PS1 final fantasy VII (not launch game but it was like a year old)

 Best looking PS1 game Final Fantasy IX

I find there's a big difference between the two (graphically)

FMV - Yes

The game  - No

The  PS2. FRom games like Red Faction



To GoW2:

SNES - Super Mario RPG

You guys have some kind of myth built around "pushing the system", etc etc... while most being totally oblivious to many factors that end up having a weight on the game's performance.

I would say Gamecube, but I proport that RE:Remake was better than RE:4.

I think the ATI Graphics card had the greatest amount of room for improvement.

2nd. (very close) NES. Software had a major development boost in the 80's
I think Sega Master System could have trumped this, but it's software support just wasn't there. Yes the NES supported graphical improvements that almost appeared generationsal (hence the previous comment about Super Mario Bros, and Super Mario Bros. 3)

In fact, now that I think about it more.. 1. NES and 2) GameCube

Third, not to distantly, would have to be Playstation.

The capabilities of CD-ROM were not explored much at all as a medium until letr in the '90s.

The ability to include media clips and the anime stylings continually improved over time.

If the topic were to include other aspects such as audio as well, then I would probably put PS1 at the top.

best looking 64 is really world driver championship, which used a special microcode to get around the limits of nintendo's microcode

or indiana jones and the infernal machine, which factor 5 optimized to no end to get the very best performance out of the 64,

it is worth mentioning both of these run at very smooth framerates unlike many 64 games that have a lot of visual splendor

the gamecube's problem is that rebel strike is probably the pinacle of visuals,  seriously it generally runs at 60fps

as far as furthest pushed systems I'd say the atari 2600 is a contender.

combat, the best looking launch game

versus pete rose baseball

As others have said, ps2. God of War II and Shadow of the Colossus = WOW. Can't wait to see what Team ICO and Sony Santa Monica have in store for the end of next year. :D

seeing Rogue Squadron III right beside that Atari game shows so much on how far we've gone.

Tell me how does something look 4x better? How do you determine that? I'm just going to say that super mario galaxy is significantly superior to all of those games mentioned in terms of technical acheivements. You see alot more shaders(Furs,Water Effects,etc) many more polygons, crisper textures, and superior lighting. All this and the game runs at 60fps with no framerate drops. So yep that is about the only Wii game that really seems to set itself significantly apart from those you mentioned. There are others that set themselves apart to too, but that is the only one that does it in just about every area. So I agree, and want to see developers put effort and make all of their games at least close to super mario galaxy in this area. I am fine though with last generation visuals, and I don't even see the HD upgrades as "next generation", in comparison of what the Snes was to the Nes, or the N64/PS to the snes, or even the XB/GC/PS2 to the PS/N64. Yeah I think it has come to the point where better graphics aren't too noticable, despite the technicalities. Though superior technology does allow for some art directions to be acheived easier. So to answer your question, there has been one Wii game to show a significant advance that you want, but I don't see too many from third parties in the future. I do see something from Factor 5, Retro, or any of the other developers that pushed the GC to also push the Wii, since they are very familiar with the hardware, and more specifically the TeV.

@OP The Snes, but I expect my answer to change to DS, by the end of its life.