How does Naughty Dog manage to pull off what other console developers seem to fail at accomplishing with visuals here? Time and time again. This is movie level gameplay quality on par with cinematics. I took this shot during the act of climbing. F'n insane!

They are Naughty Dog... Enough said.

They really are on a different level. Almost visionary even.

Getting closer to the uncanny valley ain't something desirable.

Your picture does not support your point well at all. The cliff face texture is blurry, the bush on the right is growing very unnaturally and the water shows no signs of splashing and appears to end abruptly lower left

It's simply magic. Like making water flow straight into rock.

It depends on who is doing it. Some people can make great games with stylistically realistic looking characters and amazing stories and some can make realistic looking games with that are purely a show of visuals and little else. Once the things that matter fall apart the visuals dont seem to matter in the end. Naughty Dog seem to be the exception. 

Seriously, I dont even know what to say.

I understand what it means, hence why I said near it. It seems were steering closer to where games are becoming so realistic some might react to the uncanney valley in the near future. As some have said before, thats not always a good thing. I personally think it depends on the developer. Im on chapter 12 as well. :)

Probably to the trained eye, but not to the untrained eye that isnt looking for flaws. Obviously the artistic direction is still constrained by the fact that its still a game. Naughty Dog wants make you feel a certain way while climbing with unbelievable moments and this takes unnatural rock formation, but were getting there for sure. As I said, were nearing closer, which doesnt assume were there yet.