Games as a True Artform.

[SeymourSan]

Now we all have our own oppinion on what game is the "Best" or "Your Favourite" But how many of these creations would you really call art? Im going to leave the question as open as that and see what you have to say.

My own "Two Cents" on this one is:

The first and second installments of the Team Ico Trilogy- Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.

I would have to chose these particular games as an obvious choice really. The first thing you will think of is probably the graphical style of these games. Wonderfully subtle and fresh, from landscape to interior and character model.
Not to mention the OST of these games, amazingly in tune with the setting, to a tee.
Finally the gameplay and the storytelling is just brilliant, a real testiment to the writers of these games. These are obviously people with vision and passion, rather than a team of suits with no pasion except that for money.

What do you guys think?

 

[Get Jiggy]

My vote is for Braid, very unique, the storyline was very mysterious and open to interpretation and the gameplay was clever. Also without giving anything away the last level was brilliant.

 

[NeonZombie]

Okami obviously

 

[GodsOneMistake]

Bioshock is art definitely... And even though many people were board by it I think GTA4 can be considered art as well...


Well technically all games can be considered art

 

[RebelRising]

Half-Life series and Portal for their stellar narrative, atmospheric effect, and musical choices.

I'll come back for more. But I'm interested, OP, in knowing what your definition of art is.

 

[Vrex360]

Otogi: Myth of Demons... I've typed this so often that my fingers are now permenantly fixed in the position that the keys would be if I was at my computer.

The most beautiful game I've ever played. Designed to look like ancient Japanese spiritual paintings it just looks and moves beautifully. Second to that, Bioshock. Must also mention Mass Effect, Silent Hill and Velvet Assassin.

 

[metalmmaniac]

Okami
i also always thought Psychonauts was a pretty artistic game

 

[HardRockSamurai]

Okami obviously

I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but I don't think so. Sure, Okami had a really beautiful calligraphy art style, but I think for a game to truly be considered art is has to be special. Art comes from an artist's unique expression, and Okami, while it looked pretty and played great, didn't really innovate all too much.

My choices would be Braid, Psychonauts, and Shadow of the Colossus; since these games provided a more "newborn" experience than the rehashed ones we have to sit through today.

EDIT: Just wanted to add Half-Life 2. Yeah it's "another FPS," but it's constructed so well I just had to include it. Put it this way: if Braid is a pretty painting, then Half-Life 2 is a gigantic sculpture; unoriginal, but amazing none the less.

 

[superdance14]

Okami, World of Goo, Castle Crashers. All feature amazing artwork with moving soundtracks and any person who deems them not art has lost all my respect.

 

[Fraught]

Team ICO trilogy? That's like calling every video game company's games who have only made three games a "trilogy".
I don't know if they announced it as a trilogy, though. So if they did, feel free to shoot me in all of my limbs, and in my stomach. Preferably the heart.

I usually pick games as art from their graphical styles, character designs and level designs.
Taking that into consideration, I'd pick Psychonauts, Okami, Braid, BioShock and Fallout.
I'm digging Fallout's 30s/40s atmosphere, and BioShock's 50s atmosphere, and Braid, Okami and Psychonauts are just artistically wonderful.

EDIT: Also the music in the game.

 

[SeymourSan]

Team ICO trilogy? That's like calling every video game company's games who have only made three games a "trilogy".
I don't know if they announced it as a trilogy, though. So if they did, feel free to shoot me in all of my limbs, and in my stomach. Preferably the heart.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_of_the_Colossus#Connections_to_Ico

I think that wether the two are officialy part of a trillogy is anyones guess, however I am of the opinion that an important link is exists betwenn these games.

I'll come back for more. But I'm interested, OP, in knowing what your definition of art is.

Haha! A classic question right there, and one that has gotten no easier to answer throught my life. This is part of the reason that I left the question so open, so as not to limit the answers to only my perseption of the word "art". That said, for me personally art is an expression which has been created to make you FEEL, rather than simply be a spectator to the artform. When a painting, a film, a poem, a photograph or a game, if it can make you feel the emotion contained within, then to me, it is art.

 

[super_smash_jesus]

Windwaker
Okami
also, i saw someone in a post before me with world of goo, and I couldn't agree more

 

[ThePocketWeasel]

I'd say that Oblivion and the Shivering Isles expansion, both are definitely a works of art, I love the graphics on them.

 

[Marlomarlo]

Well, whatever fits the definition, I guess.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/art

You'd probably have an easier time listing what isn't art. Art isn't some sort of honorific that somehow adds legitimacy to what you like. Art can suck just like people can suck or be great.

 

[velcthulhu]

I agree that ICO and Shadow of the COlossus were art. Great art, even, which is why it really makes me sad that the controls sucked so bad. Seriously? press X continuously to ride around the map? yeah, that will never get old...
The Myst games, both for writing and art. Well, 2-4 anyway, the first one wasn't as artistic and the fifth one just sucked.
I would also include the metroid: prime games, or at least the first one.

 

[SeymourSan]

Well, whatever fits the definition, I guess.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/art

You'd probably have an easier time listing what isn't art. Art isn't some sort of honorific that somehow adds legitimacy to what you like. Art can suck just like people can suck or be great.

It is true, if using each differant deffinition in that link, this thread would become a very differant issue. However, I remind you that i left the actual question forming the thread very open, because I know that everyone will use a differant definition of the word.

 

[Darathy]

This thread has gone 17 posts without a mention of Planescape: Torment?

Wow.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Bioshock, Braid, Shadow of the Colossus, PoP trilogy, and possibly Ninety-Nine Nights (even though that game was horrible).

 

[ohgodalex]

Console games only? I would argue that The Majesty of Colors [http://www.kongregate.com/games/GregoryWeir/the-majesty-of-colors] qualifies as art, despite being a flash vidjeo game.