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Is the era of truly great games over?

S

Sunner

Elite Member
I couldn't help but think of this while replying to the "greatest RPG" thread.

It was a LONG time since a game really hooked me.
The last ones were probably StarCraft and Freespace 2, since I've yet to find one single game that I just couldn't stop playing cause it's too fun to stop.

Like 4-5 years ago games like that would show up once in a while, maybe like every 6 months, but that would be often enough since the games were actually so good they lasted until the next one came out, but in the last years I havent run into a game like that.
Some games like that are Civilization 1&2, Fallout 1&2, Loom, StarFlight, Flashback, StarCraft, Doom 1&2 as well as Quake.

Of course there are more, but just to name a few, I havent seen a game that can compete with games like those in several years, and there are none on my radar either.

Anyone else feeling like this?
 
Yeah, I know how you feel. It seems like new games only last a week (tops), before you either a.) beat them or b.) get bored of them.
 
Lucasarts is developing a new Sam & Max game. I'm hoping it will be just as good as the original.
Loom and most older Lucasarts games were great. All these old games will become collector's items, lol! Luckily I have a lot of them, but would probably never sell them.
 
I think the problem isn't that there are no new or will be new "great games", the problem is that many of the games mentioned were Pioneers. They certainly were great, but more importantly they were original and established whole genres.

So, no, the era of truly great games is not over. The Era of many original gametypes being made in a short period of time is, however, likely over.
 
Originally posted by: sandorski
I think the problem isn't that there are no new or will be new "great games", the problem is that many of the games mentioned were Pioneers. They certainly were great, but more importantly they were original and established whole genres.

So, no, the era of truly great games is not over. The Era of many original gametypes being made in a short period of time is, however, likely over.
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I think that's only partially true, take Freespace for example, it was by means a pioneer, that would be Wing Commander, though I never really liked Wing Commander, in fact I've never really liked space/flight sims at all, but Freespace 1&2 were simply amazing, even I couldn't resist them 🙂

Same with StarCraft, WraCraft, Dune, C&C, they were all great games, but StarCraft went above and beyond all of those IMO.

I can't help but thinking eaadams is on to something though... 🙁
 
One problem I see is they keep getting shorter. I think developers have gotten the idea if they slap a multiplayer mode on the game then
the single player game doesn't need to as much work put into it. I don't care how good a game is, because if it i short, then its
playability is shot.

Then again, Max Payne and The Thing (another incredibly short game) have no multiplayer, so I don't know what their excuse is.
 
It's probably us. We've played so many games that we're less easily impressed. I can look at many games and say to myself, "I could code that up myself." I'm also not impressed by the majority of the modellers out there; I've got a friend who is much more talented than they seem to be. The Japanese also have a better sense of aesthetics, in my opinion. Their developers seem to be so much better than most American game companies.

Even if a company has great art assets, it's even harder to innovate in terms of gameplay. How much more can you push the FPS? We've all played so many that the controls are second nature, the highest difficult levels in most games still don't match the mind-numbing frustration of 8-bit platformers.

I think Halo 2 will be a "labor of love."
 
Yup. For all of the reasons above... The popularity of multiplayer means that few developers put the same amount of time into the single player games, but very few multiplayer games can hold the attention for that long (hl excluded).

There's just too much choice out there now,... When you get frustrated, its too easy to think "oh, but xxx has come out now, why don't i try that instead", but its all too homogenous. There havent been any new genres for a long time.

But one of the reasons I used to play one game for a long time was because there were a lot fewer games then and it was a lot harder to get them... you couldn't just download the demos from the net... You could buy a mag for its cover floppy, but if they only come out every month, then you just *have* to be a bit more patient.

Having said that, I didn't just spend ages on gunship 2000, x-wing, red baron and doom because i had no choice, i did it because they were so fun... And the developers seemed to care more. What happened to the 150 page themed manual, with its own deep story line? 30second FMV sequences just don't hook me the same.

The 1 side installation guide you get today ( "1. Insert cd into cupholder. 2. play) is just indicative of the lack of attention paid to the overall game experience, and less effort by the developers = less attention from me.

 
It's probably us. We've played so many games that we're less easily impressed.
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This is true. There's nothing quite like your first time. Doesn't mean the End is Near though because some games can still surprise. It's the same way from movies from Hollywood. About 90% of them are mediocre at best but every so often you find a gem.
 
Games impress us at the times we play them. When I was younger (only a few years ago), SNES games impressed me and I still consider Secret of Mana one of the greatest games of all time! But now when I play a game, I'm jaded to the new gaming experience because of my previous gaming experience.

How could you compare a game like Final Fantasy 10 to the original Final Fantasy? They are completely different games, built around completely different hardware and we played them during the times when those systems were advanced (8-10ish for me). With FFX, no teenager can go and play FF1, 2, 3 without saying "yuck", you guys played THIS? As we age, our tastes age and our experiences build. We cannot look at the existing games of today and compare them to what we had in yesteryear. Sure, Contra was GREAT, but the newer Contra's are what I wanted the old Contra to be.

Then there are games we wait for and LOVE! Metal Gear Solid 2 was THE game I wanted to own for the PS2, it lived up to all expectations for me and then some. There are also games that stand the test of time (ymmv), like Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo (there was really a #1). That game alone has made me sough it for every console and emulator I can get my hands on. There will be a time and place for all titles, but just remember which games you started off on and what games there are today.

If it wasn't for the original Zelda, Mario, Metroid or Sonic, we'd have nothing of what we have today.

vash
 
I never really liked Wing Commander, in fact I've never really liked space/flight sims at all, but Freespace 1&2 were simply amazing, even I couldn't resist them
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I feel the same... I found the much vaunted and famed Wing Commander series as slow-paced, and boring. I don't much care for space/flight sims at all, be they aimed for realism/arcade.... yet nonetheless, FreeSpace 1&2 were amazing, I absolutely loved both games. Easily two of the finest games ever made IMHO.


"greatest RPG" thread.
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Care to provide a link?
I must have missed that thread as I don't recall any RPG threads beyond recommendations to people for good RPG's to play. I'd definitely be interested in seeing a debate on the finest RPG ever.


Personally I don't think the era of "truly great" games is over at all. I just believe they are becoming further spaced apart.
Primarily because it's significantly harder to create a truly innovative game now as so much territory has already been explored and covered in depth by past games. It's also likely due to the fact that society is slowly becoming accustomed to video/computer games and as such becoming harder to impress.

Top be honest I'm glad that truly great games are becoming few and far between as I neither have the time nor interest to play games as much as I did when I was younger.... even now the gaming industry is advancing at far to rapid a pace for me, and I have quite a collection of excellent games I've barely gotten to yet.
 
Originally posted by: vash
There are also games that stand the test of time
Click to expand...

That is IMHO the true test of whether a game is merely 'great' or truly revolutionary.... those that stand the test of time, and are still played 5-6 or even 10yrs after the original release.
The games that despite being old and out-dated with terrible graphics, laughable sound, simplistic controls and limited flexibility nonetheless manage to present themselves as being more enjoyable then virtually all modern games.

 
Yup, Freespace is much better, but what the Wing Commander series had was an interactive movie like atmosphere. The cutscenes really added something to the game that would draw you into it.
 
PC gaming is in a major lull right now... No doubt about that.

But the consoles are currently sporting some of the finest games ever. (i.e. Splinter Cell, the NFL2k3, NHL2k3, MechAssault, Resident Evil: Zero, Metroid Prime, GTA3 (and Vice City), Halo, Timesplitters 2, Tony Hawk 4, Kingdom Hearts, etc... The list goes on and on.)
 
Originally posted by: Wingznut
PC gaming is in a major lull right now... No doubt about that.

But the consoles are currently sporting some of the finest games ever. (i.e. Splinter Cell, the NFL2k3, NHL2k3, MechAssault, Resident Evil: Zero, Metroid Prime, GTA3 (and Vice City), Halo, Timesplitters 2, Tony Hawk 4, Kingdom Hearts, etc... The list goes on and on.)
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Exactly. I can't remember buying any PC game after I got my PS2. Anyway, I'm back playing Soldier of Fortune 2 coz my PS2 is being "booked" by my wife 😛
 
I'm rather surprised at how many feel gaming is in a "bear market" right now. I'd honestly say this is one of the better years given all the great titles I've played this year. I realize many here are FPS-only gamers and if that's the limit of your scope then I'm more inclined to agree. But it's like my mother never said, "there's more to life than twitch games."
 
Originally posted by: JellyBaby
I'm rather surprised at how many feel gaming is in a "bear market" right now. I'd honestly say this is one of the better years given all the great titles I've played this year. I realize many here are FPS-only gamers and if that's the limit of your scope then I'm more inclined to agree. But it's like my mother never said, "there's more to life than twitch games."
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For instance?

I guess there's a couple of RPG's and strategy games. But still, only a couple that I can think of that are exceptional.

 
>And on that note what's Ginger Lynn Allen up to these days?

she's back on top of things 🙂

The cut sceenes in wing commander were the best
 
Originally posted by: Sunner
Originally posted by: Rand

"greatest RPG" thread.
Click to expand...

Care to provide a link?
I must have missed that thread as I don't recall any RPG threads beyond recommendations to people for good RPG's to play. I'd definitely be interested in seeing a debate on the finest RPG ever.
Click to expand...

Here you go 🙂
Click to expand...

Much appreciated, gonna have to pop of and list my top few RPG 🙂
Now that is my kinda thread....
 
I have to dissagree.

BF1942 is the next crack. Never Winter Nights was amazing and I hate rpg's.

Half life the best game ever but would you play it now?
I wouldn't, It plays boring now.

I think we expect so much more out of a video game than we used too.
I loved unreal turnament but hate unreal turnament 2003, why?
Because it is the same game thats why.

Xbox is the place to be right now for good games.
Ghost recon was a fine pc game but GR for xbox live is amazing.
The ability to speak to your teammates and the fact that everyone has the same hardware realy makes a difference.

I think the consoles are stealing all the great new games.

Halo, splinter cell, etc

peace
 
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