My three breathtakingly beautiful games of this generation are...

3. Uncharted - now this is what next gen Tomb Raider should look like. I've never before seen foliage and lighting effects like that before. A truly next gen looking game

2. Gears of War - we've all seen the gritty military shooter before but not like this. Gears combines both a militaristic future milieu with a sort of ruined European beauth that looks kind of like what would happen if a bulldozer went through the Louvre.

1. Eternal Sonata - in all my years of gaming, this is the first game that truly took my breath away. Does it have Uncharted's lighting and foliage effect? No. Does it have Gears' bump and normal mapping with intense character detail? No. But somehow, Eternal Sonata looks better than both, from the colors, character designs, special effects, art direction, etc. Whenever I show my non-gamer friends all three games, the first two impress them but ES astounds them.

Therefore, Eternal Sonata is the best looking game I've seen so far from this generation and possibly the best looking game I have ever seen.

3. Uncharted - now this is what next gen Tomb Raider should look like. I've never before seen foliage and lighting effects like that before. A truly next gen looking game

2. Gears of War - we've all seen the gritty military shooter before but not like this. Gears combines both a militaristic future milieu with a sort of ruined European beauth that looks kind of like what would happen if a bulldozer went through the Louvre.

1. Eternal Sonata - in all my years of gaming, this is the first game that truly took my breath away. Does it have Uncharted's lighting and foliage effect? No. Does it have Gears' bump and normal mapping with intense character detail? No. But somehow, Eternal Sonata looks better than both, from the colors, character designs, special effects, art direction, etc. Whenever I show my non-gamer friends all three games, the first two impress them but ES astounds them.

Therefore, Eternal Sonata is the best looking game I've seen so far from this generation and possibly the best looking game I have ever seen.

GalvatronType_R

I wouldnt disagree with your list, or rather I dont want to disagree with your list since all three games are breathtakingly beautiful, but I will give you my list and tell you why I wouldnt rank Eternal Sonata at the top.

3. Uncharted, Last Year this game would have been #1, but the next couple of games have managed to look better.

2. Gears 2. This game looks jaw dropping, the enviornments are beautifully realized. I know it's supposed to be this war torn world, but there's something really beautiful about the art style of this game. Gears 1 had this really drab color pallatte, but with Gears 2 they've found a way to make this world dark yet absolutely gorgeous.

1. Killzone 2(console)/ Crysis (PC) - Killzone 2 does so many things right that It could take me a few paragraphs so I'll leave it with this: It looks and moves like nothing I've seen so far this gen. Crysis really speaks for itself.

Honorable Mentions:

Eternal Sonata - It looks spectecular at times, but during the battle scenes when there are a lot of characters on screen, the enviornments look rather empty.

Metal Gear Solid 4 - The superb cutscenes work because of how beautiful this game looks. And you dont realize how good this game really looks until the camera gets dirty from dust, and when it freezes and cracks appear on the screen, simply amazing! I heard a lot of people tout Crysis' snow level, MGS4's Act 4 was IMO just an impressive.

Infamous - This game will probably blow away every game when it comes out next March, but since I havent seen much of it, I wont rank it in my top 3.

dude...the best graphics ive seen recently is freaking tales of vesperia...AMAZING!

not gonna lie...i

dude...the best graphics ive seen recently is freaking tales of vesperia...AMAZING!

not gonna lie...i

"This gen" doesn't end for another 3-5 years.....

My top 3 are...

3. Metal Gear Solid 4. I'm not going to explain it, because one of you already did. That would be kind of redundant.

2. Super awesome game that doesn't exist yet. Maybe the next title by Team ICO or former members of Clover Studios.

1. Super awesome game that doesn't exist yet. Quite possibly Final Fantasy XIV, assuming S-E does the same thing they did last gen with FF. Heavy Rain, maybe. The next Metal Gear?

My criteria includes more than graphical beauty, because cosmetic value alone doesn't warrant a title like "breathtakingly beautiful." So on that note, games like GoW and Crysis are disqualified from consideration, as are many, many other games.

"This gen" doesn't end for another 3-5 years.....

My top 3 are...

3. Metal Gear Solid 4. I'm not going to explain it, because one of you already did. That would be kind of redundant.

2. Super awesome game that doesn't exist yet. Maybe the next title by Team ICO or former members of Clover Studios.

1. Super awesome game that doesn't exist yet. Quite possibly Final Fantasy XIV, assuming S-E does the same thing they did last gen with FF. Heavy Rain, maybe. The next Metal Gear?

My criteria includes more than graphical beauty, because cosmetic value alone doesn't warrant a title like "breathtakingly beautiful." So on that note, games like GoW and Crysis are disqualified from consideration, as are many, many other games.

YourChaosIsntMe

you should really give crysis a try. I saw footage of a Jungle level covered by trees trying their best to block sunlight from lighting the jungle, then a fire fight ensued and everything went to hell. Easily the most impressive level I've ever seen in video games. I am not talking about the water, the draw distance, or any of the technical stuff, all that stuff aside, the game produced some of the most beautiful levels ever seen. i'll try to find footage of that jungle level.

Gears 2 looks incredible, nothing like its dull predecessor. Dont judge by the game's E3 showing, the idiot controlling the character kept going into over the shoulder view and blocking out all the gorgeous scenery. This game is a sight to behold.

Does a game need good graphics or be on next-gen hardware to be beautiful?

My pick is Odin Sphere as the most beautiful game of this gen (it came out this gen).

Nothing beats hand-drawn masterpieces.

But for next-gen games. The obvious choices:

1. Crysis

2. Bioshock

3. Call of Duty 4

Infamous - This game will probably blow away every game when it comes out next March, but since I havent seen much of it, I wont rank it in my top 3.

S0lidSnake

WHile Infamous may look good graphically, it looks pretty awful gameplay wise from what I've seen, and the character animations and models are subpar IMO. I don't see what is so impressive about it whatsoever. If I was going to say beautiful, I would never ever suggest that Resistance, Gears of War, Killzone, or anything of the sort are beautiful.

I'd have to go with:

Uncharted

Crysis

Midnight Club LA

Honorable Mentions:

Mass Effect (At Times)

Mario Galaxy

Oblivion

Burnout Paradise

Metroid Prime

Eternal Sonata

MGS4

Motorstorm: Pacific Rift (Can't Believe I Forgot About It)

WHile Infamous may look good graphically, it looks pretty awful gameplay wise from what I've seen, and the character animations and models are subpar IMO.

HiResDes

I'm warming up to Infamous. I really liked Psi-Ops, and this looks liked a next-gen version of that. I'd rather have a new Sly Cooper, but Infamous looks to follow an established formula that never received the attention it deserved (Psi-Ops didn't do so hot).

EDIT: And Mass Effect looks awesome..... when it's not moving and all the textures have finished popping in. :P

This thread needs more pics.:P

Oblivion-

The sunsets in Tamriel just can't be beat. I've been playing this game forever and it still manages to impress me every time I play it when it comes to graphics.

Tales of Vesperia-

Vesperia is flat out gorgeous. The game looks like a painting. It might not be a technical marvel like Crysis, but it has incredible art direction.

Uncharted-

The lighting in Uncharted is just phenomenal.

Eternal Sonata really is an eye pleaser, Tales of Vesperia may have had a chance at dethroning it in it's genre, but the environments in ToV aren't as vibrant.CronoSquall

The visuals might not be sharp and vibrant, but I think it is an intentional design choice to make the game look like a painting. Sonata looks great, I just prefer the styIe in Vesperia.

I'm curious to see how Valkyria Chronicles stacks up. From what I've seen, it could be the best looking cell shaded game yet.

Well, I'd have to say

1. FarCry (of course 8))

2. Oblivion

3. Overlord (you just gotta love them:D)

I'm curious to see how Valkyria Chronicles stacks up. From what I've seen, it could be the best looking cell shaded game yet.

rragnaar

It could very well be as the art direction REALLY stands out. It doesn't look generic at all. I've never seen anything quite like it.

^^

Thanks for the reminder Blades. That game is beautiful. November can't get here soon enough. I'm a nut for SRPGs right now, so I can't wait for this game.

if this is tales of vesperia, i think it should have been made on ps2... so i could enjoy it too...

i'm not graphic guy but tov doesnt look so good with those pics...

imo, MGS4 and Uncharted only "awesome" games in this gen so far ( well at least among games i've played (DMC4,Oblivion,AC, and just played GeoW abit but its comic style blood was weird instead of awesome )

[QUOTE="YourChaosIsntMe"]

"This gen" doesn't end for another 3-5 years.....

My top 3 are...

3. Metal Gear Solid 4. I'm not going to explain it, because one of you already did. That would be kind of redundant.

2. Super awesome game that doesn't exist yet. Maybe the next title by Team ICO or former members of Clover Studios.

1. Super awesome game that doesn't exist yet. Quite possibly Final Fantasy XIV, assuming S-E does the same thing they did last gen with FF. Heavy Rain, maybe. The next Metal Gear?

My criteria includes more than graphical beauty, because cosmetic value alone doesn't warrant a title like "breathtakingly beautiful." So on that note, games like GoW and Crysis are disqualified from consideration, as are many, many other games.

S0lidSnake

you should really give crysis a try. I saw footage of a Jungle level covered by trees trying their best to block sunlight from lighting the jungle, then a fire fight ensued and everything went to hell. Easily the most impressive level I've ever seen in video games. I am not talking about the water, the draw distance, or any of the technical stuff, all that stuff aside, the game produced some of the most beautiful levels ever seen. i'll try to find footage of that jungle level.

Gears 2 looks incredible, nothing like its dull predecessor. Dont judge by the game's E3 showing, the idiot controlling the character kept going into over the shoulder view and blocking out all the gorgeous scenery. This game is a sight to behold.

Don't misunderstand me, I DO intent to give Crysis a try this year once I upgrade my PC, I just don't believe that it will compare to many other games on a thematic or artistic level, and I also intend to play GoW2 once it is released. I think GoW was an enjoyable game for what it was, but the graphics were rather muted due to the color palette.

I have to admit Eternal Sonata looks amazing. Can't wait for the PS3 version.

Uncharted I don't agree with. Played it in SD and HD and yes it is a good looking game. But the difference in resolution is negligible for a start and there is a lack of anti-aliasing made all the more apparent in HD. All those jaggies make me think sparks are gonna fly if I get near anything. I'd go for Metal Gear Solid 4 instead, even if the Mei Ling character model looks like a deformed Barbie doll.

Gears of War is indeed a fine looking game. Makes you realise that you don't need huge amounts of texture memory to make things look incredible.

I'd like to put Race Driver: GRID in there as well. This game just makes my jaw drop every time I see it.

my top 3 games are

call of duty 4

ninja gaiden 2

gta4

I'll go with....

Bioshock

Uncharted: Drakes Fortune

Tales of Vesperia