Eskimo Press: The evolution of video games has been one hell of a ride so far, and the future seems to hold a lot of exciting things, but at the same time there have been a lot of less desirable changes from a gamer and consumer perspective.
One of our writers rants a bit about the state of games these days.
Gary Green said: We have a juxtaposition of 2D and 3D visuals, flashy turn-based combat, quirky anime characters with cheeky dialogue with plenty of partial nudity; Yes, this is a Compile Heart JRPG. Whilst the engine is borrowed from Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2, Mugen Souls is more of a Disgaea spin-off. It’s not a strategy RPG as such, it merely sits within Disgaea’s ever-expanding universe (Multiverse? Netherverse? Your guess is as good as mine). You won’t find cameos though, since Mugen Souls is a franchise which aims to stand on its own two feet.
Huzaifa from eXputer: "2008 was home to the likes of Call of Duty: World at War, Dead Space, GTA 4, Far Cry 2, Left 4 Dead, and many other hits, which is outright remarkable."
Here here
Those that were around before 2000's i am sure are like me that think we entered a world of non readers or those that follow without question.
I can not wait to see fallout 3 a goty game even though it was about water with non content until you add the dlc/updates then you got the performance/crashing
1998 - the best year in gaming! Metal gear solid, crash bandicoot 3, medievil, half life, ocarina of time, thief, tenchu, resident evil 2, Spyro, tomb raider 3, oddworld abes exodus, banjo kazooie.
It was a different breed of a gaming era. You’ll never understand what it was like back then. The aura of gaming, it was different!
I second this. Gaming was a lot more varied and fun than it is today. I'm 35 so getting on compared to some here but I got to see all the changes from NES up to now but I've never felt so disappointed in any generation than I have this current gen. I was expecting more from this generation rather than prettier versions of games that came before it. Game mechanics have become so refined that alot of games feel the same and has done for a while now.
Maybe it's time to have a break for a while. I love gaming but I don't feel I get much fun in the traditional sense out of it anymore.
Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Abe’s Exodus, and Ocarina of Time are the only things from that list that I liked.
Here’s the 2023 game releases that I personally liked… and big releases that I didn’t care for:
- Dead Space Remake
- Wo Long Dynatsy
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Diablo 4
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Hogwarts Legcay
- Street Fighter 6
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Like a Dragon: Ishin
- Octopath Traveler 2
- Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters
- Final Fanatsy XVI (actually ended up not liking this, but it was still a big deal release)
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
- Lies of P
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Starfield (Ended up hating this one, but big release)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (I’m an old-school Zelda fan, but didn’t really enjoy this game)
- Alan Wake 2
I mean, honestly I’ve never seen a year of major IP releases like that, ever.
Isn't it just a generational thing realistically.
I've been gaming since way back and I some of my favourite games go as far back as the late 80s for me each generation has a year or two of game changing releases one after another before an inevitable dry spell.
I kind of agree gaming had a different feel games hit different because we didn't have the internet nothing got spoiled and you really had to put in the effort to beat a puzzle which could set entire groups of people looking for a solution. But most importantly games were experimental and not as cookie cutter as today even basics like controls were not universal today r2 is shoot l2 is ads garunteed you can't deviate from that in a shooter back then it could of been square, R1 or R1 and circle nothing was standard.
But as time moves on a new generation picks up their controller they are going to be interested in different things that PS1 demo disc with the t Rex blew our primitive 16 bit brains back on launch but to kids today it's laughable.
The new gen of kids coming into to hobby seem to value different things to us there seems to be a huge focus on online play, streamers, gaming personalities, and social experiences, convience of digital downloads. To me I value none of that but that's ok like my parents not liking the band's I would listen to its just the natural cycle.
Just about every year in the 7th generation was great and something we most likely won't experience again.
2009 for example had Assassin's Creed 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dragon Age: Origins, Uncharted 2, Halo 3: ODST, Killzone 2, Borderlands, Bayonetta, and Demon's Souls to name a few.
It still amazes me we got over 7 rockstar games ps2/ps3 but 3 for the ps3/ps4/ps5
Dragon age 1-3 and mass effect 1-3 in 7ish years what a generation.
While the mainstream media always sees things turning in favor of the hero, here are 6 games that own being a bad guy.
Pretty much all of these games listed are based around a morality system you don't have to be bad and you don't have to be good.
It seems to have left out some real amazing games like red dead redemption 1/2,ass effect and true crime la/ny
Armored Core VI?
Ok, I'm really missing something here. Just beat chapter 3 earlier this evening, unlocked A-rank Arena fights. I'm not seeing or sensing any branching paths or morality system and I've done every side mission and arena fight available to me up to that fight.
Is something big coming soon to branch the story?
No mention of Grand Theft Auto? Saints Row (original trilogy), Manhunt? Also The Suffering (depending on the ending you get).
Trevor in GTA 6 is a sadist and psychopath who dabbles in cannibalism. Should be top of the list. These game “news” sites should hire people that know games.
Spot on!
This author should invent a time machine so he can see how good we have it now and how his rosie colored glasses can't even deny that games are by far much much better now then ever before.
I understand some of his issues (mainly DLC which is purely OPTIONAL) but honestly I try to avoid the type of games he mentions and I still have more then enough games to keep me busy and entertained. This article was more just nit picking current gen and glorifying the old school systems and games.
All I know is as much as I have loved video games as a kid and played them throughout my life, games for the most are getting better and better. I can't think of another gen where I would have wanted as many games as I do now. I prob have/had almost as many games this gen as I have the previous 4 gens combined.
Things aren't perfect but back when I was a kid their were only so many hit games and the rest were very niche and catered to a specific audience. These days my interest is broader as they make more varied games in general but also they make them appealing to more then just a niche audience which in my case has gotten me into genres I would have passed on before.
With difficulty, yes they could make a harder mode overall or an option to remove the tutorial but come on now, let's not act like elitist. Watching my nephew or friends who don't play games much or who haven't played much for years and its obvious why they have tutorials and hand holding.
Not everyone has played games for 20+ years or every game in a series or every game system. No need to alienate new players and make them feel confused and frustrated leading to dropping the game altogether. Already enough idiots who skip through everything and jump into a game where they have no clue what's going on and ruin online multiplayer for everyone as they learn on the run. Why would devs want to make it inconvienent for a new player to get into their game?
All I can say is it seems the Author must have been bored and decided to nit pick current gen (who couldn't) but to directly compare it to generations past and act as if gaming is devolving is outrageous. Not to mention I thought most of the examples given (of games old and new) are really unconvincing of his points and spoken about with little context or viewpoint beyond what backs up his own opinion (to complain about new and glorify old) along with lacking an objective view outside of his own and then asking us to provide one for him in the comments.
After reading and breaking down what I believe was being said I have to conclude this article was made quickly with very little thought or research put in. More like a blog that's an off the top of head opinion trying to ignite questions/debates disquised as an article.
Or maybe I really am just as bored as the author, but atleast if that is so I am not writing blog opinion pieces hastily and submitting them on N4G as "news articles"