While video games these days tend to have diminishing returns when it comes to their graphical upgrades between console generations, things were different back in the day. A new console being announced meant visuals and effects unheard of to the typical fan, unless the fan’s uncle worked at Nintendo or something.
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Sometimes, game developers would really squeeze every bit of potential out of the system, maybe even making something that looks a whole generation ahead of its time. Every major console has a few like this, and they were all perfect excuses to invite your friends over for a few bragging rights.
11
Batman: Return Of The Joker
NES
Batman: Return of the Joker
- Released
-
December 20, 1991
- Developer(s)
-
Sunsoft
- Publisher(s)
-
Sunsoft
- ESRB
-
e
There are plenty of NES games that stand the test of time. But for most, you can still pretty much tell they’re NES games just by looking. Batman: Return of the Joker manages to blur that line just a little bit, and you’ll be super impressed the whole time you’re repeatedly dying to the same enemy.
It’s a tough game, but it looks absolutely gorgeous for the time, and even today. It’s got flawless use of the limited NES colors and intricate sprites while implementing some shockingly good parallax scrolling in the already beautiful backgrounds to add more depth. So if nothing else, you can sit and watch it for a while.
10
Vectorman
Sega Genesis
Vectorman
- Released
-
October 24, 1995
- Developer(s)
-
BlueSky Software
- ESRB
-
E For Everyone: Animated Violence
When game developers set out with the express goal of making a visual spectacle, the gameplay itself often suffers as a result. Not so with Vectorman on the Sega Genesis. This sensory delight wows on all fronts, which is helpful for a game that so badly wants to be 3D.
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As a platformer, the gameplay itself is simple and solid, much like its SNES competitor Donkey Kong Country. But Vectorman pushed the envelope further with its buttery-smooth animation and level of detail. Despite DKC winning out in the long run, Vectorman absolutely still deserves a seat at the table.
9
Star Fox
SNES
- Released
-
March 22, 1993
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo
, Argonaut Software - Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- ESRB
-
r
Ask anyone who was around at the time what the most graphically impressive SNES game is and you’ll probably get a bunch of weird answers. Gamers are opinionated, you see. But many will still proudly answer with Star Fox.
It’s difficult to describe how people’s brains wrapped around seeing Star Fox back then. 3D graphics on an SNES? What sorcery is this? What’s a Super FX Chip? Donkey Kong Country might have similar clout, but this surprisingly well-controlling space flight game teased visuals that wouldn’t be seen properly for years after.
8
Vagrant Story
PlayStation
Vagrant Story
- Released
-
May 15, 2000
- Developer(s)
-
Square
- Publisher(s)
-
Square
- ESRB
-
T For Teen due to Animated Violence
Few games of the day enjoyed the intricate and focused care to their visuals that Vagrant Story did. You can tell it’s an original PlayStation game, sure. But its style is next level, and if there was ever an original PlayStation Pro, this would be the game to sell it.
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So many development tricks and stylistic choices were used to make this action RPG truly shine. This allowed for scenes to use lighting that deceptively look far beyond what the system is capable of. The care put into the textures and atmosphere remains iconic, and the game itself is helpfully fantastic as well.
7
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Nintendo 64
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
- Released
-
March 5, 2001
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Violence, Mature Sexual Themes, Strong Language
The Nintendo 64 wanted to be more than just something for the kids to scream about on Christmas morning. Maybe some adults wanted to scream too. So Rare’s surprisingly raunchy 3D collect-a-thon Conker’s Bad Fur Day had some heavy lifting to do.
And lift it did, giving older players and younger players with groovy parents a genuinely fun M-rated game starring an adorable alcoholic squirrel. Not only that, it looked incredible for the time, with environments and giant characters like the Great Mighty Poo feeling like something early N64 games could only dream of.
6
Shadow Of The Colossus
PlayStation 2
- Released
-
October 18, 2005
- Publisher(s)
-
Sony Computer Entertainment
- ESRB
-
T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence
Shadow of the Colossus on the PlayStation 2 is a game that makes the system feel like it should be on fire every time you play it. The crunchy framerate and awe-inspiring scale truly seem as if they simply don’t belong on the console.
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As you spend the game climbing giant stone creatures, they all feel as massive to you as you’re sure they are to the character himself. Even the 2018 Shadow of the Colossus remake arguably doesn’t seem as impressive to some. That presentation is simply unmatched to this day.
5
Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader
Nintendo GameCube
Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader
- Platform(s)
-
Nintendo GameCube
, Wii - Released
-
November 9, 2001
- ESRB
-
t
If you ever needed evidence of how much good lighting can do for a game’s visuals, look no further than the Nintendo GameCube’s Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2: Rogue Leader. As great as the original was on the Nintendo 64, there’s a reason many consider this the series high point.
Aside from its hard-as-nails difficulty and satisfying ship combat gameplay, Rogue Leader looks absolutely phenomenal. The high contrast shadows over the ships and environment almost single-handedly make it look like a game from a whole generation later, and this was a launch title.
4
Ninja Gaiden Black
Xbox
Ninja Gaiden Black
- Released
-
September 20, 2005
- Publisher(s)
-
Tecmo
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox set a bar for the system’s visuals. But it was its updated version, Ninja Gaiden Black, that really brought the whole controller-snapping package together.
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It’s got that unforgiving difficulty you want from a Ninja Gaiden game, and much like the NES original did with its innovative cutscenes, it brings that same energy to its presentation. This could easily be an Xbox 360 game, and thanks to the latter system’s backwards compatibility, it kind of is.
3
Final Fantasy 13
PlayStation 3
- Released
-
March 9, 2010
- Developer(s)
-
Square Enix
- ESRB
-
t
Fans have many, many thoughts about Final Fantasy 13, and each of those thoughts has been thoroughly expressed. But among the less contested of those opinions is praise for the game’s visuals, which were a true marvel even long before it was released.
Despite also releasing on the Xbox 360, it was the PlayStation 3 that really brought out Final Fantasy 13’s potential at the time. Breathtaking visuals permeate every corner of every hallway in this rather linear RPG, even more than fan recitations of “moms are tough”.
2
Forza Motorsport 4
Xbox 360
Forza Motorsport 4
- Released
-
October 11, 2011
- Developer(s)
-
Turn 10 Studios
- Publisher(s)
-
Turn 10 Studios
- ESRB
-
e
Racing games might seem like easy fodder for a system to really show off its visuals. After all, they have very focused gameplay, so there’s more room for fine-tuning what the players get to see.
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But even among all the beautiful driving games out there, Forza Motorsport 4 on the Xbox 360 is still a real treat for the eyes. Sure, the games since might have outstripped this once leader of the pack, but it’s still fun and still brings the goods visually.
1
The Order: 1886
PlayStation 4
The Order: 1886
- Released
-
February 20, 2015
- Developer(s)
-
Ready at Dawn
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language
The Order: 1886 might be one of the most compelling arguments in favor of a 30 fps framerate as a more “cinematic” option. Yes, the game itself isn’t exactly the most endearing offering from the PlayStation 4’s library, but just look at it.
Developer Ready at Dawn went all out with the visuals of this twist on the Knights of the Round Table, creating an alternate steampunk Victorian London that looks as striking as the real thing, plus werewolves. The effects from the fog to the weapon muzzle flashes come together with the aspect ratio and framerate to create what could have been an Arcane-level animated masterpiece.
