Maybe I'm forgetting an obvious one, but mainline Final Fantasy might be the only JRPG property right now that consistently uses a more "realistic" style (and even it has had its moments, like Final Fantasy IX). Manga and anime influence is massive. Realism also tends to be more expensive, and despite the genre's massive growth the past few years, it's still not attracting big budgets regularly.
Personally, my favorite game artist is Akihiko Yoshida (Final Fantasy XII, Bravely Default, NieR: Automata). On the technical side, my favorite style is late fourth-gen/early fifth-gen sprites with lots of frame detail. Think games like Chrono Trigger, Terranigma, Final Fantasy Tactics, Suikoden I and II.