There is something just truly nostalgic about low-polygon 3D artwork. It might be a millennial obsession or simply an admiration for early attempts to capture realism, but low-poly 3D artwork has its own unique charm to it.

For some, this affection for low-poly might be out of trying to relive the past; for others -- like myself -- the affection for low-poly stems from a deep appreciation for a certain style that embraces the sharp edges of shapes to form an image or character. Take, for example, the Nintendo 64 renditions of The Legends of Zelda video game series. Both titles (Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask) are shining examples of the late 90's/early 2000's attempt to capture realism through what we now consider low-poly graphics.

The attempts to capture realism on both the Nintendo 64 and the original PlayStation console were, at the time, revolutionary. Polygons formed character, weapons, objects. There was a sharpness involved with these graphics, notably on the Nintendo 64. The reason for this affection is because the style in which these graphics appear to have a cubist feel. Cubism and N64/PS1 graphics have a similar look and feel, which may contribute to the appeal of low-poly.

Why does low-poly design matter? It's not for nostalgia's sake, but rather, low-poly graphics offer something that modern-day high-poly graphics do not offer: being radical. The word 'radical' means to get to the core or root of something; low-poly graphics do just that. They get to the core of roughly replicating an object or image. High-poly graphics sugarcoat an object, making it photo-realistic. It becomes showy and the details become distracting. But, low-poly graphics toss out flare for simplicity and logic. It's minimalism at its finest.