Best Recent Video Games with Great Graphics

How important video game graphics are depends on the gamer. Sometimes a game can be great, but have poor graphics and dampen the experience. It's always satisfying when an amazing game also looks great. These are a few recent games I've seen that have both qualities.

Heavy Rain
Graphically stunning, Heavy Rain also has a gripping story and an interesting way to control the action. The character models are expressive and not stiff. For example, characters tap their feet when they're impatient. The constant rain that falls through out the game is realistic and sets the mood perfectly. Heavy Rain's branching, varied storyline has been praised by both gamers and critics. While it isn't a perfect game, it does display impressive graphics and gameplay.

Borderlands
Some gamers don't like cel-shading, but I love it. Borderlands' graphics are distinct and help make the game a great experience. The backgrounds, environments, and enemies are extremely detailed and crisp. Besides the great graphics, the gameplay is fantastic. Borderlands is a big, hilarious game with a variety of missions, DLCs, and a multiplayer mode. The genre mix of FPS and RPG makes the game action packed, yet gives the player the ability to level up and choose their own specialties.

Mass Effect 2
The sequel to the highly praised Mass Effect has better graphics, less glitches, and great gameplay. Players of the first one can use their saved game to influence what happens in the second one. Choices you made in Mass Effect directly change what happens in the sequel, making an interesting, unique experience. The graphics are rich and the level designs are improved greatly over the original. The colors and tones, especially in the rendering of comets and stars at the beginning of the game draw you in. The missions, side missions, and combat are varied and rarely feel stale, letting the gameplay stand out among other RPGs.

God of War III
Impressive in both combat and graphics, God of War III is one of the best looking video games. Kratos is one of the most stunning characters in any game. The environments are as epic as ever. The camera sweeps in, letting you see the full scope of the landscape. The improved camera also helps in combat. While it's relatively the same as in past God of War games, it's still gratifying, brutal and fast paced.

Red Dead Redemption
The first word I thought of when I saw the graphic in Red Dead Redemption was "smooth." The vast outdoor environments are breath taking even down to the ripples in the water, the blades of grass and flowers. Couple the great graphics with an engrossing story about an ex-con seeking to get his family back and it's a gripping experience.

Alan Wake
What makes the game truly great is the combination of graphics and the survival horror plot. With the snow capped mountains, the unnerving fog and darkness, and the solid character design, Alan Wake's graphics are memorable and haunting. The horror plot twist story and unusual combat really make Alan Wake an interesting game with great graphics.

Halo:Reach
With the latest Halo game, everything is improved from the graphics, story, and combat. The planet Reach and its rich, varied environments look real and don't feel recycled like backdrops of other Halo games. The story is also woven together well, accessible to new players and satisfying for Halo veterans. While the combat is familiar, it has just enough tweaks to feel fresh. Reach is a great game with amazing graphics, fitting for the end of Bungie's development of the series.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The PS3 exclusive has it all, jaw dropping graphics, a great story filled with character development and lots of action. The attention to detail, even in little things that aren't important to the game, is amazing. It draws you in and and makes the environment feel alive. The cutscences are movie quality good and do their job helping the story flourish. For the rest of the game, the action is fast paced, the puzzles are challenging, and even the AI is helpful. They don't feel like card board cut outs made to fill up space, they actually do things.

Video games have come a long way from 8bit graphics and simple stories. These recent games prove it's possible that a well crafted experience can have both great graphics and gameplay. While unimpressive graphics doesn't necessarily make the entire game bad, it's always nice when they come together.