RPGs should be about substance, not just a pretty coat of paint over a game that lacks any true content. Well, what if we could have our cake and eat it too? 2007's offered a high selection of graphically impressive RPGs, many of which were more than just a pretty face.

Best Graphics 2007 Eternal Sonata

Eternal Sonata is beautiful. There is really no other way to describe it. Imagine the most vivid Renaissance period painting you can imagine, and then picture it coming to life right in front of your eyes. This is what Eternal Sonata does in every scene, every minute detail painstakingly crafted into the world of Frederic Chopin's imagination.

Featuring unparalleled cel-shading, a truly unique and breathtaking world, and character designs that are imaginative and charming, Eternal Sonata sets the bar for both technical and artistic graphics. In the new generation of console RPGs, Eternal Sonata is on top.

Visually, Mass Effect looks like a sci-fi motion picture only it's much more. As stated in our official staff review by Adriaan den Ouden, "cutscenes generally involve dramatic camera angles and effect sequences, complete with motion blur effects." Even the facial expressions are highly detailed for a video game. Now, just ignore the hideous character hair and you have some of the most impressive visuals seen in gaming to date.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass succeeds in so many ways it's hard to pick just one, but if I had to narrow down one of its greatest achievements, it would have to be its graphics. They perfectly draw the gamer back into the sprawling Great Sea, making the adventure immediately familiar, yet distinct from anything else on the Nintendo DS. To create a game that both feels and looks like a continuation of a GameCube game is a stunning achievement and one that sets a new standard for DS games to come.

by Adriaan den Ouden, Cole Jones, Michael Cunningham