Eight Games That Set New Graphical Benchmarks

RED DEAD REDEMPTION (XBOX 360/PLAYSTATION 3)

DRAW DISTANCES (AGAIN)

Red Dead Redemption is the only multiplatform game on this list. It is also the only game on the list that shares its reason for inclusion with another game. But none of that should take away from just how impressive this game is graphically. It is only when you are riding your horse across he expanse of the old wild west, and when you see into the distance, literally seeing the horizon and the sky meeting the earth, that you realize just what a wonderful job the developers have done at making the game world truly seem lie an expansive, ever continuing world, as opposed to a set of self contained levels. The feeling of wonderment cannot be expressed. Red Dead Redemption is an experience, and the excellent draw distance only adds to that experience.

HEAVY RAIN (PLAYSTATION 3)

MOTION CAPTURE

Arguably the most controversial choice in the entire list, Heavy Rain is also probably the one that shall be the most relevant in coming years. Whereas its merits and demerits as a game (?) are certainly up in the air, to be argued extensively and at length, there can be no doubt that the game looked marvelous. There were two things in particular that stood out- the realistic facial expressions of all its characters, and the excellent and realistic animations. The characters in Heavy Rain looked like people acting out the part, probably because that isn’t so far from the truth after all. And this stop motion animation will eventually impact the industry in a big way- you can already see it in the upcoming L.A. Noire, for instance.

But enough talking already. They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, and a video worth a thousand pictures. So here you go, here’s a million words for you to process:

So that was it for this list. What did you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Think we left something out? Sound off in the comments!