We all know that even though they don’t mean that much at the end of the day, we all can’t help but fall victim to the allure of gorgeous gaming eye-candy. This year saw some amazingly good looking releases ranging from downright realistic to epic and fantastical.
Here are the nominees for best graphics:
Heavy Rain
Mass Effect 2
God of War III
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow
And the award goes to:
Winner: Mass Effect 2
While there really were some ridiculously great looking games this year, Mass Effect 2 won us over with its overall quality of incredible facial details and animations during dialogue as well as its epic levels, large cities and highly impressive art, character, costume, weapon and vehicle design.
Runner-Up: Heavy Rain
Last Updated: December 15, 2010
TT25
December 15, 2010 at 07:54
YAY ….. GO Mass Effect 2. However God of War 3, The scale of that game, I think it should be Runner up!
invitro7
December 15, 2010 at 08:06
I agree, GOW3 should have been tunner up. Heavy Rain looked good but, the scale of GOW3 just made my jaw drop.
Milni
December 15, 2010 at 08:23
Still haven’t played Mass Effect (don’t hate). I loved the graphics in Splinter Cell though, the lighting effects and loss of colour when hiding was just fantastic!
StigSmash
December 15, 2010 at 08:37
I am not going to lie I did not expect Mass Effect to win in this category. I am not disagreeing but it was just unexpected.
al360
December 15, 2010 at 08:37
i third that it was epic even for a novice to GOW series it got me going and i hate the button bashing games !!
go figure i so got into button bashing in that game with the right sequence of course to make me look super cool :biggrin:
TT25
December 15, 2010 at 08:37
OMG…. Im so hating right now!! Get it and Play it Dammit!!!
Milni
December 15, 2010 at 08:49
Ye, i know, the never ending dialogue of the first ME put me off. Will pick them both up some day, when I have hours to spare!
NiteFenix
December 15, 2010 at 09:00
Thanks for the heads-up. Gonna be trying my hand on Mass Effect this holiday season, so it’s good to know that it’s winning some awards, w00t!
Uncle
December 15, 2010 at 09:12
All this talk about Mass Effect makes me miss it!
:blink:
Honestly ME2 could win almost every award. What a fantastic gaming experience, the first one blew my mind and the second one let me ride the higher wave. Judging by the third trailer, its looking absolutely insane.
Uberutang
December 15, 2010 at 09:14
Almost wanted to shout no Uncharted 2, but that was 2009… so yeah Mass Effect 2 does take it, but only just. The scale and detail in GOW3 is really impressive.
invitro7
December 15, 2010 at 09:14
In all fairness, I only have a PS3. So I haven’t played Mass Effect, but I am really looking forward to the PS3 release!!!
Rez
December 15, 2010 at 09:22
ME 2 was awesome but like I said for some other categories:
Alan Wake deserves a mention at least for the use of graphics to create an intense game.
AC:B also deserves a mention for a beautifully rendered Rome where you could literally go anywhere. Also the major land marks in Rome were really copied to perfection. Not to mention the final final part which looked absolutely amazing.
SojournZA
December 15, 2010 at 09:24
Mass Effect 2 had great GFX but why is Uncharted 2 not here, am I missing something?
I think Heavy Rain had better GFX though
koldFU5iON
December 15, 2010 at 09:25
I’m surprised GT5 isn’t up there
Geoffrey Tim
December 15, 2010 at 09:29
Yeah, Uncharted 2 came out October last year. 😉
Geoffrey Tim
December 15, 2010 at 09:30
I think it’s mostly because Gt5 was a mixed bag. The beautiful stuff was incredibly beautiful, but some elements looked decidedly last gen.
RSA-Ace
December 15, 2010 at 09:32
Guess what I just bought! http://www.take2.co.za/games-mass-effect-2-collectors-edition-xbox-360-5295023.html
Thanks Take2. What a perfect time to drop the price. Only R226 so for everyone who hasn’t got the game now is the time to get it!
Syth
December 15, 2010 at 09:35
ME2 looked good but never made me sit in awe (On PC). RDR did that a few times, Heavy Rain did that and GOW3 made me go WOW a few times.
So, I totally disagree with the winner.
The rain in F1 2010 was incredible and certainly needed a mention.
Noodle
December 15, 2010 at 09:39
No more texture pop = win
Dooza
December 15, 2010 at 09:42
I never thought Mass Effect would win this one, this award had GOW3 written all over it, I loved Mass Effect 2 and i think its one of the best games EVER made but I think GOW3 should have won this
ReAVeR
December 15, 2010 at 09:43
@Milni Wait, so you an avid reader in real life, that got put off by dialogue in a game? WTF?
JohkerZA
December 15, 2010 at 09:47
Heavy Rain has good graphics? Maybe my memory of the game is a bit…faded…by I don’t recall it having good graphics?
Having said that ME2 clearly deserves the win with GOW3 a very very close second.
eXpZA
December 15, 2010 at 09:58
Mass Effect 2 was fantastic, but I do not believe it should get the award over God of War III. ME2, visually, was similar to Mass Effect 1 (More Epic, sure, but similar) – Plus, that Unreal Engine 3 is really starting to look played out, and great graphics in one UE3 game look very much like the great graphics in another UE3 game. God of War III was massive, epic (opening level was CRAZY) and ran at a SOLID frame rate. ME2 is stupidly good looking, but GoW3 is good looking and original 🙂
Milni
December 15, 2010 at 10:06
Haha, didn’t think of it like that, but to clarify, it wasn’t the fact that it had a lot of dialogue, plenty to read etc. It is more that the pace of the game, which was affected by all the dialogue didn’t sit well with me. I am talking about ME1 though, never tried ME2. I do plan on playing them someday, when I have more time though
Aequitas
December 15, 2010 at 10:07
Good pick, but man do I want to say Castlevania, just for some of the *stunning* backdrops. It’s one of the few games where I’ve just stopped to stare at the scenery.
Fox1
December 15, 2010 at 10:14
There’s only tons of dialogue in the beginning. Once the galaxy is at stake, nobody has time to chitter chatter and make alien babies.
Fox1
December 15, 2010 at 10:17
I got the standard edition for R150 in August. I’m still only 25% through this game.
GooseZA
December 15, 2010 at 10:38
I’ve only played ME2 on that list but it was a truly beautiful game (as was ME 1 compared to the competition when it was released)
GreenAvitus
December 15, 2010 at 10:40
Heavy Rain over GoW, eish, when FMV and gameplay blur into one, you know the graphics are good. Harsh choice guys, as for ME2 sick game
Maxiviper117
December 15, 2010 at 10:55
Have you guys completely forgot about UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES ????????
eXpZA
December 15, 2010 at 10:56
2009
Maxiviper117
December 15, 2010 at 11:08
Ya, I now know I have bad memory sorry, I will be shot at noon. :biggrin:
Geoffrey Tim
December 15, 2010 at 11:10
The facial animation and rendering in HR is unparalleled. for now.
Krypty
December 15, 2010 at 11:19
I must say I do not own a PS3 and not a fanboy by a long shot but was able to play over the weekend at a friend and I must say I was a bit underwhelmed at GT5. Forza 3 graphics is almost on par with GT5 and sometimes Forza 3 tracks even looked better.
Another thing is the weather, I thought it would be good but F1 beat GT5 weather effects hands down.
I will not argue that GT5 is good game but for the time is was in development it should have been great.
Gavin Mannion
December 15, 2010 at 11:28
Seems to be a contentious result this one… I guess you can’t please all the people all the time
V@mp
December 15, 2010 at 11:44
I don’t have a problem with ME2.Loved that game.
But personally I’d have given it to GOW3.Good Lord,
that opening stage alone had my jaw firmly planted on
the floor.Was laughing so hard when i played it the very first time as there were 1 or 2 instances where it came out of the in-game engine cutscene and I was still watching everything that’s going on on the screen,not realizing that I’m suppose to move now :silly:
Aslam Levy
December 15, 2010 at 11:48
I’m looking forward to it too. Finally we get to see what’s going on back on earth..
Will be awesome!
mitas
December 15, 2010 at 11:54
um , yes , i have to agree to disaggre here , GOD3 was the most epic thing i have ever seen in my lie ! , i often replay the opening scene just fo the fact that no matter how many times i ply it , my jaw keeps dropping everytime ! no hat on ME 2 , it ranks in my top 10 of all time good gaes to play b4 u die :ermm:
Fox1
December 15, 2010 at 11:58
Some people say GOW3 was too short but others say it packed 50gb of Blu-ray goodness? :pouty:
Milesh Bhana
December 15, 2010 at 13:13
i would have chosen God of War 3. ME2 looked great, but GoW3 was in a class of it’s own imo.
mitas, agreed about the opening scene! WOW!
DEATHEATER69 ZA
December 15, 2010 at 14:24
I expected heavy rain to get this…. but since mass effect 2is MY game of the year, I aint complaining.
I suppose those texture pop ins didn’t affect its chances much then 😉
Fred
December 15, 2010 at 14:49
GOW3 takes the cake here , with Heavy Rain a close second.
Assassins Creed Brotherhood gets a mention too.
Fox1
December 15, 2010 at 17:28
ME 2 also had a wow opening scene.
Aussious
December 15, 2010 at 18:22
I love Mass Effect 2 to bits its by far the greatest game Ive ever played, 2nd only to Metal Gear Solid…but God of War 3 had better visuals.
Nick de Bruyne
December 15, 2010 at 18:26
I do have to wonder… has everyone going on about God of War III’s graphics played Castlevania: Lords of Shadow? The difference isn’t very big.
Mass Effect 2, even Mass Effect 1 still holds a special place in my eye-candy heart because especially in the dialogue, some angles and characters look as good as a 3D Animated film that you would see in the theaters.
xdvd
December 15, 2010 at 20:25
I agree with Mass Effect 2, but Castlevania a close second. Castlevania has better overall visuals than GOW III in my opinion.
M@GE
December 15, 2010 at 23:20
Mass Effect 2 on PC with full graphics….oh the sweetness of eye candy :wub:
BigBird
December 16, 2010 at 12:10
Again I haven’t played any of them.