Generation with best graphics

Started by The Silver Fox February 12th, 2018 10:07 PM
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  • 26 replies

Flowerchild

> aaaaaaaaa

Age 24
She/Her
Hyperspace
Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted July 7th, 2022
8,699 posts
13 Years
gen 3 doesn't look amazing on its own imo but some hacks/fangames have managed to make it look absolutely incredible with just some tweaks and custom palettes.
and exact opposite for gen 5. it looks awesome in game, but nearly all attempts to use that style for fan works turn out awful haha.
Male
Seen August 23rd, 2022
Posted August 11th, 2018
54 posts
6.9 Years
I can only agree to that. I love playing rom hacks of 3rd Gen Games especially FireRed/LeafGreen ones. I would love to do one of my own. I even have 151 Pokemon for the region sorted out already but it's so time consuming and really not easy to do. But it is fun nonetheless. If only I could design my own Mega Evo Sprites...
I would love to be able to make my own Megas. Who wouldn't love to see Mega Golduck with added Psychic Type or Mega Luxray with added Dark Type

Nah

Age 30
she/her, they/them
Seen 5 Hours Ago
Posted 5 Hours Ago
15,645 posts
9.5 Years
Gen 5 graphics would look fantastic if it wasn't so pixelated half the time. I liked the graphics for the cutscenes in XY and Gen 7 tho.

I'm curious to see what Gen 8/Pokemon Switch will look like though. Think about it--Pokemon's gonna be on a much more powerful system than the 3DS/a handheld, there's a lot of room for graphical improvement I would think. Especially considering that the 3DS seemed like it could barely handle Gen 7.
Nah ンン
“No, I... I have to be strong. Everyone expects me to."

VisionofMilotic

Female
Sootopolis City
Seen 1 Hour Ago
Posted 3 Hours Ago
I think gen 6 is just total eyecandy. Walking into Parfum Palace in XY still takes my breath away. The trainers were ridiculously beautiful, just look at how well Valerie is designed or even Diantha with her Audrey Hepburn inspiration. The pokemon look sweet enough to eat, from Florges to Auroras to Xerneas. In my humble opinion there is not one really bad design. It is just a walking art show. There is extraordinary detail when you play with you pokemon in Poke Amie or when they mega evolve or you watch the cut scene. From an visual standpoint these games are magic, I think they are so underrated.

I do like gen 4 graphics though too, especially HGSS when you could see your Pokemon following you. The games look adorable and I love how they overhauled the gyms, making Morty's gym more like a haunted house or Bugsy's a ride through the insect hive. I think the introduction of the 3d mix was really fun but did not in my opinion stray far from the peaceful world Johto is meant to be.

Name: Narcissus
Adopt one yourself! @Pokémon Orphanage



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ZeoStar

Seen 1 Hour Ago
Posted 6 Hours Ago
11,418 posts
5.6 Years
Gen 6 and 7 are my favorite, the 3D makes everything feel more lively.
Age 33
Male
KY (USA)
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Posted 1 Day Ago
3,381 posts
18.2 Years
This may just be nostalgia talking, but I'm still a huge fan of Gen. II graphics. They feel more mature to me, less cartoony than later generations (especially the player backsprites). I honestly wouldn't complain if they started making the games with these kind of graphics again, but I know there are plenty of others who would think otherwise.

HGSS were also great (I especially love the Ecruteak/Bell Tower area), but I'm kind of disappointed that they didn't add a "Nostalgia Goggles" item in addition to GB Sounds, enabling you to play the game with Gen. II graphics with devamp sprites of Gen. III-IV Pokémon. What disappointed me most about these games, however, was the lack of room customization. I want my N64 and Big Lapras Doll. :(


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Flowerchild

> i want laser eyes

Age 24
She/Her
Hyperspace
Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted July 7th, 2022
8,699 posts
13 Years
gen 6's world graphics are nice but the bobblehead people just take me out of it instantly lmao

Mawa

The typo Queen

Age 30
Female
Canada
Seen August 13th, 2020
Posted March 1st, 2020
I would say Gen 2, but it is because I prefer 2D games to 3Ds.
I miiiiight be back?
And why am I not a supporter anymore >.<

Gigadweeb

The Black Swordsman

Age 23
Male
South Australia
Seen April 2nd, 2023
Posted March 7th, 2021
319 posts
8.5 Years
I'm going to say Gen II is my favourite visuals-wise. A lot of the battle sprites are dynamic, feel imposing, and all around just look great for the GBC area.

Gen III could've looked a lot better if it weren't so washed out, especially in battles.


When you meet your God, tell him to leave me alone.

Damien.aspiring.fandev

Chapter 16 A New Dawn { ||:^❩ )

Age 24
Male
[Mystery Zone] *epic pizzicato arpeggio*
Seen February 11th, 2021
Posted December 31st, 2018
960 posts
6.1 Years
WALL OF TEXT LAUNCHED!
Spoiler:
Fellow players, it's not about the generations but, rather, about the titles :
in fact the term generation alludes to a period, and said period includes
also a few side-games.
The 6th and 7th gen core games as well as the 3D mystery dungeon games sure do,
seem to have rather pretty graphics, at least from what I see in the pictures and videograms.
Of course, seeing them directly on a 3DS or an emulator would be all an other story...
maybe one day I should consider getting a 3DS and copies of those games, so 'sis and I can
play in tandem... oh, someone mentioned Parfum palace...

Seriously, baroque? Man, I've been living under a rock... and I'd really enjoy if
I could make my secret base look like that :tongue-poke:.
Sadly however 3D graphics might not be the main interest of a rom-hacker or fan-dev,
unless you have in-depth knowledge of 3D modeling... well, I suppose you can still make sprites
based off some in-game props. If you enjoyied the 3D graphics thus far, you might be curious
to try out Colosseum and XD:Gale of Darkness : a fully 3D adventure before the core games
made it cool (or Gates to Infinity for that matter... too bad most fans didn't receive the game too well...). It's too bad Orre doesn't have much greenery.

The 5th gen core games have the most detailed overworld sprites of any core title, and the
official sets come along with finely sprited pokémon overworlds up to the 5th gen, thus
I tend to consider a core gen5 style a go-to for the making of rom-hacks and fan-games.
The problem, again, would be the fact since the arrival of D&P the surroundings(buildings,
vegetation, overall props) are fully 3D modeled... but again, loads of people have made
various different sprite adaptations of those. Things are getting more tricky if you don't
wish to use stuff that already appeared in-game and make your own buildings, vegetation & props.
If you're a fussy about details you might also bother about the overworld characters' very
shapes, which might be overwhielming unless you're an experienced spriter.
If that is the case, you might wish to go for gen4 core instead, since the overworlds are
easier to handle.

Now, about the Mystery Dungeon sprited graphics... both the Rescue and Exploration games
feature rather nice looking locations which sadly you won't frequent much since most of the
time you'll be roaming through rather monotonous looking dungeons. Still, the fairly detailed
areas, dungeon tiles and the smooth, simple pokémon overworlds with black silhouettes
are an experience you ought try out if you haven't already. I think I prefer the looks of the
Exploration games over the Rescue games, since areas and tiles look more saturation-filled,
whereas in the Rescue games they look rather washed-out, this might also be due palette
technical limitations(they were released on GBA and NDS respectively, remember?), which
also explains why the Wigglytuff selling "friend areas" has black eyes in his portrait.
Despite the MD world is a world/dimension/plan of reality/continuity on its own, you still
may find something handy if you're a rom-hacker/fan-dev.

Dulcis in fundo, my fave sprited graphics thus far...
Lo and behold... *effect pause*

Fitting OST out of nowhere
Spoiler:
It's the RANGER side-games!VIA ALLA CATTURA!
Communication error : the wild Damien got over-exhalted
and is now jumping across the living room. Forgive us
for the inconvenience, we'll be back as soon as possible.

Uh... what was that about? Ah yes, the graphics!
Search pictures and videograms, and you'll get the idea...
The original title, implied to happen sometime after the events of Emerald, and released
right before the arrival of D&P, features areas quite finely sprited that apparently were blurred
on purpose in order to give a more "natural" feel (Safra sea, you're an exception : your bicolor
waters look way too funny for a DS game...) and the overworld sprites can easily compete with
core gen 4 and 5 overworld sprites (oh, and don't feature the bobbleheads).
No, Ranger games don't take place in a universe where pokéballs don't exist, a few npcs will
mention trainers oversea, battles and pokéballs. A mother of Ringtown who once aspired to
become trainer also clearly names Kanto and Johto. Not enough proof? Well, the first game has
unused sprites for the Ranger trainer class, May, Red, Leaf, Brock, Misty, Prof. Oak and Birch,
Lance, Steven Stone and even Todd-forsaken-Snap.
In the sequel the developers decided not to blur and thus Shadows of Almia has rather
sharper looks that are easier to edit. An other change were the overworld sprites, which were
enhanced a bit. Then the last title, Guardian Signs... hands down, my fellows, we might have
the best sprited graphics of the franchise right here... here's some screenies...
Spoiler:
Sophian island's Aqua Resort (not sure if settlement or just hotel... well, Oblivia is less inhabited than the Sevii islands, so I guess it doesn't matter much...)

Renbow island's lapras beach

Sophian island's Oblivia ruins

Daybreak ruins

Formations inside Mount Layuda

Murph on the turf

The stand in the middle of Kokona village, Renbow island

Sprites from the Ranger games could undoubtedly be used in hacks and fan-games,
the issue is that the side-series has pokémon sprites from the first 4 gens only (and not all
of them anyway), plus said sprites are always facing diagonal directions...
Still, take into consideration those sidegames, be it through DS card, emulator, WiiU virtual console
or videograms : the Fiorese, the Almian peninsula and the Oblivian archipelago don't have much,
but that few is certainly whileworthy, and not just because of the looks...
You'll be capturing pokémon with your feelings, rock-climbing, soaring in the sky before
it was core-game, jumping from ledges that are over 3 meters high and more!

If you're going to actually play them, I'd recommend doing so in the chronological release order.
Join the ranks of the Ranger Union and, together, we shall safeguard society and nature!
Always there to lend a helping hand. Rangers, unite!

I am but a tearful clown. Though I smile, I cry inside.
-Clown Lee. Jubilife TV station(Diamond&Pearl)/various pokémon centers through Sinnoh(Platinum)
Want some gen5 apricorn balls?

Sheep

She/Her
Australia
Seen 4 Hours Ago
Posted 15 Hours Ago
39,267 posts
16.6 Years
Gen II for me also. There was something so charming and visually appealing in the tiles and sprites that even now I love looking at them and playing. DPPt were also breakthroughs with graphics when you compare them to their third generation predecessor games. Love all the Pokémon games, but these two did and still do stand out to me!

3D is okay, but didn't grab me as much as these games did. Especially since the 3DS doesn't handle Pokémon 3D very well with FPS drops and such.

moon

they/them
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
37,443 posts
15.5 Years
Yea definitely Gen 2. I always loved and still love that style of graphics, relatively simple pixel style but with quite a lot of detail. Note, I mean the battle sprites more than the overworld areas here, as there could certainly have been much more done with them even with the technology of the time than Gamefreak chose to.
paired with Ivysaur

LadyJirachu

Fluffy and Elegant :3

Female
Being adorable xD
Seen July 23rd, 2022
Posted November 5th, 2021
2,498 posts
18.9 Years
Gen 6 cuz kalos is just sooooo cute imo. :3

Not just cuz Korrina's from it either. The whole french theme to the region is just cute to me. Also, the graphics for gen 6 in general seemed more brightly colored to me. I liked that :)

I'd say gen 2 johto is my second favorite. I remember my old crystal pretty fondly, also a lot of pastel tones =)

colours

she/her
gracidea fields
Seen December 30th, 2022
Posted December 29th, 2022
8,974 posts
18.1 Years
Gen 7. Yeah, I'm in the minority and no, I don't really care.

While everyone grew up oodling ever their Gen 2 and Gen 3 pixels, I spent more of my time playing things like Pokemon Stadium and Pokemon Colosseum, and these games got me super hooked on the idea of 3D Pokemon fighting each other in action-filled battles that felt more... real compared to just being crammed in a GBA or SP or whatever. Don't get me wrong, I've loved the main series games during that time, but there's a charm in 3D Pokemon that sprites just can't match to me. I suppose a part of me just loves realism when it comes to executing moves, I guess. If a Pokemon uses hyper beam, I want to see how actually destructive that hyper beam is. It's things like this that mattered to me a lot.

And that's why the more 3D games will be my favourite (except for ORAS, the graphics in that generation is massively questionable). When Gen 7 was a thing, it blew my mind how amazing everything looked. Yeah, I get it, the modeling isn't perfect and neither are the colouring (hello my name is pastel, of course that stuff mattered to me), but in the grand scheme of being a Pokemon game, this was about as close to living a childhood dream as I can get of Pokemon being real. Every move felt fluid to me as you gave your Pokemon commands instead of seeing a static sprite all the time.

So there's that.

dannymusic

The Smiling Trombonist

Male
Celadon City
Seen June 2nd, 2020
Posted May 5th, 2020
38 posts
5 Years
I love Gen II, but I give the nod for top artwork to Gen III. By gen III the pokemon shapes had mostly been established, and the GBA allowed the capability to produce a full and detailed color palette. Emerald's animations didn't add as much as Crystal's did though.

Gen V also deserves a shoutout; the constantly moving pokemon were very cool and the locations pretty intricate. And I still have a soft spot for the artwork in Gen I, if not only to see oddities like Golbat's giant tongue.
What you see is what you get! Just a guy who loves adventure.

PageEmp

I can’t do money puns. It just doesn’t make any cents.

Male
with an axe
Seen 6 Hours Ago
Posted 6 Hours Ago
12,448 posts
7.8 Years
Gen4. If there is any ‘best generation’ or ‘generation with the best ________’ expect that to be the answer. And even then the graphics then were still some of the greatest things ever. Hate to admit but its probably even better than the 3D ones.
I… might put something interesting here eventually.

Hyzenthlay

running with the wolves tonight

Age 23
Rito Village
Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
7,802 posts
10.5 Years
I'm incredibly biased towards anything Gen 4, but I honestly think the graphics are gorgeous. Smooth, colourful, detailed... really easy on the eyes.

Gen 5 had nice graphics as well, but like Nah said, it's rather pixelated. I liked how the trainers were taller and less squat.

At first I had my reservations about X/Y when it was announced, but once I started playing it that all changed for the better. It's graphics are pretty, with some great trainer designs, though I did not find the chibi look appealing!

And Gen 7 still looks great. It feels so clean; even walking is a joy for how smooth it is. One thing that bothered me is your trainer's unnerving smile—it was either that or a slightly shocked expression, haha.

I love the old games for looking so Pokémon-y though. They're certainly more nostalgic!