Games with the best aesthetic style this gen?

Be it through it's in-game art, graphics, presentation, or a comination thereof, which games this gen pushed the boundries in gaming aesthetics (by definition: Of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste; Characterized by a heightened sensitivity to beauty; Artistic), in your opinion?

Some of my picks:

ICO
http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P...2.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Max Payne 2
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Zone of the Enders 2
http://www.game.co.uk/sites/1/images...2927022375.jpg

Otogi
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...6.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Rygar
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...O.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Beyond Good and Evil
Max Payne 2
Rez

The usual suspects.

Another I'd probably put on the list even with only about an hour and change of playtime so far, is Prince of Persia, which I just picked up today finally. :) And also, though I'm sure most will scoff at the very idea; Starfox Adventures. Say what you like about SFA's gameplay, but wow, the game was just flat out, drop dead gorgeous, and still remains almost unrivaled in that respect, imo.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx_assets/pr...ges/235043.jpg

:)

PoP easy.
Devil May Cry had a style all its own.
Maximo also.

Beyond Good & Evil
Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker
Jet Grind Radio/Jet Set Radio Future
Shenmue
Disgaea

If you mean audiovisuals by asthetics, ICO easily. No other game has yet to make me cry by just watching the animation because it is so beautiful.

Mark of the Kri
Both Max Paynes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Damian79

If you mean audiovisuals by asthetics, ICO easily. No other game has yet to make me cry by just watching the animation because it is so beautiful.

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You cried from watching the animation in ICO?

LOL.

Soul Calibur 1 was just amazing. PDO as well.

Prince of Persia is really great too. I might have cried watching that animation... if I wouldn't have been to busy laughing at myself for such a thing.

*slices*
;_;

I don't think anyone has mentioned Panzer Dragoon Orta yet.

Captian Canuck did, right above me. And I agree.

Well....Canadians don't count.

Very good picks, Andy. Let me add Fatal Frame and Syberia.

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.
While not the greatest game, the castle and enemy design were executed astounding well in the aesthetic department.

And what the fuck is up with crying at Ico?

:(

:lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by icarusfall

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.
While not the greatest game, the castle and enemy design were executed astounding well in the aesthetic department.

And what the fuck is up with crying at Ico?

:(

:lol:

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*tries to save face*
It made me wish that the game was good. Such great art & music for such a crappy game(mainly because of the shadow fights).

Rez
Double Dragon
Project Justice
Soul Calibur
Jet Set Radio Series
Klonoa 2
Ridge Racer V
Tekken Series
Metal Gear Solid 2
Ikaruga
F-Zero
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Ace Combat 4
Wind Waker
Mario Sunshine (like, 4 or so levels)
Rayman 2
Shenmue
Gran Turismo
OutRun 2
R-Type Final
Made In Wario
Tales of Symphonia
Pikmin

Ooh, Silent Hill 3. It's disgusting, but positively sublime at creating a mood, and visual setting. :)

GGXX was oozing with style.

Devil May Cry
Fatal Frame
Jet Set Radio Future
Pikmin

I agree with most of whats already been posted, so instead of being redundant, I'll just add one that really wowed me and was unexpected.


XIII.

That game has presentation in spades, and really does alot to envelop the game player.

ZOE 2, overall presentation is great. Up there with Ace Combat 4.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by child810

ZOE 2

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Word. I cant believe I didnt think about that one. After the first one, I wasn't expecting much at all, but ZOE 2 was extremely impressive.

Beyond Good & Evil
Rez
Ico
Mark of Kri
Maximo (both of them)

ZOE 2

I can't believe no one's mentioned Viewtiful Joe yet!

And I second XIII.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by icarusfall

Ooh, Silent Hill 3. It's disgusting, but positively sublime at creating a mood, and visual setting. :)

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Hells yea!

If I could I would mention the entire Silent Hill Series up until this point, but SH1 would probably be excluded just for it's age alone. Anyways, Konami took the "survival horror" game and made it exactly that with an emersive style to boot. Then with the sequal they decided to go down a different path. By taking the formula that worked with the first they put it into a blender added one part stripper, two parts Dali and a whole lot more atmosphere and it worked great. With the 3rd part they realised that they had two options, 1) Go back and follow one of the two story lines or 2) make a whole new one. They went with #1 and made it continue from the first game. Although much more linear they really showed off that they can still scare the crap out of you and make you question your vision.

Oh, also I would have to put in point that Metrod Prime was amazing in this point. Everything from the facial reflections on the inside of the visor, to the heat/cold effects of the envorments.

ZOE2
Rez
Prince of Persia

So far, only Zelda WW has drop-kicked me in the throat and said "LOOK AT ME! I'M PLEASANT TO VIEW!"

....but then I'm pretty jaded. :)

Others that rank way up there in the athetics department, but not quite as high as Zelda:

RE-make
Viewtiful Joe
Guilty Gear X/XX
Rez
Metal Slug 3 (if that counts as "this generation")
Space Channel 5 pt 2

Most of the ones I'd say have been said, but here's my list

Beyond Good and Evil
Rez
Ikaruga
Tales of Symphonia
Viewtiful Joe
F-Zero GX
Zelda: WW
Wario Land 4
Shin Megami Tensei 3
Space Channel 5 Part 2

JSRF.
Dark Cloud 2.
LOZ:WW.

Dark Cloud 2, repetitive game, but visually fun to look at in every aspect.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jiji

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx_assets/pr...ges/235043.jpg

:)

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Agreed. I'm still surprised most TNLers didn't like this game much.

No one's mentioned Metroid Prime?

ICO and Prince of Persia are definitely the top of the list.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BioMechanic

No one's mentioned Metroid Prime?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by ME DAMN IT

Oh, also I would have to put in point that Metrod Prime was amazing in this point. Everything from the facial reflections on the inside of the visor, to the heat/cold effects of the envorments.

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SPHINX AND THE CURSED MUMMY!

Rez
JSRF
Max Payne 2
ZOE2
Viewtiful Joe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BioMechanic

Agreed. I'm still surprised most TNLers didn't like this game much.

No one's mentioned Metroid Prime?

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Other way around, alot of TNL'ers liked it. It's the only community i know thats open about it, everyone else on Earth hated it.

Wind Waker
Otogi
ZOE2
PoP
BG&E
Viewtiful Joe
F-Zero GX
And I don't think its been mentionned but SSX3 should be included for its vibrant colors and themes.

My list is going to be pretty much the same as everyone else's.
Rygar (This game is so underrated)
Wind Waker
Metroid Prime
Prince of Persia
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Resident Evil
Metal Gear Solid 2
Jak and Daxter
Sly Cooper
Warcraft III

Wind Waker
Metroid Prime
Prince of Persia
Resident Evil
Beyond Good & Evil
Guilty Gear XX

Not that I've played it or anything, but Baten Kaitos looks like it going to be jaw droppingly beautiful.

No one's listed Sky Gunner? For shame.

Yeah... Rez and Ico.

Amen on everyone who put in:

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy
Zelda WW
ICO
Wario Land 4

I would like to add Legacy of Kain Defiance. The camera was kind of busted to play but damn was it beautiful.

wind waker
beyond good and evil
guilty gear x(dc)
morrowind(not based on the character models, but if you can look at some of the tombs and sixth house areas , or the beautiful sky, and be unmoved, you have no soul)
sly cooper(didnt play it, but screenshots alone sold me)
Jet set radio future.
I have strong hopes for True fantasy online. screenshots have made me happy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MechDeus

No one's listed Sky Gunner? For shame.

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I've just been inadvertently pwn3d!!! :(

CUBIVORE

ReZ
ICO
Viewtiful Joe
Otogi
JSRF
Wind Waker
MGS2
Crimson Skies

ah, yes. how could i forget morrowind. stepping off the boat for the first time and seeing the siltstrider in the bogs... bliss.

I don't count things mimicing real life as stylized. It's just capturing reality. (although I realize silent hill had cool creature design, it still applies to the same rules) Style is taking this reality and bending it in a unique or just plain cool fashion. For me, games like Mario Kart, and Mario Sunshine don't count either because they're more of a 3D cartoon.

For me style is about doing something nobody else is presenting us.

I thought POP had some great style in the atmosphere. The color tint on the game was outstanding and everything seemed way more organic than anything I've seen in a game before now.

Metal Gear Solid 2 and Zone of the Enders had the same vague style. The environments and characters and everything seemed more robotic than organic. The opposite of POP. By robotic I don't mean jerky animations and whatnot. I mean the feel of the character development and the atmosphere being a concrete and sharp corner jungle. They were very well done.

Viewtiful Joe was full of style. It was flat and planed and some of the art did look a bit rough, but it was done in such a good fashion and was almost a mockery of itself because of the way the game used style as a gameplay mechanic.

SFA - I'm a little iffy about putting this in the game, but the level atmosphere in the game weren't quite real enough to be called real and not quite cartoony enough to be in the cartoon category. I had a lot of fun exploring all of the out door environments. The indoors suffered a little bit though.

Zelda - Best use of cel-shading I've ever seen. I think the wind factor helped this game out.

and ICO for reasons already stated. Mostly because this game actually had photography direction, where most developers don't have a clue what to do with the camera.

And that's really it.

Devil May Cry, anyone? Very GQ. Maybe Transylvanian GQ.

Morrowind if only for its scope in design and style. EVERYTHING in the game was huge.

Ico, ico, ico, almost made me cry as well.
Rez
Mario Sunshine
Pikmin
Metroid Prime
Wind Waker
Gunvalkyrie
Beyond Good & Evil (too much factory looking levels though)
Vexx (all the worlds except the Mansion, guh)
Wave Race: Blue Storm
Rayman 3
Rygar
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Mario & Luigi

Space Channel 5 Part 2

UGA put out some of the best designs in the buisiness.
They will be missed :(

Disgaea
Boktai
Rez
Shinobi
JSRF
Skygunner
Sly Cooper

Beyond Good & Evil
Devil May Cry
ICO
Mark of Kri
Prince of Persia

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Andrew

I don't count things mimicing real life as stylized. It's just capturing reality. (although I realize silent hill had cool creature design, it still applies to the same rules) Style is taking this reality and bending it in a unique or just plain cool fashion.

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Well, I am going to jump in and ask you to defend yourself in your exclusion of Silent Hill. While it does in a way, capture reality (and you say mimicing real life is not stylized) it is the way that it bends it that makes it stylized.

By going into an elevatorand seing the options to go between floors 1 -3 then getting off on 2 and then 3 you get back in and all a sudden you can go to the 4th floor, where did it come from? Then when you get there, something is not right. Something is the twist of going beyond mimicing reality and mimicing a nightmare that you have to interact with. For example the best and most frightening thing in any Silent Hill has to be the "Mirror Room" in the alternate hospital of SH3.

I am not arguing, I am backing up my claim. In the same way that Dali took real items and put them in strange manners styles and settings SH takes reality and bends it how it wants to and sucks you up into it's nightmare. That is not mimicing reality, that is creating fear where you once felt safe. I was not talking about monster designs (which are also different depending on which characters perspective your viewing the game from).

That's not really style so much as design though.

Style is the way the levels look and how well the artist expressed his intent, I suppose. I don't count a game mimicing reality in the same category. Yes, it's style because the artist definitely expressed a lot of horror and drama in the game, but it's a very common style most developers try to emulate and not enough. It just does it better. It has a lot of style in the way it uses darkness, it's just not enough for me to put it on a list.

Mimicing fear where you once felt safe is still a reality. You can do this in real life to somebody (haunted houses) and movies have done it too (any scene in which a home is destroyed or an elevator falls). It's a good game, don't get me wrong, but I don't really feel it's style.

There aren't too many games out there with consistent style that I would pick. That's why my list is short. In truth SFA shouldn't of been on the list.