The characters' art style looks bad.

[Biff Buttcus]

Each of the characters look the same. All the male characters look the same as each other. All of the female characters look the same as each other. All of the male characters have scruffy facial hair. The only differences between any of the men and women are skin tone and hair. The art really needs to change to give them more distinct portraits because currently they all share the same facial profile. And I just plain don't like the style of the portraits either.
The animations also look bad. Specifically the actions like digging and watering. If you were to ask me, maybe the tools should always be visible. Because it looks off seeing the tool appear and disappear. Maybe not, that's just me. But the animations need to at least be more animated. There needs to be more movement and action to them because they look stiff. Incredibly stiff. And they don't look good.
Also not a fan of the character models. At least up close. Up close they look not good. From a distance they are fine but their faces and body proportions I really don't like. Maybe the models and portraits should look more cartoony? That way the characters would look more distinct. Because honestly the current visual style for the characters just isn't good. I don't like it, I'm sorry.
Now I don't mean to just dump all over the game. Besides these criticisms, the game does look fun and is otherwise visually appealing. The environments all look very good. They're colorful and I like them. But I want to offer my criticisms in the hopes they will be constructive. The characters just don't look good to me.

[2d0x]

Автор сообщения: Biff Buttcus

...All the male characters look the same as each other...

I immediately recalled "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy: "All happy families are alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way".

I guess this 2D style is just unusual for you. Try to periodically return to viewing screenshots and, most likely, you will soon change your mind. 3D and animation? I suppose, with an exciting gameplay, you are unlikely to focus on this.

[Dork Strider]

I would just like to say that I do agree with the male characters' appearances: They all look too similar. I've asked my partner to share their opinion and they too find them way too similar. Square face, very similar eyebrows and ears, same smiles and just generally recolours of each other.
All is to say that, in the males, all you have is square faced guys with scruffy looks and instagram smiles. The girls are a little less diverse but they still have some unique features, as when it comes to the guys they just change tans and hairstyles more than anything.
I think a little more diversity would be nice, and not just in skin tones but in features here, because so far I'm not tempted to go for any of the guys. Or if I dated one then I basically dated all of them in terms of looks, although I do imagine their backstories would be very different.

[2d0x]

Автор сообщения: Dork Strider

I would just like to say that I do agree with the male characters' appearances: They all look too similar...

I can say about the same when looking at photographs of real people of a different nationality.

[Biff Buttcus]

Автор сообщения: 2d0x

Автор сообщения: Dork Strider

I would just like to say that I do agree with the male characters' appearances: They all look too similar...

I can say about the same when looking at photographs of real people of a different nationality.

But you will find much more diversity in real life. And that's kind of the issue is I understand it can be difficult for an artist to make each portrait distinct when following a certain art style. Still though, I think it's worth saying that the current portraits just don't look different enough. I think some features need to be exaggerated to accentuate the differences between them. I hope the artists end up changing the portraits. Most of the game looks good except for the issues I've noted.

[2d0x]

Автор сообщения: Biff Buttcus

But you will find much more diversity in real life...

https://www.peoples.ru/art/music/pop/akb48/akb48_3.jpg
Yeah, they are all different, but I doubt that after a cursory acquaintance I would be able to orient myself. What happens if you draw them schematically?

Or here's an anime: https://animego.org/upload/anime/images/5a7b5d45a7780671439287.jpg
Try mentally changing their hairstyles. However, viewers have no problem with identification.

Initially, I experienced similar emotions to the OP, but gradually reading the news and getting to know the characters, my initial opinion changed. Now I am quite satisfied with the style and I would not like to change anything in this regard.

[Retro]

It's the main reason I haven't backed it, it has a mobile art style..it's just super off putting to me.

[2d0x]

Автор сообщения: J🅾JI

It's the main reason I haven't backed it, it has a mobile art style...

The mobile art style is Harvest Moon: Light of Hope... However, the re-release of the famous Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is no less shameful... Or would someone call Stardew Valley divinely beautiful?

[maryblackwell]

Different strokes. The current art style is part of the reason I backed, I find it super appealing, more so than most games I've played in this sim style. It's rare I find both portraits and character models appealing in any game, so I'm excited. It's very attractive to me, and I hope they don't change anything.

[Elegant Caveman]

Автор сообщения: maryblackwell

Different strokes. The current art style is part of the reason I backed, I find it super appealing, more so than most games I've played in this sim style. It's rare I find both portraits and character models appealing in any game, so I'm excited. It's very attractive to me, and I hope they don't change anything.

Same here.

I love the character design, and it's one of the main things that drew me to this game (the other being the underwater aspect).

If anything, the characters seem quite distinct and full of personality to me, and I can't wait to "meet" them.

[SneakyGremlin]

Huh, I love the style myself. For once there are many romance options I actually find attractive. Plus it kind of reminds me of Disney too. It's a nice, appealing style overall.

[Hexo Mia]

this style is not bad at all, you clearly know jack about art styles, this post is nothing but I don't like this so is bad, the game is being development so chill out, productive criticism is better than just ranting because you dont like how the characters look to YOU personally.

the style on this game give me a very disney vibe, very nice colors, bodies and face proportions, I personally love it, is so nice to look.

[MilkshakeGuru]

This style is similar to some of the great Disney artwork out there and you're calling it "mobile" art trying to degrade it. Weird take.

[SushiJaguar]

The problem with the characters is that they all look pretty and clean...and yeah, maybe a bit too much like they just stepped off the render of that Soul movie. It would be nice to see a little diversity in complexion, eye shape, facial structure beyond "vaguely Asian" or "sorta African", "kinda Jamaican?"

Just some faces that stand out more from each other would be nice.

I'm also surprised the white characters don't have sunburn lol

[2d0x]

Автор сообщения: SushiJaguar

...I'm also surprised the white characters don't have sunburn lol

Yeah, the village of mermaids is not embarrassing, but the lack of tanning is a serious surprise.

[cxxxa]

Agreed with some of OP's statement, a lot of them looks the same, but similar things also happened in SDV, which is quite annoying for me, it's just like seeing same people with different personalities. But in the end, it doesn't really matter that much and I do still play SDV for a long time (gameplay matters). Personally, I don't really like disney artstyle, but this still looks very good and one of the reason I backed this game!

Since mod is supported, I'm sure someone will do their own version of character portrait. So let's wait until the release of Coral Island