Can A Game be Too Pretty?

DualShockers writes:

Delve with me into an age old question: can a video game be too pretty? I am sure many of you will fly off the handle and simply reply "of course not!". Understandably so seeing as many of us in the gaming community have waited for this current generation of games to really exercise our HD televisions, but I pose to you the conundrum… Can a game be too pretty for multiplayer? Think before answering.

[BROOKLYN N-M-E]

The answer to your question is YES, YES it can be too pretty. I too found myself looking around more than actually shooting people.

[taz8080]

The game is insane and actually makes you want to look around the environment

[Panthers]

I have this same problem with KZ2, especially when someone else is shooting at me and the light from his gun creates a shadow behind him. Looks so amazing.

[Reibooi]

This game is stunning and I too the first few matches found myself just looking around at things going wow. However it's not even close to being a problem. Most people will get that wow effect and have it pass by playing teh single player and after any amount of time the games looks will start to look normal to you and you will stop looking around so much so it really is not a issue at all.

[Biggunz]

I found myself looking at the scenery and getting killed also.

[edgeofblade]

A game can be too pretty when the time and resources spent on appearance could have been better spent on gameplay. Not saying UC2 is guilty of that... but I will go as far to say Killzone 2 is VERY guilty. If the gameplay had half as much staying power as it had graphical polish, we would still be playing it.

[SupaPlaya]

too pretty that I was at the bottom of the list when I played the demo last night. People were shooting at me when I was just trying to tour the darn place lol...

Too pretty is a curse that we have to suffer through. Should know better than to get a PS3.

Where else do you find people saying that the game has "too much variety" and "too pretty"?

Going back to the demo after dinner.

[ReservoirDog316]

I don't really notice graphics too much and it was the same for the beta (I said I wouldn't download it but I lasted about 10 minutes before I cracked). But if there's one thing I love about Uncharted is the smoothness of the animations.

I don't care about graphics by and large but I love smooth animations.

[house]

its all looks and no game play kinda like Megan fox rofl

[starvinbull]

First it was "the PS3 isn't a gaming machine, the cell can't do games it's a multimedia chip!"

Then it was "PS3 and 360 are so close in terms of power it is scary!"

Now it is "can a game (PS3 game) be too good looking?"

That'll be Edge's excuse for marking U2 lower than ODST, "we'd like to give a higher score but the graphics were a bit too good."

[IzKyD1331]

In the demo, I found myself playing around with the water effects and it led me to die like 3 times (I didn't care though, I was still interested in the water effects lol)

[Sarcasm]

I like how Uncharted 2 has only a tiny pinch of motion blur when the characters move. It makes them look soooo fluid.

[BROOKLYN N-M-E]

can really get in the way of things sometimes, but never good graphics! This is definitely a first.

[taz8080]

I cant think of any other game on any other system that has looked this good. PS3 is flexing its muscles with Uncharted 2

[Grevan]

For this game because I am so psyched now. Whoo.

[taz8080]

The multiplayer really solidified it for me as well.

[gaffyh]

The multiplayer is surprisingly good (as in addictively good), and it's better than the previous beta.

[napoleon_ist]

as you can see
http://images.gamersyde.com...

btw GT5 has weather conditions and full damage confirmed! :)
http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News...

[taz8080]

LMAO, nice one!

[Greywulf]

TUrn10 should just learn when to stfu.

[iiprotocolii]

The thing is, folks, Forza 3 in itself isn't a bad game. Had Turn 10 promoted the game as it REALLY is, people would have been fine with it and things would have been fine. But because, for the second time, they continue to advertise the product falsely by pitching lies. Check this out http://dualshockers.com/200...

[PeptoBismol]

I have a PS3 and 360. Time and time again, I've defended Sony fans, but Forza 3 is honestly a fun game to play. The demo was intuitive and the driving mechanics are great. All this mindless Forza 3 bashing needs to stop. There's no need for it.

[Greywulf]

Everyone is just saying Turn10 boasted too much, lied about the visuals, then swapped out high polygon models/photomode for underwhelming gameplay visuals.

The game-series-has always been at the top right under Gran Turismo.

But I dont feel sorry for Turn10. They brought it on themselves.360 owners have the defeated attitude of "Well they are both good games!" THats exactly what everyone was saying in the first place, until Turn10 said FOrza3 is literally the best driving game with the best graphics.That changed everything. It cant even hold up to direct feed screenshots. Turn the clock back, go to every single BUllshot from Turn10 and see "DEFINITIVE" & comments like "GT WHAT???? LOL"

Honestly, no one was talking trash about turn10 until the E3 boasting started, they put their game up for scrutiny saying its the best...

and it got owned. All the Xbots know this, thats why they are silent on the matter and playing the "well its just a fun game". Ya..

we all knew it was. the last one was AAA remember?

[lh_swe]

What the ****??? Seriously!

This made me quite angry, I was actually gonna buy this game, but now! after this! It's one thing to tweak a little, polish if you will, but if this game truly looks this disappointing then frankly I'm out.

[swiftshot93]

Heavy Rain looked freaky at first in that it was so realistic looking, but yea you get used to it. Also, Prince of Persia and God of War 3 look like freaking paintings, it boggles the mind...

[BROOKLYN N-M-E]

3 out of the 4 mentioned are PS3 exclusive? Coincidence? I think not!

[taz8080]

God of War 3 looks crazy but I think Uncharted 2 has GOTY wrapped up.

[Panthers]

And GOW3 has next years GOTY wrapped up!

[lh_swe]

" Notice 3 out of the 4 mentioned are PS3 exclusive? Coincidence? I think not!"

What do you mean, sure he may be a fanboy (a topic which I'm not going to delve into) but the best looking games the 360 offers are Gears of War 2 and soon to come Alan Wake and Splinter Cell Conviction and while they are lookers Uncharted 2 is breath-takingly beautiful, soo much in fact it evidently is distracting.

[James Bond]

Ah, no wonder I'm so good on Gears of War 2 multiplayer. There's nothing really pretty to look at.

[BROOKLYN N-M-E]

your gonna want to take a look at Uncharted 2, it's 5 v 5 with a very similar play mechanic to gears!

[taz8080]

@James - must be, also its so dark that you cant see the environment anyway.

[James Bond]

@taz8080 - that's so true. i roadie ran into a wall because i thought that was an entrance.

[fishd]

When playing Shadow of the colossus, sometimes I just stop moving around and watch at the TV screen in absolute awe.

Also GT 5:P have the same effect some times,those car models are Ridiculous!
Car porn indeed

[iiprotocolii]

Same here. Although, I must say, that after playing the Uncharted 2 Beta, I am more than confident that this game will be graphically superior to ANYTHING this year... and that was only the demo. We haven't been exposed to the single player campaign yet. And, according to the scores, it seems to be on some stuff.

[swiftshot93]

Agreed. SotC was so empty and felt so isolated yet it was so beautiful.

[iiprotocolii]

That's because the art team were sent down from heaven. SotC was balanced well. The majority of the game, you're exposed to empty fields, and a somber world filled with nothing but the planes and mountains that surrounds the player. Once the player makes contact with a Collossi, everything seems so vivid and exciting, simply because, not only were the things gargantuan, but because the brought life to that empty world. I kind of felt bad, at times, killing those bastards. The game was epic in every sense of the word.

[edgeofblade]

SotC? Were we playing the same game? The framerate dragged, there were wide swaths of texture painted on the ground, and the camera could be downright useless at times. A good game by virtue of both technical design and gameplay design, but graphically...

...Oh ok, I'll admit that SotC looks good in this day and age... if you admit Goldeneye still holds up today.

[Tyetan]

Short answer, No.

[Tony P]

"Too pretty"? I...what? Er, no. Not at all.

The last pretty environments I enjoyed were some of the free exploration planets in Mass Effect. I don't remember any names, but there was one with a lot of spores that looked absolutely gorgeous and another with a constant rain of fire that looked absolutely intimidating. But both incredibly otherworldly.

[TwistedMetal]

killzone2 and uncharted 2 multiplayer online looks like the single player graphics. I am always amazed by this. Sometimes I forget Im playeing Mp and not sp. Im sorry guys but if you dont have a ps3 this gen then you missing out on true next gen gamieng. social community features are nothing compared to gameing features, fact. I get a console to game.

[edgeofblade]

What does SP vs. MP have to do with this? Please, enlighten me.

This isn't the age of split-screen gaming where this made a difference. This is the age of online gaming, where everyone has their own PS3 and the full power of their PS3 is dedicated to the graphics. How much overhead do you think the network code takes away from the GRAPHICS?

[LinuxGuru]

Uncharted 2 multiplayer really is fantastic-looking. I only stop to look at stuff when I'm hiding. When I'm running around, I focus on the gameplay.

[xabmol]

Only 2 games have been "Too Pretty" for me.

I have been killed multiple times in KZ2 and UC2 because I was just lookin around. I've even had people yell at me in UC2's co-op because I was checkin out the flooded laundry room. lol

[Sitdown]

I take this article as somebody who wanted to put their input in on the game...but could not come up with a better way to draw people's attention. Age old question? Haha. Anyhoo, too play along...I think pretty(maybe my own cultural bias) seems like a odd description for UC2...maybe we should ask if a game's graphics can be too stunning. I do think games can be too pretty, I am mainly talking about certain car games in which the cars are so polished up that they no longer seem realistic.

[OnlyOnN4G]

You've never seen cars in a showroom or motorshow before, have you?

[Sitdown]

which means I stand by my point.

[OnlyOnN4G]

http://scoobytuner.com/Imag...
http://www.allfordmustangs....
http://image.europeancarweb...

I disagree

[Sitdown]

none of those cars look fake...and the environments breath life/realism. Now go look through some of the pictures of upcoming racing games and notice the color palettes on the cars and environments with the lighting being overdone to the point where the cars are over saturated with shine and reflection for the given environment. Clean cars in the wrong environment become unrealistic looking...and some racing games do exactly that.

[OnlyOnN4G]

GT5:P Vs Real Life

http://generationdreamteam....

Except for the Subaru, everything else doesnt fit your argument, so I respectfully disagree...once again.

[Sitdown]

I figured I might as well break down and join you......the reason I held out so long, is because I did't want anybody to think I have a bias toward any particular game...as I plan on getting both Forza 3 and GT5.

http://images.gamersyde.com...
http://images.gamersyde.com...
http://images.gamersyde.com...
http://images.gamersyde.com...
http://images.gamersyde.com...
http://images.gamersyde.com...
http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3...

If I get time later, I will post some more pics from other games.

[OnlyOnN4G]

I posted those links as i believe the only way to convince you of anything is for you to see first hand with your own 2 eyes and that i was confident in my argument, so what better way to prove my point, that cars can be photorealistic in games, than to post a link doing just that, comparing game to reality, which proved my point quite nicely as you didn't bother to refute, and also a quote from your post above,
"notice the color palettes on the cars and environments with the lighting being overdone to the point where the cars are over saturated with shine and reflection for the given environment".
Now i just proved this statement to be completely false with the link i provided, ironically except 1 image that fits the statement as i pointed out above... the subaru. You also proved my point once again with your own links as they do not reflect the characteristics in the statement i quoted from you, now images 1 and 2 from your links go rather nicely with the red audi in my link, which happens to be sitting in the exact same spot, do you know why the reflection are located at the same spots? because the source of lights are the strip lights in garage i.e. the same lighting condition for all cars.
As for the rest of the links, all you've done is prove my point, i suggest you compare your links to the one i've provided as you'll clearly see, the lighting is no different from the shots of GT, which surely one can admit, there is barely anything between it and reality, hence why the quiz was created in the first place because it's diffcult to see the differences.

Oh and also if you think your eyes are decieving you or your just too stubborn and for some reason you dont want to accept my argument and the evidence i provided along with your links i suggest you go and read GT5:P reviews watch the video reviews from gamespot, gametrailers etc, they all share the same opinion, that GT5:P looks photorealistic.

[Sitdown]

allow me to go ahead and end it, because your post shows that you were so anxious to respond to my original post, that you put words in my mouth for argument sake. 1.)Notice I never said that cars in games could not be photo realistic. 2.)Notice that I said "certain games", which means I never called out GT5..but you brought them into the equation; I can easily pull up racing games that are not GT5 to prove my point 3.)You want me to read gamestop or gametrailers...do me a favor, go to google or your favorite search engine and type in "Forza 3 oversaturated" Hmmm, not only is gamestop and gametrailers not the final authority on my vision and perception, but you will see others who carry my same sentiments regarding oversaturated. 5.)Are you really trying to argue with me regarding what I see?...just because you are so engulfed and can't see a difference, that does not mean I am wrong. Look at the back left part of the cars in the first two links I posted...have you really seen a car like that in real life?

[OnlyOnN4G]

1)In your first post you pointed out that "certain car games in which the cars are so polished up that they no longer seem REALISTIC", now your obviously refering to real world cars correct?, in which case photorealistic = real, therefore the context was the same, and no i haven't put words in your mouth.
2)Yes you never called out GT5 and i merely posted the GT5P screens as an example to make my point, this thread isn't about Game x Vs Game Y, i posted those screens to prove my point that car games do look REAL nothing more nothing less. If you really wanted to post pics of games that prove your point why didn't you do that??? cos as i said theres no biased involved cos its not that type of thread. I already pointed out the subaru pic and yes the first 2 pics are both off, but as i said above its the environmental lighting as it clearly reflects the same in my link with the red audi, but with that said only 3 images out of the half a dozen posted were off, and the rest look fine as you obviously didn't bother to comment on those.
3)I apologise for questioning your vision and i was only refering to other sources, as many share my opinion that was all, i wasn't insulting. Its also funny that now you point me to "Oversaturated Forza", if that fits your argument so well, why didn't you post link to pics featuring Forza???
4)Yes i can see the difference hence why i pointed out the Subaru pic in my link and yes those 2 links are the odd ones out compared to the dozens posted, but what huge difference can you see in the other links posted?
Anyway, with all that said i guess every individual has their own perception of what constitutes towards realism visually.

[SupaPlaya]

post

[Awesomeo3000]

if ur too busy looking at walls when playing multiplayer u prob have ADD or something u can admire the looks of the game for a bit but eventually ur gonna get over it and enjoy it i played the multiplayer demo its freaking awesome

[bunfighterii]

if your running around in multiplayer looking at walls then your a dolt

[LinuxGuru]

If you misspell "you're" more than one time in the same sentence, then you're a dolt.

[Tomarcus]

I think a lot of games coming out may fit into the too pretty category. I love the concept of a game being too pretty, because in 5 years, these games will be normal, and too pretty will have become insanely pretty.

[Tomarcus]

UNCHARTED 2 WOOOT

[Saaking]

Only on ps3 they can

[devilhunterx]

noobs old excuse: "LAG! HACKORZ"

noobs new excuse: "this game is so pretty, i was too busy staring at the scenary"

[FwanK]

Ask this question to vampire rain...

[Edo411]

Thats like saying

"Can food be too tasty?" Well obviously not, i doubt people go to other places that don't do food as well/cook as well just because it tastes worse =/

[ZBlacktt]

Blu-ray > DVD

[Sir Ken_Kutaragi]

...thinks a PIE looks 'Pretty' ;-D

I 'demand' Next-Gen looks...and the PS3 gives it to me!!! ;-P

Uncharted 2, MGS4, KillZone 2, LBP, WipeOut:HD...etc etc

...Now the ChatBot Zombie DLC Lemmings...Hmm...they have very 'LOW' standards!!! ;-D

[AliTheBrit]

I have yet to download the demo for Uncharted 2..I may not, I may just wait now until the game's release, only around 2 weeks or so left.

[Tex117]

Ha, I've been killed a few times just looking at the enviroments.

So cool.

[immmmtheking]

if you said yes, then you are the bug that flies into the zapper. if you said no, then you're the bug laughing and calling the fried bugs idiots. my answer.... shoot everything dead first then look at the scenery.

[The_Devil_Hunter]

Hahah its like saying "can sex be too good"

[kaveti6616]

Well, as great as a game looks, the novelty can wear if the gameplay sucks. Fortunately, Uncharted 2 doesn't have that problem. Crysis sort of had that problem, according to a friend of mine who spent a great deal of money to build a computer just to play it. This was before Crysis had even come out, so people were so stunned by the graphics they didn't wonder if the story would suck. I hope Killzone 2 doesn't have this problem because it looks exciting to me, but the 360 fboys are spreading so much FUD these days. If it's even half-true, then I will be disappointed.

[DigitalAnalog]

Delivering quality wherever and WHATEVER they bring......