The Wii U and its ability to produce amazing visuals.

DRIVECLUB's 1080p + AA at its rock solid is vastly preferable to me than MK8's solution. I'd honestly rather they tone down the lighting like they did with Smash in exchange for IQ. Effects, lighting, fps, etc. Smooth FPS is the most important thing, followed by IQ. 60 FPS is waaaaaay lower on my priority list than IQ.

Are you implying that the vastly technologically superior PS4 can put out better visuals than the Wii U? Gee, what a bold statement! I thought this was just supposed to be a thread about many Wii U games looking darn good for what's under the hood. Why are PS4 games getting compared to them?
 
What I learned in this thread: colors will make a game run smooth, they also make polygons easier to render.

Nintendo is not allowed to be good at tech, it makes poeple angry. :D
 
By many developers you mean the ones using the parity excuse not to exploit PS4?

Well I don't want to get into a conversation about politics in gaming lol. But games like the Last of Us PS3, or Halo 4 on the 360 or GTA 5 might not hold up in 10 years, but they were raising the watermark for their time,

In 10 years, Flower, Super Stardust HD, Wipeout, Journey, Ratchet and Clank ACIT, etc etc will still be gorgeous.
 
Just imagine how great it would have looked in 15 fps!

Having a game less than 1080p 60 FPS does not takeway it's visual excellence so long as it's consistent with performance. People don't go back and look at SOC or OOT and say they don't have amazing visuals because of these issues when at the time, they were breathtaking visual experiences.

Less realistic, more simple geometrical and colourful games generally for games look much better overall. This isn't just relegated to Nintendo.

Tearaway and KZ:M is a perfect example of this. Released on the same platform around the same time. Both are completely in the opposite ends of the spectrum. KZ:M has far more things going on in it but the colourful, cartoonish look of Tearaway makes it look far more visually pleasing and cleaner and where I'm less likely to notice visual faults in the game than KZ.

Same reason why WW and SS look better than TP.

Lack of good AA (especially in MK8), textures, shadows are pretty apparent in some of Nintendo games and in the screenshots in OP.

There have been a number of great titles over te years with great art direction, but the focus of many games on realistic art styles with a gritty overlay limits their ability to create art direction that stands the test of time. They age badly as the arms race continues. It also costs a fortune to do it. Nintendo has been able to get more than most large studios that realism and complexity isn't the hallmark of great looking games by default. Twilight princess was pretty rough though.

It's for this reason why I'm looking forward to see how the realistic type games stand in time. Huge amounts of games only a year or two ago to me have already aged quite a bit.
 
Yeah, so underwhelming...

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I can't see anything there's too much rain on the screen ;)
 
Are you implying that the vastly technologically superior PS4 can put out better visuals than the Wii U? Gee, what a bold statement! I thought this was just supposed to be a thread about many Wii U games looking darn good for what's under the hood. Why are PS4 games getting compared to them?

No, I'm saying IQ is more important than 60 fps and compared it to Smash.

You don't have to get your panties in a twist, don't worry.
 
I'd say Nintendo designed Wii U with their development teams in mind first and foremost which seems to be powerful enough for their games.

It's not really powerful enough when MK8 is 720p with zero AA and Pikmin 3 is 30fps. It's "good enough" but could have easily been a lot better. If they had made the hardware powerful enough to run their games at 1080p with the same visuals they really would have blew everyone away.
 
It's called artistic cohesion and working within the limits of your hardware. Plus, it's much easier to make a visually appealing game when you're not shooting for photo-realism and trying to traverse the uncanny valley.
 
We have about one of these threads a month. Yes, art style is more important to creating timeless looks than things like polycount. No, most western publishers don't care. No, it has nothing to do with the Wii U's hardware either.

Kinda funny to see everyone fawning over the "nintendo in HD!" though after last gen was full of excuses over why it didn't matter. Resolution and IQ always help, even for games like Wind Waker, which, other than bloooooooooooooom really does look quite a bit nicer.

This. It's the art style more than anything. And yes, funnily enough all the people ragging on about how useless HD was and anyone who wanted it was a graphics whore are mysteriously nowhere to be found.
 
Those Pikmin 3 shots, are they from the DLC? Bonus missions? I didn't bother with anything other than the story mode because I assumed they took place in the same areas as the main game.
 
The thread title should replace "Wii U" with Nintendo" (not that there is huge a difference). Nintendo has always had excellent output in the graphics department and worked wonders with the hardware their games have run on.
 
Jesus...I didn't buy a Wii U for the graphics. I have four of the seven, maybe eight games I'll ever own for it, and none of the games have wow'd me with visuals yet.

MK8 and SM3DW have actually underwhelmed me compared to all the hype they receive here. I mean, they look nice and all, but you know, they're rather dull.

Dull certainly isn't a word I'd use to describe the visuals of those those two games. Actually, it's not a word I'd use to describe the visuals of any Nintendo games.

I'm playing Shadow of Mordor right now. While that game is a ton of fun, that game is far more dull visually than MK8 or SM3DW. It's actually my only flaw against the entire game, everything is brownish, greyish, and lacks variety in environments. I can't say the same thing about the MK8 or SM3DW.
 
For me personally 3D World and MK8 are the two best looking games of this gen so far. Colorful, crisp, excellent lightning...it's eye candy.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if the Wii U successor wasn't much more powerful than the Wii U itself. Nintendo creates it's systems based on games it wants to develop. So with the fact that Nintendo can achieve the art style it always wants to use with Wii U power, there is no real need to invest in graphical capabilities.
 
Oh boy, this thread got a sad turn. Why can't we appreciate something without turning it into a pissing contest? Why not save the DriveClub gifs for a thread about amazing visuals on the PS4 or about games that launched completely broken?
 
I think what needs to be said is that Nintendo respects the limit of its console and creates great games minding those limits, hence the camera in 3D World being most of the times fixed,and no AA in Mario Kart. But they do in such a smart way and polish everything else so much that you end having a blast with that illusion.

You often see other developers treating the ps4 or xbox1 like another PC and the result, while technically more intensive graphically, ends underwhelming most of the players, with frame rate issues or inconsistent texture work
 
I think what needs to be said is that Nintendo respects the limit of its console and creates great games minding those limits, hence the camera in 3D World being most of the times fixed,and no AA in Mario Kart. But they do in such a smart way and polish everything else so much that you end having a blast with that illusion.

You often see other developers treating the ps4 or xbox1 like another PC and the result, while technically more intensive graphically, ends underwhelming most of the players, with frame rate issues or inconsistent texture work

Gaf isn't most players and even if it were this is still false.
 
Nintendo nails their art style and its beautiful...their games are nothing really spectacular on a technical level when you compare them to something like an Uncharted, or Killzone game...

But they look and perform great
 
I wouldn't be surprised if the Wii U successor wasn't much more powerful than the Wii U itself. Nintendo creates it's systems based on games it wants to develop. So with the fact that Nintendo can achieve the art style it always wants to use with Wii U power, there is no real need to invest in graphical capabilities.

Nintendo creates it's systems based on what will allow them to sell hardware with a profit. They don't like taking a loss on hardware sales and that's likely the main driving factor behind their choosing low power hardware.
 
Wii u games look great but theres nothing on par in looks with DriveClub or Infamous SS imo. Which of course is to be expected.

But the cartoon styled games are real nice. Can't wait for the new zelda game, it looks stunning.
 
Nintendo games aren't perfect. I was just playing windwaker and the fps tanks every time you kill a baddie!
 
Great visuals in the WiiU (or any Nintendo platform) = "Is the art style"
Great visuals in other machines = "Is the machine"

GAF gonna GAF :/
 
Nintendo's ability to push their own hardware and utilize fantastic art-styles is why many of their games hold their own. Super Mario Sunshine looks good to this day, for example.

However, its not even close to comparable to what the Xbox One and PS4 are capable of, simply because the Wii U is vastly inferior in graphical capabilities. Playing Infamous SS for the first time had my jaw-dropping.

Of course, this does not stop me from enjoying the games and their visuals. SSB4 looks fantastic on the Wii U for instance, and its a great game. I just hope Nintendo catches up next-gen. This tactic of being a gen-behind in terms of specs is starting to lose me. It is also hurting their relevance in the video game market as a hole.

Just imagining what Nintendo could create visually with a powerful console makes me excited for the potential. Nintendo has proven time and time again that they are capable of making the best, I just wish they would harness such talents.
 
Are you implying that the vastly technologically superior PS4 can put out better visuals than the Wii U? Gee, what a bold statement! I thought this was just supposed to be a thread about many Wii U games looking darn good for what's under the hood. Why are PS4 games getting compared to them?

Because this is what always happens in a Nintendo thread. Can't let those Nintendo fanboys get to cocky, ya know?
 
Having the most powerful possible hardware was never a requirement for making stunning games with fantastic visuals, something which people obviously seem to forget time and time again.
 
Its nice if you aren't tired of bloom set to the max artwork. Is the art direction bright and colorful? Yes, is it graphically boundary pushing and impressive? Not by a long shot. GTA V is more graphically impressive than what Nintendo is producing.
 
I think a correction would be "Nintendo and their amazing ability to put out great graphics even on underpowered platforms"

Any third party game on Wii U is kinda eh, especially when they don't even run as well as on PS3 or XB360 but nonetheless.

Also, this was on PS3 and 360:
Journey-Screen-One.jpg

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I like Nintendo but there's no need to sugarcoat it. It's not as if we haven't seen anything like it before, but it is wonderful how Nintendo games are good at putting a smile on your face because they are so cheerful and colorful.

tbh i think this screenshot isn't impressive at all, and you are really proving this thread to be right.

The Journey screenshot is too bright and is burning out the details of everything a little. I did a slight photoshop here to illustrate my point. Check out the sun and the sun's reflection on the water to see how much details has been lost.
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Bayo 2, tropical freeze look amazing in the system. Really can't wait for Zelda

One thing though ...I find the galazy game to be better looking than 3d world which colors side is ..too simple looking from design points
 
Great visuals in the WiiU (or any Nintendo platform) = "Is the art style"
Great visuals in other machines = "Is the machine"

GAF gonna GAF :/

You could actually think about why it's being said instead of jumping to conclusions about hypocrisy or whatever. If Nintendo were to try to make a photorealistic game akin to Uncharted, the hardware would hold them back severely. They understand that, which is why they use an art style more suited for the hardware available to them. It's the much smarter move.
 
Its nice if you aren't tired of bloom set to the max artwork. Is the art direction bright and colorful? Yes, is it graphically boundary pushing and impressive? Not by a long shot. GTA V is more graphically impressive than what Nintendo is producing.

Many Wii U games are graphically impressive but not technically impressive within the meaning of running on high end hardware. Nonetheless the Nintendo wizards seems to easily push the Wii U hardware far beyond the point many expected after hardware details had been revealed. With PS4/XOne its the other way round, many expected better graphics from these consoles and 1080p/60FPS expected as minimum graphical fidelity. But its obvious now the developers could not deliver this.
 
You could actually think about why it's being said instead of jumping to conclusions about hypocrisy or whatever. If Nintendo were to try to make a photorealistic game akin to Uncharted, the hardware would hold them back severely. They understand that, which is why they use an art style more suited for the hardware available to them. It's the much smarter move.

It's the other way around really. They're using the lowest hardware available that can still produce the graphics suited to their art style.
 
It's the other way around really. They're using the lowest hardware available that can still produce the graphics suited to their art style.

Yes but its the same cycle as last gen, in 1-2 years we will be back to this: http://kotaku.com/5672980/the-wii-game-that-was-briefly-mistaken-for-an-xbox-360-game
Read the Nintendo fan comments, those threads will be on neogaf in 2 years

Nintendo are doing a amazing job, but its a bit silly to say they wont end up being left behind
 
I think a correction would be "Nintendo and their amazing ability to put out great graphics even on underpowered platforms"

Any third party game on Wii U is kinda eh, especially when they don't even run as well as on PS3 or XB360 but nonetheless.

Also, this was on PS3 and 360:
Journey-Screen-One.jpg

Sonic_Holoska_3.jpg


I like Nintendo but there's no need to sugarcoat it. It's not as if we haven't seen anything like it before, but it is wonderful how Nintendo games are good at putting a smile on your face because they are so cheerful and colorful.

Games like Sonic Unleashed, Sega All-Stars Racing and Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts all looked fantastic, but they're 30fps games(with dips) and sometimes even sub-HD. Not the case at all with Nintendo's Wii U games, that's what makes them impressive to me.
 
Considering the hardware (which is only impressive from an efficiency standpoint), I've been really impressed with the system so far. Going back to PS4 and PC games sort of puts things in perspective though. It would be nice if Nintendo had hardware more similar to the PS4 to work with, because what they can do with the relatively weak hardware they have now is pretty amazing. Games like Mario Kart would really benefit from having better IQ, and Nintendo probably wouldn't have the third party issues they're having now.
 
It's the other way around really. They're using the lowest hardware available that can still produce the graphics suited to their art style.

Eh, not really. Mario Galaxy and even Wind Waker still look good. Hell, Wind Waker is even listed in the OP, and all that got on Wii U was a new lighting setup and a res boost - with a lot of people saying the lighting looked better on GameCube regardless.

They had hardware that could produce graphics suited to their style over a decade ago now haha, they're just tuning it to take advantage of the new tech every time a new generation rolls around.
 
That's absolutely false. Or maybe you don't know how cpu works. The anomaly it's how the Cell works but it's not more powerful of the ps4 cpu, just stop it please.
A Ubisoft Cloth Physics test from GDC implies otherwise. All I said was CELL outperformed PS4's CPU in certain respects and that certifiably true. PS3 and 360 had insanely overengineered CPUs for their time. It's why those systems broke the bank in terms of pricepoints and upfront losses, but modern GPUs have basically taken gaming hardware in an entirely different direction now architecturally. All the consoles and even handhelds now have relatively weak CPUs paired with more capable GPUs.
 
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