Can You See What's Cool?

I'm afflicted, and the affliction is baffling to me.

I just don't have an eye for what looks cool. Hopefully this is something I can learn.

Let me give you an example. I've been working on a video game...trying to make sprites and backgrounds that are stylistically compelling. I've been calibrating myself by looking at other games with compelling art styles; older games, mostly, because I'm making a 2D side-scroller.

So I peek at Sonic the Hedgehog, Ninja Gaiden, Mario Bros., Double Dragon, Kirby, old arcade games etc...and I keep noticing that the individual sprites are often underwhelming or ugly. Look at those trees in Sonic. Look at those backgrounds in Ninja Gaiden.

Look at the weird animations in Strider:

The animation is so strange. The art is weird. But it has style. It's interesting. The overall effect is wonderful. It's the mystery of the Gestalt.

"Gestalt" is a German word we Americans have cribbed. It refers to "wholeness."

I'm thinking that perhaps I'm not able to see the Gestalt by looking at the pieces, and I feel let down because that would be a wonderful ability! To have that kind of vision...

Some lucky few are born with that ability. Others of us have to learn it through practice and experience.

It's not about technical ability. It's about knowing what works.