Best Graphics of the Year (Posted Dec 22, 2004)

2004 Best Graphics in an Indie Game of the Year Award

Giving out the best graphics in an Indie game this year was hard.  Honestly there were several games with very solid graphics and picking one out of the bunch ended up being quite a task.  In fact we didn't even post finalists for this category, which is certainly saying something about the trouble we were having in determining exactly who the finalists were.

5th Place - Outpost Kaloki

Ninja Bee seemed to come out of no-where with their amazing space station simulation game Outpost Kaloki.  There are so many sim games out on the market now that I think most games let out a deep sigh when they hear about another one, and in the case of Outpost Kaloki that is really too bad. 

Outpost Kaloki takes sim games and makes perfect all of the fun that have made sim games so popular in the past.  (Which is sadly the key element that seems to have been lost in action and lead to people losing interest in these types of games)

One of the big reasons that Outpost Kaloki succeeds is the humor and ingenuity that it shows, and the graphics show that feel of perfectly.  The graphics do have a slightly blocky feel to them, but they are well-textured and extremely well-modeled to provide a perfect fit for the overall theme of the game.  You'll find yourself zooming in on the various space station modules to check out how they look, especially as you get the park and some of the other well-designed modules.  The graphic engine of the game seems to run flawlessly even on computers that aren't quite up to snuff, with full zooming and rotation around the space station at the touch of a button.

Outpost Kaloki is a fantastic game from start to finish, and the great cartoony graphics were definitely a factor in why this game had already won our 2004 Sim game of the year award.

Our Review:
"The clean interface and graphical styling in Outpost Kaloki absolutely puts to shame every other “tycoon” style game I’ve seen this year."

4th Place - Hamsterball

Already the winner of our Action game of the year, Hamsterball is a visual gem that should appeal to a lot more than just the fans of the game Marble Madness, which it is based on. 

Hamsterball combines what seem to be simple texturing and 3D primitives, but the result is anything but primitive.  Instead the game comes of as amazingly clean and crisp to your screen.  Added to the mix is some very well done dynamic lighting to make the package quite complete.  However, where the game really shines is in the level design, and the graphics for each of the levels really help to show off the ingenuity behind the game. 

Each level is masterfully created with a distinct feel and many unique obstacles.  The graphics highlight this with different colors and a variety of ways of showing the obstacles that you confront.  For example, the tubes on my favorite level morph from their normal color to becoming a see-through yellow substance that makes them look just like tubes in a hamster home.  Fantastically done graphics is one of the things that lead to Hamsterball winning the award for being the best Action game this year, and they themselves were worthy of being in the top 5 for graphics in an Indie game this year.

Our Review:
"Hamsterball is a great game start to finish, and a wonderful example of all that is right with Indie gaming."

3rd Place - Alien Hominid

Those looking at the screenshot of Alien Hominid and thinking that this game really deserves better than third place are probably correct.  The Artwork in Alien Hominid is really a long ways above what you see in a typical Indie game, and it will come as no surprise to anyone who has played it that it was done by a professional team.  That team followed their dream of making the platform adventure game that they wanted to do, and after many years were able to release the final product to the public. 

Alien Hominid features a lot of slick artwork with wonderfully drawn characters and enemies, not to mention some of the coolest explosion that I saw in a game this year.  It is quite a rare thing to find an indie game that is released on the console market, and if you needed any reason to get it beyond the stellar 2 player Co-operative play, the wonderfully drawn graphics should make picking up this title a no-brainer.

Our Review:
None available at this time (check back in the near future)

2nd Place - Steer Madness

Let me just say that this is the first time we've ever awarded anything to a game that is heartily endorsed by PETA.  While I'm still trying to get that one down, there really shouldn't be any question as to the quality of the graphics in Steer Madness.

The GTA look to the game is intentional.  In fact this game is really GTA backwards.  Instead of causing as much mayhem and destruction as you possibly can, you are trying to help save animals and playing in a game that is extremely non-violent to the point of being kid-safe, which is not a bad thing by any measure.  The game ranges all over, sometimes using your trusty, environmentally friendly bicycle when possible, and at other times, one of the faster vehicles in the game.

While Steer Madness provides some different game play than you are probably used to, it will also give you graphics that you would expect from a mainstream AAA title in addition to some jamin' tracks from some likewise Indy bands.

Our Review:
None available at this time

2004 Best Graphics in an Indie Game of the Year Award - Wik & the Fable of Souls

After coming up just short in the Adventure Game of the year awards it is a pleasure to award Wik & the Fable of Souls the award for Best Graphics in an Indie Game this year.

Just looking at snap-shots of the game you will only come to a slight appreciation of why this game one the award.  Wik is a throw-back 2D game, and as such that makes the graphics easier in one sense and more difficult in another.  Where things can get difficult are when you start dealing with rotation of 2D objects, and Wik does that flawlessly with lots of particle effects that make those rotations more than just a fun in their own right. 

The main character and backgrounds in the game are equally well crafted, which so much character and coolness dripping off them you'll probably need to wipe off your screen.  With a wonderfully created character and some of the coolest effects you'll see on your computer this year we proudly award the best graphics award to Wik.

Our Review:
"Wik is one of the cooler characters to come around in awhile and definitely fits in with Gish as one of the best games that has come out this year."