I always love creative art direction, both in movies and games. I’m a huge Tim Burton fan, and I love the twisted worlds of Tim Schafer just as much. Unfortunately, the most creative video games often are overlooked by the masses, who are content with buying the same Madden or Halo game each year. So, I’ve decided to compile a list of 5 games I consider to have the best and most creative art direction and design. This was a hard list to make, and each of these games definitely deserves your time.
5. Rez
While the gameplay of Rez is rather simplistic (it’s essentially an on-rails shooter), visually the game is stunning. The graphics are not the most technically advanced by modern standards, considering it was originally a Dreamcast game, but it doesn’t really look dated. The game moves in time with the electronic soundtrack, making the whole screen seem alive.
Gamers can still give Rez a try without tracking down a copy for Dreamcast or PS2, as it has recently been re-released in HD for Xbox Live Arcade.
4. Beyond Good and Evil
To call this game a commercial flop would be an understatement. This little overlooked gem of a game comes from the creator of Rayman, and although gamers didn’t seem to like it (or buy it) when it came out, video game critics certainly did — and for good reason. This game is wonderfully immersive, and shines as one of the most innovative platformers to come out in the last few years.
Of all the games on the list, this one is the most well known amongst my friends. I’m fairly sure none of them have actually played it, but they’ve heard of it. I guess this can be attributed to the enthusiastic recommendations from game critics. It wasn’t enough, I guess. Hopefully now that word has spread more people will be playing this game in the future.
3. Grim Fandango
Point-and-click adventure is my favorite video game genre. I rarely admit this, but it’s true. You, reader, almost certainly don’t share my affinity for adventure games, but fear not! You need not be an adventure game fan to enjoy the works of Tim Schafer. Sure, they require a bit more patience than the average console gamer has, but if you can play 500+ hours of the half-job-half-game World of Warcraft, then you can play a point-and-click adventure game.
Grim Fandango is not only one of the most creative games you’ll ever play, but one of the funniest. The juxtaposition of smart humor and surrealistic artwork make Grim Fandango a vastly-underrated video game that every gamer needs to try. The writing and visuals easily make the experience worth sitting through a game with no action and rather slow gameplay. Besides, who knows, you might find you actually like point-and-click adventure games.
2. American McGee’s Alice
American McGee’s Alice is a weird, disturbing, and brilliant game. The gameplay isn’t much to write home about, and the Quake 3 engine graphics are dated by today’s standards (they were state-of-the-art when the game came out), but the unique look and storytelling of the game make up for it and much more.
Anyone who’s actually read Alice in Wonderland as a teenager or adult certainly must have noticed that it’s actually kinda creepy and almost nightmarish at times. It deals with very serious and otherwise dark subjects, such as insanity, with a childish and surrealistic flair. Game designer American McGee recognized this, and used it as inspiration for the setting of this game. The story of Alice is based loosely on the world of Alice in Wonderland, with an older and more cynical Alice fighting a world of horror in her own mind. If you like all things twisted or wicked, this game is perfect for you.
1. Psychonauts
Along with Beyond Good and Evil, Psychonauts is usually what I point to when I want to illustrate how truly artistic and innovative games tend to fail commercially. It is almost criminal how such a unique and artistic game was almost completely overlooked by gamers.
The main idea of Psychonauts is as follows: you go to a summer camp for psychics, and platform jump your way through levels based on the subconscious minds of your fellow camp mates and camp counselors. The art direction in each level mimics the mental and emotional state of the character’s mind it is based on, and each level becomes a work of art.
This is the second game by Tim Schafer on the list (the first was Grim Fandango). Psychonauts and Grim Fandango both have similar traits, and IMO Psychonauts would have been better as a point-and-click adventure rather than an “action-adventure game.” As to be expected from a Tim Schafer game, the writing in Psychonauts is hilarious, and perfectly compliments the look of the game. The gameplay is a bit wonky and sometimes problematic, but if you can put that aside you’ll love Psychonauts.
Well, there you have it. That’s my list. I know “Top X” lists are lame, but I mainly just wanted to rant about how great these games are. Disagree with me? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
EDIT: Okay, I’ve thought things over and I regret not including Okami in this list. So, go ahead and substitute Okami for Beyond Good and Evil for #4.
Thankfully you can now buy Psychonauts on Steam. =)
I would like to play Psychonauts one of these days
> “Top X†lists
I like to call these lists “Top N” because it rhymes with “Top Ten”.
Ive never heard of Alice, Ill check it out. But why didnt you list Okami, Ico, or Shadow of the Colossus?
alinktothepast: Honestly, because I haven’t played them. I bought a copy of Shadow of the Colossus a while ago, but I’ve never gotten around to actually playing it. In retrospect I also would have liked to include Katamari Damacy, which I also have little personal experience with. If this were a top 10 list instead of a top 5, I would have included them all.
Remember, I said this was a hard list to make. I really wasn’t sure about whether to put Beyond Good and Evil in the list, and I was close to putting Alice as number 1.
I think Rayman had better artwork than Beyond good and Evil.
How can you actually LIKE point and click adventure games?!? BOOOOORING as hell! I thought only Mac users still thought those games were fun.
Good list, though I’d replace Beyond Good and Evil with Okami.
psychonauts is overrated. its boring as hell. you spend most of the time wandering around pressing one button for combat or just watching cutscenes. all the characters look weird and the graphics suck. if you want an artistic game play gears of war.
There are lots of elements that contribute to the success and final presentation of a video game, and this article does a good job of recognizing art design.
Andy Williams
GameJobHunter, Inc.
Get a video game job at http://www.GameJobHunter.com
“psychonauts is overrated. its boring as hell. you spend most of the time wandering around pressing one button for combat or just watching cutscenes. all the characters look weird and the graphics suck. if you want an artistic game play gears of war.”
Um… that is a game I would hardly call artistic. You clearly don’t grasp the term artistic.
“How can you actually LIKE point and click adventure games?!? BOOOOORING as hell! I thought only Mac users still thought those games were fun.”
Weird how someone can like something that you don’t… they should be shot or something.
Honestly, I don’t play many video games at all, but I have played Alice. I loved the twist in the story line…it suited really well. Speaking of Alice in Wonderland, I wonder how Marilyn’s Phantasmagoria will turn out, if he ever makes it….
Really Good artcile. I really Like Beyond Good and Evil. I wonder is there an award that recognizes excellence in storytelling or visual arts in games? If not then I think someone should do something abouth that as there are many games that are pursuing new directions but flounder because of limited visibility.
http://aniggaincyberspace.com/2008/04/19/black-game-makers-speak-out/
more like tip millon
yay?