Oh you're pretty level, I think I love you

[Xander]

Post a picture of a level/place from a game you thought was sooo pretty, or maybe just awesome and let's all appreciate beautiful graphics (which could be anything you think is beautiful!)

http://www.xandee.co.uk/files/mickey.jpg

I think this level from Mickey and Donald's World of Illusion on the Megadrive/Genesis is beautiful because the background sparkles with those diamonds in the rock and it is soo nice. I love graphics like this. The whole game looks so good. So much could be done with graphics even 15 years ago to make games look great, they deserve some love!

[Madame Adequate]

I can't find a screenie, but 'Heaven' in Jade Empire is truly beautiful.

[Rostum]

I can't find a screenie either, and I can't be bothered playing through right now... But you minded me of Mickey Mania for SNES, it had so many pretty levels -- steamboat willy, and my favourite level was jack and the beanstalk (which had such pretty music too).

[Dreddz]

Any location in Shenmue wins.

[Ethanol Dreams]

I love these levels from a really old Mickey Mouse game for the Megadrive, it was called Castle of Illusion I think. :)

[Markus. D]

The Earthrealm and Realm of Edenia from Mortal Kombat Deception Konquest had the suited music, the suited locations.

it was just wow.

ps: the only places that didnt wow me in Konquest were Netherealm and Chaosrealm.

[black orb]

>>> Gals Panic S2, I loved all the stages...

[XxSephirothxX]

Shadow of the Colossus. I can't find an image that does it justice. Sure, most of the world is beautiful, but my absolute favorite area was the cliff you could look over and see the huge lake below with the series of waterfalls miles away. Breathtaking, truly.

[kikimm]

I can't find a screenie, but 'Heaven' in Jade Empire is truly beautiful.

Haha whoa that was the first thing I thought of. Yeah, that really...well I won't say it takes the cake, since it WAS the only thing I've thought of, but it's just smurfing gorgeous.

http://www.ntsc-uk.com/reviews/xbo/JadeEmpire/01.jpg
http://xboxmedia.gamespy.com/xbox/image/article/597/597061/jade-empire-gdc-7_prev1_1111114684.jpg

I dunno. Random screenshots that look okay.

And despite being pretty crappy, Magna Carta was also WOW.

[Shoeberto]

Half-life 2, when you first exit the train station and get a glimpse at City 17 was really awe-inspiring for me.

Guild Wars has plenty of locales that are just stunning.

Zelda: Wind Waker had lots of places I adored, too. The various cities, towns, and dungeons just had this great feel to them due to the art style.

I'm imagining that as soon as I play it, Zelda: Twilight Princess will be on this list as well.

[I Took the Red Pill]

The Imperial City in Oblivion looks beautiful if you're a vampire and the rapid health depletion from being in the sun causes a large-scale blooming effect.

[Necronopticous]

Snowfly Forest in Vagrant Story
Mars surface in Doom 3
Hospital world in Silent Hill 4
Rabanastre's bazaar in Final Fantasy XII
Lunar base in Final Fantasy VIII
Every location in Half Life 2: Episode 1
Type B skin in bitGenerations: Digidrive

[Vincent, Thunder God]

I can't find a screenie, but 'Heaven' in Jade Empire is truly beautiful.

I second that. I thought Jade Empire's graphics were great in general, but that area was the best.

[Zeromus_X]

It'd have to be most of the levels in Kirby Super Star.

Also, the Core of the Moon in Final Fantasy IV, the Void in Final Fantasy V, the Ancient Capital in Final Fantasy VII, the Upper Land Forest in Seiken Densetsu II, the court in Guardia Castle in Chrono Trigger, the Spiral Tower in Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, Bifrost in Vakyrie Profile 2: Silmeria and probably alot more I can't remember right now.

[Shoeberto]

Mars surface in Doom 3
Yeah, it was a pretty gigantic shame that you only get to be out there occasionally, and even then it's a mad dash.

Hell in Doom 3 was pretty sweet, too.

[Samuraid]

Myst 5 has some breathtaking realtime 3D. These screenshots don't do the game justice. (click to view)
24365
24366
24367

[Rostum]

Of course Samuraid! Myst have some of the most beautiful scenery amongst any game. You have to look back at Riven, see how they amazingly put together an almost-realistic world with great haunty music.

Then you have Myst IV, which just blew me away with it's beauty. Myst V was great too, but they lost a bit of quality turning to realtime, though still amazing.

[Spammerman]

I really like hyrule at night time. It was cool. Also, the whole of Shadow of Collosus.

[Roto13]

http://www.soulcalibur3.us/soulcalibur3/stages/stage360/water_mill_valley.jpg

http://www.soulcalibur3.us/soulcalibur3/stages/stage360/battle_in_the_strait.jpg

http://www.soulcalibur3.us/soulcalibur3/stages/stage360/valentine_mansion.jpg

http://www.soulcalibur3.us/soulcalibur3/stages/stage360/eutydice_shrine.jpg


And especially

http://www.soulcalibur3.us/soulcalibur3/stages/stage360/lotus_garden.jpg

[NorthernChaosGod]

I love World of Illusion!!! That game rocked. :cool:

I second that screenshot.

[Spammerman]

The playground in Dead or Alive 4. Ima sucker for Dinosuars

[Necronopticous]

Myst/RivenYou know, it's such a shame that they had to go 3D and free-view in the Myst series after Riven. I lost interest in the series after that. Riven remains one of my all time favorite games, and I have a feeling I would have enjoyed the games that came after that had they just kept making them in the same style with still-image progression.

Anyway, yeah. Some beautiful stuff to be seen in those worlds. Can't leave them out.

[Lionx]

o_o

[Sylvie]

http://www.commander-keen.com/screenshots/keen1/6.gif

Commander Keen I <3 You.

http://mkw.mortalkombatonline.com/mk2/arenas/theportal/01.png
http://mkw.mortalkombatonline.com/mk1/arenas/thepitbottom/01.png

[LunarWeaver]

I had that game Xander :jess:

I like pretty much all the places in Baten Kaitos and Killer 7. Their styles were fun stuff.

I'm sure I could find pictures of them, but I'm just too lazy.

[Rostum]

Myst/RivenYou know, it's such a shame that they had to go 3D and free-view in the Myst series after Riven. I lost interest in the series after that. Riven remains one of my all time favorite games, and I have a feeling I would have enjoyed the games that came after that had they just kept making them in the same style with still-image progression.

Anyway, yeah. Some beautiful stuff to be seen in those worlds. Can't leave them out.

I agree, however I still really really liked Myst IV with the way it was done. It was a lot better than Myst III's engine by far.

But I think in saying that... it was mainly the designs over the worlds that made them so beautiful!

[Larahl]

I really love the environment in Shadow of the Colossus.
I love every part of it, and I had a hard time choosing one of the areas.
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5552/ps2sotcp5mhr9.jpg
I like this picutre the most of what I've found.
So I chose this.

[Fatal Impurity]

macalania woods in FF10 is awe inspiring the first time you see it...its just so sparkly and beautiful...*cries a little*

[Xander]

Wow, Myst does look really beautiful.

The whole of Windwaker was beautiful, but the one place I thought was the most was the Forest Haven, I think. I can't find a picture now :(

And yeah Macalania Woods were pretty too.. :)

Hollow Bastian in Kingdom Hearts if you stand at the top then float down over the entire thing using the glide thingy, is sooo pretty below.

[RiseToFall]

Stage where you fight The Boss in MGS3.

[Roto13]

I had that game Xander :jess:

I like pretty much all the places in Baten Kaitos and Killer 7. Their styles were fun stuff.

I'm sure I could find pictures of them, but I'm just too lazy.

http://images.p-nintendo.com/jeux/ngc/batenkaitos/images/03.jpg

http://www.zonaplayer.com/page/recensioni/screenshot/baten%20kaitos%20a.jpg

http://www.gamerevolution.com/oldsite/previews/screens/gamecube/killer_7/killer_72b.jpg

http://www.armchairempire.com/images/Reviews/gamecube/killer7/killer-7-4.jpg

[Nominus Experse]

Myst IV was a jaw dropping moment for me. It also caused my brain to hurt at moments though...

Some of the locations in FFXII are amazing. Although some of the places are somwhat grainy, the level of detail is breathtaking. Eruyt, Stillshrine of Miriam, and Bhujarba (or whatever its called).

Kirby always has some great levels.

And Shadow of the Collosus... That was truly breathtaking.

Silent Hill 4 was notable for a few scenes and locations.

[Sefie1999AD]

Take a look at this pic of Seiken Densetsu 3. The Lampflower Forest looks really pretty just before the dawn. Don't you think Lise and Duran look quite close there? :D

[Roto13]

I always like the Tower of the Gods in Wind Waker. It really gives the feeling of... a really big tower.

[Croyles]

The Forgotten Capital - FFVII
Macalania Woods - FFX
ALL areas in Shadow of the Colossus

[Samuraid]

Myst/RivenYou know, it's such a shame that they had to go 3D and free-view in the Myst series after Riven. I lost interest in the series after that. Riven remains one of my all time favorite games, and I have a feeling I would have enjoyed the games that came after that had they just kept making them in the same style with still-image progression.

Anyway, yeah. Some beautiful stuff to be seen in those worlds. Can't leave them out.

I agree, however I still really really liked Myst IV with the way it was done. It was a lot better than Myst III's engine by far.

But I think in saying that... it was mainly the designs over the worlds that made them so beautiful!
Agreed. The freedom and realtime aspects of Uru and Myst 5 are definitely great, but the graphics just don't compare with the beauty of the fully rendered scenes in Myst 4, 3, Riven, 1. (although the original Myst game's graphics are very dated at this point)

Although, Necro, they didn't go 3D until Uru and Myst 5. Myst 3 and 4 were still pre-rendered, they just went to spherical VR nodes instead of just stills, which, IMHO makes the games even more amazing.

[KentaRawr!]

Well, Lake Hylia in Zelda: Twilight Princess is definitely quite pretty. Sadly, I have no pictures of it at the current time.

[Necronopticous]

Myst 3 and 4 were still pre-rendered, they just went to spherical VR nodes instead of just stills, which, IMHO makes the games even more amazing.I couldn't get into the "free-view" thing. Call me old-fashioned, but I liked the stills, and in my opinion nothing can ever compare to or replace that. There was so many things about the still image system they had going on in Myst and Riven that is impossible to duplicate when the player is able to freely look around each area. An example would be the amazing puzzle in Riven where you had to find those little glowing things around the islands that served as the eye for some sort of creature that was formed by the environment around it. (e.g. the frog being outlined by the mouth of the cave when you look out of it.)

[Madame Adequate]

Also: The entirity of Deus Ex.

[Samuraid]

Myst 3 and 4 were still pre-rendered, they just went to spherical VR nodes instead of just stills, which, IMHO makes the games even more amazing.I couldn't get into the "free-view" thing. Call me old-fashioned, but I liked the stills, and in my opinion nothing can ever compare to or replace that. There was so many things about the still image system they had going on in Myst and Riven that is impossible to duplicate when the player is able to freely look around each area. An example would be the amazing puzzle in Riven where you had to find those little glowing things around the islands that served as the eye for some sort of creature that was formed by the environment around it. (e.g. the frog being outlined by the mouth of the cave when you look out of it.)
Now that is very true.

[Rostum]

Although I've already played through Uru, I got into the closed beta for Uru Live. It's quite amazing to explore with other people in an MMO type feeling. It's completely different to Riven, but it gives such good history on the D'ni and all that.

The worlds in Uru are amazing to explore. The character models are bit plastic, but the worlds are the best design and graphics I've seen in any MMO to this date.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

http://www.lastupload.com/files/23/dorakyura/rob163.png

[Shlup]

I think this level from Mickey and Donald's World of Illusion on the Megadrive/Genesis is beautiful because the background sparkles with those diamonds in the rock and it is soo nice. I love graphics like this. The whole game looks so good. So much could be done with graphics even 15 years ago to make games look great, they deserve some love!

Yes! Mickey's Castle of Illusion was my favorite SEGA game next to ToeJam & Earl.

http://www.armchairempire.com/images/classics/Castle_of_Illusion_1.jpg

[Samuraid]

Although I've already played through Uru, I got into the closed beta for Uru Live. It's quite amazing to explore with other people in an MMO type feeling. It's completely different to Riven, but it gives such good history on the D'ni and all that.

The worlds in Uru are amazing to explore. The character models are bit plastic, but the worlds are the best design and graphics I've seen in any MMO to this date.
Yeah, agreed as well.

What's your KI number? (PM it to me so I can add you)