
Yeah that is a popular one, what do you like most
The 2020 version is my favourite one too. The Parafolk in the other versions seem to be a different art style to the environment they're in, especially since they're the only things in their world that have outlines. The 2020 Parafolk are more consistent to me, as well as more aesthetically pleasing.
yeah, I see what you mean. I think they fit the coziness and softness a bit more
I literally add outlines to everything in my Minecraft game using shaders because I love the look, so the outlines in Paralives makes me super happy.
I like the detail of the third version paras, but I do wish they'd take some of the shading back from 2020, just to give them a *bit* more definition; I think that's what I like about the 2020 Maggie, her facial features are more defined by the shadows. You can actually see the shape of her nose. Like in the final shot of the dude lifting weights, I feel like he could stand just a few darker shadows in some places. Like if they could add one more shadow dimension, I feel like that'd do the trick, but I'd have to try it to know for sure.
I mean overall I'm fine with the current artstyle. But I fully intend to mod the hell out of it so it kinda doesn't matter that much to me lol?
Edit: Honestly, that's one of the bigger reasons I'm not interested in Inzoi you really can't customize it's artstyle to your taste like you can in Sims 4 or Paralives.
to be fair to inzoi, they have a stylized setting to make it less realistic. They have said something about mods- but it's vague so idk
@@SimmerErin The filter really isn't enough (it's just a line filter and bumps up the saturation/contrast). The amount of effort it'd take to mod Inzoi to have a truly different artstyle that also doesn't look uncanny valley (assuming a full suite of mod tools) vs. just modding sims 4 or paralives which are already half way their. Like you could do it people modded FO4 to have a (very creepy) anime artstyle it can be done but it's really not worth the effort.
@@zomaru3 I agree with that: that if you don't like the realism they are going for it would be challenging. For any game, you can tweak characters and how they look (assuming mods) but the overall environmental components would be a different discussion
I'm not confident that the art style of Paralives is something you'll be able to mod that much. It just looks cartoony at its core. What is making you confident about it?
It's honestly the one thing stopping me from saying I'll jump on board when it releases, so I'm curious.
@@somuchsong I still plan to lean on it's cartoonyness. But, if TS4 has taught me anything that even something as simple as changing textures can have a dramatic effect on how the game looks. It'll be the same for Paralives too.
And that's just modding within the bounds of what they give us. I definitely want to try to "break" the game too to see what I can do.
I am so excited for this game. It has always been the one I look forward to. I do hate the aggresive blush though
yeah not a huge fan either. I was happy to learn you can take it off
@@SimmerErin oh great!
the two first maggies are just trailers. the last one I can believe is from the game's engine. clearly, they haven't worked on the light yet and might go the ts4 route of where it does not affect in-game character in any way... just evenly illuminated depending on the time of the day and don't catch any shadows from surrounding items, etc.
this is wild cause I was just reading a dev chat, and they said para appearance does not react to lighting...
2020 dec was THE BEST PARaFOLKS argue with the wall
won't argue with you there
I preferred the 2020 Parafolk too. I thought it was a good blend of realism with just the right amount of stylisation. Still looking forward to playing this game, will be buying it the day it drops.
yeah, I agree- it was a nice happy medium
but certainly still eager to see and hopefully play this game
The December 2020 parafolk model was also my fave. But great to see how far paralives has come. 😊
I actually like all the styles for Maggie. The one in the middle seems to have the best of both worlds.
I appreciate that you can make characters who look a little weird, and aren't just airbrushed mgazine models.
agree on that
7:39 Here you see how bad the knees are getting. The earlier Parafolk had clean art styled knee in the last the knees are penciled instead of using clean look of color as defining edges. That's horrible. I hope someone tells them. No sugar coating it. Everyone wants a good product to look at in Life Sim. Otherwise why the massive interest in CAS clothing and facial details. They really need to carefully look at their final product designs. Love you updates on this future game, Erin! I hope the new school year treats you well. 🤟 🖖
I don't personally feel it is horrible, just overdone, but of Course, we all differ in the degree we feel about such things. I get it: they want it to be distinct and they want details just think it's a bit harsh if that makes sense .
Thank you! It's going OK so far ha . Hope you're well
I do like the new lined character art, it definitely gives them a signature style, but I'm concerned about how out of place these outlined cartoons are going to look in houses and environments with smooth 3d rendered objects without outlines or cartoon details at all. To make the characters harmonize with the environment I think they need to add cartoon detail to the world or reduce it further in the characters. They harmonized the pallet but not the textures.
if you listen/ look at their pillars, I do believe them sticking out is purposeful. For me it looks okay, but ob some feel differently. the best look I'd say would be at the live mode early access preview , which can be more helpful admittedly than stills. but certainly many do feel the deference is too stark. I think 2020 dec kinda hits that balance best for me
Now that I see it one more time in a long while, I actually understand why you like the Dec 2020 look the best. I don't know how but it certainly gives me a Nostalgic look and feeling now, like a bit of Sims 2 style but refined? I don't know if it's the eyes, but I get it. To be honest, I feel like it's a bit ironic how my preference kinda goes May 2020 > Dec 2020 > Current 😅 I mean I'm still fine with the current one we have, it's just a bit unfortunate how the previous ones were slightly better, at least IN MY OPINION.
Anyways, I just remembered since you mentioned Hair Physique. I remember a while ago, one of the more recent ones, but I don't really remember which one, I noticed that the hair looked incredibly stiff and was lacking the physique. I was wondering what happened to that? Did they abandon it or perhaps they just haven't been working on it for that particular hairstyle. Well, I don't know how it works for sure, whether they have to program it to every single hairstyle one by one or they could just program it and apply it to all of the hairstyles at once. I'm just hoping I can see it in action again soon coz I was indeed concerned at that time.
yeah.... I can kind of see that. and maybe I have some nostalgia itself coloring it too ha, not that that was a good year for anyone, but it was a good time to be following the game- plus the theme of the video too. I think the lighting there is also flattering. someone did rightfully point out she has on more clothes/ more covered than some other ones, so that could be part of it. but overall I find the outlines and lighting and much of her look to be a bit softer '
I don't think they have abandoned it, but I honestly don't know,; could very well be they are sorting it out more too
Thanks for the walk down Para memory lane. I love the art style so much.
certainly! I plan to do more like this, on different topics purely because it was fun to look back
I am so looking forward to Paralives. 🎉 In the three Maggies line up, I liked the middle one best. She has a look of curiosity which is cute. I’m glad they’re going after a unique style. 😊
ah yeah, she kinda does.
4 years can't be called dramatic changes for a game in development. It's normal and expected changes.
do you have any comments pertaining to the changing appearance or paras ?
Thanks for this review of the Paras over the years. I'm still not sold on the Paras' look or getting this game. I'll wait until I see simmers like you do some early access gameplay when this comes out.
for sure!
and totally fine. do you have any version you prefer over others
@SimmerErin I'm leaning towards Inzoi only because the Paras creep me out, and I don't care for Project Rene's online feature.
Wow, I never realised just how much the art style has changed until now! I noticed myself feeling less excited for the game when seeing recent previews and I think this might be why. The December 2020 look is what I had in my head for the characters, and I find the changes in style to look a bit uncanny. Upon hearing their reasoning I completely get it, but I do hope they bring back the stylised anatomy. I feel like that fit the game’s style much more.
I feel like there could also be a happy medium: like keep some of the more detailed features but without so many harsh lines? what do you prefer most about the 2020 versions
@@SimmerErin Agreed! I think the softness is what I loved most about the 2020 versions, so taking away some of the harsher lines would be a great compromise.
I prefer how they look now. I LOVE IT! It's so different and it's a vibe really!
I actually like the unique style they are going for. The previous designs could be any life sim, the outlines are what makes Parafolk Parafolk. Any life sim with a more cartoony approach with hard outlines will be accused of copying Paralives - just like any open world game with flat pastel lightning is compared to Breath of the Wild.
That said, drawing people with hard outlines is tough, a single line can ruin everything. I can only imagine that it's even more true for textures on a 3D model. Knees and noses need completely different outlines when viewed from front or the side. Whatever texture they use, it has to be a good compromise.
yes, I have no doubt regardless how difficult it is to make it a good balance and also consistent
Hi Erin. I liked how you highlighted the evolution of Paralives over the years. I’m looking forward to seeing it released. Great perspective 🎉
thank you, appreciate it. It was really interesting to look back!
Ι agree with you. Dec 2020 Maggie is my favorite. She looks semi-realistic if you know what I mean.I love the textures so much, she looks polished and expensive if that makes any sense haha
yep, she is still stylized but I really like the skin texture and overall feel to that design
8:42 there's an accessibility option in ultrakill where you can turn on borders for enemies/adjust the pixel size of said border. i wonder how easy it is to add something along those lines (haha lines)
i don’t understand why people don’t like the art style and it being the only argument they bring up when they say they don’t like the game, every game that’s being released atm just seems to try and GO bigger with graphics when it comes to being realistic but paralives actually LOOKS CREATIVE like art instead of just replicating life itself and then burning your computer in the process.
there's a range. some generally like it but with some critique, some don't like it al and so forth- so it'd be impossible to answer succinctly here
Thanks for the revue! I'd forgotten what they used to look like, lol!
welcome! It was fun to look back. I didn't realize some of the more subtle changes in the past two years
It's close for me between 2020 and current. I'm leaning towards the current iteration but would like to see some of that earlier softness blended into the current design. Graphics aren't everything of course and the Para's certainly look ready to go. The aesthetic appeal of the characters is quite important for me but without interesting gameplay it doesn't matter how good they look. Imo the Paralives team is striking a nice balance and I'm enthusiastic about the game's future. Thanks for this thoughtful update video Erin❤👍
honestly that sounds like it'd be a great balance,. I really think the current one could benefit from more softness as a whole... while I can see how the current day ones the features imo have a bit more detail which I can appreciate (facial features that is)
People who say the style of parafolk is bad are people who want what they're used to. I like the art style and it evolves well over time
certainly, what someone is used to can play a role in personal preferences.
that isn't to say there isn't valid crtqiue or opinions too on all ends
I actually liked the evolution of the paras. But there is one thing I'd like to see, though this is likely not something many others are thinking about. I actually can't make myself in Sims because of a number of factors. One is that I am a very masculine presenting person with very masculine features, though I was assigned female at birth. Using the female sims features means my sim is overly pretty and far too delicate to look like me. If I use the masculine overlay, they look like a guy. just a guy with boobs. I would like to see you be able to choose masculine or feminine features for aspects of the body. For example, masculine shoulders with a feminine waist and hips. The other factor is something similar to how you can choose eye colors through dimensions. I have a congenital birth defect, which means the right side of my body is larger than the left. An example is I wear a large glove on my left hand and a 2Xl on my right. It would be cool if I could create this difference in create a para. I know its one of those things most people wouldn't care about, and it's not a deal breaker for buying the game, but it really would mean a lot to me if it were an option.
thanks so much for this comment. I don't fully know the details yet of frames, how they are coded etc. The paramaker reveal did show a pretty decent extent of customization for body type, breast size and so forth.. but as to the details of all you can do say if you start with a masc frame idk
I know they have a gender neutral frame too, but idk if it can be coded to your choosing
SimmerErin Can’t wait to see what the devs do the rest of the year; and of course, play Paralives in 2025!
yes definitely
2:26 - The style at that point is one I'm fairly natural about. It doesn't do anything for me, but it doesn't excite me. I think the style you most like is a higher quality version of that style. While the current art style for the parafolk - Almost like a coloured pencil sketch rendered into 3d - is one that excites me, although there might still be room for improvement with it.
what excites you about it, and/or what room for improvement do you see
@@SimmerErin I generally enjoy that almost sketch-like aesthetic, but more significantly it feels more novel as an art style for a game, and one that feels like it suits this style of life sim. As for, the knees on some of the life stages might have a little too much detail.
I genuinely love the current artsyle of Paralives ^^ i like 3d stuff, but the 2d/cartoon stuff involved i love it!
The first showing of Maggie I remember that I didn’t liked it at all and for the longest time I wasn’t into the style and I remember showing my husband and him asking what was wrong about that they looked nice to him, and that’s when I realized oh damn it’s just that I’m only used to sims 4 maxis style because that’s all I play once I stopped comparing it I started to enjoy the style more and looking back it doesn’t seem all that bad to me and I think that’s a lot of simmers issue we are comparing to the sims when it’s not. We don’t compare NFS with GTA we shouldn’t compare simulation games now. Now having that in mind I feel current style really set them apart I it looks paralives the first looks to mobile game and the second feels similar to sims 4 or even mobile style. IMO. Really nice video as always really enjoy your balanced view! 😊
good point here; what one is used to can play a big role. The very first reveal I was very unsure, prob as I hadn't played games with a style much like it. It took me a bit, to adjust
they should bring back the knees from 2020😭
I did prefer the look to them then
I like middle Maggie the most. It just FEELS better.
I really like the 2020 art style the best. I won't lie, the current one creeps me out a bit. It feels uncanny, so I'll definitely have to use cc to play it
I'd love to hear more: what do you think makes it uncanny for you
i absolutely adore the current art style
People who prefer the first style
👇🏻
I love the look of the current paras.
I wish they were all wearing the same clothes. That way we could see the differences better.
best I could find
I think my favorite is Aug 2021 for sure, the para is super pretty
what strikes you most about that style
I like the 2020 version best (of the Para’s art style)
I love the look now but I loved it a bit more in Dec 2020 admittedly 😅
This is making me itch to get my hands on it and create different paras. When I'm not playing Coral Island I've been playing Sims 3 and having a blast creating sims.
I prob should try coral island some day.
For Maggie, I think the most recent model is the best, but for Sebastian, something makes me love the original version. Idk why, I can't point my finger at what makes me prefer it, but it has a place in my heart
I also really loved the 2020 version of the Parafolks/Maggie (Dec 2020). But I have come to love the current look of the Paras now and the overall aesthetic of Paralives. I just love the progression of the development of this game and to see how far they've come is something special. Can't wait until 2025 when the EA launch goes live
certainly.something that stands out to me is that the team is able to balance requests and also having confidence in their game
i love how the game looks rn. im not crazy about the heavy blushies look, but if the gameplay is good i wont care. like you said previously, it will be great to be able to control the blushing look on each para. not to compare, but i just watched a video about how the og sims came about and seeing the parallels makes me very hopeful for this game!
yep, I'm glad we can control the blush. Do I still think there should be a fainter preset? yes, but it's not a deal breaker
I quite agree the 2020 version is the best looking, considering the cozy style the game seems to aim for.
2020 Maggie ist just 👌
Can't wait to see what it's all gonna look like when early access starts
early 2020 or dec 2020 ha
@@SimmerErin definitely December 👌🏻
I remember commenting how I really didn’t like the older models, but now seeing detailing of the skin in the newest model type, I kinda want them to go back. It’s very comic book shading inspired, like it feels very harsh? Maybe they’ll have graphic toggles kinda like inzoi, where the lines aren’t so harsh. 2020 is definitely the best
I kinda feel like a blend would be good? like I really like the softness of past models, but I do see some pluses with say the greater attention to some features, - I agree the current is a little harsh
I like how it's shaping into, so I'll likely like its final appearance the most. The current style is achieving the comfy/cozy aesthetic Paralives has been suggesting is its brand.
But rather than softening the outlines, I'd rather the default blush overlay was more translucent (more subtle). That degree being what seems to be the default is unappealing af and would be far too tedious to have to manually remove. It gives it individuality, sure, but it's never been a design choice I like to see. PLUS, folk into it rarely do it well - they exaggerate it so everyone can see it without doubt
THAT SAID THO
I abhor they're using "we have too few staff to do better than this!!" BS. That's not why, and anyone's a fool for accepting it.
It's because they're taking this seriously with the core principle of "Gameplay + Functionality > Aesthetic".
The need for a final look is unnecessary until just before its official release. Small or big, this is always the case. If they discover or hire another person (long or short contract), a whole new means could be discovered or need to be implemented which would maybe change the models yet again. But until the game itself is done, how the models look is a low priority task, esp in terms of finalization.
Feel free to skip this bit, it's a tad ramble to mention why gameplay + functionality is priority:
- LBY got flack for being fug because it didn't know that gameplay needed to be shown as high priority, nor a hint they knew what they were trying to do with the game. Simply mimicking some TheSims gameplay doesn't work, so it needed to at least look seriously considered.
- Vivaland's demo (Home maker) was so poorly done and shows a decent lack of concern for doing what it promotes as its primary gameplay, Build/Buy Mode, that it's so easy to forget is even in development.
- inZOI has "insane" graphics, but its focus is to replicate actual life while appealing to those who want a more modern/crisp aesthetic that's popular in places like Korea (those of us who like Chinese, Korean, or Japanese stuff should be aware of this). Even without as honest transgression from its inception to now like Paralives wisely did, we can see snippets of where they're trying to improve with the two playtests and its CAZ demo.
- TheSims franchise doesn't even use actual models to show its coding. iirc they were showing some stuff with Rene development (which isn't TS5) where character models are barely different shape from rando decoration, there's no actual bkg, and there's barely any sign of life. Even with the failure that is TS4 (a mobile game's engine they refused to remake into a game engine fit for a PC or longevity), we know there's a degree of gameplay guaranteed and the models won't be horrendous. Stylized, sure, but not a mess like LBY pretended was an aesthetic.
yep, I'm glad blush will be toggle off if you want, but I agree about the preset.
@@ismichi some very interesting analysis ,thank you.
I like christmas Maggie, but the newest artstyle has something whimsical to it. Those outlines and lines and they way they colour hair - it makes me feel like it's a fancy book and not n actual game, and while i'm not sure if i like how it looks next to rendered in different way background, I love the way th parafolks look!
I think honestly all of them have their own whimsy, so def can see that too
I love the middle version of Maggie the most but only because I like the ability to adjust the blush tones on the characters. I love all versions of Maggie because I want them to focus on the gameplay mechanics. Any cosmetic issues/preference can be fixed with CC like they do in the Sims.
P.S that toddler was the cutest thing in the world, I hope they don’t change. So adorable 🥰
we will be able to toggle off blush, but perhaps the best would be a preset without blush
The last version Maggie is my favourite.
cool, how so
I do still like orginial Maggie I guess it was because it was so different from another game I had seen and played with. I also like 2020 since it was similiar to the orginial Maggie but I do like the blush on current.
7:45 When I look at the evolution of Maggie, I like that she got more definition, but I am not sold on the body definition being outlined with black lines. That said, I wouldn't know how I'd like it better. But ever since I heard the blush had a slider so I could turn the blushes off, you won't hear me complaining anymore. At some point the blushes on all the Paras were so extreme my association was: "They all look like cartoonish drunks", so if I can turn that off, I'll take the rest for granted.
yeah you kinda articulated what I feel too. I like that the face is more detailed but I prefer the overall softer appeal of the body and features of the dec 2020 rendition.
I like the 2020 version the best too, but I think they all look great independent of one another. I’m most interested in the gameplay so I’ll take the art style however they decide it’s best.
for sure. end of the day, they are making the game and they have to pick what works for them and their vision
Great summary! I am so looking forward to this game. I just hope my potato will be able to run it. As far as the looks of the go I actually like the first look best but I don't dislike any of the versions. It'll be interesting to see what they land on in the end.❤
think it's at least likely it'll be able to. the team says they want it to run on lower end pcs. Idk the specs yet, of course.
A dev responded to a question recently in the discord about outlines for parafolk, you're actually able to disable them through the modding tools (and also the blush on the parafolks' boy was shown to be toggleable in the paramaker showcase since there was a little box while customiziing the skintone that said blush, so it's public and has been confirmed for some time), so although it would require someone to make a mod of it, it shouldn't be hard to achieve since the modding tools seem to be easy to understand, so seems to me all the main worries people have about the looks of parafolk will be able to be changed if you have a certain preference, I could also see people making custom skin textures if they so wish etc. I see a bright, bright future ahead of us life sim players. Paralives seems to be the game for us.
yep knew about the blush! I think a preset that was softer too would be nice
they are very open to critique and also I can tell, very focused on trying to make the game customizable within reason
Oh, so outlines will not be removable, only via mod. I see, thx!
I agree I like that middle version best (the one that was your favorite). It looks a bit too cartoony now in my opinion.
cartoony how so? is it the outline? the facial features, or flatness
2020 middle Maggie was my fav and the environment/lighting was 🤌. I understand they are going for a specific art style but the current Maggie and environment looks more flat which, again, maybe the goal.
it could be, I think the current Maggie stands out more so to speak which kinda goes into their design pillars
it's a bit disappointing for me seeing the older and newer versions side by side like this. i didn't realize how much the paras have changed, i feel that the december 2020 iteration both looks better in general and fit the graphics style of the game more overall :( i really wish they had kept going in this direction with the models, just made them look less 'disney/pixar'
it can be easy to forget or not realize especially as it happened over a few years and we prob have mostly gotten used to seeing the current iteration
maybe they were worried it would not look unique enough or not stand out enough in the environment
Damn, this game gonna take like 10 years or more of development.
early access is coming next year.
It is about time they released some form of demo or early access.
early access was announced for 2025.
they had a building playtest demo two months ago
@@SimmerErin
A building demo? How could I have missed it? Did they release it secretly? There`s no videos about it.
I think they're trying to make sure everything actually works before they do that, I'd rather have a polished game than a beta that seems empty
@@Marge719 it was for a few testers at a gaming event
May 2020 folk present here 🙋🏻♂️
I think the 2020 version’s skin texture looked the best, but the faces of the more modern parafolk look much better in my opinion! Another comment said it looked to be similar to a Disney style, and I agree with that. Something about it is really uncanny in the 2020 version and cartoonish in a bad way. I think the modern version overall could use a little bit of perfecting but there’s definitely been an upgrade and it’s been great to see their style develop in real time.
I can see that for sure! The modern day I prefer the attention to detail and proportion of faces a bit more, but def prefer the overall skin and softness of that earlier version
I like 2020 Maggie but not Seb, Seb had really awkward proportions. I found the artstyle a bit too simplistic, and blush is just always a bad idea imo, but on that time i thought "yes this one chara has blush but all others won't have". The artstyle was functional, easily readible, and my brain was able to identify them as humans, especially the earliest Maggie.
I'm sad that they said you'll be able to remove blush manually, but never confirmed a no-blush option or something like that, to not have to jump into para creation of EVERY SINGLE PARA of the town, to remove the blush.
With 2021 the paras weren't recognizable as humans by my brain anymore. Which means of course that i give all 2021+ variants a 0 of 10 rating. It's very strainibg for me to try to see them as humans.
Now also was the time when blush started transitioning from "too much" to "omg heavy sunburn", same with the body, the harsh lines started transitioning from "too much" to "omg they have scary wounds on their knees and shoulders" (which they toned down a tiny bit again, but honestly, it didn't make much difference)
tl;dr: 2020 functional, cute, with much room for making it more complex. Early 2020 was my favorite as an early concept
2021+ lost me completely
None of them were really aesthetically pleasing, but i don't expect that from a game
2020 early Maggie or Dec? I think seb was in between those reveals so could mark a slight adjustment there too
True... on the blush I am happy to remove it, but I prefer an option like you mention. I also just think they could start with a preset that is way toned down too
I like early Maggie actually more, but only as base for something way more complex and way more details - but I'd have been fine with it staying to feel 2D
Dec Maggie feels 3D but not with enough details, not fine enough in texture. Having few details&3D-feel feels a bit off
I loved the Dec 2020 Maggie. When I saw it, I fell in love with her new design at the time. But I'm not a fan of the current parafolk.
It's def still my favorite as well, even if I do find some charm in the current
While I think some of the skin details are too harsh still, I love the style overall and would be happy if they stayed the way they are rn
yeah, same. I think they are a bit harsh, while still loving certain aspects and the overall aesthic as a whole
Second version was the best and the only version that had actual shadows and lights on the characters instead of making them look super flat and 2D
the lighting does look nice there
however I just discovered in a dev chat they said characters would not interact with light.. so that's a bummer
To me, the parafolk's style just got worse with each iteration and I feel really bad about it because I'm really excited to play this game. The more lines and details they added, the ugliest it got for me, I remember I was so happy in the beginning and now this seems to be affecting how I look forward to the release. I've seen many people complaining about the lines and they even backed up a bit and removed some, but it will never be as good as the first one to me and I still think it's a lot. It's not "flowy" and cute anymore, they seem stiff and dirty (and, as an artist who works a lot on anatomy, I see some anatomy proportion "mistakes" that make me go aaaaaa)
I think you can be both excited and wish the art direction had gone differently- that's def. valid. I can understand it's prob hard for the team to balance feedback plus what makes sense for their game
yeah they did indeed remove some lines, which was good, but it didn't go back to the earlier softer looks
I am one of the people who really enjoyed the first Maggie look or rather the home and Sebastian and the art style back then. It was warm, soft and cartoony but not overly so like it is now. Now it looks too much like those Episode games art style. More like Tale Tale games. It's not bad but not really my fav. 2020 Maggie was best!
that's fair! I wonder if they felt the current style more alligned with their concerns/ designer pillars for the characters to stick out more so to speak
I think I prefer the parafolk design from the 2020 December Maggie As well. I don’t really like the overly cartoony feel right now, and it doesn’t match with the style environment.
when you say cartoony, trying to understand as many use that term- what aspects make it cartoony
It feels quite flat, and lacks the details and depth of the environment in which they are in, which gives of that vibe to me. It just feels like it is a different art style for the parafolk and for the rest of the game.