The most beautiful games (any systems)

[SegaTecToy]

What are, in your opinion, the most beautiful games? It's not only about eye candy, but design, art direction and the effort put into a game to make it great, too. My choices are:

Atari 2600 - H.E.R.O., Pitfall, most activision games
NES - Castlevania, SMB 3
SNES - Bahamut Lagoon, FF III, Valken
N64 - Starfox 64, Zelda: Ocarina of Time
GC - Viewtiful Joe, Metroid Prime, Resident Evil 0, Mario Sunshine
SMS - R-Type, Golvelius
Genesis - Gunstar Heroes, Sonic Series
Saturn - Panzer Dragoon series, Nights
Dreamcast - Shenmue, Ikaruga, Skies of Arcadia
Xbox - Panzer Dragoon Orta, Halo 2 (not yet released but looks great)
PS - Star Ocean, FF9

[Jasoco]

Pop 'n' Twinbee
Fantasy Zone (For an NES game, even the SMS one too.)

Super Mario All-Stars had some pretty nice sprites at the time. Or so I thought so. A lot nicer than Mario Worlds I'll say.

Yoshi's Island had a nice artistic design.

Aladdin for the SNES was nicer looking than the Genesis one.

Beyond Good and Evil is really nice looking.

I agree with Star Fox 64.

Ikaruga and Shenmue yes.

[Azazel]

Super Tempo

[downfall]

NES - Dragon's Lair sucks, but it has great graphics. Also the third Batman (Return of the Joker.. or Revenge.. something like that) game just rocks any other NES game. It looks like some sort of early SNES or Genesis graphics.

SNES - Yoshi's Island blows everything else out of the water here I think. The style and everything is perfect for that game, and having just recently played it again, it gets my vote. Not because of the recent playing, but because the graphics really did make me say "wow, these rock".

N64 - I'm not really sure. There's not one standout game in my mind. That's not to say that they all had bad graphics or anything. Turok 2 was very pretty though, especially in that widescreen mode with the expansion pack.

Gamecube/PS2/Xbox - If Resident Evil 4 is half as pretty as the pictures look, then we're in for a treat. I'm kinda hesitant to rank any of these systems though, because none of them have come close to their potential if you ask me.

GBA - Mario vs. Donkey Kong is pretty sweet here. Prince of Persia also has some smooth animation as well. Don't think GBA's potential has been reached yet either though.

That's all for now.

[Jasoco]

"Adventures of Batman and Robin" on the SNES is a nice cartoon style.

"Yoshi's Story" for the N64 kicks ass.

"Paper Mario" and "Paper Mario 2" have really kick-ass graphics in a paper-y sort of way.

"Pikmin" just looks plain beautiful.

"Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles", "Tales of "Symphonia"... the list goes on.

[fishsandwich]

Princess Crown for the Sega Saturn is a gorgeous 2-D game. It's got a lot of Japanese text, but its basicly a side-scroller with some fighting elements.

Fish Sandwich

[ubersaurus]

SMS-Zillion
N64-The Zelda games, Perfect Dark, Starfox 64
PS1-Chrono Cross, R-Type Delta, metal Gear Solid
PS2-R-Type Final, Rez

[Dahne]

I just got Beyond GOod and Evil, and that scene near the beginning, as you're looking for animals to take pictures of, and the sun is coming up, with the bit of music in the background...daaaaamn.

MGS2 also had some gorgeous scenes, like when you first see Fortune.

[-hellvin-]

Im gonna throw in a vote for Astal on the Sega Saturn.

Quite sexy.

[Pantechnicon]

A few more

2600 - Missile Command. I like the way the colors of the playfield change as the levels increase. There's something about that particular color pattern that increases the sense of tension of the game.

Jaguar - Tempest 2000. For a special treat, try playing the game with that great techno music shut off. You'd be amazed at how much being able to actually hear the sound effects enhances the overall gameplay.

NES - Crystalis. Hard to put into words. I just like everything about how this one is put together.

[Crush Crawfish]

Chrono Trigger is beauty incarnate.

[boatofcar]

Let's see some pics of these games! I haven't seen many of them before.


Chrono Trigger, the most beautiful game ever created. I still remember being in awe of the courtroom scene.



Super Mario Sunshine-like it or not, the graphics are wonderful.



And Zelda, OOT. The first 3d game I didn't immediately think, "Blocky."

[Dahne]

In the Sands of Time, when you're climbing up the towers outside near the end of the game at dawn or sunset (can't remember which, it was pretty near dawn IRL when I played that part )

Suikoden II has some beautiful character designs.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Princess Crown

Have to agree with you and hellvin there. Both princess crown and astal were truely beautiful games.

[Querjek]

See my custom member title.


Oh, and Super Mario Sunshine is a close second.

[MarioAllStar2600]

Well you have to love how the waterfall splashes in Pitfall 2 for the 2600. That is cool.

Soul Caliber 2 has awsome character designs. I think best in any fighting game ever.

[FantasiaWHT]

Hasn't been mentioned yet, this one I think of as the most beautiful of all time-

Valkyrie Profile for the Playstation.

Most gorgeous hand drawn art I've seen in a video game. And so much of it!

Character animations were beautiful too.

[RetroYoungen]

Kirby's Adventure (NES). Such a beautiful title, well animated, bright and beautiful colors and fun, cool lookin' little enemies. Just beautiful. Controllable art.

Rocket Knight Adventures (Genny). I would say this game is simply easy on the eyes. Fun level design, well-detailed Sparkster and enemies, and imaginative bosses that are also fun to look at.

Lunar Legend (GBA). All of the Lunar titles were beautiful, but I'll pick this one for now. Large, detailed sprites, the backgrounds obviously were worked on to perfection, and the characters were likeable (which makes it easier to enjoy the character design).

[Ninja Blacksox]

I'll get some groans for this one.

"The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker"

I'm sorry. That is the most visually well-put together game I've ever played. I'm very sad to see cel-shaded Link go.

Hey.

I'm partial to supremely cute stuff.

Maybe I liked it because of the sudden change from "solemn Link" to "expressive Link." Seeing him smile was such a treat.

Yes, there was too much sailing.

Yes, the game was too short.

Yes, the game was too easy.

But as far as looks go, I don't think it can be beat.

As far as the total package goes, my vote has to go to "Metroid Prime." That game has ambiance in spades. Sound, level design, mood... All perfect. Just a really well-put together game. Can't wait for "Echoes."

As far as non-current stuff goes...

The final level in "Kid Icarus" is beautiful. But a lot of that is due to the music. Thank you, Hip Tanaka.

"Paper Mario" is excellent.

"Final Fantasy VII" looked like nothing else upon its release.

I dunno. There's a lot.

-A Boy

[Jasoco]

I'll get some groans for this one.

"The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker"

I'm sorry. That is the most visually well-put together game I've ever played. I'm very sad to see cel-shaded Link go.

Hey.

I'm partial to supremely cute stuff.

Maybe I liked it because of the sudden change from "solemn Link" to "expressive Link." Seeing him smile was such a treat.

Yes, there was too much sailing.

Yes, the game was too short.

Yes, the game was too easy.

But as far as looks go, I don't think it can be beat.

I'm TIRED of people complaining about this game. A lot of people were looking for a huge realistic Zelda game. What they got was something totally new. And I LOVED IT. Since the first screens showed up in magazines, people bashed the hell out of it. I got so sick of hearing people complain about it. I bought it used, because I put off buying it due to everyone's complaints. When I finally got it, I was amazed. It is simply BEAUTIFULLY constructed. BEAUTIFULLY created. There isn't an ugly spot at all. It is simply one of the most beautiful games I have ever played.

Yes, you are right. It does seem short. Only due to the small number of actual dungeons.

People say the Ganon battle was one hit. FUCKING HELL. It was NOT one hit. GANNON was the entire Puppet thing BEFORE the outside part. Did everyone SLEEP through that? THAT was the BATTLE! And it was one HELL of a battle too! Some people just don't get it. Sure, it didn't look like Gannon, but it WAS Gannon. Get used to it. I played that battle again just for the hell of it. It was that good. Using the waters reflection to see where he was. That was unique. I loved it.

Link's expressions were a treat. And watching his little head follow something important and his eyes, oh, his eyes. The best part. How they'd follow stuff around.

Sailing. Sailing.. was NOT THAT BAD. It makes the game seem more real. Big and open wide. It was unique and hell, I loved it. I never knew what I'd find out on the ocean. The passage of time, rain, weather on the open seas. The barrels that would pop up and give you Rupees. The only thing I hated was trying to get the Claw to sink to the right spot. So many times did I have to retry and move a millimeter to try and find the damn chest.

I sincerely hope they have the guts to make sequel to it in the SAME STYLE. I do not believe for a SECOND that the new "Realistic Zelda" is the sequel to Wind Waker. Not for a SECOND. It has nothing in common aside from, oh, look.. Link's in it. Nope. A real sequel will be Cel Shaded. So they'd better damn well not name the realistic one "Wind Waker 2" because I'd be pissed.