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[Oresama]

Gran Turismo Sport is pretty fantastic looking, but, I'd agree there's definitely an air of diminishing returns for this gen.

Agreed. How sweet would this game look on UE4 ...

 

[Wiped89]

Get an OLED 4KTV (and a Pro if you can). It's been 6 months and I'm still so so impressed. Uncharted TLL looks photo real in places.

Even lower res games like Xbox One stuff looks better on OLED though. Total game changer.

 

[tkscz]

Nonsense. Everything has art-direction. Some good, some bad.
Uncharted is very much stylized. Maybe your taste changed a bit.

Just accept you know little about it and enjoy gaming.

You can word this so much better.

As for HotHamBoy, you've just become saturated with photo-realism and enjoy a more stylized look. And yes, Uncharted has a photo-realistic style. For example, I think you'll love the Yoshi Switch game look

though that can technically be considered photo-realistic.

 

[family_guy]

There's a difference between not being impressed and being disappointed. You've adjusted to a certain level of graphical fidelity so it's no longer a big deal. However if we went backwards you'd probably notice it.

 

[Sword Of Doom]

I didn’t really like lost legacy’s look either. Horizon Zero Dawn is jaw dropping beautiful though.


Neither of those games look “realistic” to me. They look painted. Maybe the faces, but that’s about it

 

[strafer]

that stuff stopped impressing me after Doom 3.

That game was absolutely crazy.

 

[InsaneTiger]

Gran Turismo Sport is pretty fantastic looking, but, I'd agree there's definitely an air of diminishing returns for this gen.

I've been saying for awhile this exact thing, we are at the point of diminishing returns. That is why I wished frame rates would take precedence over higher resolution. 4K is cool but we need more 60 fps games, after 4K what then? 8K? Where you can tell even less of a difference?

 

[OCD Guy]

However if we went backwards you'd probably notice it.

In the more realistic games you would.

There are certain art styles that hold up even today.

Neither of those games look "realistic" to me.

I can never understand this.

To me Uncharted aims for realism with regards to textures etc, even the character models. Look at Lost Legacy and the character models, the hair etc, it looks like they're aiming for realism to me. It's certainly not "gamey" like Breath of the Wild.

Then again I've seen some people say that Battlefront games arent' "realistic" or aiming for "realism".....

Fifa doesn't look realistic to me, but EA are certainly aiming for realisim....

 

[Astral Dog]

I agree though there are space for both styles, Kingdom Hearts is going to look interesting

 

[TLZ]

Looks like you just like cartoon graphics.

 

[Nekster]

artistic direction + framerate >>>>>>>> realistic graphics / polygons / resolution

 

[Bill R Boggess]

I feel like I was less impressed with Horizon than everyone else. Attempts at "realistic" human faces still creep me out.

You play Injustice 2?

Because they managed to pretty much conquer the uncanny valley problem - the faces of the characters look incredible.

 

[R1CHO]

Gran Turismo Sport is pretty fantastic looking, but, I'd agree there's definitely an air of diminishing returns for this gen.

No. The problem is that it doesn't look that good, the compromises are evident.

Let's talk about diminishing returns when the game looks like the photo mode with the real world environments.

 

[Bill R Boggess]

In the more realistic games you would.

There are certain art styles that hold up even today.



I can never understand this.

To me Uncharted aims for realism with regards to textures etc, even the character models. Look at Lost Legacy and the character models, the hair etc, it looks like they're aiming for realism to me. It's certainly not "gamey" like Breath of the Wild.

Then again I've seen some people say that Battlefront games arent' "realistic" or aiming for "realism".....

Fifa doesn't look realistic to me, but EA are certainly aiming for realisim....

Uncharted's style isn't photo-realism, it's stylized high end cg, akin to something like the animated film Tin Tin.

 

[JimmyRustler]

that stuff stopped impressing me after Doom 3.

That game was absolutely crazy.

Don't remind me. That game was really something else. Such a huge jump. There won't be anything like it any more.

 

[butman]

Because of the Agnis Philosophy in-engine tech demo the current generation graphics doesn't impress me at all. This demo already make me think how next-gen will look.

 

[OCD Guy]

Uncharted's style isn't photo-realism, it's stylized high end cg, akin to something like the animated film Tin Tin.

Can you give me an example of a third person game that has a photo realistic style then?

I'd genuinely like to see the difference.

I might be wrong, I obviously don't know what the developers have aimed for. I tend to see things as either "gamey" or "realisitic". For example Borderlands is gamey, and Battlefront is realistic in my opinion.

 

[coolstones]

"Realistic" graphics are just going to be diminishing returns from now on. Now developers can just devote their time to art direction and gameplay. The only place I see graphics getting better would be in the VR market.

 

[Always-honest]

And yes, Uncharted has a photo-realistic style.

.

Not really. But i can see how people think that. It's a very believable world that is based very much on reality. But it's not photo-realism.

 

[Markoman]

I thought the same until I've played HZD. That game is beautiful and gave me my first true next gen moments.

 

[Voidwolf]

I've steadily been impressed by the graphics this gen. BF4 on PS4 launch day was a big step up from BF3 on PS3. Infamous SS looked fantastic. The Witcher 3 often blew my mind.

Well, I wonder why that is, Op.

Context: Been a PS4 player since launch day. Not Pro, no XB1X. Never been a PC gamer and my laptop is mid-tier at best.

Hmm...

 

[Give War A Chance]

I'm kind of in the same boat, except Horizon blew me away, though I'll concede that it was a combination of graphics and sound design there. (That noise it makes when you hit a weak point on a robot... SO GOOD)

But I really have felt the same way as the OP. Nowadays, art impresses me more than graphics.

 

[Ahasverus]

While I can understand I cant agree OP.
Specially when we just had Horizon Zero Dawn.
I cant see how anyone would be amazed with Witcher 3 on consoles and then not impressed on Horizon.
Horizon feels its on own level on OW consoles.

I'm impressed by both, and the new Pro Patch made The Witcher so close to horizon it might look better thanks to art direction.

 

[tkscz]

Not really. But i can see how people think that. It's a very believable world that is based very much on reality. But it's not photo-realism.

Can you explain in detail? I mean, Uncharted isn't as fantasy based as say HZD or XBC: X. Everything has this real life look to it. Nothing is really exaggerated to the point where it looks unreal. I mean, it isn't as much in the photo-realism realm as say CoD or BF, but it still has a feel of realism.

 

[Sulik2]

You should play Horizon, or just look at some of Sunhi's gifs. That game is stunning.

 

[Red UFO]

horizon set my eye balls on fire

 

[cooldawn]

It's hard to say which game has the most realistic visuals.

Driveclub did a fantastic job of including amazing looking cars, realistic effects and wonderful lighting. Now, Gran Turismo Sport has taken the lighting mantle which helps the scene overall look more realistic.

Apart from that I'd say DICE's Frostbite engine has the biggest potential to look the most realistic. Battlefield 4 and Battlefield 1 don't quite cut it but Battlefront and Battlefront 2, using the same engine, are way ahead of the main franchise. A strange circumstance. Tremendous effects work and the lighting is magnificent.

I can't think of another developer that gets close.

Games Like Horizon Zero Dawn have nice lighting but it's down the list when it comes to realism. Same for inFAMOUS: Second Son, Uncharted (both games) and the up and coming God of War. They look more pastel than realistic. Maybe Days Gone will trump them all, or even The Last Of Us Part II.

Oh...Grand Theft Auto V's lighting is pretty neat, mind.

 

[supernormal]

The last time I was blown away with realistic graphics was Ryse, Arkham Knight, and The Order. Those were my next gen moments. While games have shown better visuals since then, the leap between Ryse and Uncharted 4 isn't as big as the leap between Ryse and everything before it.

Also, realistic graphics always have a problem where they're stuck in between being a nicely detailed "impression" of realism and totally coming up short on looking like actual people at all. That's why I'm more impressed with games that fully embrace a different aesthetic that they can nail 100%, instead of going realistic and having the illusion fall apart as soon as you see clothes not moving properly or hair looking like anything but hair.

I agree to a point. I'm still you know occasionally impressed when I see "an Uncharted", but it's other games with masterfully executed and more unique art design like Thumper, Inside, The Witness and Hyper Light Drifter that really leave an impact on me

[IMG]https://67.media.tumblr.com/0926ac2d53adbeea5a10eac28df46e7c/tumblr_oeuplbw0KG1u4rawro4_500.gif[/IMG]

[IMG]http://orig05.deviantart.net/7991/f/2016/036/5/3/the_witness_game_beach_by_digi_matrix-d9ql0bg.gif[/IMG]

[IMG]http://geekandsundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Forest.gif[/IMG]

[IMG]http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/3045253-hyperlightdrifter+2016-03-30+10-18-15-64.jpg[/IMG]

This is way more impressive to me.

 

[jett]

Uncharted's style isn't photo-realism, it's stylized high end cg, akin to something like the animated film Tin Tin.

Maybe back in the days of Uncharted 3, even then, not so much.

Characters in UC4 don't have this sort of greatly exaggerated proportions.

 

[Always-honest]

Can you explain in detail? I mean, Uncharted isn't as fantasy based as say HZD or XBC: X. Everything has this real life look to it. Nothing is really exaggerated to the point where it looks unreal. I mean, it isn't as much in the photo-realism realm as say CoD or BF, but it still has a feel of realism.

Well, this. Although the series have become more photo-realistic every game. Proportions become more and more realistic. But still a stylized game.

It's al stylized and molded into a believable world.
Realistic shaders and physics, but the whole world is crafted from the ground up to be a different than photo realistic world. It's not exactly a caricature.. but it does go int that direction a bit.

 

[Papo Swing]

I don't see Horizon on that list so try that one and get back to us. I know I feel similar to what you said, but I felt Horizon had a fresh environment and it felt new so the fatigue didn't set in as it has with Uncharted.

Also, there are more than enough game with other awesome styles. maybe just not AAA and that is ok too.

 

[rashbeep]

Uncharted's style isn't photo-realism, it's stylized high end cg, akin to something like the animated film Tin Tin.

uncharted looks nothing like that

it very much is a series (especially 4) that leans towards photorealism

 

[Bill R Boggess]

Can you give me an example of a third person game that has a photo realistic style then?

I'd genuinely like to see the difference.

I might be wrong, I obviously don't know what the developers have aimed for. I tend to see things as either "gamey" or "realisitic". For example Borderlands is gamey, and Battlefront is realistic in my opinion.

Star Wars Battlefront is definitely photo-realistic, which works well given that the games are looking to emulate the look of the films.

Also, it's not so much that you are wrong as I think the term "realism" is inherently nebulous and requires more clearly defined parameters.

Obviously, something like Uncharted looks more realistic than something like BOTW or Mario Odyssey.

 

[iswasdoes]

I think they're going for realism guys.

 

[NinjaCoachZ]

Lost Legacy is utterly gorgeous. The colours were practically screaming to be let out of the screen, and the jungles, caves, waterfalls, and temples were almost dreamlike in how "too good to be real" they were. It's honestly even more breathtaking than Uncharted 4 for me and it almost singlehandedly makes me wish I had a PS4 Pro to experience its full glory.

 

[jett]

I can't say I understand why some people are denying that Naughty Dog is going for a photorealistic look.

 

[CanUKlehead]

You know, even there I feel like Yoshi games have never reached the heights of Yoshi's Island. Both in gameplay design and visual design.

Yarn Yoshi is cute but it's still kind of ugly, too.

Honestly, I went back to DK Country and remembered even back then, I much preferred sprites on YI and Chrono Trigger over that, KI and especially Star Fox.

I'm glad we got through those rough years of 16/32 bit polygons/3D graphics relatively quickly.

And off topic, yeah, YI was fucking awesome, completely playable 20 years later. I have never disagreed more strongly with Jeff Gerstmann over anything.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

Well, this. Although the series have become more photo-realistic every game. Proportions become more and more realistic. But still a stylized game.

It's al stylized and molded into a believable world.
Realistic shaders and physics, but the whole world is crafted from the ground up to be a different than photo realistic world. It's not exactly a caricature.. but it does go int that direction a bit.

Yep, and every photorealistic game except for sports and sims tries to do do this. Just like sci-fi/fantasy movies are very stylized even if actors are 100% real. Photorealism and stylized visuals are not mutually exclusive, if not cinema would be a boring affair.

 

[Pastry]

I’m still regularly impressed with BF1 on a Pro and my 4K tv.

Last night I was moving from a capture point to another by running and jumping into bomb craters while mortars blew up around me, bullets where flying by and planes were dogfighting above me.

It's hard to say which game has the most realistic visuals.

Driveclub did a fantastic job of including amazing looking cars, realistic effects and wonderful lighting. Now, Gran Turismo Sport has taken the lighting mantle which helps the scene overall look more realistic.

Apart from that I'd say DICE's Frostbite engine has the biggest potential to look the most realistic. Battlefield 4 and Battlefield 1 don't quite cut it but Battlefront and Battlefront 2, using the same engine, are way ahead of the main franchise. A strange circumstance. Tremendous effects work and the lighting is magnificent.

I can't think of another developer that gets close.

Games Like Horizon Zero Dawn have nice lighting but it's down the list when it comes to realism. Same for inFAMOUS: Second Son, Uncharted (both games) and the up and coming God of War. They look more pastel than realistic. Maybe Days Gone will trump them all, or even The Last Of Us Part II.

Oh...Grand Theft Auto V's lighting is pretty neat, mind.

Battlefield games have way more going on in them than Battlefront though.

 

[JustenP88]

I think The Order started my "diminishing returns" downslide. Game was pretty AF for nothing. I can respect the technical feats that games like UC4 and HZD pull off, but I have no interest in stopping to smell the roses.

Games like Cuphead, DBFZ, Mario Odyssey, Color Splash, Gravity Rush actually make me take notice of what they're doing visually. Hellblade also had some stuff that inspired a bit of awe.

 

[Bill R Boggess]

uncharted looks nothing like that

it very much is a series (especially 4) that leans towards photorealism

Well, I disagree, especially given that all of the games in the series tend to skew towards a very vibrant and colorful aesthetic that negates them being photo-realistic.

The visuals are more realistic than say, a typical Nintendo game, but when compared to something like Battlefield 1 or SW: Battlefront, I would argue they are much more stylized and in line with something like a CG animated film.

 

[PanicFreak]

Well, I disagree, especially given that all of the games in the series tend to skew towards a very vibrant and colorful aesthetic that negates them being photo-realistic.

The visuals are more realistic than say, a typical Nintendo game, but when compared to something like Battlefield 1 or SW: Battlefront, I would argue they are much more stylized and in line with something like a CG animated film.

Real life has color you know.

 

[Bill R Boggess]

I can't say I understand why some people are denying that Naughty Dog is going for a photorealistic look.

Because their decision to employ an unrealistically vibrant look, including purposely oversaturated colors, gives them an appearance of being more stylized than photo-realistic.

Don’t get me wrong, they are going for a stylized realism, but I wouldn’t consider it photorealism by any stretch.

 

[Crossing Eden]

I can't say I understand why some people are denying that Naughty Dog is going for a photorealistic look.

Their characters used to be much more stylized. Right down to having keyframed facial animation. But now they strive for a look that, while still stylized, is much closer to realism.

EDIT:I misread that completely goddamn.

Well, I disagree, especially given that all of the games in the series tend to skew towards a very vibrant and colorful aesthetic that negates them being photo-realistic.

The visuals are more realistic than say, a typical Nintendo game, but when compared to something like Battlefield 1 or SW: Battlefront, I would argue they are much more stylized and in line with something like a CG animated film.

Lol they weren't even close to the stylization seen in CG films back when their characters were more stylized last gen let alone this one:

Note, this is Pixar's biggest push towards photorealism ever in their feature films:

 

[Bill R Boggess]

Real life has color you know.

I’m sorry, was that a refutation of any point I made?

The issue isn’t is real life has color; we all know that. My argument – my opinion – is that the colors in the Uncharted games are purposely and at times unrealistically vibrant and oversaturated to give them a more stylized, less photo-realistic look.

When I think photo-realism, I tend to lean towards something like Battlefront or Drive Club.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

I don't buy that just color saturation can negate the photorealism when photography has such a long history of capturing the world without colors.

 

[eXistor]

I agree, but it's been this way for years and years with me. I'm much more impressed with good gameplay mechnics or a fully realized and interactive world. These are in fact videogames; they are meant to be played. Good graphics are the cherry on top: it can make the whole better, but it's not a necessity.

Games like Horizon impress on a shallow level, but the game doesn't impress me as a whole because I think the gameplay-mechanics and interactivity are not up to par.

/edit: to offer an analogy: games with pretty graphics (and not much else) are like a candybar with a gorgeous wrapper. But bite into it and it turns out to be a turd; it instantly negates the pretty wrapper because the core is shit.

 

[Kikorin]

Last time a game impressed me because of it's graphics alone was probably Uncharted 2. Now I can be really impressed by art style and compositions (Zelda:BotW is amazing, Life is Strange has the most detailed environment I've ever seen, lots of indie games looks stunning) but I'm no more impressed by "realistic" graphics.

Instead I would love next gen would be all about physics and IA, but I guess will be all about "real 4k" again.

 

[Bill R Boggess]

Their characters used to be much more stylized. Right down to having keyframed facial animation. But now they strive for a look that, while still stylized, is much closer to realism.

EDIT:I misread that completely goddamn.


Lol they weren't even close to the stylization seen in CG films back when their characters were more stylized last gen let alone this one:

I wasn't aware that Inside Out (great film btw) and Pixar were the only ones making CG animation.

To me, that isn't photo-realistic. It's stylized realism.

But hey, that's just my take on the aesthetics of these games.

 

[Crossing Eden]

I wasn't aware that Inside Out (great film btw) and Pixar were the only ones making CG animation.

To me, that isn't photo-realistic. It's stylized realism.

But hey, that's just my take on the aesthetics of these games.

That's an attempt at photorealism. By a studio that didn't have the budget to make the film actually look good whilst simultaneously being hampered by decade old video game character design: