Last time you were impressed by graphics?

[z121231211]

Skullgirls, it hasn't been released yet, but I can pause a gameplay video at any frame and it'd be amazing.

I think I'll spend the majority of my time in the game going through replays frame by frame.

 

[omicron1]

Wait.... what... you can play Zelda on PC now?

You can, but then you would be considered a pirate. So, it depends on how you feel about doing illegal things.

I'm not a pirate - I buy all my wii games before I emulate 'em. Same with ps2 games.

On topic: probably The Witcher 2. I honestly have no idea how they managed to cram it onto consoles. None.

 

[CarlsonAndPeeters]

Well art styles impress me a lot, be it games like in a game like Outland or Journey or just the color choices like in Mirror's Edge or Deus Ex: HR.

But the only time I can remember being blown away by technical graphics was the first Gears of War. I went over to my friends house and he had just gotten a 360 and Gears and I had never seen anything like it. The detail really blew my mind.

Also I remember thinking that the cover system was a great idea and more games should try that...if only I knew what was coming...

 

[Scarim Coral]

Gears of Wars 2.
You see I only own a Wii and DS and I usually the "Gameplay > Graphic" but in saying so some of the Wii game graphics are crap.
When my brother came home for Christmas he brought his 360 and had that game. Once I seen that game on the TV screen and not on Youtube I was awestruck by the graphic. This is pretty much the first tme I started to see where the graphic people are coming from (yes the gameplay on GOW2 is still good).
Before you asked no he didn't bring over GOW3 last Christmas.

 

[verdant monkai]

SKYRIM awesome awesome landscapes

 

[Mordekaien]

Recently, Kingdoms of Amalur (those vistas are gorgeous) and Drankensang: Rivers of Time.
Also, Eschalon: Book 2 , isometric game with pretty neat graphics style.

 

[pilouuuu]

Graphics are so underwhelming... There has barely been any technical advance since Doom 3 and Half-Life 2. Thanks for art direction though! Trine 2 and Journey are so lovely to look at...
CAPTCHA: hold your horses

 

[teebeeohh]

Rage
the game was really average but oh my god was it pretty, just what i expect from an id game.
whoever the last time graphics were so good it literally took my breath away was still crysis.

 

[burhanr]

Technical: Race Driver GRID back in 2008. I mean, I just played nfs Undercover which is er.. kinda crap and have bad graphics and laggy. Then comes GRID with its crazy damage model and details and flashback.

Aesthetics: Bastion. Maybe I haven't played enough games, but I think Bastion is the most beautiful game ever made, and the soundtrack is just amazing.

HL2 Episode 2 and Bulletstorm is kind of cool I guess but it doesn't have the same wow, as those two.

 

[doomspore98]

I'd have to say rage. Those graphics were some of the best I've seen anywhere. Also the animation.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

What was the last game where you were genuinely impressed by the graphics? - to the point where they were almost the main reason you enjoyed the game (or reason you started playing in the first place). Or that they made you want to show the game to a friend.

Honestly? Never. However the last time I've EVER been impressed by graphics would have to be when I saw the ending cut-scene to Kingdom Hearts. I thought the CG there was amazing.

 

[Penguin_Factory]

In terms of pure graphical prowess (as opposed to art style) probably Battlefield 3. That game looks pretty damn impressive on a high resolution, and I'm not even playing on the highest setting.

If you're talking art style, Journey is seriously amazing. Just the use of colour alone is mind blowing.

 

[AndrewC]

Just Cause 2 probably, free falling onto a gorgeous remote island, or flying past crashing waterfalls?

Amazing.

 

[Sam Warrior]

Enslaved Odyssey to the west made me go ooo pretty a couple of times, mostly because it was green and nice looking post apocalypse rather than dull brown.

Edit: also I agree with the glasses guy who posted second. Every time I get new new glasses its like wow I can see again, thats nice.

 

[Yopaz]

The Last Story. It's not the amazing looking game, but it's how it uses its limited hardware that impresses me. It looks beautiful, but that is helped by the environment of the game I guess.

 

[ZippyPizzahead]

Crysis in 2007 (I built a new PC for this, spent about 550? on a graphics card or thereabouts)
Witcher 2 and Battlefield 3 in 2011 (upgraded a few components, also got a new graphics card especially for BF3)

I'm still waiting for a game or some games that'll make me spend money on a completely new PC, you hear that NVIDIA/Intel?

Oh yeah btw., a Zelda game as played on the Wii with only SD output and played on a PC in glorious HD (Dolphin Emu):

Zelda game.
ZELDA GAME!?
That, sir, is SUPER SMASH BROTHERS BRAWL.

 

[Stainlesssteele4]

Probably Metro 2033 on my new graphics card.
It was enough to make me play through the game again.

 

[Al-Bundy-da-G]

Final Fantasy X. Mostly because I went from have the gameplay look better than the former's cutscenes.

So this:

Looks horrible compared to this

Only time I've every really been stunned by graphics.

 

[Johny64]

For artistic direction, I would say either Borderlands or Skyward Sword. But for mimicking real-life, Battlefield 3 wins.

 

[hazabaza1]

Checking out Mass Effect 2 for the first time on an HDTV.
HOLY SHIT GRUNT'S SCALES HAVE DEPTH