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Best Thunderstorms In Video Games

Darkmakaimura

Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
One thing I always loved, especially with FPS games, are the thunderstorms and rain.

What game do you think has the best or some of the best thunderstorms?

My current pick is Metro Exodus, especially for the intensity and Skyrim, for more realistic sounding moderate storms.
 
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Mad Max (2015) game's thunderstorm were pretty epic. Lightning hitting the ground, dust storm reducing visibility, interactive doodads flying around everywhere hitting you. It could even lift the car or you if you didn't seek shelter. What a game.
 
There was a part later on in Wind Waker where there was a severe storm on Windfall Island and the people were huddled in the inn. I loved it, but couldn't find a video.

It was really disappointing that this didn't happen later on too. Imagine if the game had a weather system.
 
Mad max is still the best by far, actually dangerous and with a lot of shit flying around





Ubisoft avatar has a mission during a thunderstorm which was also pretty great.
 
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Zelda BoTW and ToTK
i hate rain on that game, but i love the game : ))
it just... have to go naked to be safe from thunder
and using wood weapons, like uga uga bonga bonanza

might be not the best in visual,
but the impact to player and enemies is amazing

MQ6XulvyeoC6MOZC.png
 
Looks pretty tame in the vid tbh, I feel when you play the transformation has more of an impact, plants swaying hard, the ground becoming more and more wet and full of puddles, the lightning strikes all around and it really looks like it's pouring.
 
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Zelda BoTW and ToTK
i hate rain on that game, but i love the game : ))
it just... have to go naked to be safe from thunder
and using wood weapons, like uga uga bonga bonanza

might be not the best in visual,
but the impact to player and enemies is amazing

MQ6XulvyeoC6MOZC.png
This. The thunderstorms aren't just for show. They have applicable mechanics.
 
30 posts without mentioning the Tanker in MGS2. Thats crazy.

Still the best depiction of rain in terms of particle behavior. Almost 25 years old now...
 
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I mean, A Link to the Past still remains one of the most iconic since it's from one of the greatest video games ever made. They were also really well done in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

I thought they were pretty awesome in both Ghost of Tsushima and Ghost of Yotei. The way they sometimes use them to accentuate poignant story notes is absolutely peak.

 
Gears of War 4.

that shit looked (actually still looks) absolutely insane in HDR.
and then looked even more insane at 4K on the One X... yeah, this ran at 4k 8 years ago on a last gen console... how far we have fallen since...

 
This. The thunderstorms aren't just for show. They have applicable mechanics.
often died because of this : ))
but the feeling to punish enemies with nature help is cool, throwing sword in enemies when thunderstorm and give them the taste of nature, priceless
 
often died because of this : ))
but the feeling to punish enemies with nature help is cool, throwing sword in enemies when thunderstorm and give them the taste of nature, priceless
Yeah, it took me a bit to realize I could turn it against them. It initially felt like they only targeted the player when they just target metal lol.
 
Yeah, it took me a bit to realize I could turn it against them. It initially felt like they only targeted the player when they just target metal lol.
yeah, thunder element, even if not pure thunderstorm, also can be used as ... illegal fishing, I think I'm using thunder rod, I dunno about using real thunderstorm to fishing, i think it could be super dangerous : ))
 
Ion storms in Tiberian Sun.

In highly Tiberium-infested maps, they can make of a highly atmospheric game experience. But ion storms even have an effect on the gameplay: It grounds air and hovering units, can damage units, and scrambles your mini map.
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Zelda BoTW and ToTK
i hate rain on that game, but i love the game : ))
it just... have to go naked to be safe from thunder
and using wood weapons, like uga uga bonga bonanza

might be not the best in visual,
but the impact to player and enemies is amazing

MQ6XulvyeoC6MOZC.png
I think these 2 games are ugly as hell but the weather was awesome for sure
 


Hunt: Showdown has great rain. The weather cycles between light rain and heavy thunderstorms. The clouds open during light. Water pours off roof edges etc., it's really well done.
 
Its gotta be Mad Max or RDR1/2 for open world games. I love BotW/TotK for the visual + gameplay effects but overall the first 2 I mentioned are better. AC Shadows is sweet too but just doesnt feel as real imo.

Its all about the sound design with this, that makes it or breaks it.
 
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