Games that are visually stunning.

[PsychedelicDiamond]

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts was... not very good. But dear lord, it looked great:

Spoiler

My favourite tough would be Mirrors Edge. Sexy as hell:

Spoiler

 

[Fredvdp]

I remember being really impressed with Donkey Kong Country's visuals on Super Nintendo.

Spoiler

And more recently Prince of Persia (2008).

Spoiler

 

[Da Orky Man]

For me, it has to be this.



The graphics are just jaw-dropping. (Yes Transformers fans, That is Metroplex in the back ground)

If i had to pick one that was released, I'd have to say Batman Arkham City, but all in all, Transformers Fall of Cybertron just looks incredible.

Your turn! ;D

I agree on Fall Of Cybertron. The first part had some quite awesome scenery as well. The environment appeared surprisingly alive for a completely inorganic planet.

The Homeworld series had some stunning views as well:

Spoiler: Supernova Station

Spoiler: Kyori System

Spoiler: Karos Graveyard

Spoiler: Balcora

Don't forget fighting inside a partially-constructed Dyson Sphere:

Spoiler

 

[crazyrabbits]

Most recent experience - seeing the sun rise in Minecraft. Say what you will about the graphics, but looking out at an ocean and seeing the sky turn red as the sun crests the horizon is incredibly beautiful.

 

[kyogen]

High quality graphics are nice, but art design and cinematography are usually what catch and hold my attention. Interesting images impress me more than raw detail.

PS2
ICO
SotC
Okami
Final Fantasy XII
Dragon Quest VIII

PS3
Demon's Souls
Dark Souls
Dragon's Dogma
Mirror's Edge (also on PC)

PC
The Witcher (amazing rewrite of Bioware's Aurora Engine)
The Witcher 2
Risen (light/shadow is very good)
Portal

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Spoiler: Enslaved: Odessey To The West

I am stunned at every turn and minor detail! Truely stunned!

 

[CleverNickname]

Oh god, I was lost in Serious Sam 3: BFE's options menu. I'd almost call it detrimental to the game, because unless you know what a Hyperthreading Texalomonitor does and how having seven and three quarters of them will in any way improve the framerate, they might as well be written in Yiddish.

True, but I love not knowing shit - or rather, that there is shit again to not know. The choice between "Medium" and "Slightly More Medium" in 99% of games now is way too depressing.
Besides, the presets for the 3 categories work well enough to get it running; but even though I don't understand them, I think it's great to have all the insane options for those who do.

Portal

oh my god, one review of Portal 2 annoyed me so much. They went on and on about the oh so old Source engine and how the graphics don't stack up these days and blablabla... when, while I was playing it, I had never taken as many screenshots before. At least they know perfectly well what to do with their engine and produce amazing views without wrenching camera control away from you. And it is graphically impressive, what they did with lighting and materials and sheer scale.

 

[Pink Gregory]

L.A. Noire, without a doubt.

And Viva Piñata, the level of detail shows the absolute dedication to aesthetic, THAT is how it's done!

 

[kyogen]

At least they know perfectly well what to do with their engine and produce amazing views without wrenching camera control away from you. And it is graphically impressive, what they did with lighting and materials and sheer scale.

Agreed. The use of lighting and color is excellent, it complements the art design very well, and both games are a pleasure to look at. The first impressed me in particular because it's so restrained, yet effective.

 

[dimensional]

Most of the ones that came to my mind have been said already so I will just mention some that I havent seen yet:-

Blazblue Continuum shift extend - just beautiful backdrops and animation
Skullgirls - really nicely animated and drawn characters and really sharp
King of Fighters XIII - yes another fighting game (sorry) but I was actually really impressed with the visuals in this and how smooth everything moved even more so than the above 2 overall.

Valkyria Chronicles - I loved the visuals sure they werent amazing graphically but the style fit the presentation of the game perfectly.

Soul Calibur - yea an old one but when this was released I cant think of another game that looked so good it helped the game was awesome as well but really the visuals were just stunning at the time and arent to shabby even today unlike soul blade unfortunately.

Dead or Alive 2 hardcore - whatever you think of the game the visuals were top notch not SC standard but still damn good then they just kept them the same for 3 and 4, it looks like 5 has minor upgrades only again but will reserve judgement. Anyway superb visuals in the second one for the time.

I would have mentioned more non fighting ones but seems others have got a lot of those already.

 

[Greni]

Just Cause 2

When i first skydived from a plane, and just watched over a distance, i was just blown away by the scenary. The game is too good to be true.

Spoiler

Just look at this, who doesn't think this looks amazing?

The water is some of the best I've seen in a videogame, it looks just beautiful.

And the explosions and the combat looks great in it too, it's ridiculously good.

Ninja'd, couldn't think of anything really that blew me away quite as much as Just Cause 2 did. Looks absolutely stunning in 3d vision to boot.
Too bad that I found the gameplay get really boring and repetitive really fast.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Spoiler: FFXIII

Especially the summons. Oh glorious holy fuck, the summons. Loved those bits.

Spoiler: Little Big Planet

Alongside the wonderful voice of Stephen Fry, I loved this game. So pretty and fun.
I want a PS3 again now >_<

I wouldn't say it's stunning but The Walking Dead game visuals are quite interesting with it being based on the comic book.

 

[him over there]

Nobody has said Wind Waker? Better add some Wind Waker!

Spoiler

 

[The_Lost_King]

Riverwood in skyrim is just so beautiful. I could live there in real life(as long as they add electricity or I am not used to having videogames). I'll post screen's later.

 

[Lt._nefarious]

El Shaddai Ascension of the Metatron

Spoiler

Silent Hill Downpour

Spoiler

Wipeout (ps3)

Spoiler

 

[Buizel91]

Riverwood in skyrim is just so beautiful. I could live there in real life(as long as they add electricity or I am not used to having videogames). I'll post screen's later.

The first time i saw White Run i was like...Wow O.O

It also reminded me of Rohan, Markarth reminded me a little of Helms Deep, don't know why.

 

[Vigormortis]

oh my god, one review of Portal 2 annoyed me so much. They went on and on about the oh so old Source engine and how the graphics don't stack up these days and blablabla... when, while I was playing it, I had never taken as many screenshots before. At least they know perfectly well what to do with their engine and produce amazing views without wrenching camera control away from you. And it is graphically impressive, what they did with lighting and materials and sheer scale.

Then this reviewer was a fucking idiot. The source engine (which is updated regulary) is one of the most capable on the market. CS:GO looks amazing as well as Portal 2 did. Not only that but it is one of the engines that actually allow easy creation of facial expressions (look at GMod) which is professionaly demonstrated in HL2 (the facial expressions there were far beyond their time, today many FPS just manage to catch up to things Valve did in HL2).

But really this guy sounds like one of those "bros" who think that old engine = bad graphics.

Hell, have you seen Dota 2 in action? It's pretty damn impressive. Zooming in at any point in the map reveals a lot of minute, subtle details. Everything from wind/dust effects to tiny birds, bugs, snakes, fish, and frogs moving around and interacting/reacting to the environment. It's really a sight to behold.

(and this isn't even touching on the rather impressive animation, shader, and particle effects)

 

[WhyWasThat]

Resident Evil 4, God of War 1 and 3, Uncharted 1-3, Half Life 2, Half Life 2: Episode 2, Just Cause 1, flOw, Flower, Journey, Killzone 2, Gears of War 1, Red Dead Redemption, LittleBigPlanet 1, Dead Space 1, Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Oblivion, Skyrim, Limbo.

 

[SeeIn2D]

And then there's Journey...

Spoiler: Drop

Spoiler: Dead

Spoiler: Gorgeous

I knew you would have Journey covered so I'll just quote you in support of an excellent choice. I would also say Dear Esther has AMAZING visuals. That game looks fantastic.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Skyrim can also be pretty spectacular at times especially during dusk in-game but I saw someone already posted a few pictures that show just that so I'll leave it at that.

 

[OpticalJunction]

Witcher 2 is absolutely gorgeous.
Skyrim too.
Sonic generations is like a deluxe version of 90's Sonic.