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Beautiful looking 3D video games

KromsKroms
edited December 2009 in General Chat
Dave Grossman's said that he's a big advocate of 3D. I like 3D, though I also love the timeless look of good 2D art. Turns out that 3D art can also look pretty timeless.

So list anything you think applies.

This isn't 3D; it's a blend of both. It's a game called The Book of Unwritten Tales, and it looks effing gorgeous. It's beautifully animated too.

0204257c4bout18.jpg
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Screenshot.
Gameplay clip (German).
Official site.

I also really like how everything looks in the Sam and Max Season Two trailer. I'm looking forward to the day the technology, download rates, etc allow us to be close to that.

Maybe someday Telltale can develop some sort of way to just have you download textures, sound, etc that can look that detailed and beautiful, like Steam. I don't fully understand the idea (user elTee was the one who suggested it), but I like it.

Anyways, what 3D games look beautiful? And remember...

"Realistic" does not automatically mean beautiful. I'm looking at you, every other FPS game.

Comments

  • Ray-The-SunRay-The-Sun
    edited December 2009
    I like the looks of Borderlands, Cel shading isn't new, but it sure does make it stand out.
  • xChri5xxChri5x
    edited December 2009
    dk64_790screen005.jpg
  • Secret FawfulSecret Fawful
    edited December 2009
    xChri5x wrote: »
    dk64_790screen005.jpg

    Anything by Rareware on the 64 is an automatic example of gorgeous charm even when 3D wasn't at its height.

    As for me, I can't really think of many examples in games, because there just aren't that many. Syberia comes to mind.
  • FealiksFealiks
    edited December 2009
    Both Assassin's Creed games were pretty good looking.
  • RibsRibs
    edited December 2009
    xChri5x wrote: »
    dk64_790screen005.jpg

    That made me feel all nostalgic. I loved that game, I played it FOREVER! Now, we just need MS + Nintendo to make up for a Virtual Console Release.
  • ShaggEShaggE
    edited December 2009
    Riven, while not real-time 3D, remains my favorite "beautiful" game. (Oddly, I don't much care for the actual gameplay)

    Riven really needed a no-puzzle mode to just get lost in. I would love to see some talented modder remake the world of Riven in CryEngine 2.
  • xChri5xxChri5x
    edited December 2009
    Oh geez... I posted that screenshot as a joke
  • Secret FawfulSecret Fawful
    edited December 2009
    xChri5x wrote: »
    Oh geez... I posted that screenshot as a joke

    You...are dead to me.
  • thesporkmanthesporkman
    edited December 2009
    The first two Oddworld games (Oddysee and Exoddus) had really amazing pre-rendered graphics.
  • Rather DashingRather Dashing
    edited December 2009
    Shadow of the Colossus was and probably will for awhile remain the most visually stunning video game I've ever played.

    I've also always through Morrowind looked particularly beautiful in its own way, but that might be a bit of bias on my part, since from a technical standpoint they really aren't that grand.
  • IcedhopeIcedhope
    edited December 2009
    thesporkman wrote: »
    The first two Oddworld games (Oddysee and Exoddus) had really amazing pre-rendered graphics.

    Yes, yes they really did..and those will be my favorite games of all time.

    can't wait for citizen siege.

    I this was beautiful for 3d

    pre-e3-2008-star-wars-the-force-unleashed-images-20080701023116900_640w.jpg
  • Javi-Wan KenobiJavi-Wan Kenobi
    edited December 2009
    This is SoulCalibur IV for PS3, right?
  • puzzleboxpuzzlebox Telltale Alumni
    edited December 2009
    ShaggE wrote: »
    Riven, while not real-time 3D, remains my favorite "beautiful" game. (Oddly, I don't much care for the actual gameplay)

    I totally agree with you there.

    Weirdly, it seems my top 3 "most beautiful 3D games" are all from around the same time period, with Riven topping the list. Lighthouse and Timelapse make the list more because they are beautifully imagined worlds, rather than because the modelling and textures are particularly realistic by today's standards (although I'm quite surprised at how well the graphics in these have held up over 12-13 years).

    Lighthouse: The Dark Being (1996)

    24fcljr.jpg

    dq1yzs.jpg


    Timelapse (1996)

    easterisland.jpg

    atlantis.jpg

    anasazi.jpg


    Riven (1997)

    riven.jpg

    38_6_medium.jpg

    jae_lagoon1.jpg
  • SpadgeSpadge
    edited December 2009
    I'd say the Soul Reaver games. They had really interesting looks and I think they aged rather well.
  • IcedhopeIcedhope
    edited December 2009
    Javi-Wan Kenobi wrote: »
    This is SoulCalibur IV for PS3, right?

    That is from the force unleashed.
  • S@breS@bre
    edited December 2009
    Pirates, Vikings and Knights

    Taking Half-Life 2's great source engine and making it look awesome. And done by modders too. Has some of the best character models and environments I've seen by modders.

    PVK_Island.jpg

    Pirate captain in the Caribbean

    Templar archer in the desert

    Viking housecarl in courtyard
  • FriarFriar
    edited December 2009
    Okami is probably the best looking 3D game i've ever played. And the best gameplaywise aswell. The whole thing is just like a giant work of art.

    Trailer

    Okami4.jpg
  • wefeelgroovewefeelgroove
    edited December 2009
    I was just about to ask why no one had mentioned Okami yet!

    I might be a little biased here since it's my favorite Zelda game, but I think Majora's Mask still looks really good for an N64 game. It's the colors, duke. The colors. A few other pretty nice looking 3D games off the top of my head: Mirror's Edge, Super Mario Galaxy, and Beyond Good and Evil.

    If we're talking non-real-time 3D, then the second and third Journeyman Project games, Zork Nemesis and Zork Grand Inquisitor still look pretty despite all of them being over 10 years old now.
  • FriarFriar
    edited December 2009
    wefeelgroove wrote: »
    I was just about to ask why no one had mentioned Okami yet!

    I might be a little biased here since it's my favorite Zelda game, but I think Majora's Mask still looks really good for an N64 game. It's the colors, duke. The colors. A few other pretty nice looking 3D games off the top of my head: Mirror's Edge, Super Mario Galaxy, and Beyond Good and Evil.

    If we're talking non-real-time 3D, then the second and third Journeyman Project games, Zork Nemesis and Zork Grand Inquisitor still look pretty despite all of them being over 10 years old now.
    The extra RAm expansion that was a requirement to play it may have helped too;)

    I think it looks great too, but it would have looked even better if it wasn't forcibly rushed out my mr. Miyamoto (no repeating character models from OoT for example).
  • patterspatters
    edited December 2009
    Forza 3 unquestionably.

    custom_1244640225085_FM3_E3_Montserrat_2.jpg
  • AshtonAshton
    edited December 2009
    Icedhope wrote: »
    Yes, yes they really did..and those will be my pre-e3-2008-star-wars-the-force-unleashed-images-20080701023116900_640w.jpg

    :eek::eek::eek:

    I'm not a major StarWars nut, but with that 1 image you just convinced me to buy that game! Holy *BLEEEEEEEP*!!!
  • RawrRawr
    edited December 2009
    I always found Shenmue amazing to look at. For the time it was released, in terms of graphics, Shenmue was arguably ahead of the game. It looked stunning. When it was christmas in the game and it snowed, it looked especially beautiful if it happened to be christmas at the time in real life.

    Was trying to find a screenshot of what I mean but can't seem to find one. I might load it up later and take one myself, been meaning to replay it.
  • HaydenHayden
    edited December 2009
    I think I need to buy Forza 3. Every time I see any screenshots in magazines, on the web, etc. I always find myself thinking "Geez, I'd love to virtually fly down that hill, around that corner and through that esses!".
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