Artistic games?

[Number_6]

I just watched the Okami trailer, and I'd like to know: what games would you consider to be especially artistic, in terms of graphics and story?

Mono (http://www.binaryzoo.com/games/mono/) is neat, but kind of hard on the eyes.

Rayman 2 had some unique landscapes. That's all I can really say, other than that I still remember it despite how long it's been since I've played it.

[oracrest]

if your looking for artistic games, check out "Rez" for playstation 2. the entire game takes place within a computer, so the style has something of a tron/lawnmower man feel. The designer even dedicates the game to Vassily Kandinsky at the end of the credits. I have to play through this game with headphones in one sitting at least once a year. Its by far the best music based game I have played yet too. Everything you do in the game syncs up with the music, so the gameplay becomes a part of the soundtrack.

http://www.armchairempire.com/images/Reviews/Playstation2/rez/rez-2.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2001/ects/rez/rez_screen005.jpg

some videos of gameplay (http://media.ps2.ign.com/media/016/016546/vids_1.html)

[stew]

Possibly Shenmue? I'm sure a lot of thought went into the design of the game and the visual content.

[Farvus]

To me quite artistic are those flash games (point-and-click adventure type):
Samorost (http://samorost2.net/samorost1/)
Samorost 2 (http://www.samorost2.net/)

[Thunder Doom]

Oh exploitable!

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/01/23/curator-kojima-games-are-not-art/

[Sammy]

To me quite artistic are those flash games (point-and-click adventure type):
Samorost (http://samorost2.net/samorost1/)
Samorost 2 (http://www.samorost2.net/)

woe, awesome! The style reminds me of Pikmin, very nice


some commercially available titles off the top of my head:

- Oracrest nailed it -- Rez is a great example, not only for the visuals but the 'artistic' interaction with music samples.... it's actually one of the only music games ever where you can interact with the music (not just follow a damn dot arround)
http://www.futuregamez.net/ps2games/rez/rez2.jpg

- Electroplankton is another awesome "game" (errr... interactive media piece?) to check out --- interesting art style, but more of an artform in its interaction .... you litterally create in the 'game' rather than solving puzzles/conflicts ----- it's designed by japanese newmedia artist Toshio Iwai
http://gbamedia.gamespy.com/gba/image/article/604/604411/electroplankton-20050414030015343.jpg

- I'd love to play geometry wars, but i have no 360 :(
http://images.xboxyde.com/gallery/public/1810/726_0001.jpg

- the Panzer Dragoon universe has a very rich and consistant style:
http://www.moonapples.com/lagi/image9.jpg

- any Viewtifull Joe has a distinct art style that works perfect:
http://img.engadget.com/common/images/1490631295339375.JPG

- Wind Waker will take your breath away --- the ocean is one solid vectorized color, just the waves give it dimension.
http://www.unlimitedgamer.net/coverage/windwaker/images/zelda_wind_screenshots_035.jpg

- ICO and Colossus are fun to see a level of 'artistic' interaction in how they convey emotions and attachements to NPC's:
http://www.ixbt.com/consoles/images/shadowofcolossus/ico.jpg
http://www.armchairempire.com/images/previews/ps2/shadow-colossus/shadow-colossus-10.jpg

- Paper Mario's awesome in how the art style actually playes a theme in the gameplay:
http://cubemedia.gamespy.com/cube/image/article/555/555181/paper-mario-the-thousand-year-door-20041007022823617.jpg

- Vib Ribbon's cool and will have you zoning out interacting with your music:
http://terror.snm-hgkz.ch/mirrors/www.thegia.com/mirror/psx/vib/media4/vibgame08.jpg

- Feel the Magic/Rub Rabbits has a great art style:
http://www.juegomania.org/Feel+the+Magic:+XYXX/fotos/nintendods/0/2_t/Foto+Feel+the+Magic:+XYXX.jpg

[Prometheus|ANJ]

I care more about... atmospheric consistancy, like Quake 1 had with the gory brown theme and scary monsters, NIN music. That's art to me.

A TRON based game could probably look designy-artistic, if executed well.

There's an old Qix clone for the Amiga (and C64 and DOS) called Volfied. Instead of just filling in areas, you revealed the next level background. It was quite exciting to see what picture came next, plus the enemy robots were cool.

[Snarfevs]

The Neverhood

Claymation masterpiece, even comes with a 'the making of' vid that demonstrates just how insane these people were. Truly unforgettable game. Too bad the soundtrack is no longer available.


http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Neverhood/neverhood_04.jpg

http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Neverhood/neverhood_03.jpg

[Farvus]

Oh. I thought about the same game but forgot to post it. The Neverhood was really visually innovative. It also had nice music.

Farv

[MuffinMan]

The Neverhood

Claymation masterpiece, even comes with a 'the making of' vid that demonstrates just how insane these people were. Truly unforgettable game. Too bad the soundtrack is no longer available.


http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Neverhood/neverhood_04.jpg

http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Neverhood/neverhood_03.jpg


you know whats even more sad? i never got to play that game and i never will since it's no longer available and probably won't work on XP...:nohope:

[Sammy]

The Neverhood

Claymation masterpiece, even comes with a 'the making of' vid that demonstrates just how insane these people were. Truly unforgettable game. Too bad the soundtrack is no longer available.


[IMG]http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Neverhood/neverhood_04.jpg

[IMG]http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Neverhood/neverhood_03.jpg

good call

[egerie]

you know whats even more sad? i never got to play that game and i never will since it's no longer available and probably won't work on XP...:nohope:
That's why *cough cough abandonware cough cough* exists ;)
I keep an old machine at home with win98 just for that reason. I scored a copy of Grim Fadango, which I never played before and can play on that. Dos Game emulation under XP is impossible unless you have a super computer...

[Number_6]

What about Dosbox? (google it)

[cartoonfox]

sammy mentioned a few good ones.
some others that i'd like to mention:

killer7
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/killer7/killer7-18.jpg
http://www.eyeweiss.com/B981300997/C676837328/E398401580/Media/548493.jpg
http://game.goo.ne.jp/contents/title/PGMNTPDcpm04003/cpm04003_01w.jpg
http://www.anigames.it/download/uploads/immagini_news/killer7.jpg
an awesome awesome game. under-rated by most. you really have to play it and see it in motion to understand its briliance. one of my favourate games to date! (and i play a lot!! : ])

zelda: wind waker
http://www.peliplaneetta.net/images/articles/282/b_9.jpg
http://yannick.fleurit.free.fr/Critiques/Screenshots/Zelda%20Wind%20Waker/Zelda%20Wind%20Waker%20(3).jpg
http://www.zeldanederland.nl/images/10_tww/screens/10.jpg
http://www.unlimitedgamer.net/coverage/windwaker/images/zelda_wind_screenshots_024.jpg
http://www.unlimitedgamer.net/coverage/windwaker/images/zelda_wind_screenshots_037.jpg
despite some fools complaining about the cel graphics, this is still one of the best visual atchievments in video games, ever! anyone who hasn't yet played this game, don't let these screenshot fool you. go buy a gamecube, get wind waker, watch it in motion, and feel the tears drop from your eye!

resident evil 4
http://ars2.ord.cachefly.net/journals/thumbs.media/resident-evil-4-20050106113632084.jpg
http://www.nelefa.org/images/re4a.jpg
http://www.toocubed.com/willis/images/10-Untitled-5.jpg
http://www.armchairempire.com/images/Reviews/gamecube/resident-evil-4/resident-evil-4-4.jpg
http://www.siliconera.com/gcn/re4/040201s7.jpg
http://www.peliplaneetta.net/images/articles/480/b_4.jpg
easily the best looking game ever to exsist in the universe ever ever!! this game is just really that damn good. play it NOW!
i was playing this game again today, it still blows me away how amazingly awesome the game is to look at. and unless you want the PS2 exclusives (extra costumes and weapons etc) get it on gamecube if you can!

there are many others, but these are the few that stand out in my mind right now. of course the new zelda (twilight princess) looks amazing, but it's not out yet so i'll wait... :p


peace :7up:

[Sammy]

/\ /\ /\

i forgot about Killer 7 ----- that game had me in a trance, really really eerie
(might wanna fix one of your hotlinks, heh)

If we're on the topic of more realisticly rendered games Genji and the Monster Hunter series have some of the greatest environment sets ever:

Genji ($20 too!)
http://ps2media.gamespy.com/ps2/image/article/629/629641/genji-dawn-of-the-samurai-20050628101932007.jpg

http://www.take2.co.za/covers/ss/big/genji-ps2-3.jpg

http://www.playstation.com.gr/_data/images/previews/Genji%20-%20Dawn%20of%20the%20Samurai/genji_04_big.jpg

http://www.thumbbandits.com/reviewimages/monster_hunter/Monster_Hunter_02.jpg

http://www.vandal.biz/imagenesjulio/hunter04.jpg

http://ps2media.gamespy.com/ps2/image/article/631/631662/monster-hunter-2-20050706112832763.jpg

both games use unique forms of environments ---- the environments are like static set pieces (almost like a fighting game)
They'll be composed of layers and layers of background pieces (I call 'em matte reliefs)
like for instance in monster hunter, the perspective is pushed on the mountains, atmosphere is brought in, so is distant lighting ---- but the mountians are actually not too much farther away from you than the active level you play on.

still... nothing beats Colossus for an artistic sense of environment ----- everything in the environment is there - if you see a mountain, you can ride over too it ... if you see the ocean shore, you can make your way down to it.
they play on that sense of scale too, especially when from any corner of the map you can look back and see the center tower miles and miles away.

http://homepage.mac.com/nealemvf/iblog/C2085437101/E478540381/Media/collos.jpg

http://www.soneraplaza.fi/GetImages/GetImages_GetImage_jpg/0,2600,65983,00.jpg

http://imagebank.blogstation.fr/bank/Shadow%20Of%20The%20Colossus/TypeB_battleArea01_20050628.jpg

http://www.planet.nl/upload_mm/c/8/b/1980123675_1999998326_shadowcolossus_337x253.jpg

http://www.ixbt.com/consoles/images/shadowofcolossus/scr_05.jpg

http://www.ownage.nl/images/content/24393.JPG

http://www.gamebe.com/images/biblio/jeux/000000018587.jpg

http://www.vg.no/bilder/bildarkiv/1127381960.87149.jpg

such an epic sense of scale bests any environment art I can think of ---- it's one thing to see a nice static environment set-piece, it's another thing to litterally be in that environment, see some landmark on the horizon, and walk over to it ---- that's where the art of interaction, and the litteral visual game art start to blend together.




.

[cartoonfox]

shit, didnt see that!


peace :7up:

[Prometheus|ANJ]

Hey CartoonFox, What's that game with the bottle in the ass? Shock-Pic-Memory II?

[cartoonfox]

lol, i didn't see that, damn

*removed*


peace :7up:

[wakizashi]

ive always thought the first devil may cry was fairly artistic, most particularly in some of the cool, gothic, enviroments.
shadow of the colossus and killer seven are defenatley artistic to
most of the final fantasy games are pretty artistic to, the cinematics in the ff series are always great.
we love katamari is another realy cool game. very trippy look to it.
the mark of kri has a cool disney feel/look to it.

[Prometheus|ANJ]

Bitmap Brothers always seemed to know what they were doing with the pixels. The character sheet screen in Chaos Engine 1 is a real beauty.
http://www.lemonamiga.com/ has screenshots I believe.

[Sammy]

Bitmap Brothers always seemed to know what they were doing with the pixels. The character sheet screen in Chaos Engine 1 is a real beauty.
http://www.lemonamiga.com/ has screenshots I believe.

Prom, you should download Cave Story --- really nice pixel art:

http://www.caiman.us/freepix/1699-3.jpg

[Prometheus|ANJ]

Already got it :)

[asoir]

Abes Oddessey had an incredible atmosphere.

http://www.technodynamic.com/features/e31998/e398gtinteractive2.jpg
http://www.knightdiscounts.com/gameoddworldabesoddysee6.jpg

[Slash]

Prom, would you mind if i kissed you on the mouth? I thought i was the only one on the face of the earth who genuinely loved all the shades of brown from quake!


I always loved the monkey island games. They have a very distinct style that i just love. Just get that stupid 3d out of my face.. what where they thinking???

The broken sword games are also very beautiful, with a consistent mood from the install screen to the credits. (works with SCUMMVM too!)

The neverhood is one of my all-time favorite games. Its not too late to get it, i found several on ebay. It works perfect on dosbox. And for those of you who miss the music, the soundtrack from The NeverhoOd and skullmonkeys was re-released in 04. Its avaiable here: http://www.danielamos.com/store/

[Thunder Doom]

Here's the link for english translated Cave Story again, to anyone who's curious

http://mitglied.lycos.de/cavestory/page.php?id=5

For Windows only I'm afraid, if you use Mac.....bwahahahahahahaahahahaha.....

[Prometheus|ANJ]

Steve Purcell (Sam&Max) did some of the art for the Monkey Island games I believe.

I have to mention the Rival Schools slide-pinups too. Really awesome stuff.

[MuffinMan]

That's why *cough cough abandonware cough cough* exists ;)
I keep an old machine at home with win98 just for that reason. I scored a copy of Grim Fadango, which I never played before and can play on that. Dos Game emulation under XP is impossible unless you have a super computer...
eh..well when i was at isohunt they happened to have a torrent for it with abandonware and it worked perfect without dos emulation, installed just like anyother game and ran perfect. this game is great, lots of interesting stuff and it's just so damn weird, but fun.

I have everysingle monkey island game ever. "the curse of monkey island" was the best one...escape from monkey island was alright.

[Number_6]

I don't mean to complain, but I noticed some of you are hotlinking images from non-imagehosting sites. That's pretty bad form.

[Sammy]

I don't mean to complain, but I noticed some of you are hotlinking images from non-imagehosting sites. That's pretty bad form.

guilty as charged, but I figured our little games section doesn't get the most traffic in the world --- I'm assuming none of these hosts are burning, i hope.

[Number_6]

guilty as charged, but I figured our little games section doesn't get the most traffic in the world --- I'm assuming none of these hosts are burning, i hope.

I doubt it, but it's not doing CA's reputation any good. I'm pretty sure they can tell what site their picture's been embedded in.

[SHADOW X]

getting the word out need concept artist for game concepts go to

http://www.geocities.com/xtypecorp/

submit your information.

Thank you

[Thunder Doom]

getting the word out need concept artist for game concepts go to

http://www.geocities.com/xtypecorp/

submit your information.

Thank you

Never heard of that game, was it on the dreamcast or something?

[Number_6]

getting the word out need concept artist for game concepts go to

http://www.geocities.com/xtypecorp/

submit your information.

Thank you

This really has nothing to do with this thread. You'd be better off posting in the Jobs forum.