While I understood the obsession with pixel art, I never really emotionally "got it". For me, it is more about what to do with the technology available to do, a

While I understood the obsession with pixel art, I never really emotionally "got it". For me, it is more about what to do with the technology available to do, and then making the best out of that. And that does not mean going photorealistic if you can, but just create a look that fits the product. XIII, Borderlands, World of Warcraft come to mind - competing products of the same time had a much more "real" look, but these titles actually stood out and aged well. The author mentions Grim Fandango, which is in the same vein. None of these is retro or pixel art, just done with an overarching style that is not at the maximum of what was possible at the games creation.