For what they're worth, they're all graphically dated or somewhat unimpressive by todays standards. In some ways, you can still spark some beauty in what most consider to be old, plain or ugly - And with that, here's a handful of games with some pretty damn nice looking screenshots.
All the screenies were snagged at moments of boredom, and ofcourse you can click 'em for a larger image.
World of Warcraft
While the game's been out for a good seven years now, the graphics quality remained on the same standard until the approach of it's second expansion pack "The Wrath of the Lich King". Most of the new content was amazing in atmosphere, as well as rather stunning up close. While it never set a new high, it sure as hell was a unique and equally impressive with art. With Cataclysm having been released recently in Dec '10, the game recieved it's first major graphics overhaul not long before - Higher quality textures, liquid detail, animations and more, a change that made the game look all that more impressive.
Twin Drakes
The Keep
Death Knights Den
Caveworld
Crystalsong Forest 'The Unbound Thicket'
Howling Fjord 'Utgarde Keep'
Eastern Plaguelands 'Acherus, the Ebon Hold'
Deepholm 'Deathwing's Fall'
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Graphically speaking Oblivion was a small disappointment in some areas while at the same time amazing and breathtaking in others. Characters were flat and most textures were rather streched and low quality, but all was forgiven the moment you stared off into the distance or peeked at the skies across a lake. The game was released for Xbox and PC in 2006, with the PC being the obvious winner graphically - The Xbox version still had moments where you dropped everything to just witness the Imperial City skyline from Bruma. Makes you wonder, they had access to this hardware in 2006... Just think about what Bethesda might have in stock for Skyrim, the first looks at the game already blew some minds.
Bridged
Across the Lake
Red Dawn
Finding Imperial
Skingrad Castle 'The Keep Walkway'
Imperial City Waterfront 'Lake Rumare'
Anvil 'Town Square'
West Weald 'Imperial Distance'
Grand Theft Auto IV
Considered to be the best in the open world business graphically. And of man they aren't wrong, nowhere close. Dating back to 2007, Rockstar already had the graphics set in stone dispite the '08 release - It was good looking and remained just as breath-taking as those first 30 seconds of Niko's teaser trailer that goes as far back as 2006. Nitpicking is all you can do about the game, bland shadows, vague textures, strange smudge-effect across draw distance, the likes. The problems are vastly outnumbered by the good, diversity, draw distance, character quality, lighting, particle effects, you name it. A feat from '07 that will remain to be a feat for years to come. The RAGE engine proved itself to be worth the anticipation.
Welcome to Liberty City
Dusk 'til Dawn
A Look Back
North to Jersey
Broker 'Broker Beach'
Algonquin 'Frankfort Ave.'
Bohan 'Dukes Pkwy Overlook'
Algonquin 'Northwood'
And I could go on all day... But whats the point of this anyway? I don't know, perhaps I just love to seek out the special moments in a game. Perhaps I just love to share it. I don't effin' know... Maybe I'm just easily impressed or maybe I refuse to let the past go. Either way... They sure as hell look fine, even for their age. Nonetheless, gotta thank XFire for lettin' me snag and store.
29 Comments
For what they're worth, they're all graphically dated or somewhat unimpressive by todays standards. In some ways, you can still spark some beauty in what most consider to be old, plain or ugly - And with that, here's a handful of games with some pretty damn nice looking screenshots.
All the screenies were snagged at moments of boredom, and ofcourse you can click 'em for a larger image.
World of Warcraft
While the game's been out for a good seven years now, the graphics quality remained on the same standard until the approach of it's second expansion pack "The Wrath of the Lich King". Most of the new content was amazing in atmosphere, as well as rather stunning up close. While it never set a new high, it sure as hell was a unique and equally impressive with art. With Cataclysm having been released recently in Dec '10, the game recieved it's first major graphics overhaul not long before - Higher quality textures, liquid detail, animations and more, a change that made the game look all that more impressive.
Twin Drakes
The Keep
Death Knights Den
Caveworld
Crystalsong Forest 'The Unbound Thicket'
Howling Fjord 'Utgarde Keep'
Eastern Plaguelands 'Acherus, the Ebon Hold'
Deepholm 'Deathwing's Fall'
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Graphically speaking Oblivion was a small disappointment in some areas while at the same time amazing and breathtaking in others. Characters were flat and most textures were rather streched and low quality, but all was forgiven the moment you stared off into the distance or peeked at the skies across a lake. The game was released for Xbox and PC in 2006, with the PC being the obvious winner graphically - The Xbox version still had moments where you dropped everything to just witness the Imperial City skyline from Bruma. Makes you wonder, they had access to this hardware in 2006... Just think about what Bethesda might have in stock for Skyrim, the first looks at the game already blew some minds.
Bridged
Across the Lake
Red Dawn
Finding Imperial
Skingrad Castle 'The Keep Walkway'
Imperial City Waterfront 'Lake Rumare'
Anvil 'Town Square'
West Weald 'Imperial Distance'
Grand Theft Auto IV
Considered to be the best in the open world business graphically. And of man they aren't wrong, nowhere close. Dating back to 2007, Rockstar already had the graphics set in stone dispite the '08 release - It was good looking and remained just as breath-taking as those first 30 seconds of Niko's teaser trailer that goes as far back as 2006. Nitpicking is all you can do about the game, bland shadows, vague textures, strange smudge-effect across draw distance, the likes. The problems are vastly outnumbered by the good, diversity, draw distance, character quality, lighting, particle effects, you name it. A feat from '07 that will remain to be a feat for years to come. The RAGE engine proved itself to be worth the anticipation.
Welcome to Liberty City
Dusk 'til Dawn
A Look Back
North to Jersey
Broker 'Broker Beach'
Algonquin 'Frankfort Ave.'
Bohan 'Dukes Pkwy Overlook'
Algonquin 'Northwood'
And I could go on all day... But whats the point of this anyway? I don't know, perhaps I just love to seek out the special moments in a game. Perhaps I just love to share it. I don't effin' know... Maybe I'm just easily impressed or maybe I refuse to let the past go. Either way... They sure as hell look fine, even for their age. Nonetheless, gotta thank XFire for lettin' me snag and store.
I've been playing LOTRO casually for a little while because it's free, and I would love to get into a better MMO like WOW, I just don't want to pay for it.
Great post. One of the best thing about gaming is there is always something "new and improved" coming out. So much so, that one tends to forget how incredible past titles have been and still are.
I loved the landscapes of WotLK. I love arctic and tundra and winter, and the scenery in that game was incredible, especially for a game engine from 2004.
You've inspired me. I think I may check out and replay some of the older games from this gen in my library.
nice post. i do agree. WoW burning crusade, it was pretty instead of graphic whore. there were parts with different colors all around.
i still remember first time playing oblivion and getting out of the sewer. i think it was the most impressive looking scene in the game. the sewers were pretty dark but then once you got it out you were just like dang look at those graphics.
29 Comments