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[Magic Mushroom]

Of course Crysis looks stunning, but that doesn't mean that other games suddenly look mediocre because they don't use the latest cutting edge technology. I think there is much beauty to be found in many games this gen, or other gens for that matter. I mean, Transformers 2 will use some of the latest cutting edge technology available, but that doesn't mean 2001 or the Good, The Bad and The Ugly aren't still beautiful looking movies. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway.

 

[cameltoe]

weird i played it just fine on a 8800gts 640mb, admittedly 1.2 patch made it better and of course newer gfx drivers but nevertheless 8800gtx was more than a match for it. i could almost get away with playing 1080p cuban cfg level 5 on a clocked 8800gts 512, not quite though and they're marginally slower than a gtx

On my q6600 @ 2.8 4780 1 GB running on very high at 1280x720 i still drop down into the 20's. At 1920x1080 it runs in the 20's all time with dips into the 10's.

 

[b.e.r.g]

Sigh, you console heads sure are sensitive about you graphics! Crysis is a wonderful game, both technically and artistically! It creates a very realistic atmosphere that fits the game perfectly.
If nothing, it's a glimpse into the future of what to expect. From a gamers (regardless of console or pc) point of you, you should find that interesting!
How can you even claim to be a gamer and throw the triumph of graphics aside just cause it doesn't fit on your damn box? Does it even matter? Can't you recognize beauty when you see it?

Like this one?

http://www.vimeo.com/1647830

And yes, you can see the game in that light if you have the machine and tweak the game. Or where do you think those screenshots come from?.

Mster Config 3.01? What is that?

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

I agree, I'm a big KOF fan so don't misconstrue what I said previously as hate. Also, I'm not really sure what your question means.


BlazBlue sacrifices animations for HD sprites. KOFXII sacrifices HD sprites for smooth animation. They are both decisions made by their respective developers. But to say SNKP were aiming for pixellated sprites is like saying ASW were aiming for lower frame count. But that's silly, it's just a consequence of their decisions, not a directed goal.

While I'm not saying you're factually wrong the frame stops and quick animation turns is just Ark System Work's style of animating. Even their 3D games share the same effect. Outside of those moments Blazblue has some pretty respectable animation. It's just the type of animation Arc System Works does (which also ties into their game's gameplay). Even if they had unlimited resources I doubt that we'd see a Guilty Gear like game with Third Strike animation.

Saying that though, while I think their game's hiccups are due to their "style" I still wouldn't call their games "smooth" because style or not inconsistent animation is well inconsistent.

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

On my q6600 @ 2.8 4780 1 GB running on very high at 1280x720 i still drop down into the 20's. At 1920x1080 it runs in the 20's all time with dips into the 10's.

Pretty much. I have the same system as you (except 4GB of RAM) and got a bit better performance. Though I don't know about you but I downloaded the latest patch and got the hack to set the specs to very high settings on DX9.

 

[proposition]

More Mirror's Edge love:

"Hargle bargle Unreal Engine 3 is awful all the games are ugly durf Unreal Engine 'look' texture pop-in baked lighting."

Can you guess who I am yet?

Spoiler

The answer is: a stupid person.

 

[zon]

Crysis of course. It pisses on any other game and slaps 'em with its dick when it comes to graphics.

 

[eso76]

mirror's edge is actually the best thing to come out of ue3.
also pre baked lighting and occlusion mapping look great, until we can have those being rendered in real time (which they aren't right now).

 

[Darkmakaimura]

Prince of Persia may not win for best graphics, but it certainly has some of the most beautiful graphics this gen. If the sequel follows the same style, I would hope they give us more action-oriented combat and enemy variety.

As both a PS3 and Xbox360 owner, I'm really hard-pressed to say what I think has the best graphics. Killzone 2 is without a doubt awesome, but I still didn't think it had "blow-me-away" graphics like everyone else was saying. It's really a hard vote. MGS4 was more of an impact for me and, maybe it's just my style, but Devil May Cry 4 was nothing short of spectacular.

It's a lot of technical woo-hoos and a bit of opinion. It's really what you like... genre, style, etc.

 

[Calcaneus]

Man, those Crysis pics look pretty nice, but nothing stopped me in this tracks in this thread like KOF did.

Sometimes, 2D is just more interesting.

 

[Fersis]

I agree, I'm a big KOF fan so don't misconstrue what I said previously as hate. Also, I'm not really sure what your question means.


BlazBlue sacrifices animations for HD sprites. KOFXII sacrifices HD sprites for smooth animation. They are both decisions made by their respective developers. But to say SNKP were aiming for pixellated sprites is like saying ASW were aiming for lower frame count. But that's silly, it's just a consequence of their decisions, not a directed goal.

Nona and the producer said that they wanted KOF XII to look 'pixelated' as the previous games.
Cheers

 

[cameltoe]

Pretty much. I have the same system as you (except 4GB of RAM) and got a bit better performance. Though I don't know about you but I downloaded the latest patch and got the hack to set the specs to very high settings on DX9.

using vista so very high is available

 

[dejan]

Like this one?

http://www.vimeo.com/1647830

And yes, you can see the game in that light if you have the machine and tweak the game. Or where do you think those screenshots come from?.

That video reminds me that I really have to replay the original Crysis.

 

[Kadey]

Crysis specs always intrigued me.

Has the game been more friendly to the newer gfx cards?

I know PC gamers always bragged about the 100+fps in their games. Is that possible wit Crysis? Most screens I've seen don't go higher than 50fps at the highest setting...

If there'd be a console port, it'd be a very downgraded port, that's for sure.

 

[Opiate]

Best graphics unlimited by hardware: Crysis
Best graphics restricted by hardware: KZ2

The latter impresses me more, at least in terms of development prowess...

There's no way KZ2 takes this crown. There are several games on DS that absolutely floor me, given the restrictions. I'm quite sure that there have been a host of games that have come closer to maximizing the platform's potential than KZ2 did.

 

[DogWelder]

Nona and the producer said that they wanted KOF XII to look 'pixelated' as the previous games.
Cheers

...rather than reduce the frame count. They can say that, but if they had been given the resources (money included) to make the game both HD and smooth, you're saying they would have chosen to go sub-HD and scale the sprites up? Not a chance.

 

[Guled]

pics

nice, what are the specs of your pc?

 

[Fersis]

...rather than reduce the frame count. They can say that, but if they had been given the resources (money included) to make the game both HD and smooth, you're saying they would have chosen to go sub-HD and scale the sprites up? Not a chance.

Im just saying what they said.
Im not the kind of guy who whines about the things that arent ,i happy about the things that are.
Short version:I dont care how the game have could been,i care how the game is.
Sorry for my english.

 

[Pojo]

Hands down, no contest: Crysis. For at direction and overall graphics.

Now, on to consoles: It's close between Killzone and Resident Evil 5. RE5 is just so gorgeous that I don't even care about the low-res textures. It's just so perfectly cohesive that everything feels natural. I'm so sick of bloom lighting and super shiny textures, so it's nice to see some grittiness.

I would say Uncharted, but the whole screen tearing thing kind of brings it down.

 

[Ether_Snake]

This is weird how the hands don't seem to be lit in the same way the environment is. It's like looking at a TV screen.

 

[Acosta]

Mster Config 3.01? What is that?

A mod with tweaked config and maps, you have the links on the page. This is a picture I just took using it:

DX10, no AA, mster config.

 

[DogWelder]

Im just saying what they said.
Im not the kind of guy who whines about the things that arent ,i happy about the things that are.
Short version:I dont care how the game have could been,i care how the game is.
Sorry for my english.

Dude, you jumped into the wrong argument, then. I was merely correcting Flying_Pheonix's statement, not whining about what could be. Context of a post is everything.

 

[lowlylowlycook]

nm too much nonsense in this thread already. Don't need to add my own.

 

[Earthpainting]

Based on scope and art direction, Prince of Persia and Assassin's Creed.

My vote goes out to these two as well. Resident Evil 5 is another pretty impressive show-piece as well. It comes very close to the AC and PoP and in many ways even exceeds those, though the game somehow didn't always as feel graphically consistent.

Honourable mention probably has to go to Flower. It's not really my thing, but damn is it one classy looking game.


Now I'm not entirely sure, but I believe my very first visual 'wow-moment' of this generation came from the 'All Ghillied Up' mission of Call of Duty 4. Extremely immersive and probably the first time I've actually witnessed convincing camouflage in a game.

 

[Cday]

Been playing Mirror's Edge on PC lately and if Crysis didn't have such amazing tech I'd give it to ME. Amazing looking game, great textures, incredibly clean with 4 or 8 AA.

 

[Rad Agast]

Of course Crysis looks stunning, but that doesn't mean that other games suddenly look mediocre because they don't use the latest cutting edge technology. I think there is much beauty to be found in many games this gen, or other gens for that matter. I mean, Transformers 2 will use some of the latest cutting edge technology available, but that doesn't mean 2001 or the Good, The Bad and The Ugly aren't still beautiful looking movies. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway.

The thread is about "Best graphics this gen" not best art direction.

P.S. correct me if I'm wrong but, are you comparing Crysis to the live action Transformers movie? :lol
I would love to hear which games are your 2001 and The good, the bad and the ugly.

 

[Ether_Snake]

Cuboid looks nice!

 

[Nemo]

http://i43.tinypic.com/2v2tvdi.jpg[IMG]
[/QUOTE]What about outside pictures?

My vote goes to (console only) either MGS4 or Assassins Creed.

 

[bee]

On my q6600 @ 2.8 4780 1 GB running on very high at 1280x720 i still drop down into the 20's. At 1920x1080 it runs in the 20's all time with dips into the 10's.

cpu is quite slow but i'd expect better than that, don't use dx10 and use a config, 95% of the image quality with 50% better frame rates, mine plays fine now at 1080p on a gtx 260 with various maxed out configs

 

[Puck]

Virtua Tennis 3!

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

At its best, I don't think anything comes close to FC2. Add a full day-night cycle, with shifting weather and the ability to run well and look good on many different kinds of systems, and you have a real winner. I'm dreaming of an old-school Ghost Recon game with this engine.

 

[BobsRevenge]

i've played it. it looks bland (some of the subject matter looks cool though -- neat aliens). i said earlier this discussion is pointless without defining 'graphics', but if we're accounting for art direction --

[IMG ]http://upload.dfyb.net/uploaded/0486.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG ]http://upload.dfyb.net/uploaded/0487.jpg[/IMG]

Killzone 2, while not being able to take advantage of 1-4GB of RAM, still creates a more visually appealing image in my opinion. Crysis, to me, feels like "this is what we can do pushing directX farther than we did a few years ago." with their focus on post processing effects, Killzone 2 redefines how games can look.

Hold on...

You just called Crysis bland...

Then praised Killzone 2 for not being bland...

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

Killzone 2 has some good graphics, but it is one of the most bland looking games ever. It has, like, three colors in it. Grey, blue, and red. Nice. Also: a sandy level.


@the guy who posted the Far Cry 2 screenshot.

GOOD CALL! Game is so underrated graphically. In some ways I prefer it to Crysis. I love the organic feel they gave it. Too bad it has no real motion blur though. :|

edit: Talking about PC Far Cry 2.

 

[Ysiadmihi]

At its best, I don't think anything comes close to FC2. Add a full day-night cycle, with shifting weather and the ability to run well and look good on many different kinds of systems, and you have a real winner. I'm dreaming of an old-school Ghost Recon game with this engine.

Cranking the vegetation up to max and walking around the jungle areas of FC2 is the only time where graphics and atmosphere have actually succeeded in making me feel immersed in a game. It's amazing how realistically everything animates and how it sways in the wind.

It's not above Crysis, but goddamn it's impressive.

 

[Xal-Shoota]

*David Hayter*
METAL GEAR??!?

 

[BobsRevenge]

Cranking the vegetation up to max and walking around the jungle areas of FC2 is the only time where graphics and atmosphere have actually succeeded in making me feel immersed in a game. It's amazing how realistically everything moves and how it sways in the wind.

It's not above Crysis, but goddamn it's impressive.

Far Cry 2 is the only game where I have sat and watched a fucking sunrise (edit: nm, I did it in Crysis also that point that everyone remembers). I was in the water at Mike's Bar on a boat. I saw the sun coming up, with its reflection on the water and the God rays coming up over the horizon into trees and shit. I was actually awe-struck for a bit.

The way the trees react to explosions is also really amazing to watch.

 

[RedRedSuit]

Ellika's face must look less ugly for it to be best graphics this gen.

 

[skyfinch]

So did Prince of Persia win yet?

 

[Jonsoncao]

Geometry Warz 2

 

[Haunted]

Killzone 2's desert level/village looks absolutely incredible. Probably on par with Far Cry 2's steppe (even though the latter obviously has a much bigger scope).


There have been plenty of amazing looking titles this gen. Truly a good gen for graphic whores.

Cranking the vegetation up to max and walking around the jungle areas of FC2 is the only time where graphics and atmosphere have actually succeeded in making me feel immersed in a game. It's amazing how realistically everything animates and how it sways in the wind.

It's not above Crysis, but goddamn it's impressive.

Far Cry 2 is the only game where I have sat and watched a fucking sunrise (edit: nm, I did it in Crysis also that point that everyone remembers). I was in the water at Mike's Bar on a boat. I saw the sun coming up, with its reflection on the water and the God rays coming up over the horizon into trees and shit. I was actually awe-struck for a bit.

The way the trees react to explosions is also really amazing to watch.

Yeah, it looked really great at times, especially loved the time passing in the safehouses. A shame the gameplay didn't live up to its graphical prowess, imo. Still, as this is a graphics discussion, it deserves the accolades. I probably would've included it in my Top 5 if it had better models.

 

[pakkit]

Flower

I agree, absolutely stunning.

 

[BobsRevenge]

If I had to pick just one as a personal favorite it'd be Metal Gear Solid 4. Most games have too much detail which ends up reading as noise (see: Fallout 3/Killzone 2 especially). For me its got to be a balance of detail, animation, lightning and smooth rendering. With all that in mind I don't need graphics to look any better than they do in Metal Gear Solid 4.

Come on man, MGS4 isn't even 720p. The game has a weird hazy blur throughout it that annoys me.

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

Crysis is the first game to feature a snowy landscape that I'd say looked real. Others have done snow well, but damn it, Paradise Lost was borderline real. Add the wicked motion of the character, and it was pretty striking. Bland my ass.

As for Far Cry 2, minute details may not hold up to scrutiny, nor does everything look great, but there are some moments, like when you're moving through a valley at dusk, the wind picks up and all the things move that should move, it's near magical. When you then consider that everything is as open as it is, it really does feel like an organic world. Filled with very little of value, but that's why I'm hoping to see some other game use this engine. Imagine playing a silent kill sniper mission in the old classical Ghost Recon style, sneaking through the grass, oh my.

 

[dk_]

Well said. To me Crysis is nothing more than a substitute for reality and therefore it fails. If I want SOLELY realistic graphics I look out of my window or go through my vacation photos I took.

But this discusion has been done to death.

:lol :lol :lol

Oh gawd!

 

[JB1981]

Yeah me too.

Really love the use of per pixel blur and DOF. Also for the first time the lightning "looks" CG:ish, awesome job GG.

Is this off a cap card? KZ 2 never looks this 'clear' in motion, unfortunately. In fact, I wish the game used motion blur a bit more sparingly (like in this pic).

 

[shadowsdarknes]

Crysis hands down. While KZ2 looked good, it also felt like I was playing on a black & white TV half the time. The fact that Crysis does what it does with bright colors is something I don't think a lot of KZ2 leg humpers appreciate.

Uncharted 2 looks amazing...

Sounds like you were narrowly avoiding death half the time.

 

[Future PhaZe]

Not interested in the graphics debate going on here but I'll say two things...

1. Persia does look amazing. I actually think they took the art overboard to the point where it hurt the level design and gameplay.

2. A Far Cry 2 2nd edition needs to happen. Amazing game graphically but plays more like a huge tech demo. It is absolutely mindboggling how much they dropped the ball when you think about how epic it could have been.

 

[_Alkaline_]

Oh yay, a graphics thread. This is fun.

Seriously, this stuff is so subjective that there's no real point in trying to come up with a definitive victor. If we're talking technically, Crysis wins. There's no denying that.

But once you move into the realm of art-style, that's completely up to personal opinion. Some might love the world that Guerilla created with Killzone. Others might find it drab. Those people might prefer something like Banjo or Mirror's Edge.

But there's no clear-cut winner.

 

[Norml]

Come on man, MGS4 isn't even 720p. The game has a weird hazy blur throughout it that annoys me.

MGS4 looks amazing.

 

[MickeyKnox]

damn it not again.

 

[MvmntInGrn]

Best visuals on consoles: Killzone 2
I put KZ2 down for a few weeks and put it back in last night, IMO it looks miles better than any other console game yet, even the Uncharted 2 stuff hasn't quite convinced me it'll take the crown.
Overall: Crysis

IMO at least. Prince of Persia doesn't really stick out much for me really. On consoles and at decent settings on my PC it never really grabbed me. Got bored and didn't finish it so if it looks great at the end then I wouldn't know.

As far as consoles go MGS4 looked fantastic as well, while technically under 720p it beats the majority of HD games this gen. Uncharted looks great as well.