Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Pre-rendered graphics weren’t only used in complex cinematic cutscenes back in the day when a game’s own 3D engine couldn’t do the job. Developers also used them as in-game backgrounds to bypass graphical limitations. And some of the games had really well-made, atmospheric pre-rendered backgrounds.

Squaresoft and Capcom preferred these a lot in their PS1 games in the late 90s, but it wasn’t just them. With minor differences — some games had a combat screen in full 3D, for instance — other developers also took advantage of this method.

And it had a good run, until video game engines started to become much more powerful and were able to handle camera angle changes and real-time rendering.

Blade Runner

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Final Fantasy VII

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Final Fantasy VIII

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Final Fantasy IX

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Resident Evil

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Resident Evil 2

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Parasite Eve

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Onimusha: Warlords

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Odium / Gorky 17

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Dino Crisis 2

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Grim Fandango

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Syberia

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


The Legend of Dragoon

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Chrono Cross

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds


Project Eternity

Video Games With The Most Memorable Pre-Rendered Backgrounds

Sources: The Lost Art of FFIX, imgur via Reddit, Resident Evil Database, NeoGAF, The Department of Death, Chrono Wiki, FantasyAnime, Gorky


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