Not the oldest of examples, but I've always been super impressed by how light seems to pass through The End's bird's feathers in MGS3.
I enjoyed Light Crusader (Genesis) by Treasure because it had this cool sense of scale with everything. Here are some bosses:
M2's Switch version can't come soon enoughI was always really impressed with the 32X version of Virtua Racing. The console isn't great, and it's 3D capabilities are very limited, but it works so well for this game.
I wish I liked to play those types of games more.
My personal favorite from Sin & Punishment on the N64. Treasure were the best at unique and stunning visual effects for any console they developed for IMO. They always pushed the limits of whatever hardware they worked on.
Yup, Velez & Dubail:That engine was nuts. They are the same guys that made V-Rally 3 and the Asterix game in GBA aren't they?
It's just a prerendered, looping animated "gif" that's larger than the screen.
Stardust on Amiga used the same trick.
Iridion 2 also has prerendered looping backgrounds
Blazing Star on neogeo used something similar on the...second stage I believe
Oh man the intro and the first level music. Nostalgia overload. That bass line in the first level is amazing
This one was awesome as well.
These games entertained me but I can't remember ever knowing what the fuck I was doing lmao.
I wish I liked to play those types of games more.
KiIcarus, S&P and Panzer Dragoon are all gorgeous games that play like boring arcade light games.
It's just a prerendered, looping animated "gif" that's larger than the screen.
Stardust on Amiga used the same trick.
Iridion 2 also has prerendered looping backgrounds
Blazing Star on neogeo used something similar on the...second stage I believe
I think 1080º Avalanche had some cool visual effects back in the day.
Holy SHIT.
No gif atm but the parallax scrolling in Shadow of the Beast was really great.
EDIT: here's a gif!
I love this effect. The way that Kirby jumps off the building cracks me up.
Sorry for the video, but this is one of the coolest visual effects in games I know, so I had to share.
Atari/Namco F-1 Arcade
These gifs stress me out. That level was impossible for me as a kidI believe Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi on SNES used a similar trick (looped animation) but coupled with the Mode 7 layer so that you could rotate around the tunnel.
The developer also faked the laser beam lighting on the tunnel by adding a transparent red or green hue over the background.
Man these just look so dense and action packed.
In the Hunt, circa 1993 (Arcade, later Saturn and PS1). Sprites and water effects.
I always thought that the way Baten Kaitos mixed pre-rendered backgrounds with 3D models and effects was really lovely.
Here's a great writeup of how the game was made to look so good, by the guy who actually made it!The Atari Lynx conversion was also every inch as impressive too (thanks to the use of Lynx in hardware sprites scaling to 'fake' 3D and its small screen).
It was the best home conversion of Stun Runner at the time.
(the above captured footage is a bit blurred but at least it is real hardware)
What the shit, do you just straight-up punch birds in that game?!?
Oh, that's fucking insane.
In the Hunt, circa 1993 (Arcade, later Saturn and PS1). Sprites and water effects.
Cannon Fodder FMV intro, Game Boy Color
And the 3D menu screen (end of the video):
Toy Story Racer, Game Boy Color
What the fuck. Sure, that Toy Story racer runs at like 5fps, but that shit should not be possible on a GBC!
I love seeing 3D graphics on systems that should absolutely not be able to handle it.
The original 1080 for N64 had some cool snow/ice/shadow/lighting (lens flare, colored textures to simulate light reflection) effects as well despite the early 3D hardware:I think 1080º Avalanche had some cool visual effects back in the day.
Always loved those effects. Never played the games but I heard they had some wild stories.
I think 1080º Avalanche had some cool visual effects back in the day.
...I wonder if Nintendo sees value in making a "xtreme" sports game compilation, incuding this, Wave Race and maybe ExciteBike together in one package. A la Wii Sport.
Toy Story Racer (GBC, 2001) actually runs at about 20fps. That video is just bad quality.
Their clothes flapped in the wind!!!! It was incredible.The original 1080 for N64 had some cool snow/ice/shadow/lighting (lens flare, colored textures to simulate light reflection) effects as well despite the early 3D hardware:
1080 was miles ahead the other snowboard games on consoles at the time (and not just because of graphics but also animations and physics).
Oh wow, beautiful.
I was convinced this was a later Metal Slug I had forgotten about actually. Looks just like it.
Here's a great writeup of how the game was made to look so good, by the guy who actually made it!
What the shit, do you just straight-up punch birds in that game?!?
Oh, that's fucking insane.
These are FMV of course. There were a certain amount of games using this technique on GBC, like F1 World Championship 2000 and a motocross game from which I forgot the name...Hmm, is this actual 3D though, or is it FMV? The latter seems more likely. Which is still impressive for GBC, but actual polygonal graphics would have been insane. And probably impossible!
Geese Howard, from Fatal Fury 3 intro. It seems simple but with the music, it's like "holy shit this dude is a bad ass"
Geese Howard, from Fatal Fury 3 intro. It seems simple but with the music, it's like "holy shit this dude is a bad ass"
I was thinking Hillsfar on PC (and other platforms?):This looks a lot like the horse-riding level in Back to the Future Part III for Sega Genesis.
Me and my mates loved Moonstone. Superb 4-player action.Moonstone on Amiga also had really good animations for it's time. Anyone remember that game and have any good gifs at hand?
Edit:
Moonstone on Amiga also had really good animations for it's time. Anyone remember that game and have any good gifs at hand?