Which Classic Game Had the Best Graphics?

[e2density]

For the SNES I though Mario Kart looks really nice.

 

[CK76]

Link to the Past is still amazing art to me.

SNES and Genesis have aged the best, PS1, Saturn and N64 aged the worst.

 

[TheDoctor455]

Myst was one of the first adventure games to try to make use of full 3D... so I'm gonna go with it.

 

[LeonLethality]

Yoshi's Island. I loved the style of those graphics.

 

[Fappy]

Mario RPG and the Donkey Kong Country trilogy had insane sprites.

 

[CrysisMcGee]

Diablo, Icewind Dale 2, Fallout Tactics. Red Alert 2, Tiberium sun. Jets 'N' Guns.

To be honest, I kinda wish they'd go back to 2d games just because they were so damn pretty.

 

[CrysisMcGee]

Well, if you include arcade games, then they will win every time. The limitations of the NES and SNES in graphics were substantial when compared to arcade games.

NARC, arcade version.
NARC, NES version

 

[MetallicaRulez0]

Donkey Kong Country. Seriously, that game blew my mind when I was 9.

 

[CrysisMcGee]

Spoiler: Legend of Mana PS1

Spoiler: SaGa Frontier 2 PS1

2D art never ages poorly.

Yes Yes...Very good. The PS1 worked better as a 2d platform than 3d.

Also....All glory to the Hypnotoad! Too bad you can't get the sound too.

 

[Good morning blues]

Quality of graphics isn't about technology; it's about graphic design. I just finished re-playing the 1998 Metal Gear Solid; it might have some pixellated textures, but it still looks great because the graphic design is so good. It certainly looks a lot better than a more technically advanced game with shitty art design like Morrowind.

this is either flamebait, or you have a very "unique" opinion. I'd argue morrowind has some of the best art design ever.

I will respond with some images:

Spoiler

Maybe not the best example, but the drab pastel colors and emphasis on details rather than impressions (compare the faces between MGS and Morrowind for what I mean here) make this game look a good deal worse than MGS in my opinion.

I certainly won't begrudge you your opinion but I just can't get behind it myself. I personally think the Morrowind is timeless with it's look. Much like the beautiful sprites of the 16bit era I don't suspect there will ever be a time where Morrowind doesn't look current and great to me.

I also think that early forays into 3D, such as mgs1 for that matter, have not aged all that well. Not to say mgs1 is bad by any stretch, but if I were to play through it now it would be nostalgia driving the playthrough and not any love for it's aesthetics. Though, they were quite good for the time and remain competent.

I generally agree about the early days of 3D, although I obviously still think MGS looks great. Most early 3D is a terribly textured mess with visible seams everywhere; MGS has a unique perspective that allows only a small section of the level to need to be rendered at a time, thusly allowing fewer seams and higher-rez textures, but doesn't feel like you're hindered or blind.

 

[JEBWrench]

Spoiler: Legend of Mana PS1

Spoiler: SaGa Frontier 2 PS1

2D art never ages poorly.

Ah, the SaGa series. How modern technology has crushed your former awesomeness.

 

[Nivag the Owl]

I think the Elder Scrolls games. Oblivion's graphics can still compete with new releases. It's the same with all other ES games too (in their times of course).

Oh and Donkey Kong Country. Has anybody else noticed the graphics are god-like compared to any other SNES game?

 

[appleangel]

Oh wow, there's a lot of great examples on here! And a couple of games I still need to check out myself.