370°

Halo 4 Launching in Japan Is Pretty Much What You'd Expect

Japan has never been crazy about the Xbox 360, save for the few instances when it had exclusive role-playing games folks wanted to play. But generally speaking, it's been an uphill battle.

greenpowerz4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

Who cares. Their tastes are out of touch and is reflected in their dying influence in the global market among many art forms and exports. Now back to DUST: An Elysian Tail a game that shows what Japanese devs have lost quality and design wise.

Welshy4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

"Their tastes are out of touch and is reflected in their dying influence in the global market among many art forms and exports".

Wow, massive stereotype much? if you lived in Japan all the military FPS games we get would be branded "out of touch" too, it's a matter of perception and personal taste.

At the very least, Japanese devs push the envelope and are willing to try ideas that western gamers and devs would brand crazy, niche etc.

If anything WE are the out of touch ones, with our obsession over shooters and franchises of all genres now getting sequels that are slowing merging into one big generic genre and shedding their roots for the sake of commercial success.

I can only presume your tolerance of other tastes and IQ are as low as your bubble count...

Edit: i should make clear, my point is that there is a difference between "out of touch" and what is popular. Just because it sells more doesn't make it any better to the individuals who enjoy said games. Ford outsell Bentley cars, does that make it better? it's all subjective.

omi25p4174d ago

Japanese devs push the envelope???

With Mario, Resident evil and Sonic?

Japanese devs get a free pass to release the same generic crap every year because people want to relieve the glory days.

kreate4174d ago

Those 3 games are recycled in such a way to please the north American market.

I think he talking about games like Catherine or the last guardian.

omi25p4174d ago

Oh i forgot about last Guardian.

Thats the game we have had one screen shot of, The lead developers have abandoned "BUT ITS TOTZ GUNNA BE GOTY"

LiquidSword934174d ago

Tell me one reputable jap dev that has released anything envelope pushing of any kind RECENTLY. Hell, even some years ago capcom was releasing great stuff (resident evil 4, okami etc.) but these days jap devs are more or less the same as western and often leave it personally to them to destroy their games or just do it themselves. Your talking in the past, and I wish you were STILL right, but your not.

ShoryukenII4174d ago

I don't know what happened but From Software, Platinum Games, Kojima Productions, Nintendo, Sony Japan and more are all still good. But it is hard not to notice the difference between this gen and the last. I really hope things improve next gen so that we don't have to play the usual realistic games that we play now.

SegataShanshiro4174d ago

You're such a weaboo, stop defending a country and people that do not care about you. The guy is right, the Japanese are a thing of the past AMD they are out of touch with today's gaming.

4174d ago
killerhog4174d ago

Yeah I remember this good old days buying different genre Japanese games especially for the Dreamcast. Powerstone, skies of Arcadia, crazy taxi, jet set radio, heavy metal geomatrix, shenmue etc.. Now its all the same bs especially in the west. Though Japanese developers do lack that creativity they had back then.

ForgottenProphecy4173d ago

You all are so ignorant. Sure, developers in Japan make the same Mario trash over and over, and somehow manage to make Resident Evil worse and worse with every installment, but what about Demon's/Dark Souls? What about Cathrine? what about Metal Gear Solid? I'm sure when Japan looks at our game collection, all they see is a bunch of shitty military shooters. And those military shooters are our best selling games, which shows how "tasteful" we are.
WE are the ones out of taste. Japan almost NEEDS something different, their games have so much variety compared to our games. It's almost sad.

Muffins12234173d ago

Acully hes kinda right.... Japanese games are really only selling in japan.A few Nintendo games are really the only thing selling in america and Europe that's Japanese.American games,like grand theft auto,halo 4,saints row 3,call of duty,forza,
need for speed, assassins creed 3 are all selling amazingly across the world but japan....really?You think america just makes FPS...

chaos-lockheart4173d ago (Edited 4173d ago )

@omi25p

There are games in Japan that no one ever heard of in america that are so great, and games people want so bad but only in Japan like Super Robot Wars OG

AsimLeonheart4173d ago

@greenpowerz

Your opinion about Japanese preferences is very narrow-minded. You need to understand cultural differences and preferences. America is not the centre of the world and nor their tastes are the best or absolute. Western obsession with shooters, space marines and crime based games probably seems just as silly to the Japanese. In the end everything is relative when it come to culture so you cannot say they need to change.

Bimkoblerutso4173d ago (Edited 4173d ago )

There are still great games coming out of both regions, but don't try to romanticize the artistic integrity of Japan. The overwhelming trend in gaming these days, whether it's the West OR the East, is to release the safest, most inane genre pieces in order to maximize profit.

This Halo thing, as people have already mentioned, is just a cultural divide. They're busy buying the same crappy JRPG's over and over while we all continue to buy the same crappy shooters over and over. That's all it is.

Both regions have their fair share of generic crap, I promise you, but to generalize either region because of that is ridiculous.

Imalwaysright4173d ago

Myamoto, Sakaguchi, Kojima, Mikami and Kamyia and other japanese devs pushed the envelop more than any western dev with exception of Rockstar and ID Software. Many of the gameplay mechanics and game design we see on western games today are copy pasted of what these guys did.

Cover System - killswitch-Namco
Shoulder view- RE4- Mikami
Cinematics- MGS- Kojima
Regenerative health- Hydlide- T&E Soft Corporation
1st game with save option-Zelda- Myamoto. etc etc etc

+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 4173d ago
Blastoise4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

You are just so wrong. Demon's souls, Dark soul's, Valkyria chronicles, Disgaea 4, Monster Hunter, Ni no kuni. There are tons of great games still coming from Japan.

Don't be such a meathead. It's because of people like you that we don't get so many great Japanese games over here.

I have a feeling if Halo 4 sold a lot more in Japan you'd be telling a different story.

Tres214174d ago

that Ni No Kuni im holdin off on till i get my hands on it but i did pre-order that but thats mostly cuz the art style, but i dont think ne1 here doesnt think animes r better than ne where else

sdplisken4174d ago

i disagree demon's souls, dark souls and MGS4 are my fav games this gen

all made by japanese devs thank you

im an american and its us who are out of touch with nothing but shooters and sports games spammed every year imo

4174d ago
FunAndGun4174d ago

@MACGREGOR

I find it stupid that you couldn't add the "anese" but you could take the time to type a reason why.

really?

pompombrum4173d ago

@macgregor..

Just curious, but what games do you consider good then? If you say call of duty I'm going to /facepalm

dragonrage004173d ago

@MACGREGOR
Congratilations. Yours won the prize for the most stupid comment Ive ever read on this site.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4173d ago
SephirothX214173d ago (Edited 4173d ago )

@omi25p
Look at CoD releasing year after year with the same rubbish. The Japanese culture like games that require them to think. Many Americans like games where you can go bang bang all day without stressing the brain tissue. CoD is aimed at children, teens and the mentally incapable. It sells well because there are many Americans who are mentally incapable. Such as those who voted for Mitt Romney. Though don't get me wrong, I believe all republicans should be exterminated humanely.

SilentNegotiator4173d ago (Edited 4173d ago )

The anti-ps, pro-360 troll trying to downplay Japan's...existence?
Wow, such a shocker! /s

Reported as offensive.

USMC_POLICE4173d ago (Edited 4173d ago )

They like different games. For example i prefer killzone over halo. Everyone here will disagree but if we lived in europe then killzone is as big as halo. I also prefer medal of honor and battlefield to cod. Im not out of touch either I just am not a main stream ms fan. I loved gears but im not a freak about it.

SnakeCQC4173d ago

dude take the vast disagrees as a sign that you're out of touch

sjaakiejj4173d ago

"Out of touch"? Do you even know what a culture is, and that there's more than just the American one?

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4173d ago

your dumb.. Nintendo and sony will dominate the world of gaming. next gen watch. Let MS have America.

MS barely leads and had a full year start.. lol

Awesome_Gamer4173d ago

Butthurt because the 360 only sells in the US, and the PS3 outsells it worldwide?

iNFAMOUZ14173d ago

i agree greenpowerz, totally spot on, the disagrees are all sony fangirls.

NeXXXuS4173d ago (Edited 4173d ago )

Lost Odyssey
Blue Dragon
Catherine
The Last Guardian
Persona
Dragon's Dogma
Vanquish
Fatal Frame
Drak Cloud
Siren
Silent Hill
Metal Gear

Just to name a few.

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 4173d ago
SJPFTW4174d ago

Not surprised... Halo 4 isn't a dating sim. Though Cortana having bigger breast now than in previous iterations kind of hints 343's attempt to appeal to the Japanese market.

Jinkies4174d ago

"Though Cortana having bigger breast now than in previous iterations kind of hints 343's attempt to appeal to the Japanese market."

Really...I just saw it as 343 improving the graphics

guitarded774174d ago

I think it was a joke... no need to get all defensive.

Jinkies4174d ago

defensive....lol

Ok man...whatever.

LiquidSword934174d ago

Lol it's funny that ppl have disagreed with u cos the big breast thing is true. Japs are Perverts just like every other culture except they more openly market it in their games, anime etc.

jony_dols4173d ago

Japan is a great country, but unfortunately their culture is incredibly misogynistic and perversion is more widely accepted than in the West.

Hell child pornography was legal their till the mid-nineties and it is not uncommon for women to get groped by strangers in public. That's not to say they are more perverted than men anywhere else, but if the laws don't persecute then they will continue to get away with it.

nofallouthero4174d ago

whoa a lot of stereotyping in here

banjadude4173d ago

Agreed, and that the admins allow such a thing. Trolling is one thing, but offensive stereotyping? Stay "classy" N4G *rolls eyes*

NeXXXuS4173d ago (Edited 4173d ago )

'MURRICA!

Oh_Yeah4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

besides fallout, borderlands, crysis, rage, bioshock, battlefield and rainbow 6..id have to agree.

sdplisken4174d ago

for the most part i agree
however there are some like bioshock that are great tho

Blackdeath_6634173d ago

well by fps i assume he means modern military shooters MMS rather than games like bioshock,dishonourned,mirrors edge,etc...

fermcr4174d ago

Japanese have pretty weird taste in games. Just take a look at their top sales games every week.

ShoryukenII4174d ago

Weird is subjective. They might think that Halo is weird. Although, I also think that some of their tastes are a bit weird.

torchic4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

but fact remains that your definition of weird will depend on whether you're looking from the outside in or looking from the inside out

NnT32914173d ago (Edited 4173d ago )

Japanese do have weird tastes. If you lived in Asia like me, you would hear people say the same thing about Japan. They do make lots of awesome stuff though

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50°

Master Chief Became More Than A Machine In 343's Halo

In Halo 4, 5, and Infinite, Master Chief became a more nuanced, human character.

In spite of the Halo series’ struggles, 343 deserves praise for adding nuance and characterisation to the ever-beating heart of Halo - The Master Chief. Playing through Infinite, it's abundantly clear that the events of the current and previous trilogies have irrevocably changed the iconic hero. He’s no longer the ‘blank slate’ that was previously presented by Bungie. He’s a fatigued, damaged and fallible protagonist, and one who is meandering through currents of grief, while reveling in his newfound agency. Giving the Chief a compelling and meaningful voice was no small feat, and 343 should be proud of that victory.

Read Full Story >>
thegamer.com
kingnick397d ago

This article completely misses part of the appeal of the original iteration of character in the original game trilogy. It was the Chief and Cortana vs an entire alien collective. The blank slate Bungie displayed in their games was genius, he was an mysterious hero a wide audience could identify with because he wasn't as clearly defined as most characters.

The books added a lot of lore and backstory but most Halo players just want a fun game with exposition that doesn't get in the way of gameplay, it's why the Cortana level in Halo 3 was derided.

Not every character has to be a damaged soyboy, a soldier has to suck it up and do his duty.

BandarHub397d ago

A lot of people give the 343 version of Master Chief a lot of slack.
But Fundamentally he is still the same character, he just has a couple more dialogues. He has not changed in terms of attitude.
"Not every character has to be a damaged soyboy, a soldier has to suck it up and do his duty."
And that's what he has done at the end of the day, he did his duty. Watch his partner die, and was ready to destroy the weapon in Halo infinite....he is still the same soilder that everyone remembers

Halo Infintes one was a nice balance between both.

slate91397d ago

Chief and the halo franchise became a joke under 343

Sciurus_vulgaris397d ago

The 343i Master Chief has is based on the books. However, in Halo 4-Infinite, the Master Chief overtime become. gradually becomes more willing to show some emotion.

Obscure_Observer397d ago

"However, in Halo 4-Infinite, the Master Chief overtime become. gradually becomes more willing to show some emotion."

Which is awesome! I love how Master Chief become more John and less soldier.

Sciurus_vulgaris397d ago

I didn’t even notice my typos,lol

50°

Halo's Identity Problem Began With an Admirable Mess

It’s a law of nature that eventually, every long-running game franchise will have a particular entry that gets dinged for straying too far from what made it so fun in the first place. Your Super Mario Sunshine, your Dragon Age II, Assassin’s Creed III, and so on. Whether or not that opinion changes more favorably over time, the initial specter of negativity will forever hover it. Microsoft’s Halo is no exception, except that negative specter hasn’t hovered over one particular game, but one whole studio.

The3faces517d ago

True Halo 4 was a sign of 343i's incompetence and the decline of Halo.

180°

10 Years Later, Halo 4 Proves Itself a Disappointing Omen for Halo Infinite

Halo 4 released 10 years ago today, and its disappointing reception was just an omen of things to come with 343 Industries at the helm.

Read Full Story >>
gamerant.com
Sonyslave3526d ago (Edited 526d ago )

Halo 4 and infinite have a 87 on metacritic and five a 84🤣. 343i need contents and everything else will play it self out.

ChasterMies525d ago

Halo 4, 5, and Infinite reviews are good examples of the pressure on review sites to score everything between 8-10 out of 10.

ChubbyBlade525d ago

As if reviews scores are any indication of a franchises health.

Halo has been in shambles for YEARS

-Foxtrot526d ago

Halo 4-6 are like the Star Wars sequel trilogy

They all just seem like a brand new games with small connections to the last one but no solid arc connecting them, you’re just told stuff that happened off screen in between the games and nothing makes sense

It’s like they didn’t plan a new trilogy out

CoNn3rB525d ago

That's actually a pretty good way to sum it up

LucasRuinedChildhood525d ago (Edited 525d ago )

I would argue that the new Star Wars trilogy is still better. lol

Most Halo fans would kill for the equivalent of The Force Awakens at this stage (a competent rehash of what came before it). Halo Infinite tried to be that but was undercooked and failed. Halo 4 wasn't that either - they started messing with the formula straight away although the story was okay.

There was nothing particularly compelling about Halo 5's story besides the fake plot they advertised. The Last Jedi is a divisive movie but as RedLetterMedia would say, it was "sporadically interesting" because it tried some new things and set up things that could have been great (like Kylo teaming up with Rey after backstabbing Snoke). That conversation with Yoda is great and it felt like the real Yoda, not that CGI thing in the prequels.
- "Skywalker, still looking to the horizon. Never here, now, hmm? The need in front of your nose."
- "The greatest teacher, failure is ... Luke, we are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters."
- "That library contained nothing that the girl Rey does not already possess." (because she already took them, haha).

The Rise Of Skywalker is the only one where loads of stuff happens off screen ("Palpatine has returned") in between and nothing makes sense because ... they just needed a main villain and 100 star destroyers to blow up. They could have done something much better.

MrChow666525d ago

no, all disney star wars sucks also disney marvel and everything godamn disney touches

525d ago Replies(3)
Yui_Suzumiya525d ago

Um, didn't Halo 4 have the best campaign out of the new Trilogy? Lol

ChubbyBlade525d ago

Yep and even then it wasn’t very good.

Levii_92525d ago

I'm getting a good gaming laptop soon and i'm finally going to play through the Halo franchise again plus Infinite but i never played Halo 4 before .. can anyone tell me how's the campaign in comparison to the games before it and compared to Halo 5 ?

Stanjara525d ago

Halo 4 campaign great, multi bad.
Halo 5 campaign trash, multi good.

Best Cortana halo 4.

ChubbyBlade525d ago (Edited 525d ago )

Halo 4 was when they started turning it into a “modern” game. Aka taking tips from CoD.

The older titles were sandbox based with weapons that all filled a niche and vehicles that did the same. Open levels with multiple ways to approach in different spots with different weapons etc.

Halo 4/5 doesn’t have that. It’s a linear shooter and nothing else. The story is alright but that’s about it. If it wasn’t a halo game, it would be ok but because it is a halo game, it’s outshone by the previous games.

It’s a hell of a lot better than 5 though. I found infinite pretty meh

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