I've recently dipped my foot into Pokemon cards. Not keen on what's going on with the current market but just wanted some cards to make a deck and to play either with friends or online. Not knowing how to play, I was told that the Pokemon Online TCG game is a good way to get a bit acclimated. So I did just that and have to say the chosen Art Style for the game is still throwing me off.
Now I want to state that I don't think whoever had to draw this did a bad job, it was likely what they were told to go for. But the contrast of the Pokemon Brand with the style I can't help but feel clashes with one another. When you think pokemon you think of something slightly more "anime". While it definitely doesn't need to be that (Numerous Pokemon cards forego that style and look great) I do think something more in-line with the brand would be a better call to get more players online.
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As a comparison here's Magic Arena. Which is the most recent incarnation of the popular TCG that's playable online.
This game uses the already established style of the brand and feels more at home because of it. While you're unable to make your own personal avatar (One aspect of Pokemon TCG I think is a positive, even if limited) everything is nicely placed and it feels like a an actual Magic product. While Pokemon sometimes comes across as playing the Tabletop Simulator version of the game.
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I don't want to come across as harping on Pokemon, as the game works just fine and it's still fun. But with the recent surge in Pokemon TCG popularity, I would be rather interested in seeing the art style change to something that's a better representation of the Pokemon brand while keeping the positive features such as personal avatars. I feel like such a move would draw in more interest from players across the board.
