Best graphics evar in a PC game? Upcoming mindblowing graphic engines?

[yhelothar]

It seems like graphics haven't really improved much since the latest gen of consoles in 2007. That's not too surprising since most games are designed for them.
But I remember before then, I was always wowed by new graphic engine showcases like Unreal Engine 3 that was showcased in 2003. I remember I almost shed a tear because it was so friggen awesome.

Then there was Farcry and Doom 3 too that really broke barriers in graphics.

Are there any of those games today or upcoming? I've been out of the loop lately.

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Locking this thread because it has degraded into a bunch of personal attacks that have no place on AT. Sorry astroidea.
AnandTech Administrator Evadman

 

[AndroidVageta]

Basically when it comes down to overall technology in an engine, to my understand the Crytek 2 (Crysis) engine is still champ...I mean, some REALLY impressive things can be done by it, more so impressive than what you see in the actual Crysis game.

As far as upcoming engines go...maybe the Crytek 3 engine or the new one coming from id...the id5 engine I believe it is (aka id Rage) looks good, although its been years in development and new pics of it, although they look good, by todays stands looks a little above average, nothing TOO special there. Ummm...the engine used in Metro 2033 looks damn impressive! That should be a really good engine and looks pretty future proof with DX11 and all.

Other than that, for RIGHT NOW...Crytek 2 is still the best in my opinion...at least compared to all the games out now, I mean, even if a game now is TECHNICALLY using a superior engine, then the game using it sure isnt doing so at full steam...Crysis is still the best looking game.

Some would say however that Uncharted 2 for the PS3 looks better, but to me a lot of the effects are custom tailored to the specific scene/instance where its used/hardware...so it has impressive visuals, but to my understanding its not something that could be uniformly used on a large scale (ala a open end world like Fallout 3/Crysis with full Uncharted 2 graphics)...make sense? Think of it like this...say a pillar (standard object) looks REALLY good and detailed...but its in the back ground where you cant actually walk around it...most likely the back of the pillar is just a blank texture or doesnt even have a backside just to save on engine/hardware resources...again, impressive visuals, but not uniform at all angles/objects...certainly couldnt be done again on a large open scale...every scene and map is custom fitted and nothing more...think pre-rendered but in real time...

 

[totalnoob]

Crysis 2 pushes the barriers with everything on ultra settings. You'll need a monster machine to run it smoothly though.

 

[AndroidVageta]

Crysis 2 pushes the barriers with everything on ultra settings. You'll need a monster machine to run it smoothly though.

Yes and no...if you mean monster system as in something above average now a days then no...my PC which is arguably "slow" by todays MONSTER standards (i.e. Intel i7, ATI 5870, etc..) I can run the game completely maxed out at 1800x1440 completely smooth...no stuttering or slow down what so ever...a year ago this was not the case...

 

[zerocool84]

The console's came out in 05/06.

PC Exclusives like Crysis and STALKER Clear Sky/CoP put all current console's to shame as they could never come close to that.

Also good looking RTS's like World in Conflict, Dawn of War II, and Empire: Total War.

 

[motsm]

Project Offset seems to be the only thing worth mentioning aside from CryEngine 3. Of course it's release as an actual game has been up in the air since Intel bought it.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Can your PC run CRYSIS ON MAXIMUM SETTINGS?! Can any PC?!

 

[TechBoyJK]

CryEngine 3 won't look "significantly" better than CryEngine2. To my understanding, the advances in CryEngine3 are less about graphics, and more about beefing up other aspects of the engine. Such as making it run more efficiently, making it easier to develop on, etc. This is actually a good thing, because frankly, they over designed the graphics capability of CryEngine2 and nothing could really take advantage of that. It pretty much gave them a window to work on other things while still remaining the graphics powerhouse. Apparently Crytek has been paying attention to all the mods and wishes of the community. Crysis 2 is apparently going to have a very solid cover system ala RainBow Six Vegas, where you can crouch up against walls and peak over and aim.

Also the head programmer at Crytek actually developed a procedural destruction technology and a building design technology so that you get rid of "locked door syndrome".. basically, it's a tech that allows it so players can go in any building and destroy it.


http://www.pcgames.de/aid,695487/Cr...Update-Physik-Demo-im-Youtube-Video/PC/Video/

pretty neat.

People were speculating whether this tech would by in Crysis 2, and apparently something "like it" is there, with a real time cut scene showing a helicopter flying into a building, exploding and taking out a chunk of the building. There was a preview up an upcoming issue of a video game mag that spoke of it.

incrysis.com has updates.

 

[Spoooon]

Are we defining best as "closest to real life?"

 

[shortylickens]

Can your PC run CRYSIS ON MAXIMUM SETTINGS?! Can any PC?!

Mine can. Radeon 4890 with a quad core Athlon 64.
But not everyone has that. And the consoles will need a whole new generation to catch up.

Are we defining best as "closest to real life?"

I am, even though I know it has little effect on gameplay. But I recall seeing the initial tech demos for Crysis and they were fucking amazing. Then we got the actual game and it was far less impressive. We still have a way to go before we get to realistic.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

I remember I almost shed a tear because it was so friggen awesome.

Seriously dude? Are you a virgin? There might be a good reason why....

 

[Kirby]

Project Offset seems to be the only thing worth mentioning aside from CryEngine 3. Of course it's release as an actual game has been up in the air since Intel bought it.

I remember being wowed by some video demos, but I haven't heard anything since.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Are we defining best as "closest to real life?"

Well, even if not, i'd still argue cryengine3.. look at all of the non-realistic mods.. like mechwarrior, and even the Monkey Island video.. You can make it cartoony if you want to.

 

[Kabob]

I hear the engine used in Duke Nukem Forever is amazing.

 

[yhelothar]

Crysis brings systems to its knees with the thick foilage, but the graphics ain't exactly next gen looking over PS3/360 games.

It's not like seeing Unreal Engine 3 when UT2003 was the latest and greatest in graphics.

Seriously dude? Are you a virgin? There might be a good reason why....

No, I just frothed at the mouth. But seriously, it was at least 100x more detailed than anything out at that time. I remember it mentioned that the games out then were pumping out 100,000 polygons/s while UE3 was pumping out 10 million/s.

And yeah, I was a virgin, but not since about 5 years ago when I started pimpin mad bitches with my pimp ass gaming rig. :hmm:

 

[TechBoyJK]

http://www.incrysis.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=840&Itemid=1

CryEngine can do a lot more than what was shown in Crysis..

 

[slightlyhuman]

Seriously dude? Are you a virgin? There might be a good reason why....

did you come in here just to say that big man? fuck off.


in regards to the OP, i'm going to side with the crytek 2 engine. id5 is a little behind in my opinion. crytek 3 will be the next landslide king as well.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

did you come in here just to say that big man? fuck off.


in regards to the OP, i'm going to side with the crytek 2 engine. id5 is a little behind in my opinion. crytek 3 will be the next landslide king as well.

Say it to my face pussy. You should probably join him in the get a life boat.

 

[tviceman]

The soon-to-be-released Metro2033 is going to have every bell and whistle in the books. Graphically it looks to be about the best among the best.

 

[Maximilian]

Farcry and crysis wowed me, i dunno why but UE3 never impressed me at all, the blood in it looks weird as well.

Also i gotta mention warcraft 3, it dosent have the texture count or the featres etc, it mightve just been the foresty waterfall type maps i liked but ive always liked the look of that game.

 

[Kabob]

Say it to my face pussy.

I for one am extremely curious to know what a face pussy is.

 

[slightlyhuman]

Say it to my face pussy. You should probably join him in the get a life boat.

hope you enjoyed your stay.

just noticed we share the same name(although i spell mine different). i bet he gets all the babes at his 'helpdesk' occupation.

 

[Kabob]

Farcry and crysis wowed me, i dunno why but UE3 never impressed me at all, the blood in it looks weird as well.

Also i gotta mention warcraft 3, it dosent have the texture count or the featres etc, it mightve just been the foresty waterfall type maps i liked but ive always liked the look of that game.

I for one think that WC3 has pretty shoddy graphics, but like StarCraft it's definitely a gameplay > graphics game. I'm still playing it.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

I for one think that WC3 has pretty shoddy graphics, but like StarCraft it's definitely a gameplay > graphics game. I'm still playing it.

It's the art style that makes Blizzard games look good...even now. Besides, WC3 came out in 2001. It's easy to look back at a nine year old game (dang WC3 is almost a decade old?!) and say the graphics are "pretty shoddy".

 

[HeXploiT]

Yes and no...if you mean monster system as in something above average now a days then no...my PC which is arguably "slow" by todays MONSTER standards (i.e. Intel i7, ATI 5870, etc..) I can run the game completely maxed out at 1800x1440 completely smooth...no stuttering or slow down what so ever...a year ago this was not the case...

I hear this all the time. Guess what if you're not maxing AA then you're not maxed. I doubt that rig will run any of the crysis games "truly" maxed and not drop below 30fps.