Let's talk about the state of graphics on the DS. What's the best and worst you've seen this year? How do you feel about most games? So long as everything is clear and glitch-free, how much do graphics matter to you when it comes to DS games? Sure, it's nice when something looks good, but will mediocre work for you in an otherwise good game?
Let's talk about the state of graphics on the DS. What's the best and worst you've seen this year? How do you feel about most games? So long as everything is clear and glitch-free, how much do graphics matter to you when it comes to DS games? Sure, it's nice when something looks good, but will mediocre work for you in an otherwise good game?
Reader Comments (45)
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 6:06PM dreamparacite said
I have both a PSP and a DS, and I must say graphics do not make the game. I'd rather have good gameplay or a good story over fancy special effects. Plus, like the picture posted, castlevania has great graphics and gameplay simply because it uses 2D is a great way, showing its not a dead dimension.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 11:04AM RasenganFury said
I think the art direction is more important than graphics. As long as it doesn't look like a GBA game im usually happy. I have a Bleach The Blade of Fate and although its 2d, the sound, backgrounds, and character sprites separate it from anime-based fighting games on Game Boy Advance. I'm not too sure about the best and worst graphics but i think Phantom Hourglass looked pretty nice.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 11:27AM APV said
It doesn't matter how the graphics are in a game, unless the game has an underwhelming storyline, then the next thing to look at is the graphics. If those are crappy, then you can assume safely that the developers spent one week creating the game.
For example, a game like... Metroid Prime: Hunters. Yes, I know its old, but it's just an example here. The game didn't have as great of a storyline as the others in the Prime series, but it was still a great storyline for a portable version of the game. So, if you look at the graphics, they are nice looking, especially for a 3d game on a portable console. Now, look at a game like Deal or No Deal. The graphics are a fuse of 2d and 3d, kinda almost like the GBA version of the game. But that doesn't matter because it's a fun game, that anybody who tunes into TV knows how to play.
So the graphics don't matter unless the storyline sucks. and if the storyline sucks then I just wouldn't get the game.
If you look at the GTA:CTS screens, when they are sized correctly, without the magazine print specks and things, the game looks really well made. If it has a good storyline it might be a perfect 10.
Thats my opinion.
For example, a game like... Metroid Prime: Hunters. Yes, I know its old, but it's just an example here. The game didn't have as great of a storyline as the others in the Prime series, but it was still a great storyline for a portable version of the game. So, if you look at the graphics, they are nice looking, especially for a 3d game on a portable console. Now, look at a game like Deal or No Deal. The graphics are a fuse of 2d and 3d, kinda almost like the GBA version of the game. But that doesn't matter because it's a fun game, that anybody who tunes into TV knows how to play.
So the graphics don't matter unless the storyline sucks. and if the storyline sucks then I just wouldn't get the game.
If you look at the GTA:CTS screens, when they are sized correctly, without the magazine print specks and things, the game looks really well made. If it has a good storyline it might be a perfect 10.
Thats my opinion.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 6:19PM APV said
Ummm, I started with the storyline, which is the most important aspect of a game. It determines everything about it. If you thought about it for more than two seconds... you would've seen that the storyline determines the gameplay. So ha, not so good storyline, not so good gameplay.
"Retards" today... ;)
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"Retards" today... ;)
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 6:26PM Roto13 said
"If you thought about it for more than two seconds... you would've seen that the storyline determines the gameplay. So ha, not so good storyline, not so good gameplay."
Uh, no? That's not true at all. When a game is shoehorned into a movie, it's bad news. There are plenty of games out there with crappy stories and great gameplay. Any game that focuses that much on the story should have been a movie instead.
Most important aspect my ass. The story is just about the least important aspect of any game worth playing.
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Uh, no? That's not true at all. When a game is shoehorned into a movie, it's bad news. There are plenty of games out there with crappy stories and great gameplay. Any game that focuses that much on the story should have been a movie instead.
Most important aspect my ass. The story is just about the least important aspect of any game worth playing.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 8:51PM Jacksons said
I have to admit that if a game lacks any character development or an interesting story I lose interest in it. Even popular franchises like Zelda. Great gameplay, but the non-speaking, lifeless characters usually cause me to leave the game unfinished. This only applies to certain genres, of course.
As for graphics? I'd like to be part of the "graphics don't matter" crowd, but I'm not. The graphics are okay, but due to the low processing power, there's a lot of gameplay elements that can never happen on the current DS. For example, I'd love to play 8 player wifi Mario Kart DS on all the tracks, but it just can't do it.
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As for graphics? I'd like to be part of the "graphics don't matter" crowd, but I'm not. The graphics are okay, but due to the low processing power, there's a lot of gameplay elements that can never happen on the current DS. For example, I'd love to play 8 player wifi Mario Kart DS on all the tracks, but it just can't do it.
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 2:18AM (Unverified) said
You are in the minority. Most of those who consider themselves gamers hold gameplay as the number one priority. Yes, we all know that the casual base out there seems to favour 'graet grafics' way too much for the rest of us.. but if you prefer storyline > gameplay I recommend a novel.
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Posted: Sep 21st 2008 12:06PM KOSMOS1 said
But why, makers of FIRE EMBLEM DS, why? You've seen what FF3 and FF4 can look like. Would it have killed you to make just one intro CG-scene? From the screen-shots it looks even worse than the GBA FE games. Why not, at least for the map-portions of the battles, have something resembling more like RADIANT DAWN? I guess the programmers at Intelligent Systems don't care to make an effort on the presentation front; that, or they've been getting the shaft from Nintendo HQ.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 12:17PM Mr Khan said
They could've stood to put far more CG into PoR and Radiant Dawn, also, but they didn't.
Though i was initially opposed to the battle animations, now i quite like what i see, and i suppose the admittedly rather strange looking field graphics are an effort to replicate the extremely sparse look of the original game
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Though i was initially opposed to the battle animations, now i quite like what i see, and i suppose the admittedly rather strange looking field graphics are an effort to replicate the extremely sparse look of the original game
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 7:59PM (Unverified) said
Nintendo's mistake was commissioning Production I.G. to do the cutscenes for Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn; they're one of the more premier animation studios in Japan so they likely paid more, got less for it, and couldn't afford all that much to begin with considering that FE isn't a multi-million-selling franchise. I don't mind so much the lack of cutscenes in handheld versions of FE, though. In fact, as for FEDS, I'd sacrifice all the graphical varnish and cutscenes in the world just to have the old character portrait style back. Maybe my mind will change when the game makes it out of Japan (which seems to be sliding toward "if" rather than "when", unfortunately.)
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Posted: Sep 21st 2008 12:13PM (Unverified) said
Graphics are not a priority for me. Of course, it's nice to have a great-looking game, but I found myself with a collection of N64 games that GS gave low scores to that I still love to death to this day.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 2:46PM KOSMOS1 said
M. Khan: "i suppose the admittedly rather strange looking field graphics are an effort to replicate the extremely sparse look of the original game."
Que? I'm not buying that. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a remake to begin with? Why not just release a translated version for the VC then? Oh right, all the extra side-quests and newer gameplay mechanics. Well they better be good considering how poor FE DS looks visually. And hopefully the soundtrack is equal or better to the first western GBA FE release, or at least some select tracks from PoR.
I find with the FEs that of all the western releases there is a tremendous variation in quality--sometimes the story is great but the gameplay is simplified (i.e. PATH OF RADIANCE), othertimes the gameplay is very complex and interesting but it's a really uninspired story (i.e. SACRED STONES). In other words, despite ostensibly being from Nintendo, FE games lack the Nintendo "shine" or polish whereby no aspect of the gameplay experience goes unchecked. Nintendo will never do for FE what it does for Mario.
My main argument is this--gameplay and story are far more important than graphics and sound, but the latter two help enhance the formers. They shouldn't be ignored.
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Que? I'm not buying that. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a remake to begin with? Why not just release a translated version for the VC then? Oh right, all the extra side-quests and newer gameplay mechanics. Well they better be good considering how poor FE DS looks visually. And hopefully the soundtrack is equal or better to the first western GBA FE release, or at least some select tracks from PoR.
I find with the FEs that of all the western releases there is a tremendous variation in quality--sometimes the story is great but the gameplay is simplified (i.e. PATH OF RADIANCE), othertimes the gameplay is very complex and interesting but it's a really uninspired story (i.e. SACRED STONES). In other words, despite ostensibly being from Nintendo, FE games lack the Nintendo "shine" or polish whereby no aspect of the gameplay experience goes unchecked. Nintendo will never do for FE what it does for Mario.
My main argument is this--gameplay and story are far more important than graphics and sound, but the latter two help enhance the formers. They shouldn't be ignored.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 12:23PM (Unverified) said
I think most the 2D graphics on the DS are tops. It's when games try to go all 3D that are ugly and just don't work. The DS's graphical limits are hide when you try to go all 3D in a game. Some games split the difference (Ninja Gaiden, Nanostray) and many of those are pretty good.
Do the graphics need to improve? Personally, I don't think so. The game, play control, and fun factor far outweigh graphics in importance. As long as the graphics don't distract from the enjoyment of playing, then it's all good.
Do the graphics need to improve? Personally, I don't think so. The game, play control, and fun factor far outweigh graphics in importance. As long as the graphics don't distract from the enjoyment of playing, then it's all good.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 12:33PM (Unverified) said
On the comment below I only said good/great looking 3D games, showing that they have space on DS.
There's space for them, specially for the well-made ones :P
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There's space for them, specially for the well-made ones :P
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 12:28PM (Unverified) said
Well, there are lot of games with A+ graphics, but most of them are from Nintendo. Nintendo games are usually the most polished ones, what turn them wonderful.
To say ones from Nintendo: Mario Kart DS, Mario Slam Basketball, New Super ario Bros., The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass, Metroid Prime Hunters, etc.
If you notice, they all get the max of the DS and the games are as beautiful as they could be.
But there are pretty non-Nintendo games too: Final Fantasy Ring of Fates [and the other 100 FF games for DS too hehehe]; ANIMAL CROSSING [cooll!]; Brother In Arms, Call Of Duty 4 , Dementium [these last 3 not so polished as Nintendo ones, but very good]; Crash of the Titans [great, very polished and pretty]; etc
The are a lot more, but they would not fit here [i'm only saying some of the 3d ones here, but there are lots of great 2D games, like Dragon Ball Supersonic Warriors 2, Lock's Quest, Fullmetal Alchemist, Bomberman etc).
The graphics aren't the most important, but the game needs to be cool.
For ME, Tomb Raider Legend DS don't have well made graphics, but the game was'nt boring because of the puzzles, so I liked it.
As long as the game is cool, graphics aren't the most important.
To say ones from Nintendo: Mario Kart DS, Mario Slam Basketball, New Super ario Bros., The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass, Metroid Prime Hunters, etc.
If you notice, they all get the max of the DS and the games are as beautiful as they could be.
But there are pretty non-Nintendo games too: Final Fantasy Ring of Fates [and the other 100 FF games for DS too hehehe]; ANIMAL CROSSING [cooll!]; Brother In Arms, Call Of Duty 4 , Dementium [these last 3 not so polished as Nintendo ones, but very good]; Crash of the Titans [great, very polished and pretty]; etc
The are a lot more, but they would not fit here [i'm only saying some of the 3d ones here, but there are lots of great 2D games, like Dragon Ball Supersonic Warriors 2, Lock's Quest, Fullmetal Alchemist, Bomberman etc).
The graphics aren't the most important, but the game needs to be cool.
For ME, Tomb Raider Legend DS don't have well made graphics, but the game was'nt boring because of the puzzles, so I liked it.
As long as the game is cool, graphics aren't the most important.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 2:28PM (Unverified) said
Uhm.... Animal Crossing IS a Nintendo game. Go on... Have a look at the box... *sigh*
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Posted: Sep 21st 2008 12:34PM (Unverified) said
I sometimes (wrongly) assume that if a game has notable graphics for a handheld, it's probably compensating for crummy game play. This was often true in the GBA days (most 3d shooters, most 3d racers), but less so in the DS days.
That said, I'll prefer simplicity and good bg-sprite contrast over polygon count any day. I don't have a choice for best DS graphics on a technical continuum, but if I had to choose a game with the best art direction, I'd say TWEWY hands down.
That said, I'll prefer simplicity and good bg-sprite contrast over polygon count any day. I don't have a choice for best DS graphics on a technical continuum, but if I had to choose a game with the best art direction, I'd say TWEWY hands down.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 12:44PM (Unverified) said
I was never really concerned with "omg, it's so realistic!" graphic games. The DS makes up for it with good quality sound (for a handheld, that is) and simple yet addictive gameplay.
Consider EBA, Ouendan, or Ouendan 2. The only 3D graphics are the dancers, and the gameplay is amazing. The World Ends With You utilizes a comic book-like graphic and is one of the highest rated DS games out there. Pokémon Diamond/Pearl have 2D sprites, but clear animations and clean scrolling. I'd rather have a game with olay graphics that'll get 90 hours of gameplay then a bad game with realistic graphics.
Consider EBA, Ouendan, or Ouendan 2. The only 3D graphics are the dancers, and the gameplay is amazing. The World Ends With You utilizes a comic book-like graphic and is one of the highest rated DS games out there. Pokémon Diamond/Pearl have 2D sprites, but clear animations and clean scrolling. I'd rather have a game with olay graphics that'll get 90 hours of gameplay then a bad game with realistic graphics.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 1:00PM (Unverified) said
Well, Phantom Hourglass and FF4 were the two games that made me wow over the graphics first time I saw them. And I loved the art style of TWEWY.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 1:08PM (Unverified) said
the best thing gaphics ever seen on Level-5 Inazuma Eleven and Professor Layton
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 1:08PM (Unverified) said
If a game is fun, it could be a dot and some lines for all I care.
That's what I love about the DS. The games run the gamut from looking something like an old NES game, to really kickass 3D. (I am, of course, defining "kickass 3D" in the sense that "I think it looks good". If you want to compare the DS to the next-gen consoles, then I guess you would be dissapointed in the 3D.)
Not to troll, but the PSP is the handheld machine with the killer graphics capabilities, and overwhelmingly the games do seem more about how pretty they are than the player having fun.
So no, graphics are not that important. They're more like the icing on the cake.
That's what I love about the DS. The games run the gamut from looking something like an old NES game, to really kickass 3D. (I am, of course, defining "kickass 3D" in the sense that "I think it looks good". If you want to compare the DS to the next-gen consoles, then I guess you would be dissapointed in the 3D.)
Not to troll, but the PSP is the handheld machine with the killer graphics capabilities, and overwhelmingly the games do seem more about how pretty they are than the player having fun.
So no, graphics are not that important. They're more like the icing on the cake.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 2:02PM (Unverified) said
While graphics are nice they dont really matter that much. I mean, Mega Man 9 just proved that 8-bit can still be awesome (yes, I know its not on DS). It's really the gameplay and the storyline that are important. Especially the gameplay. Go gameplay. I did the graphics of FFIV, and Castlevania Ecclasia looks good.
Posted: Sep 24th 2008 12:59PM (Unverified) said
The BEST games I've ever played had some of the worst graphics. For example, Warlords II and Heroes of Might & Magic 2. I've probably spent more hours playing these 2 games than everything else combined.
That being said, graphics don't really matter that much on a turn-based-strategy-type of game. On something like a first-person type of game, the graphics increase enjoyment, but only if the fundamental game play is good. Even still, I remember Car & Driver (PC) which had _horrible_ graphics and was glitchy - but it was still tremendous fun at the time because it was one of the first first-person driving sims.
That being said, graphics don't really matter that much on a turn-based-strategy-type of game. On something like a first-person type of game, the graphics increase enjoyment, but only if the fundamental game play is good. Even still, I remember Car & Driver (PC) which had _horrible_ graphics and was glitchy - but it was still tremendous fun at the time because it was one of the first first-person driving sims.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 2:30PM (Unverified) said
Best graphics? Phantom Hourglass.
Worst? Just recently: GTA: Chinatown Wars.
Yes, seriously. I HATE those graphics. I know they would look good when it's not jumbled, but the weird semi-not behind the back view is confusing, and all the things shown in a couple of screenshots look crappy.
Worst? Just recently: GTA: Chinatown Wars.
Yes, seriously. I HATE those graphics. I know they would look good when it's not jumbled, but the weird semi-not behind the back view is confusing, and all the things shown in a couple of screenshots look crappy.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 2:50PM (Unverified) said
Most 2D games look pretty good, most 3D games look rather crappy.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 3:15PM (Unverified) said
Graphics are very important. They matter. People who say otherwise just aren't thinking things through.
Just so we're clear, I'm not just talking about how shiny or elaborate the graphics are. There's nothing wrong with elegant sprites or well-designed CGI, and if a game has them...well, hooray. But if the actual gameplay is crap, it doesn't matter how pretty it looks, it's a big steaming pile of crap wrapped nicely.
But graphics are still important. Unless you're playing a purely text adventure, graphics function as the medium by which one interacts with the game world. The specific art style doesn't matter, but it has to be competent...functional. I'm of the opinion that a game's not fun if you can't tell a platform from scenery or a menu's so poorly designed that you have trouble finding specific options.
Just so we're clear, I'm not just talking about how shiny or elaborate the graphics are. There's nothing wrong with elegant sprites or well-designed CGI, and if a game has them...well, hooray. But if the actual gameplay is crap, it doesn't matter how pretty it looks, it's a big steaming pile of crap wrapped nicely.
But graphics are still important. Unless you're playing a purely text adventure, graphics function as the medium by which one interacts with the game world. The specific art style doesn't matter, but it has to be competent...functional. I'm of the opinion that a game's not fun if you can't tell a platform from scenery or a menu's so poorly designed that you have trouble finding specific options.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 4:40PM bearmedal said
Hotel Dusk's art direction and 3-D interior of an entire building deserve a mention.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 4:17PM (Unverified) said
Graphics are somewhat important, but I place more emphasis on how fun a game is. The fun factor depends on a variety of aspects, of course, but the major ones are gameplay, story, and characters. Graphics do add to the enjoyment of games, but not as much as the other three aspects I mentioned. With that said, there are games like TWEWY in which graphics (and the art) play a bigger role then usual, and hence are more important to the overall enjoyment of the game. So yes graphics are important, but there are many graphically inferior games that are still fun to play.
I also enjoy both 2-D and 3-D DS games (as long as the gameplay is sound) and I'm glad that developers are giving both graphic styles a chance. Even 2.5-D has been well done on the DS (the recent harvest moon comes to mind, as does pokemon)
I also enjoy both 2-D and 3-D DS games (as long as the gameplay is sound) and I'm glad that developers are giving both graphic styles a chance. Even 2.5-D has been well done on the DS (the recent harvest moon comes to mind, as does pokemon)
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 7:19PM (Unverified) said
When i first buyed my ds, i said ... "im getting this for entertaining not for graphics else i would've bought a psp"
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 5:46PM MycenaeanKing said
I think the relatively simple graphics of the DS are a nice alternative to what you find the PS3 and X360 where almost every game tries to go for an overly gritty look. I really like the art direction of FF Tactics A2 and Lock's Quest
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 5:56PM (Unverified) said
FF Tactics A2 has pretty good sprite graphics for being on the DS...
I have to agree that GTA: CW looks god awful.
I have to agree that GTA: CW looks god awful.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 7:47PM (Unverified) said
I'll never undrestand why they bother traditional 3d on the DS. The best 3d graphics I've seen on the platform barely manage to achieve the fidelty of early PSX games.
Just look at the difference between the PSP and DS versions of "Warhammer 40k: Squad Command." It's just not worth the effort, IMO. The new "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars" screenshots make me a sad panda...
The DS has some great looking games, though.
New Super Mario Bros. looks really sharp.
The SNES I've bought all look good.
The Etrian Odyssey series really shows off what you can do with sprites.
The Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff screenshots look good to me, too.
Contra 4...
I could keep going, but it's already becoming a wall of tex.
Just look at the difference between the PSP and DS versions of "Warhammer 40k: Squad Command." It's just not worth the effort, IMO. The new "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars" screenshots make me a sad panda...
The DS has some great looking games, though.
New Super Mario Bros. looks really sharp.
The SNES I've bought all look good.
The Etrian Odyssey series really shows off what you can do with sprites.
The Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff screenshots look good to me, too.
Contra 4...
I could keep going, but it's already becoming a wall of tex.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 7:57PM (Unverified) said
Ugh, that should be SNES ports, and wall of text.
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Posted: Sep 21st 2008 9:11PM (Unverified) said
I really love simple 2D graphics. 3D always seems to have this tendancy to go towards the realistic, which really takes away from the experience for me.
And since I love 2D, I find myself playing a lot of GBA/DS and older consoles, old pc games. I really liked a lot of games on the Gamecube and PS2, but nowadays, games just don't have the same appeal for me, so I've gone back to playing old games again (kind of like when the N64 and PSX just came out, and all that was being released were crappy 3D games. I just played a lot of oldwarez for a while.)
And since I love 2D, I find myself playing a lot of GBA/DS and older consoles, old pc games. I really liked a lot of games on the Gamecube and PS2, but nowadays, games just don't have the same appeal for me, so I've gone back to playing old games again (kind of like when the N64 and PSX just came out, and all that was being released were crappy 3D games. I just played a lot of oldwarez for a while.)
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 9:44PM (Unverified) said
Well, I don't like blocky sprites or pixelated ports, so yes, graphics matter to me. But straight-to-DS games have great graphics.
Posted: Sep 21st 2008 11:50PM (Unverified) said
I'm no graphics whore but it seems to me with most DS titles, the graphics often belie more of the game's overall polish that you'd first think.
The DS isn't a system with a lot of horse power so you see a lot of lower quality graphics pushed by in both good and bad games, however, in most cases, the games that look really excellent and show a grand graphic sheen are the ones that the developers spent far more time on everything in. This isn't a be-all end-all rule for DS titles, but most of the time a really great looking game is also a great game in general.
But, as stated, there's a lot of good games with poorer graphics as well, in the long run, they don't much matter at all as long as the gameplay is solid, that doesn't mean they don't serve other purposes.
The DS isn't a system with a lot of horse power so you see a lot of lower quality graphics pushed by in both good and bad games, however, in most cases, the games that look really excellent and show a grand graphic sheen are the ones that the developers spent far more time on everything in. This isn't a be-all end-all rule for DS titles, but most of the time a really great looking game is also a great game in general.
But, as stated, there's a lot of good games with poorer graphics as well, in the long run, they don't much matter at all as long as the gameplay is solid, that doesn't mean they don't serve other purposes.
Posted: Sep 22nd 2008 3:57AM (Unverified) said
Graphics never really bother me, in fact I prefer a lot of 16-bit SNES sprites to some of the new 3D graphic we get today.
That being said I though I really have been wowed by the DS' graphics alot. FFIII/I, Phantom Hourglass, Apollo Justice and many others. They really demonstrate just how well things can look on the DS.
That being said I though I really have been wowed by the DS' graphics alot. FFIII/I, Phantom Hourglass, Apollo Justice and many others. They really demonstrate just how well things can look on the DS.
Posted: Sep 22nd 2008 6:40AM (Unverified) said
Knowing the limitations of the DS, I prefer companies making colorful, stylish and artistic 2d games, over the attempts to create some kind of good-looking 3d.
Because it seems like a struggle to just get the 3d sprites to look even close to good. Some companies can pull it off, but they're exceptional.
For example, I wish we could see some pure 2d fighting games, with original and stylish 2d art. It doesnt have to be 3d, the effects can look just as good, if not better.
Some SNES/NeoGeo/older arcade fighting games look way better in my eyes than some attempts to make 3d fighting games on the DS.
RPGs also look way better as 2d on the DS, unless they're nicely cellshaded (which doesnt seem to be an easy feat to pull off).
Because it seems like a struggle to just get the 3d sprites to look even close to good. Some companies can pull it off, but they're exceptional.
For example, I wish we could see some pure 2d fighting games, with original and stylish 2d art. It doesnt have to be 3d, the effects can look just as good, if not better.
Some SNES/NeoGeo/older arcade fighting games look way better in my eyes than some attempts to make 3d fighting games on the DS.
RPGs also look way better as 2d on the DS, unless they're nicely cellshaded (which doesnt seem to be an easy feat to pull off).
Posted: Sep 22nd 2008 9:10AM BanditKing said
Owning both a PSP and a DS I must say that graphics do matter to me, though ultimately story is the main reason I continue to play a game (in most cases). Characters also play a role, I will try any game if I like the characters. My favorite DS games are the 2D ones (Kirby, Castlevania, Luminous Arc) I really love 2D sprites, this goes for both the DS and PSP. The reason being is that 3D games lack some of the finer and more intricate details that the 2D games do. For example look at the animations of 2D characters like Kirby or some of the Castlevania monsters. When you hit them their face changes or they split/explode or do a number of different things but a 3D character especially on DS tends to have a static face or animations no matter what. For me it takes some of the personality away, and thats why I really appreciate the DS because without it those 2D games would no longer be made.
Posted: Sep 22nd 2008 10:42AM Professor Lario said
I agree with what many of you have already said - 2D characters on the DS typically look good, and 3D don't. Probably the game that made me say 'wow' more than any other was Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. The environments were amazing.
Posted: Sep 22nd 2008 10:15PM dreamparacite said
I love 2D graphics, and games like Castlevania and Metroid should always be in 2D, IMHO
Posted: Sep 23rd 2008 12:22PM (Unverified) said
Graphics mean little if the gameplay is lacking. Kudos to developers who have managed to coax some impressive 3D out of a system that admittedly wasn't designed with that in mind.
Nanashi No Game is the most impressive looking (and sounding) game I have seen so far. This one can't come to North America fast enough.
As far as current releases are concerned, Lego Indy is mighty impressive.
Nanashi No Game is the most impressive looking (and sounding) game I have seen so far. This one can't come to North America fast enough.
As far as current releases are concerned, Lego Indy is mighty impressive.
Posted: Sep 24th 2008 10:06AM (Unverified) said
Well If I want good portable graphics then Il pick my PSP thank you ;) That means that I rarely play DS games for the looks because I know that nothing can compare with the might of Chains of Olympus...
On the other hand I mostly go for quality gameplay for the DS... something that games like NSMB, Zelda PH, Wario and many others can offer :)
On the other hand I mostly go for quality gameplay for the DS... something that games like NSMB, Zelda PH, Wario and many others can offer :)
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