3. Last Express
When anyone tells me that Bioshock’s art nouveau décor makes it an art game, I slap them in the face and point them here. Last Express, despite looking a bit tacky these days, went all the way with art nouveau aesthetics. It looks a bit like an Andy Warhol print in motion, and it plays like nothing else. With its ever flowing sense of time and set routines for all the NPCs in the game, Last Express is the definition of artistic vision.
2. Hotel Dusk: Room 215
A loving take on the noire detective story, Hotel Dusk incorporated its art style into the reference as well. Its use of rotoscope animation makes the game look like a line drawing brought to life, and it really helps the game stand out from the crowd. The actual drawings themselves also add a sense of expression to the already intricate characters. It all helps make Hotel Dusk a premier example of the point and click adventure at its most original.
1. Okami
One of the most commercially underrated titles in gaming history, Okami looked and played like a dream. Despite the horribly timed release at the end of the PS2’s life cycle, Okami was still recognised by critics for its fluid visual design and its effective incorporation into the game’s drawing mechanics. It may not be a technical marvel, but its original style means Okami still looks awesome even today.
Any other games with striking visuals that didn’t quite make the list? Let us know your personal picks below.
