Video games are not mere time killers. They are albums of sound, aesthetics, animation and narrative.
This community is in appreciation of that. Screenshots, fanart, animations, gameplay clips. It is all welcome here.
The one common thread should be an eye for the aesthetic. This is not a place to discuss mechanics or stats, but to show off simply the artistic, expressed through the video game medium.
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Game: Detroit Become Human
Why: Chloe breaks with fourth wall in an immersive way. She is beautiful and expressive. The actress did an amazing job expressing the doubt and confusion of Chloe.
CoD: Black Ops with the title screen being a playable "level" is very cool, and the campaign starting seamlessly from the title screen was neat as well.
Metroid: Prime with the unsettling background and soundtrack that draws you in is amazing as well.
CoD: Black Ops with the title screen being a playable “level” is very cool
Oh yeah, I forgot about that. The fact that you can leave the chair in the menu, walk over to the PC and play two completely different games was absolutely crazy to me at the time. I don't think there's another menu that can beat this one.
Yup, used to boot up blops just to play Zork lmao
Man that Prime title music was amazing.
It really was, and the soundtrack doesn't get any less amazing throughout the game.
Now I’m humming it
Can’t wait for the second one’s remaster. Never got to play them as a kid.. so much more convenient on switch. Thankfully the first one was optimised for responsiveness and performance
Super Mario 64 and his ludicrous fucking elastic face.
And here I was forgetting that. Damn, took me right back to sixth grade sleepovers. Thank you!
You ever pull up his moustache to make sunglasses out of it lol?
I'm a fan of Dead Space Remake's menu. Selecting continue game just zooms out slightly to reveal that the game scene was already loaded the entire time.
Special mentions: SOMA for how the face in the menu slowly changes over the course of the game, and Outer Wilds because it perfectly captures the vibe of the entire game
Subnautica.
Very simple screen with the title sitting on top of deep blue water. It's actually kind of relaxing.
Good title screen, even better game. For me Subnautica is one of the best games of the past decade
Always been a huge fan of The Last Of Us Parts 1 & 2 title screens. Always haunting and beautiful, with just enough context to be relevant but only if you have gone far enough to understand why.
Deus ex because it's simple and has great music
The spinning logo looks very 90s. Why do you like it?
There's a reason it 'looks very 90's' haha https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_Ex_(video_game) Game was released in 2000.
Civilization IV.
That loading screen, with Baba Yetu playing as the menu music. The rising sun was timed to one of the big swells in the song.
That song deserves that delayed game Grammy. Absolute art.
Maybe it's a bit trivial and I don't really know if it's my favorite, but Baldur's gate 3' has a glorious title screen. Both the overworld and the underground
Also Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 have amazing menus
Edit: fuck I was forgetting about Xenoblade chronicles 1 and X title screens. Yeah, xeno X is definitely my favourite one
BG3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ime6L3puuyE
SMG1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jxOiDL_wek
SMG2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX8CBZKdWwE
So happy to see some recognition for SMG. The soundtrack is amazing and the title screen sets the mood for a brand new Mario experience.
X music is 👌
Chloe needs an LLM mod
We need a game with Chloe being the main character.
We need a Detroit: Become Human spin-off featuring Hank and Connor.
Stardew Valley, I instantly hear the music as soon as I imagine the screen
The moment I saw the title screen for Max Payne 3 I knew I was in for it. It was a very simple title screen but the music and shaking title told me shit was about to get real.
I always loved the one from the first Mafia. When you select the different options of the menu the camera will move through the room and focus on an item related to your selection. "Intro" for example moves to the projector, "Load Game" moves to the typewriter and "Free Ride" moves to the map. And "Credits" shows you a photo of the dev team dressed as gangsters lol
The last of us
I just like the peaceful curtain blowing in the wind with a plant starting to grow inside. A sign that human life has gone and nature will slowly take over from us.
Kingdom Hearts 1.
There's some heavy nostalgia attached, especially to Dearly Beloved as a song, but the overall vibe of it has always been peaceful to me. It's very simple and clean, and welcoming. The way Sora is posed, looking out over the ocean, ready to start(or continue) his adventure makes it feel more like a landing spot, like there's a raft just offscreen, ready to take us away once we hit start.
Ooh excellent choice. The menu sounds in that game are amazing too, the little clunks, swings, boops, and chimes add to the nostalgia factor for me for sure.
Came here to say this. It's stuck with me for 20 years.
Metal Gear Solid for the PSX
it’s probably my favourite game of all time. Words will not do it justice, enjoy the video: