Hey there! Welcome!
I totally agree with you about graphics post 2000. By that time limitations for the kinds of 3D models and environments you could create in a game were pretty negligible from a gameplay perspective. The only limits were the creators’ imaginations.
I don’t think there’s any stories today’s devs can tell, with all of their high poly counts, real-world physics and lighting effects, that they could not have told just as well 25 years ago.
I agree that games today look phenomenally good. But honestly, if I’m still paying attention to specular lighting and realistic water effects after 5 minutes of playing, it’s probably not a very absorbing game.
I also like your list of favourite games. A person of good taste!
