Beauty is of course, in the eye of the beholder, but when it comes to the mainstream there’s at least vague consensus as to what is to be considered eye-pleasing.
In the video games industry however, there is as much free flowing creativity in games as there is financial incentive. We think that although gaming is irrefutably on the incline, it’s time for the cynical majority to wake up, absolutely, and realise once and for all that video games are not as they often perceive, a violent waste of time. It must be acknowledged that they are as legitimate source of art and entertainment as any other.
Video games can be ugly. They can be brutal, dark and unforgiving. Video games can be fun, confusing and superficial. They can be dull; they can be challenging to understand and they can even be influential (for better or worse). Yet as an expression of creativity, video games can be utterly and infinitely beautiful.
These words would be meaningless without exemplification. Here then, are a few games in recent memory that show just how brilliant the creative minds in the game development industry are:
Through an imaginative yet washed-out visual aesthetic, ICO delivers a sense of desperation to achieve your goal like no other game
Surprisingly, escorting isn't frustrating in ICO
Beauty in simplicity.
You'd be hard pressed to find a more relaxing game
A historically inspired art style lends itself to this game’s unique visual style and game play.
A painting come to life
These games have some of the most extraordinary backgrounds in any game genre. The soundtracks also drive the players’ emotions to the limits of their own will.
The pinnacle of 2D game art
SOTC has a surreal colour palette that fully transports the player into the imagined world. Journeying through sparse lands toward what seems like hopelessness. Magical.
The washed out colours scream identity
The newest game in the list. Journey provides art as drama and simple gameplay as a means through which to inspire and entertain.
Never has such a barren desert been so beautiful
Limbo draws from within, the most instinctual fear a gamer can experience. We can’t forget the dark and drearily emotional games when discussing aesthetics.
The absence of music only amplifies the sense of eeriness
Last, but most certainly not least. Pure unadulterated freedom like no other game.
Binary beauty
We know what the newspapers say about a shift in the tides of opinion surrounding video game culture, but we would be naive to denounce the fact that the black cloud of negative criticism remains ever eager.
Yet, when we look to the future, it seems somewhat brighter than before.
