Ever had a case of graphics awe?

[TimeLord]

First time I played my first game on my shiny new PS3 all those years ago.

Resistance: Fall of Man in HD blew my mind!

 

[comadorcrack]

Uncharted 2, especially the urban level not too far into the game with the helicopter. Literally mesmerizing.

Spoiler: You are correct sir!

Spoiler: but then again, I must not forget about...

 

[Fellwarden]

I was awed by the graphics in both Mass Effects. Fallout 3 was also quite impressive when I got out of the vault. These are the only games I can remember that was really impressive. Final Fantasy XIII also has great graphics, but it didn't quite give me that "holy shit, that looks good" feeling. The Mass Effect games are probably my favorite games, ever, including its graphic style and quality. I've been mindblown several times when looking at the backdrops for various scenes.

 

[Jazoni89]

I was graphically awed by:

The train scene in Uncharted 2
Just cause 2's Draw distance
overlooking Red dead redemption's cactus fields
Stepping out of the vault in fallout 3
the shivering isles night sky in oblivion
Boss fights in god of war 3
Metro 2033's creepy tunnels
All of mirror's edge
All of heavy rain - I seriously don't know why anyone has mentioned this yet.

 

[T-Bone24]

Several times in Mass Effect 2 I stopped and didn't want to leave with how good it all looked.

Complete agreement, especially in the Overlord DLC.

And if you've played Lair of the Shadow Broker, you know exactly which part I'm referring to.

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

When I first got my PS3 and played God of War 3, I was absolutelty stunned by the first level.
I still feel a little giddy when playing it.

I was also amazed in Metro 2033 when I first stepped outside of the Metro station and into Post-Apocalyptic Moscow

EDIT: Almost forgot the train scene from Uncharted 2

 

[The Great Zegrool]

Man, I've been spoiled. A combination of me making game design as a hobby, and that monster Crysis has made me all but immune to graphical beauties this gen.

 

[CleverNickname]

I just remembered another one, and it's not even out yet (I think).

Ni No Kuni

I literally had tears in my eyes the first time I saw footage of it - and the last time, too. I don't have a console and don't play JRPGs, but I want that one. Or at least want to see it all the way through.

 

[EeveeElectro]

FFXIII on HD made me sex wee a little...

 

[Cid Silverwing]

I fanboy'd Oblivion just by watching the trailer. Then I played the game and it's like the graphics magically took a shit on itself.

 

[mexicola]

Gears of War, Assassin's Creed and Mass effect 2. Not just how gorgeous they looked but also the amazement that my 3 year old PC could run them at high settings.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

MW2
one day, just take a minute to look at all the texture they packed into the game. The bumps on the plastic chairs. The threads on the clothing, the stainless steel.

 

[Red Bomb]

Borderlands - hated the game but loved the graphics style
Uncharted 2 - just echo everyone else
Assassin's Creed 2 - If you've ever been to Florence you know what I mean
Crysis - 0_0
Shadow of the Colossus - How can you not go "holy shit, thats immense!"
CoD 4 - detail was crazy

 

[elcamino41383]

Uncharted 1 and 2, Heavenly Sword Assassin's Creed 1 and 2, Folklore (though I honestly still haven't played it much and I've had it since release!) and GTA4

 

[Harlemura]

Can't say I have. I play games way to much, I'm just used to stuff looking that good. Makes me sad when everyone around me's telling me how good everything looks and I can't tell...
That said, I failed on Mirror's Edge once because of the graphics. Know the part where you have to run up a crane then jump off the end? Yeah, I choose my moments to slow down and admire awesome graphics.

Fun, relevant mini-story;
My grandad was watching me play Reach the other day. This is a man who still thought games looked like what they did on the old Atari consoles.
He was so amazed, I'm surprised his head didn't explode.

 

[RanD00M]

FFXIII on HD made me sex wee a little...

Well now I have a new saying for orgasm. Thank you mysterious stranger.

OT:Oblivion was gorgeous.
Kingdom Hearts I was extremely good looking in my eyes, at least compared to the year it was released.

 

[Owlslayer]

Have to say Oblivion, especially the night skies at the Shivering Isles.
also, when i first played half-Life 2 episode 1 I was pretty impressed.
Also, when i first played warhammer 40 000: dawn of war, i was amazed at the amount of detail. It was truly amazing.

 

[imnot]

Hello escapist, Pegghead here if your left eye is focused on a game of crysis in the corner of the room.

Recently I've been playing through Halo Reach (Great game btw imo lol) and, as I finished the campaign in split-screen multiplayer it's only now I notice just how...impressive the game looks when not compressed to a quarter of the screen. While I believe that graphics come third to gameplay and plot/story (Gameplay being first, the combination of plot and story being second) there have been a few cases where my first thought when playing a game is just how beautiful it looks. I'm not simply talking about how "realistic" everything looks I'm simply referring to a visual feast in the eye of the beholder.

So escapist, what games have given you a case of graphics awe? Be it a pixel delight, a cell shade feast, a picture perfect realism, a realisation of universe through colour and design or anything else.

The same as you, I think the graphics are wonderful, especially of new Alexandria and the are in the first level.

 

[dommyuk]

Every few minutes in Crysis had me looking at something other than what was shooting at me, except the night levels, they were quite dull. And also two of my favourite peices of scenery in The Elder Scrolls IV:

 

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

I smacked myself when I saw the visuals in these games;
Assassin's creed I & II
Prince of Persia(all of them)
Crysis(on my friends computer)
A certain section in Just Cause 2 in the mountains, accidentally.
FF XII & XIII
Basically, for awesome visuals, always rely on square enix and ubisoft.