It Ain't Pretty... But it Sure Is FUN!

[digitalpress]

The smart gamers know that it's not the graphics that make the game. They make the game look like it's a good game, but you all know the difference.

You may not be able to sit through an "ugly" game like [insert most pre '82 titles here], but you'll come back to them! And the really pretty games that play like ass? After the wows wear off, it will start collecting dust. Forever.

So think about this for a moment. What really GREAT games had bad graphics, even for their time?

[Kid Fenris]

It's not quite "great," but Burning Rangers is a rather fun game laboring beneath some unflattering visuals. The graphics engine looks primitive (polygons stutter and flicker like Tomb Raider running on the 32X), but there are so many unique ideas to the gameplay that it's easy to ignore the look of things and enjoy the title. The variable level layouts make for a great challenge, while the voice-navigation system is an excellent concept that I'd love to see used in a sequel, or a different game, for that matter.

Ah, Burning Rangers. No one understands you but me.

[GENESISNES]

earthbound had crappy graphics for a SNES game comparing it to super metroid, and dk country. Thats why it didnt sell as good.

[Arrrhalomynn]

Vib Ribbon barely has graphics, but it's still a cool game.

And the Bubble Bobble games haven't changed their looks in 10 years and still play great on modern systems.

[Mayhem]

Easy one: Tetris

Harder one: Thrust

[Kid Ice]

I'm one of the only people in the world who liked 2600 Zaxxon.

the kid

[geelw]

earthbound is SUPPOSED to look the way it does. the visual style is supposed to reflect 8-bit famicom/NES RPGs.

anyway, body harvest (N64) definitely UGLY most of the time. but excellent gameplay saves it the minute you pick up the controller.
space station silicon valley (N64)- another dma design game, and one of the best N64 games, as far as gameplay.
inindo: way of the ninja (SNES)very disappointing to look at, but really deep and engaging. i need to find another one, as i ended up selling off my copy a few years ago. i borrowed another recently, and i kept going back to it more than i thought i would have...
crack down (Genesis)- i hated the look of this game for ages, until i sat down with it a few weeks ago. pretty addictive little game...
any of the wizardry games/the bard's tale (NES)- i'd always ignore people who recommended these games to me, but once you sit down and start playing- your brain takes over, and those walls come to life...