Is gaming becoming stagnant or am i just getting jaded?(some thoughts)

[Raban]

Why do people like Crackdown so much? It's a fun game but FUCK.

If you don't know, you'll never know.

[bork]

Why do people like Crackdown so much? It's a fun game but FUCK.

You just answered your own question.  It's a fun game.  Plus co-op was awesome. 

Crackdown and Saint's Row 2 are the best sandbox games out there.

[Himu]

There's a difference between "fun game" and this:

Anybody who has played Crackdown knows this gen > all.

I'm clearly missing something.

[Raban]

There's a difference between "fun game" and this:

Anybody who has played Crackdown knows this gen > all.

I'm clearly missing something.

DON'T TREAD ON ME

That post was like from personal experience. Before I played Crackdown I thought this gen sucked and was nothing compared to PS2 era, just like the OP here, but then I played Crackdown, and from that point on started trying more and more games and eventually came to love this generation a lot more than any other. Crackdown was that catalyst for my enjoyment of games this gen, but not only that, it was an excellent game in and of itself.

[Beezy]

There's a difference between "fun game" and this:

Anybody who has played Crackdown knows this gen > all.

I'm clearly missing something.

That's because he meant Mirror's Edge. He just doesn't know it yet.

[Damian79]

I dunno, cant get myself to even start playing Mirrors Edge.  Stupid ass Heroes of Newerth has too much of a hold over me.  Even if i do manage to play something else ill go back to HoN in a coupel of hours.  So is hoN evil?

[Himu]

There's a difference between "fun game" and this:

Anybody who has played Crackdown knows this gen > all.

I'm clearly missing something.

That's because he meant Mirror's Edge. He just doesn't know it yet.

[fistfulofmetal]

i only read a few posts into this thread so whatevs. dead rising is garbage. avoid like the plague.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

Dead Rising is a masterpiece.

[etiolate]

Not really. 16 bit era variety shits all over current gaming. Sure, there was a lot of SF2 clones, but you still got Uniracers, ZAMN, Ecco, Faceball, etc

Is this true? i'm really not sure it is. I love the 16 bit era but come on now, did you play half the sea of absolute dross on the Amiga/ST/SNES/MD/etc ?

Oh another few hundred tume platformers. Oh another set of wanna be streetfighters. There were gems in there but again... there's an absolute ton of variety in this gen. At worst it's a wash.

There's a ton of variety in this current gen? Are you serious? Everything is being melted together. What truly new genres have even emerged?

[Beezy]

There's a ton of variety in this current gen? Are you serious? Everything is being melted together. What truly new genres have even emerged?

The god genre known as first person platformers done right.

Seriously though, I'm not sure about new genres, but I'm happy to see that sandbox games are more varied now instead of trying to be a jack of all trades like GTA.

[Himu]

I have to admit.

It's annoying when people start calling games like Mass Effect 2 rpgs, when their rpg elements are so minuscule you might as well call them action adventure with rpg and shooting combat. I definitely wouldn't call this the most varied generation. This generation is all about polish. 32 bit and ps2 gens were more varied.

[cool breeze]

Can open world platformer be considered a genre? I'm talking about Assassin's Creed, Crackdown, Infamous, Saboteur (haven't played this one)? the only close thing to that last gen was SoTC, and it was far more limited.

[Raban]

There's a difference between "fun game" and this:

Anybody who has played Crackdown knows this gen > all.

I'm clearly missing something.

That's because he meant Mirror's Edge. He just doesn't know it yet.

I'm gonna be giving it another playthrough on PC pretty soon, we'll see what changes. Crackdown's still my GOTG for now.

[Himu]

Can open world platformer be considered a genre? I'm talking about Assassin's Creed, Crackdown, Infamous, Saboteur (haven't played this one)? the only close thing to that last gen was SoTC, and it was far more limited.

Jesus Christ those games are hardly platformers. Because a game contains jumping doesn't make it a platformer.

Action Adventure.

[Raban]

Can open world platformer be considered a genre? I'm talking about Assassin's Creed, Crackdown, Infamous, Saboteur (haven't played this one)? the only close thing to that last gen was SoTC, and it was far more limited.

Jesus Christ those games are hardly platformers. Because a game contains jumping doesn't make it a platformer.

Action Adventure.

I'd say the first two in his list are more platform than action. Assassin's Creed is practically all platforming, and Crackdown has a lot of platforming, Mirror's Edge, too. If you forget that they're supposed to be boss battles, SotC has ass-loads of platforming.

[Himu]

Can open world platformer be considered a genre? I'm talking about Assassin's Creed, Crackdown, Infamous, Saboteur (haven't played this one)? the only close thing to that last gen was SoTC, and it was far more limited.

Jesus Christ those games are hardly platformers. Because a game contains jumping doesn't make it a platformer.

Action Adventure.

I'd say the first two in his list are more platform than action. Assassin's Creed is practically all platforming, and Crackdown has a lot of platforming, Mirror's Edge, too. If you forget that they're supposed to be boss battles, SotC has ass-loads of platforming.

Because they're not pure action games doesn't mean a thing. Both games employ emphasis on exploration (adventure) while mixing up action (action), hence ACTION-ADVENTURE.

Assassin's Creed is not "practically all platforming". Crackdown has a lot of jumping, but that's all it is. In a real platformer, you are going to be jumping for your life. In Crackdown, not so much.

He didn't even mention Mirror's Edge. Mirror's Edge is a platformer game first and foremost. The other games, not so much.

SotC has a lot of platforming, but that does not make it a platformer.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time has a lot of platforming but it's not a platformer.

Uncharted has a lot of platforming and exploration but that does not make it a platformer.

Tomb Raider has a lot of platforming and exploration but that does not make it a platformer.

These games obviously all file under the action-adventure bracket. They aren't pure platformers because they're not all about platforming but they're not action platformers either, in the same breath as games like Mega Man or Rocket Knight Adventures. And the platforming in those games is so fucking tame and SHITTY that you'd to have the reflexes of a snail to miss a jump.

[Raban]

You're getting too good at this trolling thing.

[tiesto]

DC, I see you mention "TUME" a few times in this thread, what is that?

[tiesto]

I will not acknowledge 2010's greatness if I don't get a good Mirror's Edge sequel with a soundtrack by Solar Fields again.

Fuck yeah. A Mirror's Edge sequel with less of a focus on combat, and more on running and platforming, would be amazing.

Beezy, have you ever checked out any of Solar Fields' artist albums? I absolutely LOVE Earthshine.

[Himu]

It's annoying when people start calling games like Mass Effect 2 rpgs, when their rpg elements are so minuscule you might as well call them action adventure with rpg and shooting combat.

WTF. Mass Effect 2 is more RPG than FFXIII and I challenge you to prove otherwise.

FF13 has stats and actual customization.

ME2's streamlined to the point where its rpg elements are about as deep as a game like Folklore or Ratchet and Clank.

To me, an rpg is all about stats and skill customization. You can take away dialogue, stupid party member deaths, story and you'd still have an rpg if it had stats, loot, and customization. ME2 doesn't even have loot.

If you took away M2's dialogue tree you would essentially have an action adventure game with shooter combat and rpg elements because the rpg stuff like customization isn't deep enough to stand on its own.

[Beezy]

I will not acknowledge 2010's greatness if I don't get a good Mirror's Edge sequel with a soundtrack by Solar Fields again.

Fuck yeah. A Mirror's Edge sequel with less of a focus on combat, and more on running and platforming, would be amazing.

Beezy, have you ever checked out any of Solar Fields' artist albums? I absolutely LOVE Earthshine.

No, but I really need to if they're anything like the ME soundtrack.

Himu, skill customization isn't necessary for a game to be a rpg although a good amount of them have that.

[Himu]

I will not acknowledge 2010's greatness if I don't get a good Mirror's Edge sequel with a soundtrack by Solar Fields again.

Fuck yeah. A Mirror's Edge sequel with less of a focus on combat, and more on running and platforming, would be amazing.

Beezy, have you ever checked out any of Solar Fields' artist albums? I absolutely LOVE Earthshine.

No, but I really need to if they're anything like the ME soundtrack.

Himu, skill customization isn't necessary for a game to be a rpg although a good amount of them have that.

Stats are. You can't even upgrade your stats in ME2.

[Beezy]

I didn't know that. I know you were able to in the first one.

[AdmiralViscen]

I thought RPing was about playing a role 

[Raban]

I thought RPing was about playing a role 

FUCK NO! It's about min-maxing, turn-based battle and a whole bunch of stupid shit that JRPGs have fudge-packed so deep into our brains that we forget what RPG even stands for!

Come on, man, where have you been?

[demi]

It's about gathering up your social links and being cutesy with your girlfriend in Math class.

Himu-chan~

[Junpei the Tracer!]

I wish more RPGs had Social Links. That's a lot fun.

[Beezy]

I wish more RPGs had Social Links. That's a lot fun.

gay

[Himu]

I thought RPing was about playing a role 

I guess games like Infamous are rpgs now too, huh?

[Raban]

I thought RPing was about playing a role 

I guess games like Infamous are rpgs now too, huh?

God, you're such a sandy vagina all the time now. Wtf happened to you, Himu?

[Himu]

Stats are. You can't even upgrade your stats in ME2.

I can customize weapon loadout, upgrade my armor stats, weapon stats, and power stats. I can even customize what kind of powers my character and my allies have albeit in a limited fashion.

You get like 3-4 armor upgrades total per armor type in the game. Even then, they're not even big upgrades. They tend to be a measly 10% + to shields or 10% to health regen. That's really it. Zelda has stuff like going from the Hylian Shield to the Mirror Shield. Guess Zelda's an rpg too.

Great, you can customize weapon loadout. Sure is a sign of an rpg.

Weapon stats? How? The upgrades you get from those kits? Lol. You can upgrade weapons in Ratchet and Clank. I guess that's an rpg too.

If ME2 is the future of rpgs, rpgs are dead.

[Himu]

I thought RPing was about playing a role 

I guess games like Infamous are rpgs now too, huh?

God, you're such a sandy vagina all the time now. Wtf happened to you, Himu?

 

My point is that you play a "role" in a lot of games.

[OptimoPeach]

Everything is being melted together.

Why does that have to be a bad thing? I don't really see the drawback of games deriving the best elements from multiple genres, other than it makes it difficult for obsessive nerds like Himuro to apply restrictive labels to them. It's not as though a game that is partially derivative can't also be innovative

[Himu]

Everything is being melted together.

Why does that have to be a bad thing? I don't really see the drawback of games deriving the best elements from multiple genres, other than it makes it difficult for obsessive nerds like Himuro to apply restrictive labels to them. It's not as though a game that is partially derivative can't also be innovative

It's not always a bad thing. SSX3 for instance, mixed up open-world gameplay with snowboard gameplay it's famous for and that worked beautifully. But it doesn't always work either.

When I want to play an rpg, and I get the most neutered "rpg" ever because some elements were favored over others, I'm going to question some things.

I'm not an obsessive nerd. I'm a gaming nerd who likes quality. Sorry that I like my games to have a semblance of depth and not be neutered to hell and back.

Alas, Hollywood Gaming. Not that Mass Effect 2 is bad, though. Far from it, but labeling ME2 an rpg is as lol as labeling games like Crackdown or Infamous or Assassin's Creed platformers. Just not happening.

You get like 3-4 armor upgrades total per armor type in the game. Even then, they're not even big upgrades. They tend to be a measly 10% + to shields or 10% to health regen. That's really it. Zelda has stuff like going from the Hylian Shield to the Mirror Shield. Guess Zelda's an rpg too.

Great, you can customize weapon loadout. Sure is a sign of an rpg.

Weapon stats? How? The upgrades you get from those kits? Lol. You can upgrade weapons in Ratchet and Clank. I guess that's an rpg too.

If ME2 is the future of rpgs, rpgs are dead.

Well, you said you couldn't when you clearly can. Don't be so angry!

I hardly call that customization. Even ME1 has 100x the customization ME2 does and ME2 is pretty shabby on that front.

[Great Rumbler]

Who cares if ME2 is an RPG or not? It's one of the best GAMES of the past year.

[OptimoPeach]

It's not always a bad thing. SSX3 for instance, mixed up open-world gameplay with snowboard gameplay it's famous for and that worked beautifully. But it doesn't always work either.

When I want to play an rpg, and I get the most neutered "rpg" ever because some elements were favored over others, I'm going to question some things.

I'm not an obsessive nerd. I'm a gaming nerd who likes quality. Sorry that I like my games to have a semblance of depth and not be neutered to hell and back.

Alas, Hollywood Gaming. Not that Mass Effect 2 is bad, though. Far from it, but labeling ME2 an rpg is as lol as labeling games like Crackdown or Infamous or Assassin's Creed platformers. Just not happening.

Stop raging so hard over something as frivolous as genre categorization. Groo started a trollfest with that FF13 jab and you've bit every single time lol

[Damian79]

It ruined my enjoyment of the game for me.  I bought the game expecting and rpg for the second time(the first time being ME1) and i got a FPS with rpg elements.  But that is my fault fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me, fool me a third time wtf is wrong with me.

[bork]

Who cares if ME2 is an RPG or not? It's one of the best GAMES of the past year.

Yup.  And it's also one of the best action-RPGs of the past year!

[etiolate]

Everything is being melted together.

Why does that have to be a bad thing? I don't really see the drawback of games deriving the best elements from multiple genres, other than it makes it difficult for obsessive nerds like Himuro to apply restrictive labels to them. It's not as though a game that is partially derivative can't also be innovative

If you're just copying and pasting together a game, I doubt you can garner any creativity out of it. Makes games into Avatar, a market study of what sells all plastered together with high production. Doesn't push the media forward at all. Just further homogenizes it and erodes away the iconic flavor.

SSX3 for instance, mixed up open-world gameplay with snowboard gameplay it's famous for and that failed hard.

fixed

SSX3's merging of two games ended up killing the track designs and personality of Tricky, and still not realizing on what it promised. Every time you'd try to really go open world, jump off into that icy cavern... oh wait game resets you because its just a visual lie of open space.

[The Fake Shemp]

Mass Effect 2 is one of the best games of this entire generation, and poops on haters everywhere.

[Bildi]

Someone slandered SSX3?  Sacrilege! 

If someone slanders Tricky I will also be decidedly perturbed.

[The Fake Shemp]

I swear, ever since I was old enough to read the Internet, there has never been a shortage of, "Older games from my youth were better/more creative". You guys

[OptimoPeach]

Everything is being melted together.

Why does that have to be a bad thing? I don't really see the drawback of games deriving the best elements from multiple genres, other than it makes it difficult for obsessive nerds like Himuro to apply restrictive labels to them. It's not as though a game that is partially derivative can't also be innovative

If you're just copying and pasting together a game, I doubt you can garner any creativity out of it. Makes games into Avatar, a market study of what sells all plastered together with high production. Doesn't push the media forward at all. Just further homogenizes it and erodes away the iconic flavor.

But there's a difference between an uninspired cut-and-paste job and an ingenious blend of several great aspects from separate genres. Besides, such a trend doesn't mean that the industry is creatively bankrupt (or heading there) when there are still plenty of wholly original (and good!) games being developed.

It's probably safe to say that I was the last person here to join the generation, so I totally get where you're coming from, but I don't think there is much credence to the idea that the industry is in a perpetual state of insipidity. I stopped believing that as soon as I really started gaming again.

Now, whether or not today's games are as engaging is a different story

[AdmiralViscen]

Himuro sucks ass now. Infamous does not let you roleplay anywhere near as much as ME2, and you could probably make a case for Zelda being some RPG hybrid. Good/evil decisions are not roleplaying, complex dialogue trees with consequences are.

[The Fake Shemp]

He's been trolling for awhile now.

[AdmiralViscen]

yea, he's useless.

[OptimoPeach]

Trolls trolling trolls? Never thought I'd see the day on EB

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

The whole "I gave away my Xbox lol" a few weeks ago was a dead giveaway.

[Trent Dole]

So basically we should all ignore Himu and nostalgia.

[Stoney Mason]

One of the first rites of passage when you become a PC gamer is to become insufferable and tell everybody how lame the console games they play are.  

If you 360 gamers can't stand the heat then stay out of the kitchen!

Preach it Himuro!!

[archie4208]

One of the first rites of passage when you become a PC gamer is to become insufferable and tell everybody how lame the console games they play are.  

If you 360 gamers can't stand the heat then stay out of the kitchen!

Preach it Himuro!!

Nothing wrong with letting the plebs know that they are playing on the inferior platform.

[cool breeze]

I'm looking at this IGN best of decade thing, and if this is what is being sold to people, then I'm not surprised that people are depressed about the current state of gaming.  Apparently Knights of the Old Republic is the third best game of the 2000s right behind Shadow of the Colossus.  Also, The Dark Knight is the best movie of the 2000s, followed by Return of the King, Casino Royale, and Spider-Man 2, and Avatar.  Bravo, IGN.

[Great Rumbler]

1. The Dark Knight
2. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
3. Casino Royale
4. Spider-Man 2
5. Avatar
6. Batman Begins
7. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the King
8. Almost Famous
9. 300
10. Spider-Man

1. Half-Life 2
2. Shadow of the Colossus
3. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
4. Grand Theft Auto III
5. Super Mario Galaxy
6. Counter-Strike
7. Fallout 3
8. Okami
9. Battlefield 1942
10. Uncharted 2

[BlueTsunami]

If there isn't a pointless stat for Luck then it isn't an RPG

[Stoney Mason]

Overly debating opinions is meh.


IGN has their list. 50 others would have their list. I would have my list. etc, etc.

What it does matter. Its no more important or no more silly, or no more contentious than any list that anybody else would come up with. In 5 years they will have another list and it will completely forgot everything on this list. Nothing to see here.

[BobFromPikeCreek]

If there isn't a pointless stat for Luck then it isn't an RPG

I don't think I've put a single point into luck in any RPG I've ever played.

[OptimoPeach]

Luck typically affects crit, does it not?

Crit

I had something like 38% crit on my gladiator rogue in WoW -- in PvP gear! Yeah, I was a badass

[cool breeze]

Overly debating opinions is meh.


IGN has their list. 50 others would have their list. I would have my list. etc, etc.

What it does matter. Its no more important or no more silly, or no more contentious than any list that anybody else would come up with. In 5 years they will have another list and it will complete forgot everything on this list. Nothing to see here.

I don't think anyone seriously cares (like no one seriously cares about stingy genre classifications).  It's just good for a laugh.  This IGN list is just better because it's a collective choice.

[Stoney Mason]

I don't think anyone seriously cares (like no one seriously cares about stingy genre classifications).  It's just good for a laugh.  This IGN list is just better because it's a collective choice.

Oh I know. And I often post Entertainment Weekly lists that I find especially silly myself so its not like I don't do the same.