'Halotography': What you wanted next-gen Halo to look like

Good stuff...but it really doesn't look that much different from halo 3 as it is now. Basically...I see Halo 3 + blur + higher contrast. Woo.

I would have liked the higher contrast.

i'm not usually much of a graffix fiend, but some of those are fucking incrediible

I never really thought Halo 3 looked too bad graphics-wise, but that was on my crappy SDTV. Playing it on VGA cable a few days ago really sucked with how crappy it looked.

Amazing what a big difference a few changes make.

So wash out the colors and it looks better? I disagree.

True Halo 3 isnt mind blowing but calling it Halo 2.5 is extreme. If you put them side by side the difference is HUGE. Also there is just so much going all in the map at any given time and the maps are quite large with no loads. Anyone notice the lighting? Its really some of the best around. At the end of the day it could have looked better but im sure for that to happen Bungie would have needed to break up the levels of put bigger hidden loads in. I prefer the seamless experience and the highly tuned gameplay.

they look like real life action figures. big deal.

I think in making Halo 3. Bungie was worried about straying too far from what Halo was and turning off Halo fans. So they held back.

Too blurry.

It would be unplayable with all those blur effects.

I like the lively colors of Halo 3 better thank you very much.

I dunno, some kinda look okay but it's nothing special and that blur looks awful in the photo up there. It looks like some kind of failed depth of field effect or... well, I'm not sure what the desired effect was but it doesn't work.

Sorry but these pictures mostly look like something anyone comfortable in the basics of PS could do in 30 mins.

Halo 3 looks fantastic, the lighting is some of the best I've seen this gen.

Honestly, the marine grunts look like crap, but everything else is great. You seriously need you eyes checked if you think it's only vaguely improved.

There's a difference between a similar art style and graphic quality people.

Psh. He just blurred some parts and changed the contrast. Doesn't impress me much, although it is an improvement.

I have to say, I'm also one who wasn't overly impressed with the graphics.

meh pics imo
i enjoyed Halo 3's graphics

and after looking at all of them my eyes hurt now...

so we're trading the bright and colorful Halo for photo-realistic browns and grays? i thought all of us here HATED how all next-gen games are browns and grays?!?

Halo 3 may look like Halo 2 in a way, but that's what makes it HALO. hell, look at the new Gears 2 shots and tell me that doesn't look EXACTLY like the original. they're both sequels. they should look like the ones that came before it... ESPECIALLY games that stick with more color over browns and grays.

MaD Cool

I liked 'em. The blur affects where somewhat poorly used in some places, but the concept is quite nice: COD4 and Assassin's Creed have shown that it can work quite well.

As for the blue sky debate: i don't think washed out colors are bad. It's just different. i still think Gears of War is visually stunning despite the semi-monochrome pallete. It wouldn't look...right without it. Some games can benefit from it, while others wouldn't. There's room for both styles. And i don't think we've fully explored semi-monochromism. The upcoming games Saboteur and Mirrors Edge both use it combined with some bright colors to create a very interesting effect.

I'm not seeing it. All I see is a different color MC and some really oddly placed blur (why just blur the bottom half?). Not only are these bad photoshops, I fail to see how this makes Halo look any better at all. In fact some of those I can't tell what he did.

Pictures look good! Wish Halo 3 looked that good.

I dunno about those pictures, the extream depth of field just makes them look like miniatures not better in my opinion. And I'm also not sure I agree that making things browner equals better. Anyone play Resistance? Case closed.

To hide the stains.

Depth of field always adds to the photorealism of an image, and it was one of the visual effects Halo 3 was sorely lacking. They tried to do it, but it needed more finesse.

Halo 3 does look like these shots. This guy just tried to go for a depth of field effect, which was really hit-or-miss.