In general, there's this idea in video games that better graphics always means that it will be a good game. Make no mistake, we're just as big of a fan as visual fidelity as the next person, and there's no denying that there are a lot of pretty games that aren't just all looks. However, prioritizing graphics over story, depth, and gameplay is no fun at all.
With that said, we've decided to pay homage to the best games with bad graphics. Mind you, these aren't games that were purposely designed to look "bad" or "different". We've got an entirely different list for that.
No. These are games that really looked bad at launch. Yet, despite their bad graphics, these games are well worth your time and money. Deus Ex Deus Ex was never the sort of game that sold itself based on its looks.
2000's Deus Ex definitely isn't a looker. The graphics haven't aged well. The same goes for some of the game's aspects, like the level design. However, back when it was first released, Deus Ex was considered a revolutionary title and received so much praise that many of its future better-looking installments ended up living under its enormous ugly shadow.
When we say that Deus Ex looked bad, we're not joking. Even when you consider that it was released at the turn of the century, there's a severe lack of depth in the environment and JC Denton looked fairly plain with no added details.
While the FPS and RPG elements, as well as the narrative, were enough to keep gamers occupied at the time, there's just no denying that audiences had to put up with a lot to really enjoy Deus Ex. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II The game tried to offset its ugly graphics by adding cutscenes like these.