Best Graphics, Technical
Every year we get games that feature better graphics than their predecessors, but 2004 was truly a watershed. It's no surprise that all the games nominated in this category appear on the PC, simply because the PC is by far the most powerful platform. But aside from the sheer power of modern-day PCs is the fact that the prowess of programmers has finally caught up to what the platform can do, and started delivering games that could finally take full advantage of the latest and greatest video cards. The result was nothing less than jaw-dropping, as we were treated to sumptuous visual feast after sumptuous visual feast. Here are the finalists for Best Graphics, Technical:
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This game takes full advantage of the Xbox to deliver a visual experience that was on a par with the best that the PC had to offer at its times of release. And the subsequent PC version of the game looks even more amazing.
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Doom 3 is nothing short of a technological tour de force and a revolution in graphics. While other games merely strive for realistic graphics, Doom 3 does that and much more. Most importantly, it introduces an extraordinary new lighting-and-shadowing engine that brings PC graphics to life like never before.
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It's ironic that Far Cry was originally a tech demo that evolved into an excellent game. While other games limit themselves to corridors and tight interiors to keep the frame rate high, Far Cry defies convention by giving you a fully realized tropical paradise to explore and fight in.
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Though it arrived a year later than expected, Half-Life 2 is undoubtedly one of the best-looking games ever made. But it's not just the graphics that are world class. Half-Life 2 has the best implementation of a physics engine and animation to date.
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There are epic games, and then there's Rome: Total War. Imagine more than 10,000 soldiers fighting it out on the battlefields of the ancient world. With Rome: Total War, you don't have to imagine, because this game delivers battles that were unimaginable even a few years ago.
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And the Winner is...
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