These types of awards are always fun. Surprised Uncharted 3 didn't win best graphics (though I played BF3 on PS3). Would have picked either Rayman or Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet for art direction. I agree with a lot of these picks though.
PixlBit's 2011 Supplemental Awards
Just when you thought awards season was over...
Winner – El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron
With this generation getting long in the tooth, it’s only natural that graphical prowess has started to plateau. Even so, the contest over who can push the most polygons and create the most realistic depictions of the real world rages on. Sure, we have tons of games that feature lifelike military guys running around realistic modern urban settings, but it is rare to find something that looks unlike anything else out there. El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron may have fewer polygons on screen at any given time, but you would be hard-pressed to find another game that was released in 2011 with better art direction.
It is difficult to describe El Shaddai to someone that hasn’t seen it. The game looks like a psychedelic watercolor painting. The backgrounds roil and shift with color, and the emphasis on blues, whites, and greens gives the art an ethereal quality. There is a wonderful application of lighting and darkness to the world, and many elements of the environments look defined in only a minimal sense. It’s a gorgeous game that looks amazing in stills, but truly has to be seen in motion to be fully appreciated.
Honorable Mentions
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