Games that look good stretched to 16:9 (provide images)?

[BitFaced]

To put it bluntly, are there any video games out there that actually look GOOD when stretched to 16:9 from 4:3? And could you provide images? I've heard that Wild Arms does...

[Reprise]

Is that even possible? I mean, you're literally stretching the image. I can't believe that could ever look better than the source resolution and aspect ratio.

[AppleQueso]

Is that even possible? I mean, you're literally stretching the image. I can't believe that could ever look better than the source resolution and aspect ratio.

Well he didn't say "better," just "good."

Not sure why you'd want to stretch the image in the first place, but I guess anything that doesn't use a lot of perfect squares, circles, triangles, etc might look okay.

[samsonlonghair]

Virtua fighter for 32X has a built-in widescreen

[Hobie-wan]

R-Type was a wide aspect ratio game in the arcade. Stretching out R-Types for PS1 out makes it more or less correct.

Notice the dot is squashed vertically in 4:3.


The dot is a little stretched in 16:9, but if you look at arcade screenshots, it is there as well.


Notice the Force, powerup carrier, and the green orbs are squashed vertically.


The Force, green orbs, and even the dot in the logo are round as they should be.

[CRTGAMER]

R-Type was a wide aspect ratio game in the arcade. Stretching out R-Types for PS1 out makes it more or less correct.

That is a great example and made me think of what genres would look bad or others that might look better. I always set my movies to Full with my 4:3 HDCRT. In the case of anamorphic movies this makes all the actors lose a little wieght. Think of the reverse affect with a widescreen HDTV with older fighting games. Somehow the fighters wouldn't look as fit.

On the other hand, maybe some sideways SHMUPS might look better with the sleeker ship on the screen? For me I prefer the stretch, even if not scaled correct to get the largest picture utilizing all the screen estate.

[soul_hacker]

King of the Dragons looks good in widescreen. I'll try to take some pictures later tonight.

[ExedExes]

Got a HDTV last year and some games just look a lot better with it. I'm not gonna have those side bars on my games when I play here.

Tons of pics, so check them out!

Hyperzone (SNES)

Pilotwings (SNES)

Taito Legends 2 (PC, output via HDMI on computer)

Alien Crush (TG16, emulated on PC, HDMI output)

Devil's Crush (TG16, emulated on PC, HDMI output)

Jaki Crush (SFC, emulated on PC, HDMI output)

Sega Rally 2 (Dreamcast)

Prehistoric Isle (arcade via MAME, emulated on PC, HDMI output)

Bubble Bobble (Taito Legends 2 PC, HDMI output)

Axelay (SNES)

Firepower 2000 (SNES)

Medal of Honor Rising Sun (Gamecube)

[MrEco]

This is actually very similar to something I've been wondering myself. Since I'm gonna be buying an HDTV soon (Finally forcing myself to do it once I realized I can't read a single damn thing in Mass Effect...), I'm kinda worried what my older games will look like on the different aspect ratio.

[alienjesus]

This is actually very similar to something I've been wondering myself. Since I'm gonna be buying an HDTV soon (Finally forcing myself to do it once I realized I can't read a single damn thing in Mass Effect...), I'm kinda worried what my older games will look like on the different aspect ratio.

Most good HDTVs should have the option to switch aspect ratio. Might be worth checking for when you buy it.