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E3 2013: Vanillaware's Signature 2D Art Shines in Dragon's Crown

Inspired by Golden Axe, Vanillaware's latest features 4-player co-op.

Jun. 12 2013

Posted by: Marino

In This Episode:

E3 2013

Dragon's Crown

71 Comments

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lfbprod

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Edited By lfbprod

Huh. That seemed . . . poorly edited.

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X4N

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Edited By X4N

This could be a lot of fun. Art style is a little weird though.

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Hungry

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Those breasts are dumb. Everything else looks fine I guess.

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Jaktajj

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Edited By Jaktajj

Getting a Castlevania meets Golden Axe vibe - looks awesome!

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Spitznock

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Edited By Spitznock

I'm digging that crazy detailed hyper-exaggerated art style a whole lot.

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Edited By Olu

Artstyle is fucking beautiful, i love those sprites. Even if you are up in arms about tits and asses, some of this monsters are so cool, just look at this lil wizard mouse.

Also, there is literally a damsel in distress in that trailer, can't wait for vultures to swoop all over it.

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blackichigo

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I'm not usually one of those people who cry about sexism in video games, but Jesus Christ dude...

Does every woman in this game have breasts bigger than her head, wear almost nothing, and pose in pornstar positions? This seem like an awkward game to play in front your girlfriend.

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Red

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Edited By Red

Seems pretty neat, and like all Vanillaware games it is beautiful, but I really don't like the Amazon and Sorceress models. Just creepy.

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happymeowmeow

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Game looks gorgeous.

'WELCOME TO BOOB CITY'

I'm sure it's not a co-incidence that the Sorceress and Amazon weren't featured in this trailer.

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BBAlpert

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I'm not usually one of those people who cry about sexism in video games, but Jesus Christ dude...

Does every woman in this game have breasts bigger than her head, wear almost nothing, and pose in pornstar positions? This seem like an awkward game to play in front your girlfriend.

I think the archer is a woman, and is completely covered up. Likewise, the dwarf or barbarian or whatever is a huge, beefy (almost) naked dude, so I guess it kind of goes both ways...? I'm not saying that it necessarily justifies the design (or that the design needs justification), but the fact that both men and women are each represented in the "clothes vs no clothes" design styles is SOMETHING at least.

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McGhee

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@bbalpert said:

@blackichigo said:

I'm not usually one of those people who cry about sexism in video games, but Jesus Christ dude...

Does every woman in this game have breasts bigger than her head, wear almost nothing, and pose in pornstar positions? This seem like an awkward game to play in front your girlfriend.

I think the archer is a woman, and is completely covered up. Likewise, the dwarf or barbarian or whatever is a huge, beefy (almost) naked dude, so I guess it kind of goes both ways...? I'm not saying that it necessarily justifies the design (or that the design needs justification), but the fact that both men and women are each represented in the "clothes vs no clothes" design styles is SOMETHING at least.

This style perfectly fits the genre. Go back and read the Conan stories or look at Frank Frazetta's classic artwork. Big muscled dudes and half naked girls. People need to get the fuck over it already.

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Edited By graf1k

@bbalpert said:

@blackichigo said:

I'm not usually one of those people who cry about sexism in video games, but Jesus Christ dude...

Does every woman in this game have breasts bigger than her head, wear almost nothing, and pose in pornstar positions? This seem like an awkward game to play in front your girlfriend.

I think the archer is a woman, and is completely covered up. Likewise, the dwarf or barbarian or whatever is a huge, beefy (almost) naked dude, so I guess it kind of goes both ways...? I'm not saying that it necessarily justifies the design (or that the design needs justification), but the fact that both men and women are each represented in the "clothes vs no clothes" design styles is SOMETHING at least.

Agreed. I mean, yeah, some of that stuff like the lady with her legs spread wide open, despite being in what looked like chainmail, was a pretty....blatant. That said, of the three playable female characters, one's got comically huge breasts (mage maybe?), the archer looks very normal and is dressed in a fashion that is no way overtly sexual or suggestive, and the third warrior woman, while scantily clad, is also much more muscular and "built" than women in about 99% of video games. She actually looks like she could kick somebody's ass. But yeah, that mage lady...that's Ivy from Soul Calibur territory you're entering.

All that aside, I frigging love Vannilaware's art style and while I'd prefer characters more in line with Odin Sphere, I'm definitely going to pick this game up.

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yyZiggurat

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Looks kind of porny.

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Svenzon

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Hmm. I'm not 100% sold on the art style. Really like the colors, but the designs... hmm, I dunno. Still, it's supposed to play a lot like the Capcom D&D games and those were awesome.

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Edited By knightlyknave

@hungry said:

Those breasts are dumb. Everything else looks fine I guess.

I totally agree. Those breasts also cause a lot of controversy. Kotaku's written a fair bit about them:

http://kotaku.com/the-real-problem-with-that-controversial-sexy-video-ga-478120280

http://kotaku.com/the-artist-behind-dragons-crown-explains-his-exaggerat-482450927

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@x4n: Weird? ..or hot? ;D

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deactivated-64b8656eaf424

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That's some Hitoshi Sakimoto music right there.

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The_Ruiner

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I'm glad that crazy ass Japanese design is still alive. These guys have a vision of tiny heads and enormous boobs, and while I don't think every game should be this way(not even most), I'm glad that crazy games like this still come out and just go for it.

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blackichigo

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@mcghee said:

@bbalpert said:

@blackichigo said:

I'm not usually one of those people who cry about sexism in video games, but Jesus Christ dude...

Does every woman in this game have breasts bigger than her head, wear almost nothing, and pose in pornstar positions? This seem like an awkward game to play in front your girlfriend.

I think the archer is a woman, and is completely covered up. Likewise, the dwarf or barbarian or whatever is a huge, beefy (almost) naked dude, so I guess it kind of goes both ways...? I'm not saying that it necessarily justifies the design (or that the design needs justification), but the fact that both men and women are each represented in the "clothes vs no clothes" design styles is SOMETHING at least.

This style perfectly fits the genre. Go back and read the Conan stories or look at Frank Frazetta's classic artwork. Big muscled dudes and half naked girls. People need to get the fuck over it already.

Get over what exactly? I think this art style just reeks of creepiness. It not really even the lack of clothes that bother me. It their complete lack of giving a damn. It is hilarious overt some of this stuff is.

Hell, at one point they have some fully armored female knight spread eagle staring into the camera. I'm sitting here, wondering is this supposed to titillate me. I'm not 13 anymore. It's just kind of insulting to both genders.

If you want to see my point, watch this video with your mom and feel that weird feeling in the air afterward. I get douche chills just thinking about it.

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Edited By Efesell

This art is not really to my personal taste, but shine on you crazy Japanese diamond.

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LiquidPrince

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@blackichigo: The art style is perfectly fine in my opinion. This sexism debate recently has gotten really stupid. The game directors and creators can design their characters any way they want, and if it doesn't jive with what you like, then the solution would be to don't support it. I on the other hand love Vanillaware, and they've done enough games in the past with very restrained costumes (see Momohime) that I don't think of them as some weird company making hentai games.

People really need to stop being so ridiculous... I mean even in this trailer, there were a ton of other female characters that weren't dressed provocatively.

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Get over what exactly? I think this art style just reeks of creepiness. It not really even the lack of clothes that bother me. It their complete lack of giving a damn. It is hilarious overt some of this stuff is.

Hell, at one point they have some fully armored female knight spread eagle staring into the camera. I'm sitting here, wondering is this supposed to titillate me. I'm not 13 anymore. It's just kind of insulting to both genders.

If you want to see my point, watch this video with your mom and feel that weird feeling in the air afterward. I get douche chills just thinking about it.

At least they aren't pretending otherwise. I'd rather have artists stay true to their vision than have everything focus tested to fit the whims of the broadest demographic. Some find it juvenile, offensive or even harmful but that's more than you can say for most art you see in games nowadays.

If your first reaction to some mermaid sideboob is "Oh god some 13yo is def masturbating to this, shocked and offended" you might want to steer clear from Kamitani's other work.

http://vanillaware.co.jp/gallery.htm

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Edited By MeatSim

That dragon was hoarding gold as it should be.

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Edited By blackichigo

@liquidprince: That's why I didn't really want to say the word "sexism". That word just carry too much weight in an argument that can not be won. I am not saying you should not enjoy this.This game just doesn't suit my taste. But I'm also a Kingdom Hearts fan so what do I know?

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@liquidprince: That's kind of my problem... I love Vanillaware games, but the art style bothers me enough that I'm genuinely conflicted about purchasing and playing Dragon's Crown.

Yeah there were 'sexy' characters in earlier titles, but nothing so overt like in this one.

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Edited By McGhee

@blackichigo said:

Get over what exactly? I think this art style just reeks of creepiness. It not really even the lack of clothes that bother me. It their complete lack of giving a damn. It is hilarious overt some of this stuff is.

Hell, at one point they have some fully armored female knight spread eagle staring into the camera. I'm sitting here, wondering is this supposed to titillate me. I'm not 13 anymore. It's just kind of insulting to both genders.

If you want to see my point, watch this video with your mom and feel that weird feeling in the air afterward. I get douche chills just thinking about it.

At least they aren't pretending otherwise. I'd rather have artists stay true to their vision than have everything focus tested to fit the whims of the broadest demographic. Some find it juvenile, offensive or even harmful but that's more than you can say for most art you see in games nowadays.

If your first reaction to some mermaid sideboob is "Oh god some 13yo is def masturbating to this, shocked and offended" you might want to steer clear from Kamitani's other work.

http://vanillaware.co.jp/gallery.htm

lol My mom wouldn't give a fuck and neither would I. This game has an amazing art style. Everything is pushed out of proportions. And that includes, gasp, breasts. There are games of all kinds out there. This one can exist too. I start to think that the immaturity comes more from those constantly freaking out over a bit of side boob.

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squeamish

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It has a Beholder

I'm sold

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katsu044

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Honestly didn't notice the boobs till i read the comments nor did i care everything in this looks very exaggerated despite it's very nice art style.

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blackichigo

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@mcghee: Yes. Me voicing my distaste for this art style is me completely freaking out. What the hell am I going to do with all these picket signs now?

You like this stuff. I don't like it.

You go enjoy those animated breasts sir. Praise the those oddly proportioned people. I'm sure I will find some way to cope. Somehow...

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Edited By ervonymous

It has a Beholder

I'm sold

Shhh, don't say it or Wizards of the Coast will sue.

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All that art!

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I was way into this until that mermaid showed up, I'm still way into it but now I am confused. In what planet do mermaid's have human asses? And the scales go up the ass like a thong? Come on bro that just makes no sense. It would make sense if the whole ass was there because now they can actually poop, but with the scales there that's just not practical!

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Edited By cikame

I'll play it for the sheer audacity of it, that's a hell of alot of 2D art going on there.

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Edited By edmundus

This art style looks hilarious to me, I love it. The men look about as ridiculous as the women. Hopefully the gameplay turns out well!

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Edited By W1ck3d

I really like this artstyle, bud this trailer sucks so much.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaze#The_.22male_gaze.22_in_feminist_theory

This is not a troll.

I'm just putting this link here for anyone unfamiliar with the key concepts behind the controversy over sexualized depictions of women in media, and who might want to learn more.

This particular case adds an extra layer of cultural abstraction since the game is mad Japanese.

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Edited By Icemael

Here we have by far the most sophisticated, detailed 2D graphics ever in a video game, created by some of the most passionate developers in the industry (read this), and instead of celebrating (and we should be celebrating the fact that these guys even exist, because there is no other developer willing or capable of continually pushing 2D game art further -- no other studio has come close to surpassing even Odin Sphere, which Vanillaware made over half a decade ago for a console soon to be two generations old) all you morons can do is complain about fucking breasts. What the fuck.

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What Jeff mentioned in the podcast about the weird pointer controls was a bit off-putting, but that looked great. Have been waiting on this for a while now, love Vanillaware's hd takes on old genres. Art looks great, reminds me of the d&d arcade beat-em-ups. I don't find the boobies particularly offensive here, prob cuz everything else is so exaggerated as well (the knight's arms are way bigger than his sword for example). It's nothing worse than Bayonetta or even Tomb Raider imo...

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Edited By edeo

You don't design a character like that sorceress and expect people to not comment on it.

The whole "men are just as sexualized as women" argument is worthless. It just isn't true. Images of men are generally idealized, but they are never presented as sexual objects.

At least the amazon strikes a nice balance. It's overly sexual, but cheeky and interesting. Not quite Bayonetta clever, but maybe a good start.

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Personally I got absolutely nothing against big boobs in games. I am not going to be a hypocrite and claim I don't like big boobs, my girlfriend is evidence of the contrary. But the artstyle in this game doesn't make them look attractive. The amazon woman has legs that would make Arnold Swarchenegger in his prime seem small. It's just groose. But it gets people attention at least, but is the game good enough to hold people's attention?

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@icemael said:

Here we have by far the most sophisticated, detailed 2D graphics ever in a video game, created by some of the most passionate developers in the industry (read this), and instead of celebrating (and we should be celebrating the fact that these guys even exist, because there is no other developer willing or capable of continually pushing 2D game art further -- no other studio has come close to surpassing even Odin Sphere, which Vanillaware made over half a decade ago for a console soon to be two generations old) all you morons can do is complain about fucking breasts. What the fuck.

Hey. Hey. Be fair.

We're complaining about the asses, too.

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Edited By spiralsin

This is a good illustration of the cultural divide that exists between Japan and America. Sexually suggestive themes and characters in video games cause Americans to get uncomfortable and deem it inappropriate...but gratuitously violent games where you shoot, maim, and kill realistic looking people will never go out of style!

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I'm just not digging the art style and its definitely not for the boobs. Don't get me wrong its high quality work and the game might be interesting (I get bored of these brawlers 1 or 2 hrs into the game). I guess its a taste thing, plus if we want to talk about character design I really hate the way the male characters look. Just look at this thing:

No Caption Provided

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I'll be interested to know how the FR holds up on the Vita. Hopefully Masamura will be a solid indication.

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Muramasa looks stunning, but I'm not sure if this art style holds up in HD? Think Dust: ET, is a great show piece for what is possible with 2D art on modern systems. Maybe it's just the video frame rate?..

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@theveej said:

I'm just not digging the art style and its definitely not for the boobs. Don't get me wrong its high quality work and the game might be interesting (I get bored of these brawlers 1 or 2 hrs into the game). I guess its a taste thing, plus if we want to talk about character design I really hate the way the male characters look. Just look at this thing:

No Caption Provided

Somewhere, Frank Frazetti is angry.

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Edited By Alkaiser

@icemael said:

Here we have by far the most sophisticated, detailed 2D graphics ever in a video game, created by some of the most passionate developers in the industry (read this), and instead of celebrating (and we should be celebrating the fact that these guys even exist, because there is no other developer willing or capable of continually pushing 2D game art further -- no other studio has come close to surpassing even Odin Sphere, which Vanillaware made over half a decade ago for a console soon to be two generations old) all you morons can do is complain about fucking breasts. What the fuck.

There are people who have different opinions than you. Get the fuck over it.

Also, Odin Sphere wasn't very good. Looked nice, terribly repetitive combat with uninteresting enemies and jesus fuck you fight that armor spitting dragon over and over again.

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nemesis208

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Awesome, I loved Odin Sphere, need to support Vanillaware

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@icemael said:

Here we have by far the most sophisticated, detailed 2D graphics ever in a video game, created by some of the most passionate developers in the industry (read this), and instead of celebrating (and we should be celebrating the fact that these guys even exist, because there is no other developer willing or capable of continually pushing 2D game art further -- no other studio has come close to surpassing even Odin Sphere, which Vanillaware made over half a decade ago for a console soon to be two generations old) all you morons can do is complain about fucking breasts. What the fuck.

It's definitely a pity to see a production company waste so much time and talent on the most juvenile shit imaginable.