Is ESO the most beautiful MMO game out there?

Davor · October 2016

I forgot how ESO looked on computer. I played on Xbox One and thought it looks good to really good. Then I gave my PC a try again to test out One Tamreil. Oh MY God. I forgot how beautiful ESO looks. Since I never played any other games and I only see screen shots from other MMOs on magazines or online sites like IGN ESO looks so great. I would compare all other games to console ESO graphics. So is this true? Are games like World of Warcraft or what ever other MMO out there on PC, are they as beautiful as ESO or are their graphics like ESO on Xbox One/PS4?

Just curious to know since besides the first Guild Wars, I don't know any other MMO and only played GW for about 3 weeks. While that game is beautiful it's not as beautiful or a bit more cartoony now compared to ESO graphics.

Bouldercleave · October 2016

For MMOs on a PC, this one is tough to top right now. I have a solid rig, so I play on the highest possible settings in 4K and it is like playing a movie. At 90 FPS in the wilderness and 45+ in towns, it is just AMAZING.

DMuehlhausen · October 2016

Yeah no. Search screenshots for Black Desert

ESO looks good, but that game is on another level, if you can play at max setings.

Uriel_Nocturne · October 2016

I think it is.

ESO is gorgeous, and I've never had a single bad thing to say about ESO's graphics. It is a gorgeous game.

Ghanima_Atreides · October 2016

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

Yeah no. Search screenshots for Black Desert

ESO looks good, but that game is on another level, if you can play at max setings.

The character models look more detailed, yes (although not to my taste) but the scenery doesn't look better than ESO's and in some cases I'd say it's worse.

Davor · October 2016

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

Yeah no. Search screenshots for Black Desert

ESO looks good, but that game is on another level, if you can play at max setings.

Never herd of that game. Wow it is a beautiful game as well.

Bouldercleave · October 2016

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

Yeah no. Search screenshots for Black Desert

ESO looks good, but that game is on another level, if you can play at max setings.

Environmentally, I would say Black Desert Online is good. Characters, not so much - Too Anime for my tastes.

MakoFore · October 2016

black dessert looks like a cartoon to me. eso looks breathtaking to me, there are moments when I'm riding my bear thru orsinium on my way to maelstrom that i feel like a disciple on my way to a nepalese monastery - absolutely immersive

Panda_iMunch · October 2016

It looks even better with a shader mod, but the base game has some of the best graphics for an MMORPG out there!
It's also not as catoonishly stylized as some MMOs, really dig that!

charley222 · October 2016

my 2 choice eso and ff14rr

Valen_Byte · October 2016

Yes, ofc it is : )) nothing else can even come close. Hopefully this will get other MMO devs to stop making games that look like Runescape or WoW....eww gross.

AndyTGD · October 2016

Its not terrible looking, but its not great either. I think ZOS has vastly improved its aesthetic since launch, for sure. The Gold Coast is positively beautiful and has some sweeping vistas which so much of Glenumbra etc. lacks. Same with the new armor sets and clothing, which are of a far higher quality than the launch styles (which look like they're painted on, as people have noted at length). Its no Black Desert in the looks department, but its definitely improving with age. BDO is a supermodel with a really terrible personality, whereas ESO is beautiful in an average way with a much more reasonable personality.

Ok, that's a terrible analogy. But you get the point.

Fallen_Ray · October 2016

Look up Black Desert Online. That my friend is the most beautiful MMO to date. ESO could look like that but since ZOS has us console players in mind I don't think that will be happening. Not that I care, I'm awfully glad I can Play ESO on my PS4.

nine9six · October 2016

It gets my vote for currently-released MMOs.

DMuehlhausen · October 2016

Ghanima_Atreides wrote: »

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

Yeah no. Search screenshots for Black Desert

ESO looks good, but that game is on another level, if you can play at max setings.

The character models look more detailed, yes (although not to my taste) but the scenery doesn't look better than ESO's and in some cases I'd say it's worse.

Sure it is personal taste. I think ESO looks great and prefer it over Black Desert. Some of those Korean/Asian/Anime style MMOs like or hate the art if you can crank em max settings they are nice to look out most of the time.

WillhelmBlack · October 2016

Looking at the sunlight through Reapers March's Mist yesterday evening, I would say yes it is.

nimander99 · October 2016

Ghanima_Atreides wrote: »

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

Yeah no. Search screenshots for Black Desert

ESO looks good, but that game is on another level, if you can play at max setings.

The character models look more detailed, yes (although not to my taste) but the scenery doesn't look better than ESO's and in some cases I'd say it's worse.

ESO is the better game overall, and getting better every update, but Black Desert kinda reminds me of Skyrim as far as world detail goes. It has ESO beat on overall environment. But ESO has BDO beat in range of environments, storyline, replayability, character progression, believe it or not ESO is WAY less of a grind...

But yeah, BDO is prettier

BDO's combat... At least as far as warrior goes is better than ESO, their use of holding combo keys to initiate abilities or different attacks is quite clever and engaging. The lack of an active block like ESO has is a fail though, from that aspect ESO is better.

Davor · October 2016

Fallen_Ray wrote: »

Look up Black Desert Online. That my friend is the most beautiful MMO to date. ESO could look like that but since ZOS has us console players in mind I don't think that will be happening. Not that I care, I'm awfully glad I can Play ESO on my PS4.

From what I saw ESO on a PS4 on a 4K TV looks just as stunning as the PC version. Not sure when that comes out though. Here is hoping Xbox One gets the same treatment as well.

Ghanima_Atreides · October 2016

nimander99 wrote: »

ESO is the better game overall, and getting better every update, but Black Desert kinda reminds me of Skyrim as far as world detail goes. It has ESO beat on overall environment. But ESO has BDO beat in range of environments, storyline, replayability, character progression, believe it or not ESO is WAY less of a grind...

But yeah, BDO is prettier

Actually it has that kind of soft focus, somewhat cartoonish feel that reminds me more of Oblivion than Skyrim.

That's not to say it's ugly by any means, but from what I could see from pictures (I never played it) I wasn't wowed. It's pretty, but I prefer ESO's aesthetics.

Kemono · October 2016

ESO graphic is very good, and even one of the top if you look for particuar style.- i mean "realistic western fantasy style"
But, no ESO is not best, and this game will NEVER be best, or close to best
Why? cos console downscale the game

ESO look like this
"Cloth physics"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6kcKGDyspo
horse tails - but dont need to even check on vid, you must be familiar how those tails (or all hair in general) look in game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3CNrA3YKrk

Now check one of best lookin MMO - Black Desert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEO3EuLuzc

or incoming Moonlight Blade - check both cloth physics and horse tail look

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfA3VNAa_pc

Or ton of othe modern MMOs () -like Bless or Blade and Soul
by comparision -ESO is a second league.

************************************************************
But -still for "the most beautiful MMO" i would bring quite old MMOs Lord of the Ring Online -and Final Fantasy 14 ARR, both of those eat ESO on breakfast in general zone designs, how living the life in MMO world feels, how imersive it is (and in cosmetic system both on players and mounts - in LOTRO & FF14 you can greatly customize your mount armor!)

Not too mention that FF14 have one of best crafting system, one of best housing system and one of best furniture system on MMO market. Sadly FF14 also is sub based, and dungeon in there are one of the worst i saw EVER (+combat is tab targeting with global cooldown, eh no one is perfect i guess)

nimander99 · October 2016

Ghanima_Atreides wrote: »

nimander99 wrote: »

ESO is the better game overall, and getting better every update, but Black Desert kinda reminds me of Skyrim as far as world detail goes. It has ESO beat on overall environment. But ESO has BDO beat in range of environments, storyline, replayability, character progression, believe it or not ESO is WAY less of a grind...

But yeah, BDO is prettier

Actually it has that kind of soft focus, somewhat cartoonish feel that reminds me more of Oblivion than Skyrim. That's not to say it's ugly by any means, but from what I could see from pictures (I never played it) I wasn't wowed. It's pretty, but I prefer ESO's aesthetics.

I agree completely.

elvenmad · October 2016

For first impressions of graphics and the open world, I know its been out a long time on Asian servers but TERA was always top of my list

SilentFox22 · October 2016

ESO is indeed a beautiful game. However, I have to admit that BDO does rate higher imo. Not only that, but it's graphics seemed more fluid (the trees and grasses had more movement that made it more immersive). That said, I still choose ESO above BDO to play because it is far more enjoyable overall (imo).

nimander99 · October 2016

SilentFox22 wrote: »

ESO is indeed a beautiful game. However, I have to admit that BDO does rate higher imo. Not only that, but it's graphics seemed more fluid (the trees and grasses had more movement that made it more immersive). That said, I still choose ESO above BDO to play because it is far more enjoyable overall (imo).

Yeah, my biggest issue with ESO is the filler grass, flowers etc. Am I the only person that notices we only ever "see" one side of all the filler plants? If you pan your cam around grass it "spins" around with your cam... Once you see it you cant un-see it... Sorry guys

Sunver · October 2016

This game is so beautiful... I fell in love with female character I play... seriously...

I'm joking of course but I see no other game looking so good like ESO. And I've not heard anything like ESO being made in terms of graphics.

Peace.

sadownik · October 2016

Sunver wrote: »

This game is so beautiful... I fell in love with female character I play... seriously...

I'm joking of course but I see no other game looking so good like ESO. And I've not heard anything like ESO being made in terms of graphics.

Peace.

If seriously you seriously need help mate.

Bouldercleave · October 2016

Kemono wrote: »

ESO graphic is very good, and even one of the top if you look for particuar style.- i mean "realistic western fantasy style"
But, no ESO is not best, and this game will NEVER be best, or close to best
Why? cos console downscale the game

ESO look like this
"Cloth physics"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6kcKGDyspo
horse tails - but dont need to even check on vid, you must be familiar how those tails (or all hair in general) look in game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3CNrA3YKrk

Now check one of best lookin MMO - Black Desert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvEO3EuLuzc

or incoming Moonlight Blade - check both cloth physics and horse tail look
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfA3VNAa_pc

Or ton of othe modern MMOs () -like Bless or Blade and Soul
by comparision -ESO is a second league.

************************************************************
But -still for "the most beautiful MMO" i would bring quite old MMOs Lord of the Ring Online -and Final Fantasy 14 ARR, both of those eat ESO on breakfast in general zone designs, how living the life in MMO world feels, how imersive it is (and in cosmetic system both on players and mounts - in LOTRO & FF14 you can greatly customize your mount armor!)

Not too mention that FF14 have one of best crafting system, one of best housing system and one of best furniture system on MMO market. Sadly FF14 also is sub based, and dungeon in there are one of the worst i saw EVER (+combat is tab targeting with global cooldown, eh no one is perfect i guess)

That just reinforces it for me personally. Environmentally both of those are quite good. If you look close though, both BDO and MB have an insane amount of clipping in that oh so fantastic cloth and hair movement. The characters just do NOTHING for me. I just can't get into the anime thing.

If I wanted to stand on a rooftop, I'd play Assassin's Creed (again)

LaiTash · October 2016

Black Desert's engine is way better, but ESO beats it in terms of visual design.

Rune_Relic · October 2016

nimander99 wrote: »

SilentFox22 wrote: »

ESO is indeed a beautiful game. However, I have to admit that BDO does rate higher imo. Not only that, but it's graphics seemed more fluid (the trees and grasses had more movement that made it more immersive). That said, I still choose ESO above BDO to play because it is far more enjoyable overall (imo).

Yeah, my biggest issue with ESO is the filler grass, flowers etc. Am I the only person that notices we only ever "see" one side of all the filler plants? If you pan your cam around grass it "spins" around with your cam... Once you see it you cant un-see it... Sorry guys

Its what they call a sprite.
3d mesh/models take up a lot of rendering time and graphics memory.
So a way to add lots of detail is to add what they call sprites.
This is basically a 2d image that rotates with the camera plane.
So it always appears as if you are staring at it square on when in fact its just spinning.

Its a trick to save massives amounts of memory over 3d and give massive speed improvements over 3d.
Its also used to remove/hide the typical checkerboard pattern of tiled terrain.

exeeter702 · October 2016

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

Yeah no. Search screenshots for Black Desert

ESO looks good, but that game is on another level, if you can play at max setings.

Dear God no... character models are pretty nice, but the environment is awful not to mention the atrocious terrain popups.

exeeter702 · October 2016

Ff14 is up there on a technical level, wether you prefer the style of its visuals is a personal call.

But on a technical level, it's vistas, towns and the like are absolutely gorgeous.