How to make a 2D game look exacly how it is at the original resolution?

If you have a CRT, try this. It does use filtering, but it also looks natural (at least as close to it as you're going to get besides on a CRT television).



I swear by having the 2-D look as less pixelated and blocky as I can, and this guide accomplishes that, yet it also enhances the 3-D (for anyone who questions why you wouldn't just use software rendering).

Truth be told, resolution plays a large part in how smooth or pixelated it will look, so what you're asking isn't possible. I find that even with filtering, once you go above 640x480 (though 800x600 is a bit acceptable), it's just asking for trouble if you care about the 2-D not being pixelated and looking smooth and natural. This game is mostly 2-D, so mindlessly blowing the resolution up to 1680x1050 (with also stretches it...) is a perfect example of where more isn't always better.