Retro Graphics
In a recent Discord discussion I had people were discussing the look of Oblivion. The new remaster looks pretty (as it should, the game grew from 4.6 GB to 125 GB), but there was a bit of a new appreciation for how the game looked when it first came out. Contemporary reviews of the game were largely complimentary, but it didn't take long for people to start making fun of the extreme closeups and blurry filters (I joked that you could make real life look like Oblivion by rubbing Vaseline on your glasses before going out).
The game looked good (fine, at least), then a few years passed and it looked bad, and now, perhaps, some people are starting to appreciate the art style.
I was reminded of the new focus on PS1 graphics that many indie games are using. At the time they were lauded ("The PlayStation can produce mind-boggling effects" pg 56), but the chunky polygons were eventually seen as something gross. Look at how smooth things became in Gen 6! I can't believe we enjoyed those old games.
Thankfully, today there are a growing number of indie developers that are using a return to the older PS1-style graphics in unique ways. This post will look at three examples I had fun with.
(from the Steam Page)
The first is Murder House from Puppet Combo. This developer has nearly 10 games that fit this aesthetic, but I think Murder House is their best. In this game, the player is trying to escape a house where a murderous rabbit is after them. The graphics are gross in a way that adds to the atmosphere and I'm not sure any other style would be as good for this game. The game uses tank controls, which is a turn off for many, but I think it shows a commitment to the bit. RE style graphics deserve RE style controls.
(from the Steam page)
The second is Lunacid. I didn't play King's Field, the game that walked so Souls-likes could run, but most reviews say Lunacid is the spiritual successor to it. This is a first-person dungeon crawler where the player can use various weapons and spells to dispatch enemies. The combat is hard and there aren't enough save spots, but it's an engaging challenge and the developers, KIRA LLC, nailed the visuals. On a personal note, I've always appreciated purple in video games (technically magenta, technically 100% red, 33% green, and 100% blue (source)) since I played Alley Cat on DOS. I wish more games used it.
(from the Steam Page)
Finally there's Crow Country. People compare it to Resident Evil and Silent Hill, and those aren't too far off. It's a survival horror in a sense, but it's easier that the other games. However, it does a great job with the atmosphere. Again, low fidelity seems to convey grime and dirt and old blood better than most others. Unlike Murder House, which seems to stay close to the style of the 90s, there are some really interesting modern changes in Crow Country. For example, your inventory determines what supplies you find in trash cans and many of the puzzles drop the moon logic that was a bit too prevalent 35 years ago.
There are dozens of other games in this style out there. If it appeals to you, check it out! Show some support to indie devs during these turbulent times and give yourself something fun to play for escapism.