Bulletstorm
Epics Unreal 3 engine and its marquee title--Gears of War--were known for best-in-class graphics, but the worlds they inhabited had a reputation for washed-out, muted tones. Perhaps that explains why Epics internal studio People Can Fly tried its best to play off that perception with the comically violent Bulletstorm.
Though Bulletstorm still had its fair share of gritty, rocky wastelands and sun-bleached ghost towns, People Can Fly found ways to add dazzling color wherever they could. Blue lightning, red skies, and some green killer cacti made for visuals that were much more creative than they appeared on the surface. Sure, the stages might not have been as colorful as Bulletstorms dirty language, but it showed a versatility to Unreal 3 that many other games never took advantage of.
Child of Eden
Whether played on the Dreamcast, PS2, or as an HD remake, Rez was a psychotropic acid trip in game form, so its sequel had some very trippy shoes to fill. Fortunately, Child of Eden was up to the task, showcasing intoxicating graphics that were more than fitting for its equally exceptional soundtrack.
Technically a shooter, Child of Eden was more like an art exhibition meant to be experienced multiple times. Its true that a single playthrough was pretty short, but CoEs kaleidoscopic levels should be felt dozens of times--with or without mind-altering substances.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The Uncharted series shares a lot fictional DNA with the James Bond and Indiana Jones films. All feature charismatic men of action, and they also take their characters to some of the most exotic locations in the world. After limiting its settings to a tropical island in its predecessor, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves took players on a tour of some of the prettiest--and deadliest--places on Earth.
Nathan Drake found himself in a variety of colorful locales: a simple mountain village, frozen temples, tree-shrouded railways, frosted-over outposts, and well-appointed Turkish museums. And the game ends with a visit to the legendary Shangri-La, which was as outlandish and mysterious as youd expect. The cinematic setpieces might grab your attention, but Uncharted 2 is just as great to look at when you take a moment to stop and soak it all in.
The Witcher 2
When it comes to fantasy games, most players have gotten used to the understated coloring of titles like Elder Scrolls or Dragon Age. Thats what really distinguished The Witcher 2 from its competition. Developer CD Projekt RED created a world filled with the striking colors usually seen in kiddie games, and put those colors alongside a particularly mature game narrative.
Witcher 2 is still one of the most gorgeous games around, particularly when played on a PC that can accommodate its full visual capabilities. But even console players can appreciate the stunning blues, greens, and reds, which look even more striking next to the protagonists stark white hair. After graphics like those, its hard to imagine what the developers will pull off with The Witcher 3 on next-gen consoles.
Alice: Madness Returns
American McGees name is one of the most well-known in gaming, thanks in no small part to the PC hit Alice. Fans had been clamoring for years for McGee to return to his fractured take on the world of Lewis Carroll, eager to see Wonderland with a new coat of HD paint. And while the overall game wasnt all that memorable, the level designers at least got creative with their new 1080p canvas.
Wonderland had never been more murderous, but the classic settings from the books still had some of their affecting style beneath all the blood. Queensland, Dollhouse, and the Deluded Depths all had fresh takes on the familiar world of Wonderland, all with distinctly hued takes on the psychotic concept. Were not sure we ever want to go through this particular looking glass again, but at least it made for a nice postcard.
A new coat of paint
Those are some of the most striking games of the last seven years, but do you have any other colorful examples? And how do you think color will be used in next-gen? Share with us your thoughts on ROYGBIV in the comments!
Looking for more graphically minded features? Check out six great games with no graphics and the 15 HD collections we want to happen.
