Games that are visually stunning.

[havoc33]

different games from different consoles that made my jaw drop:

SNES
Chrono Trigger (16-bit sprite perfection. Beautiful)
Donkey Kong Country (most of us thought this looked next gen back then)

PS1
WipeOut (the biggest leap in graphics I ever witnessed. Combined with the ace soundtrack and graphic design, this was revoloutionary and it totally blew my mind)
Final Fantasy 7

PS2
Metal Gear Solid 2 (amazing opening act on the boat was a full on showcase for the power of the PS2)
Final Fantasy X
Jak & Daxter

GAMECUBE
Zelda: Wind Waker (the celshading made it look like the best cartoon ever created)
Metroid Prime (the art direction made it even better than Halo IMO)

XBOX
Halo

WII
Super Mario Galaxy (who thought the Wii could create graphics like this?)
Xenoblade Chronicles

360
Oblivion (the sheer scope and detail was something I had never seen before)

PS3
Killzone 2 (amazing detail and gritty world)
Uncharted 2 (going through the forest and up towards the volcano.. what a joy. Amazing vistas!)
FFXII (the game might suck, but the graphics certainly didn't)

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

(Warning, some of the images behind these spoiler boxes are huge)

Probably for me the first game that made me go 'Woah' was Final Fantasy IX

Spoiler

More recently Mass Effect has impressed me

Spoiler

I grew up when polygons were considered a bit la-di-da. The thought that an image like that could be from actual gameplay was unthinkable. Surely computers would never be that good?

But the event that stuck with me the most is from Falout 3, when you first leave the Vault and see the Wasteland rolling away before you. It was one of the only moments in gaming I have actually stopped and just stared at the screen, wondering what the hell I'm going to do next. Everything is so big and right at that moment I felt tiny and overwhelmed. I had a BB Gun, a Baseball Bat and a pistol with eight rounds and the nearest civilisation I could see was so far away it was hidden behind fog. So very, very effective at drawing me in.

 

[xplosive59]

Games like Crysis and Call Of Duty don't do it for me in the visual department. I would probably say the best looking games I can think of at the moment are Bastion, Okami, Journey and FF9 back in the day. I would not throw Trine in the good looking pile like some people would as in my opinion as it looks so busy and cluttered that it ruins the aesthetics of what could of been a gorgeous looking game.

Some Minecraft shaders and texture packs make the game look gorgeous, the HD realism texture packs don't do it for me though, it just makes it look grainy. This looks amazing though...

I have the 360 version of Minecraft, apparently texture packs are coming but tbh i doubt i'll get any sure they look some of them look amazing, and i like how the leaves moved in the wind, but i think it would just kill the experience. The thing i love about Minecraft is the blocky graphics, it just makes it unique.

This isn't a texture pack in the video, its a shaders mod that adds shadowing, light effects and moving foliage, there are some gorgeous looking texture packs out there that you have probably already seen. An amazing looking texture Pack with a certain shader to compliment it can look godly, sometimes its just nice to have the plain minecraft look though.

 

[omicron1]

Spoiler

Total War: Rome 2, anyone?

...Anyone?

 

[Jynthor]

Skyrim. The graphics aren't amazing but the Artstyle makes you forget all about that, the artstyle is what makes Skyrim look great.

Some screenshots I made recently

Spoiler

 

[Smooth Operator]

Trine 2 needs a mention here, and yes those are ingame shots

Spoiler: Brace yourself it's a doosey

 

[Bordersane]

This sounds odd, but I still think good ol' Titan Quest holds up pretty well in the visual department, and let me not forget Just Cause 2...its really beautiful on max settings.
I'm tempted to say Skyrim here, but there's some really shoddy/low-res texture work spattered all over that game.
The original Crysis...even by today's standard.
Battlefield 3 (hate it or love it)
The work that went into the shadows and lighting for Metro 2033 is just amazing. worth checking out.
Also Dirt 3.

 

[Andy Shandy]

To pick a game that hasn't been mentioned yet, I'm going to say Viva Pinata.

Such a colourful game, especially compared to many games now.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Pretty much these lots-
Okami
Viewtiful Joe
Donkey Kong Country
Gear of War 2 (I don't get to see and played many 360 or PS3 games and when my bro bought that over, I was abit awe by the graphic).
Guild Wars (there are some areas that look stunning).
Guild Wars 2
Gold Sun (I was impress by the graphic and this was during the early days of GBA games).
Xenoblade Chronicle (it's so big).
Metroid Prime 1 & 2.

 

[namhorFnodroG]

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.

 

[Shinsei-J]

Klonoa wins on the PS1.
<spoiler=Start up screen><youtube=_eGPwAhCF8k>The simple fact that was on the PS1 and ot looks that stunning amazes me.
I mean the gameplays only above average but the cutscenes look so good.

 

[krazykidd]

Hmmm

PoP 2008 comes to mind . That game was BEAUTIFUL, too bad i sucked .
Final fantasy 13 . That game was BEAUTIFUL. Square once again saying :" LOOK WHAT WE CAN DO!"

 

[Thaliur]

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

 

[CleverNickname]

I sense a lack of Trine 2. Probably one of the best looking games 2011. Also, Serious Sam 3: BFE. This is how PC games have to do graphic options.

Marry me.

I wouldn't have thought of BFE actually, because my graphics card was crap when I first played it (but it ran, because of options. SO MANY OPTIONS! ). When I got a new one and fired it up... holy moly, I had no idea. It might be 80% sand, but damn it's got a great look. Better in motion than in screens though, I think.

Trine 2 though... I thought Trine 1 was the most beautiful thing I'd ever behold. I have never been proven so wrong before. I was really amazed how much they improved the look - without, I believe, changing the actual graphics much.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

I?m a total 16-bit whore, so it?s probably the Sonic the Hedgehog and Donkey Kong Country trilogies for me.

 

[someonehairy-ish]

The original Oddworld games were gorgeous. As was Bioshock.

Dead Space 2 was a freaking beautiful game, I think that a lot of people didn't notice because they tended not to draw much attention to it.

And Bethesda games in general tend to have incredible vistas. Think of the bit in Skyrim right near the beginning, just after you come out of the cave. And suddenly; BOOM, mountains with huge ruins and rolling hills and forests... shame that Beth games also tend to look a bit off once you look at things up close. Skyrim managed to mostly avert that with much better character models, but the NPCs still talk whilst not emoting at all, which is kinda strange.

Captcha: Be mine.

Sure?

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

I sense a lack of Trine 2. Probably one of the best looking games 2011. Also, Serious Sam 3: BFE. This is how PC games have to do graphic options.

Marry me.

I wouldn't have thought of BFE actually, because my graphics card was crap when I first played it (but it ran, because of options. SO MANY OPTIONS! ). When I got a new one and fired it up... holy moly, I had no idea. It might be 80% sand, but damn it's got a great look. Better in motion than in screens though, I think.

Trine 2 though... I thought Trine 1 was the most beautiful thing I'd ever behold. I have never been proven so wrong before. I was really amazed how much they improved the look - without, I believe, changing the actual graphics much.

Yes indeed. Trine 2 doesn't even need to be played, just watched while you pick your jaw up off the floor and remember to breathe every so often.

 

[Guffe]

I liked the Style of Skyward Sword.
Also Okami has a nice thouch, both are games that at first require some getting used but after that looks nice.
Also Pokemon Red on the GameBoy colour