On the 3 games you mention it's because some people were claiming Alan Wake was going to be best console graphics ever, and up until Alan Wake's release UC2 and GoW III were (arguably) the 2 best console graphics ever. And the rest is history. Though judging by some posts it's not quite historical enough.
It will start all over again with Crysis 2, because Crytek (unlike Remedy) really are going for best console graphics ever. So the developer itself is fanning the graphics war flames. After Crysis 2 either puts the money or the foot into Crytek's mouth things should quieten down a bit on the best console graphics ever front. But probably not for long.
It seems there's a graphics crown, and where there's a crown there's all manner of people trying to claim it. Art style and theme are irrelevant in the pursuit of the crown. The crown is genreblind.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
