It’s probably no surprise to hear that several members of the creative team at Jumbla enjoy playing video games.
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This obsession has even spilled into the office, where the Xbox and PlayStation controllers are always close to hand just in case anybody wants to swap one computer screen for another.
So, whenever Jumbla gets the chance to create a video game cinematic, our in-studio Spotify account mysteriously switches to Kanye at 100% volume (thanks Steve), and things start getting cray cray.
It got us thinking… what are the most visually breathtaking video game graphics ever? Here are five top picks…
When the PC version of Crysis was released in 2007, no commercially available setup could run the game at its highest setting. This was mainly down to an absurd number of particle effects, which could make any machine go weak at the knees.
In the years following its release, Crysis became a benchmark with which to measure nearly every graphics card that hit the market. In fact, if you want to know whether your PC is a gaming gargantuan or not, see how it handles Crysis.
Video games with crystal clear visuals are all well and good, but some of the very best titles amaze with their incredible originality. Bioshock Infinite is a case in point, which provides gamers with truly immersive and unique environments.
The location for Bioshock Infinite is the Steampunk-inspired floating city of Columbia, conceptualised by Creative Director Ken Levine and Art Director Scott Sinclair. In-between the game’s socio-political tensions, players are treated to cityscapes celebrating US exceptionalism and Christian utopianism.
Yet another title with the potential to destroy any half-decent graphics card, The Witcher 3 has a stunning amount of detail, especially when played in glorious 4K. Created by Polish developer CD Projekt RED, the natively rendered environments are as close to reality as you can get.
Speaking of life-like visuals, The Witcher’s extraordinary hair modelling has got to be its crowning glory. There are a few beards in the Jumbla office these days, but none can rival the gorgeously groomed facial fur of main protagonist Geralt.
The original Tomb Raider won a multitude of awards and was widely praised for its revolutionary graphics. It’s safe to say the franchise’s latest release continues this legacy with some of the most realistic graphics ever seen on a video game.
This is thanks in large part to Nvidia's Voxel Accelerated Ambient Occlusion (VXAO) technique, which uses each scene’s surrounding geometry to calculate shadows and add depth. Lara Croft’s hair, eyes, and skin even react to the in-game temperature, moisture, and light.
This was one of, if not the best game to be released in 2016. For quite some time, Forza has been the greatest arcade racing series around, but this latest incarnation offers even more adrenaline-pumping action with some supercharged graphics to boot.
You might not have much time to marvel at the spectacular surroundings and skylines when tearing through the Australian Outback at 300kph, but Forza 3 Horizon’s all-encompassing environment is just as impressive as the highly detailed cars and furious racing action.
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