I wouldn't say they're being different. A lot of games sadly are going the anime/cartoon route. Look at Diablo 3 compared to Diablo 2. Path Of Exile is closer to Diablo 2's graphics.
Graphics don't make a game, but for me they can break a game. When a game looks like anime or a cartoon I'm turned off. I know this is just art and not screenshots but it shows what it will be like.
This is interesting:
http://joysticklove.wordpress.com/20...kes-it-or-not/
I'm not in the teen demographic, or even the 20-something demographic. I don't want my games looking like cartoons. I'm not sure anyone can say classic EQ's graphics are good (they were good for the time though) but I find them tons better than WoW. I do love EQ's illusions, like of a massive dense forest created by huge tree trunks stretching into the sky with a green fog and sky throughout the entire zone. It's so atmospheric.