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Neiteio · Feb 21, 2015

Let's talk about videogames that have "colorful darkness." What do I mean by that? I mean when you have bright colors contrasted by darkness. Think stage lighting, or neon signage, or maybe Christmas lights at night:

For example, look at these screens I took in Majora's Mask 3D (mind you, they're more impressive in 3D on their intended screen):

Another example would be Puppeteer, a wonderful gadget-based platformer on the PS3:

And the first two BioShock titles, set in the underwater Art Deco city of Rapture (but I'll use a screenshot from Infinite's Burial at Sea DLC):

And here are couple screens I took of "colorful darkness" in BioShock Infinite:

Super Mario Galaxy is another title full of "colorful darkness"

Donkey Kong Country 2 is yet another:

So what are some of your favorite examples of "colorful darkness?" Anyone else love this sort of aesthetic?

L Thammy · Feb 21, 2015

I thought this would be a thread about darkness being purple.

TI82 · Feb 21, 2015

Does Dishonored count?

Also The Darkness 2

Last one I swear, the Palace of Twilight on Twilight Princess

Neiteio · Feb 21, 2015

TI82 said:
Does Dishonored count?

Absolutely, although I think there are better screens you could pick to represent the "colorful darkness" of Dishonored. The city in that game has many surreal shades that really pop amid the shadows.

Volcane · Feb 21, 2015

Infamous Second Son?

Neiteio · Feb 21, 2015

Volcane said:
Infamous Second Son?

Oh, Second Son is an -excellent- example! Feel free to post more examples, I always enjoy looking at the colors in this game.

TI82 · Feb 21, 2015

Here's another, its not out yet its called Affordable Space Adventures.

valkillmore · Feb 21, 2015

Volcane said:
Infamous Second Son?

Great example.

game-boi · Feb 21, 2015

MagnoSauce · Feb 21, 2015

TI82 said:
Last one I swear, the Palace of Twilight on Twilight Princess

People always criticize this dungeon but I swear everything about it is so visually interesting. And an example of how visually amazing the entire game could have been if more twists like it were introduced.

Krejlooc · Feb 21, 2015

TxK:

Floridian · Feb 21, 2015

Elder Scrolls: Skyrim's Blackreach area was mysterious when I first encountered it.

BennyBlanco · Feb 21, 2015

Man, why did they not do a carnival world in DKCTF?

and to contribute to the thread

Gattsu25 · Feb 21, 2015

So...basically high contrast colors?

I thought your referring to color grading.

bone_and_sinew · Feb 21, 2015

The entire premise of "The Void" is literally about colorful (and coloring) darkness

http://store.steampowered.com/app/37000/

Neiteio · Feb 21, 2015

Gattsu25 said:
So...basically high contrast colors?

I thought your referring to color grading.

High contrast colors might be one way to put, although I'm not sure that conveys the feeling I have in mind. "Christmas lights at night" is probably the best way to put it. Although it doesn't have to be a night scene, or even a dim scene. The "darkness" could be something surreal about the feel of the world, like in the MM3D shots I posted of Zora Link at the beach during the day.

The Wolf Among Us, Pac-Man CE, etc., are all great examples. Keep 'em coming!

TI82 · Feb 21, 2015

MagnoSauce said:
People always criticize this dungeon but I swear everything about it is so visually interesting. And an example of how visually amazing the entire game could have been if more twists like it were introduced.

I agree, i remember when it was first announced there was screenshots of a level like it and I thought it looked so cool. Like a fantasy tron.

Speaking of Tron, there was a game made for the movie called Tron Evolution and while it was mediocre at best the graphics were pretty sweet.

BennyBlanco · Feb 21, 2015

Antichamber.

impact · Feb 21, 2015

Dark Souls

Despera · Feb 21, 2015

Dunno why but the term colorful darkness immediately reminded me of El Shaddai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNpOPscdJrQ

His Majesty · Feb 21, 2015

VTMB

Alebrije · Feb 21, 2015

TLG

Cerity · Feb 22, 2015

Fragile Dreams is mesmerising, actually the art direction of the entire game is mesmerising. Screen is technically dawn but yeah.

boon · Feb 22, 2015

New Super Mario Bros. U

DeadNames · Feb 22, 2015

This thread made me appreciate SMG's art style even more.

jetsetrez · Feb 22, 2015

Jet Set Radio Future

Jet Set Radio

Rez

Starfox Adventures

TI82 · Feb 22, 2015

Killer 7 also fits this.

Neiteio · Feb 22, 2015

impact said:
Dark Souls

Oh nice, I was going through my Steam screens and thought about posting some of the Ash Lake ones in the OP. Definitely my favorite secret in Dark Souls.

Despera said:
Dunno why but the term colorful darkness immediately reminded me of El Shaddai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNpOPscdJrQ

El Shaddai is a good example. I think of the stained glass sections when I think of "colorful darkness":

image_el_shaddai_ascension_of_the_metatron-15518-2081_0002.jpg

Muramasa: Demon Blade would be another example:

MagnoSauce · Feb 22, 2015

I think some of Jeff Minter's work deserves a spot in this thread. There's surreal games like Attack of the Mutant Camels:

and his "light synthesizers" like Psychedelia (not really a game but fun to play around with while listening to Pink Floyd as was seemingly intended):

Neiteio · Feb 22, 2015

MagnoSauce said:
I think some of Jeff Minter's work deserves a spot in this thread. There's surreal games like Attack of the Mutant Camels:

and his "light synthesizers" like Psychedelia (not really a game but fun to play around with while listening to Pink Floyd as was seemingly intended):

Not familiar with this man or his work, but that first shot has wonderful atmosphere, thanks in part to the colorful darkness.

ShaunBRS · Feb 22, 2015

I guess Audiosurf is an obvious one.

Neiteio · Feb 22, 2015

boon said:
New Super Mario Bros. U

I always liked 1-2 in NSMBU where colorful darkness is concerned:

Alo81 · Feb 22, 2015

Dyad

Geometry Wars

Robot Roller Derby Disco Dodgeball

DmC Devil May Cry

Dark Souls II with an appropriately tweaked ENB can be great in this regard.

Here's a comparison between vanilla and ENB'd.

It strays far from the original intent, but it's a cool way to mess around.

DiipuSurotu · Feb 22, 2015

Secret of Monkey Island

Azure J · Feb 22, 2015

As someone doing research on aesthetics like this for a pet project 10+ years in the making, I know I'm going to enjoy this thread.

Giever · Feb 22, 2015

Killer is Dead?

LiveFromKyoto · Feb 22, 2015

When I saw this thread title, the first thing I thought of was Axiom Verge:

Dez_ · Feb 22, 2015

Just wanted to say that while I wasn't a huge fan of The Puppeteer, I really did enjoy it's visuals. The presentation in the game was excellent and really gave off the feel that you were watching this in a dark theater. I kept playing to see where I was going next. The Halloween town stage was definitely my favorite.

Neiteio · Feb 22, 2015

Oh, Killer is Dead is like a textbook example of colorful darkness. Shadows of the Damned would be another great example, while I'm thinking of Suda 51.

That DS2 ENB mod reminds me of this one for RE6:

Sportbilly · Feb 22, 2015

MagnoSauce said:
I think some of Jeff Minter's work deserves a spot in this thread. There's surreal games like Attack of the Mutant Camels:

and his "light synthesizers" like Psychedelia (not really a game but fun to play around with while listening to Pink Floyd as was seemingly intended):

Nice. Encounter, especially the level transitions, is another good 8-bit example.Dropzone, too.

CHC · Feb 22, 2015

Sleeping Dogs at night:

Marathon:

Thief: The Dark Project:

Micken · Feb 22, 2015

Super Metroid (or the Metroid series in general)

This probably isn't the best shot to showcase, but if you play any Metroid game (mostly the 2D ones), you'll see what I'm saying. Very colorful, but very dark mood and visuals.

Giever · Feb 22, 2015

EarthBound has a number of examples, but specifically Moonside and Lumine Hall:

Intheflorsh · Feb 22, 2015

I have always thought the Dead Space series does this well.

Maybe the colors aren't vivid enough to qualify.

Allegrian · Feb 22, 2015

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Also, Kefka:

Alo81 · Feb 22, 2015

Neiteio said:
Not familiar with this man or his work, but that first shot has wonderful atmosphere, thanks in part to the colorful darkness.

You should totally get familiar. A lot of great examples by Jeff Minter.

Neiteio said:
Oh, Killer is Dead is like a textbook example of colorful darkness. Shadows of the Damned would be another great example, while I'm thinking of Suda 51.

That DS2 ENB mod reminds me of this one for RE6:

Are those RE6 visuals a mod?

alvis.exe · Feb 22, 2015

Am I understanding this right?

Satorl Marsh and Eryth Sea in Xenoblade and Noctilucent Forest or whatever 夜光の森 will be localized as in Xenoblade X

dlauv · Feb 22, 2015

Alan Wake: American Nightmare had this kind of orange hue that meshed well with the purple night sky and the neon signage in the distance. Very good looking game and I've never seen any other game really do the same thing to the same effect.

Lush and dreamy and cool but unnerving, though not anything as wildly colored as Majora's Mask.

Well, and, of course:

Olly88 · Feb 22, 2015

Castlevania - NES (This is the third one, but I think all three count)

Batman - NES

Sonic 2 - Casino Night Zone

Nanashrew · Feb 22, 2015

Does Xenoblade count?

Eryth Sea

The water also gives off a brilliant glow at night too.

Frontier Village

Satorl Marsh (Night)

Dangit, beaten by Alvis.exe!

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