eGamer Awards 2009: Best Graphics

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We’re nearing the end of eGamer’s Awards for 2009 – we’re closing in on the big one. So, we’ve come to the award for Best Graphics and, while it’s not really an award I like very much personally, it’s still a very important one. While you’ll hear me say quite often that graphics don’t make a game, but rather the fun factor and gameplay makes a game what it is, I can’t deny that graphics can sometimes make a game by itself – something like Crysis is testament to this statement. Right, so let’s get to it then and take a look at the nominees for eGamer’s 2009 Award for Best Graphics. First, however, you’ll need to check out the rundown.

The Rundown

A lot of gamers think that graphics in gaming is purely visual – and that’s true when you look at the direct meaning of the word. However, since we are noobs and don’t feel like finding a better term, I’m just going to explain what we look for in this award. The best way to sum it up would be “Best Audio and Visual experience”, because that’s essentially what we look for in the Best Graphics award. We play through games and basically pick out the ones that not only blow our mind with their visuals and are designed awesomely, but also the games that have spectacular sound work (by that I don’t mean theme songs or anything, but the in-game sounds – e.g gun shot sounds). There’s not much more we can tell you about this award, so now that you know what we’re looking for, it’s time to take a look at the nominees that blew our minds with their graphics.

The Nominees

Resident Evil 5

While the African zombies might not have been all that scary, the level of detail in Resident Evil 5 definitely was. In nearly all areas, Resident Evil 5 delivered spectacular visuals and great sound. Whether it was a boss fight against a creature larger than a house, a burst of flames to incinerate a zombie or even the sunlight shining on the ground, it all looked amazing. Resident Evil 5 is a fantastic example of next gen.

Assassin’s Creed 2

Assassin’s Creed 2 out shined its predecessor in almost every possible way. Wits its graphics, it was also a huge step up. The game almost flawlessly manages to immerse you into its world, with its spectacular sound work, fantastic visuals and beautiful setting. It spanned over many, massive and visually incredible locations and came equipped with an impressive draw distance to view it all. Who could forget climbing the tallest towers and surveying the entire city from above while your jaw dropped to the ground in amazement? We still think about it from time to time. Assassin’s Creed 2 is a definite contender for the best graphics award.

Killzone 2

Killzone 2, released way back in February, stands today as one of the best looking games of all time. With spectacular design and sound work, capable of fully immersing you into a world of war, reactive and fantastic body physics that let you know exactly when your bullet finds it mark, mind blowing visuals and brilliant atmosphere, Killzone 2 defines the next gen in nearly every possible way. At the time of Killzone 2′s release, few games could stand up to it in terms of graphics and, despite a lot changing since then, I can say with confidence that the game can still make your jaw drop to the ground ten months later.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves proved to go above and beyond expectations – a lot of it due to its unbelievably amazing graphics. Uncharted 2 is a rare game, and is definitely one of, if not the best cinematic experience you can find in gaming. Naughty Dog truly know how to capture the feel of a blockbuster action film, and it shows in their near flawless execution. Uncharted 2 is loaded with detail, the draw distance is mind boggling, the world is bright, colourful and amazing to look at and the audio and sound work enhances the cinematic experience so much it’s scary. Few games can deliver the experience that Uncharted 2 can – it really is a rare game.

And the winner is…

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Killzone 2!!!

This was a pretty close battle between Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Killzone 2 as you might have guessed. At one point I was even considering giving the award to both (read: considering, not really inclined to do it), but at the end of the day there can only be one winner. Killzone 2, all things considered, is, in our books, the best looking game of the year. For such a long time, since the game had a tech demo debuted at E3 of 2005, to the time the first in-game footage was released at E3 of 2007 and up until its release in 2009, gamers were skeptic about its graphics – refusing to believe that the game could pull it off, that all the footage was merely pre-rendered and edited. How wrong they all were, as Guerilla Games, the developers, released the game in February of 2009 and showed the world just how good they are at what they do. The final product simply looked miles ahead of what had been shown to us for so long.

Ten months later, since its release, and Killzone 2 still shines above the rest with its graphics. In terms of visuals alone, few games can stand up to Killzone 2. With the game itself, despite war and grey and brown colour schemes being ugly, Killzone 2 did both a world of justice. The colour scheme worked perfectly for the type of gritty war experience they were going for and really added an amazing feel to the game, especially when you begin spotting the red Helghast eyes in your area. Everything from the muzzle flash when firing your gun in a dark area, to the shaking of the screen when an explosion went off nearby, the movement of your gun as you moved, to the way the enemies realistically spazzed out when your bullets found their targets – Killzone 2 pulled it all off almost perfectly. I can say with confidence that in all areas, Killzone 2′s visuals and soundwork make it a graphical masterpiece.

Killzone 2 is the definite winner of eGamer’s 2009 Award for Best Graphics.

[Credit to IGN for the screenshots]