Whats your favorite graphics era?

[Imperfect Dark]

32-bit is my hands down favorite. The 16-bit and 128-bit eras tie for second.

[BoringSupreez]

I like PC style 8 and 16 bit the best, like the old Putt-Putt games, Commander Keen 4-6, or Metal Gear 2. That level of graphics is what I started with, so that's probably why.

What I don't like are PS1/Saturn's jiggly, smeary, grainy 3d. I think the N64 and PC did a much better job of 3D than those two did. And I've never particularly liked the graphics of 2600 and other similar consoles. They had the same problem as PS1: They were pioneers, and so they had little experience at making good graphics at the time, and haven't aged well.

[Jrecee]

I like PC style 8 and 16 bit the best, like the old Putt-Putt games, Commander Keen 4-6, or Metal Gear 2. That level of graphics is what I started with, so that's probably why.

What I don't like are PS1/Saturn's jiggly, smeary, grainy 3d. I think the N64 and PC did a much better job of 3D than those two did. And I've never particularly liked the graphics of 2600 and other similar consoles. They had the same problem as PS1: They were pioneers, and so they had little experience at making good graphics at the time, and haven't aged well.

I like the jagged 3D look of those consoles, I don't think it's just nostalgia either, because I didn't get a ps1 and saturn until about 2001. I personally think the ps1 and saturn were more like the nes where the n64 was the master system. The 3D equivelent of the 2600 was more like star fox/virtua racer. Extremely simplistic but still classic.

[LBJeff]

Good topic.

I have to go with PS1/Saturn era. Something about that dirty, blocky, sometimes grainy look but was so smooth compared to sprites that just sung to me. I spent more sleepless nights playing Resident Evil, Dragon Force, Panzer Dragoon Saga and Final Fantasy VII then I have ever spent on any games before or since.

16-bit SNES/Genesis is second because of size. 8-bit NES third because it was so damn cool when it came out.

[ZeroAX]

Being partial to 2-d graphics, I pick the 16 bit era and also the graphics of the arcade games of that time. I have to admit though, 32 bit brought us some awesome 2-d visuals too, particularly from the Sega Saturn. However, the 16 bit era was ALL about the 2-d. Some of these games STLL look great today.

I think gaming in general was perfected in the 16 bit era. No camera issues, no finicky analogue sticks, no need for game assists like auto targeting so it was ALL player skill, less visual issues like clipping, tighter controls, more durable media, NO FUCKING LOAD TIMES, and games were just the right length unlike the fucking 100 hour epics some developers go for these days that no one actually has time to play.

Even though I often call the Dreamcast my fave console, I consider the 16-bit era the golden era of gaming

Some great looking 16-bit games:

all the points you make are so true. But I have to say vectorman looks like shit, otherwise good choices, but no yoshi's island?

[Pulsar_t]

all the points you make are so true. But I have to say vectorman looks like shit, otherwise good choices, but no yoshi's island?

As a fellow Megadriver of old I have to disagree. I love how Vectorman 1 looks, but the sequel is definitely not in the same boat. It's too "insecty".

[bladerunner]

Great topic and for me, it is 16-bit and 24-bit, the pinnacle of 2D sprites and gaming IMHO. Some of the 2D Saturn game are great too (i.e. Guardian Heroes comes to mind).

[Pulsar_t]

What do you consider to be 24-bit?

[bladerunner]

What do you consider to be 24-bit?

Well I always considered the Neo Geo 24-bit, though according to Wikipedia it is technically 16-bit.

[ZeroAX]

so really high quality 16-bit graphics? yeah you could use terms like that do distinguish the neo geo from the snes and mega drive