Top 10 best games of the past with good graphics
Do you value the visual component, graphics technology and art design in games? What if we say that even games from ten years ago can surprise you in this regard? Today we have collected a selection of projects from the past that still look great: if you have completed all the recent graphics-based games, pay attention to this top. And one more note for starters: there will be no obvious blockbusters like GTA 5, Minecraft and pixelated timeless indies — we think you remember about such games without us.
Mirror's Edge
- Editorial Award: «A Delightful City of Glass»
- Release date: November 11, 2008
- Developer: EA DICE
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Genre: action-adventure
Mirror's Edge, released in 2008, was remembered by players for its gameplay and amazing graphics for its time. And most importantly, even after 15 years this game looks very nice.
Of course, not without flaws, such as frankly strange street textures (which, by the way, you just can't get to), but let's make allowances for the year of release and the fact that the developers couldn't even imagine the possibility of moving somewhere other than legal rooftops.
Crysis 2
- Editorial award: «Fear of any video card»
- Release date: March 22, 2011
- Developers: Crytek, Free Radical Design
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Genre: first-person shooter
This game melted a lot of computers in its time! Only the owners of consoles were happy, since Crysis 2 could still be played somewhat comfortably on them.
It's interesting that it was Crysis that became the record holder for the number of mentions as «The best graphics of all time.» Perhaps this sounds too loud today, but, in fairness, the graphics here are indeed better than in some new games.
Have you suffered from the system requirements of Crysis 2?
BioShock Infinite
- Editorial award: «Beautiful air world»
- Release date: March 26, 2013
- Developers: Irrational Games, 2K Marin, 2K Australia, Aspyr Media, Virtual Programming
- Publisher: 2K
- Genre: first-person shooter, survival horror, action-adventure, action-RPG
BioShock Infinite is undoubtedly a great game. The dashingly twisted plot (you try on the role of Booker DeWitt) goes well with pleasant graphics, and the beauty Elizabeth has sunk into the hearts of most players for a long time. But did you know that a whole ten years have passed since the release date? Quite a decent amount of time, especially considering the fact that gamers continue to return to the world of BioShock Infinite every year. Of course, because magic, memorable characters and a bit of noir, revealed already in the add-on Burial at Sea, are just what the doctor ordered.
Journey
- Editorial award: «The most beautiful desert»
- Release date: March 26, 2013
- Developers: Thatgamecompany, Tricky Pixels, SCE Santa Monica Studio
- Publishers: Annapurna Interactive, Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre: adventure game, indie game, platformer, arthouse game
The visual component of Journey is immediately memorable. Calm colors, beautiful picture — a real pleasure for the eyes. Although the game has not received the proper response from the Russian-speaking community, it is still worth paying attention to: the plot is interesting and touching.
Exploring ruins, solving puzzles — the game is like a small expedition that raises very serious philosophical questions over the course of the story.
Tomb Raider
- Editorial Award: «Women's Beauty»
- Release date: March 5, 2013
- Developers: Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, Feral Interactive, Nixxes Software BV
- Publishers: Crystal Dynamics, Square Enix, Feral Interactive, Square Enix Europe, ak tronic Software & Services
- Genre: action-adventure, platformer, action-RPG, survival horror
When new life was breathed into the Tomb Raider series in 2013 after a long break, fans were delighted: many liked the new Lara, and the graphics in the game, compared to previous installments, became much more attractive . And it would be unfair to say that Tomb Raider looks bad today — it doesn't. We bet Lara is a beauty even by today's standards.
The adventure on the island of Yamatai will definitely not leave anyone indifferent: the plot is catchy, there are plenty of enemies, and there are more than enough mystics. In general, a complete set.
Total War: Rome 2
- Editorial Award: «Impressive Battles»
- Release date: September 3, 2013
- Developer: Creative Assembly
- Publishers: Sega, Sega Europe Limited
- Genre: turn-based strategy, real-time tactics, wargame
Another game that came out ten years ago, this time a strategy game. Total War: Rome 2 is a remake of Rome: Total War, which was released even earlier, back in 2009. At the same time, players remember the version from 2013 more. In general, it's logical: all the previous functionality has been preserved, and in some places even expanded, while the graphics have become so great that it's difficult to guess the approximate year of release the first time.
The main plot is based on the war of the Second Triumvirate of Rome (between 43 and 30 BC). A real excursion into the past, allowing you to try on the role of one of the legendary historical figures.
F.E.A.R.
- Editorial Award: «Scary to the point of colic»
- Release date: October 27, 2005
- Developers: Monolith Productions, Wargaming Chicago-Baltimore, Timegate
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Genre: first-person shooter, survival horror
Yes, F.E.A.R. is a little inferior to previous games in terms of visuals, but let's make an allowance: the project was released in 2005, but it still looks very good! Few releases from the mid-2000s can boast of the same thing, and there's a fascinating plot to boot. Why not remember?
The girl Alma has become the reason for the gray hairs on the heads of many gamers: if you are one of the fearless ones, try to find an approach to her too.
Far Cry 3
- Editor's Award: «Best Graphic Jungle»
- Release date: November 29, 2012
- Developers: Ubisoft Montreal, Massive Entertainment
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Genre: first-person shooter, action-adventure
«Have I already told you what madness is?» — everyone heard this phrase in the year Far Cry 3 was released, it trumpeted from everywhere: from memes, from videos and from almost every iron. The game created a real sensation not only with its charismatic villain, but also, of course, with its graphics — the islands looked very cool. Even today there are many who want to visit them.
In turn, the plot is dynamic and addictive; fighting evil pirates is a pleasure. And this story clearly teaches us to be more responsible when choosing a vacation spot...
Borderlands
- Editor's Award: «Most Unusual Graphics»
- Release date: October 20, 2009
- Developers: Gearbox Software, Blind Squirrel Games
- Publishers: 2K
- Genre: first-person shooter, action-adventure
The visuals of the Borderlands series are, as they say, an acquired taste, and at first it's difficult for some players to get used to it. Although the hand-drawn style definitely has a big plus: it will take a long time to become outdated. Actually, this is why the first part of Borderlands (and this is 2009!) is almost in no way inferior to Borderlands 2, and there, in turn, the third part is not far away.
A fantastic shooter about mild madness, the secrets of aliens and, of course, epic shootouts, it's still addictive today. Exploring a new planet is not easy, but exciting.
Portal
- Editorial Award: «Best White Walls»
- Release date: October 10, 2007
- Developer and publisher: Valve
- Genre: first-person shooter, puzzle, platformer
This series is definitely for all time! Portal and Portal 2 have excellent graphics, which any gamer will appreciate even in 2023, deciding to get acquainted with them for the first time. Yes, the first part is a little inferior to the second, but still each is good in its own way, and the white walls in both look cool.
Solving puzzles can sometimes be tedious, but that's why everyone loves Portal. And, of course, the ability to jump back and forth through portals, which sometimes create real chaos.
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What «evergreen» games do you recommend? Just let's go without Skyrim with hundreds of graphics mods.
Which of the games in the selection do you like best?