Games With Bad Gameplay Are Masterpieces Now? The Disease of Cinematic Design

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/121/1212934p1.html

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with everything that is wrong with video games "journalism" and the industry in general in one fell swoop.

So while every single editor admitted that the shooting ( you know, the meat and bones of the gameplay) was not all that great (one outright hated it, one said that "tolerate" was a good word), each and every one of them loved the game, and three called it a masterpiece.

A masterpiece. With bad shooting.

But it gets better. When asked what their favorite part of the game was, the near-universal reaction was: "Oh, the characters and the performances."

So what we have here, ladies and gentlemen, are professional reviewers praising a game that is completely unoriginal and, lets be honest, doesn't have amazing writing, as a masterpiece, even though they admit the gameplay isn't that great.

Uh-huh.

And it's not just IGN doing this. This is an epidemic. A disease of the medium. We want movies with quick-time events now.

I mean, did we all just forget what good movies are? Did we suddenly lower our standards in film so much that we had to turn to games? Are all game developers just wanna-be directors that didn't have the talent to make it in the big leagues?

Remember back in the day we when praised games for, y'know, being games, and not trying to be B-movies? Remember when we loved being given more gameplay options, and didn't like being railroaded through a game with as little involvement as possible because the developer treated the player as a necessary inconvenience? Remember when we recognized good game design?

So my question is: What the f*** happened?

BY POPULAR DEMAND, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CANNOT READ, FOLLOW SEMI-COMPLEX THOUGHTS, OR SOMEHOW ORTHERWISE MISSED THE POINT IN THE 700+ POSTS OF THIS THREAD:

This is not about cutscenes, and this is sure as s*** not saying that games should not attempt to tell stories. What it is saying (pay attention now), is that many big-budget, mainstream games have become focused on scripted, cinematic sequences to the extent that they let the player influence the game as little as possible. The player becomes a necessary inconvenience, raildroaded from one scripted sequence to another, in gameplay segements that will play the same pretty much every time. This is not good game design. As a result the gameplay, which is the most important part of a game, becomes an afterthought, and is, in the case of Uncharted 3, the weakest link.

And yet, this game, which has serious gameplay issues, is heralded as a masterpiece simply because it has good production values. This is a serious issue within the industry.

Are we all on the same page now? Yes? Good.

It shouldn't be called a masterpiece either way. (even if the shooting didn't need work on)

I like cinematic elements in games, but a lot of games these days take it way too far.

Hmmm, why do you care dl?:P

Hmmm, why do you care dl?:P

el3m2tigre

I couldn't agree with you more. I've been thinking the exact same things as you have for a while now. Games have devolved more than evolved this generation. We're at a point where a game from the N64 generation is more advanced gameplay wise than most things that are praised in this generation. Technology advancements are being used to push games into movie territory instead of evolving what separates this medium from others: player interaction.

Back in the day, we didn't have the technology to make movie level set pieces so gameplay was always the major focus of developers' efforts.

Nowadays, this new level of technology is marginalizing what makes games games. It really doesn't help when "professional" reviewers praise it when this happens. These games shouldn't be encouraged like this.

Blinded by hype. :lol:

[QUOTE="el3m2tigre"]

Hmmm, why do you care dl?:P

DarkLink77

You're talking about "Games turning into movies" right? I was actually refering to what IGN said. I posted after I read half of what you posted. My bad :)

I couldn't agree with you more. I've been thinking the exact same things as you have for a while now. Games have devolved more than evolved this generation. We're at a point where a game from the N64 generation is more advanced gameplay wise than most things that are praised in this generation. Technology advancements are being used to push games into movie territory instead of evolving what seperates this medium from others: player interaction.

It makes me sick really

Pikminmaniac

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="el3m2tigre"]

Hmmm, why do you care dl?:P

el3m2tigre

You're talking about "Games turning into movies" right? I was actually refering to what IGN said. I posted after I read half of what you posted. My bad :)

[QUOTE="Pikminmaniac"]

I couldn't agree with you more. I've been thinking the exact same things as you have for a while now. Games have devolved more than evolved this generation. We're at a point where a game from the N64 generation is more advanced gameplay wise than most things that are praised in this generation. Technology advancements are being used to push games into movie territory instead of evolving what seperates this medium from others: player interaction.

It makes me sick really

DarkLink77

Cows would burn everything to ground if their most hyped exclusive wasn't praised by reviewers.

That is why Mass Effect 2 is so great. It has both the cinematic and gameplay aspect of games in a high level. I would say the former is in the highest level and the latter "just" in a high level.
.
So what is needed is that ME3 improves the gameplay without sacrificing the rest and we will all be able to agree ME3 is the best game ever made.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

[QUOTE="Pikminmaniac"]

I couldn't agree with you more. I've been thinking the exact same things as you have for a while now. Games have devolved more than evolved this generation. We're at a point where a game from the N64 generation is more advanced gameplay wise than most things that are praised in this generation. Technology advancements are being used to push games into movie territory instead of evolving what seperates this medium from others: player interaction.

It makes me sick really

charizard1605

Yeah, I question why the aiming in the game is like this. Although it was fantastic in UC2's campaign.

But, the story is meant to be a one time roller coaster spectacle, and once again to get all the treasures and extra's in the game.

Then you move on to the multiplayer which has fantastic gameplay, and no over the top set pieces take away from that.

---

But the absolute truth is, the Uncharted games are overrated, and while they're incredibly well made and excellent overall, (2 and 3, Drakes fortune is garbage) should never be mentioned in the same breath as games that marriage fantastic gameplay and pacing in place of over the top action.

I've enjoyed the ride of Uncharted, but next generation, I don't necessarily want these games to not be made ever, but they absolutely shouldn't be the focus.

So appartently they all think it's the best graphics they have ever seen on console. Console Graphics King confirmed.

[QUOTE="mmmwksil"]

Blinded by hype. :lol:

DarkLink77

IGN Editor-in-Chief: We need someone to review UC3. Who here's the biggest fanboy?

Reviewer: Me!! Me!! OH PLEASE PICK ME!!!

IGN Editor-in-Chief: Good man. Now praise this piece of **** 'till the Cows come home... literally! That'll make us money.

So appartently they all think it's the best graphics they have ever seen on console. Console Graphics King confirmed.

Blazerdt47

So every game that has ever been released has flaws?

ok just checking,

Frankly this board's obsession with Uncharted and MW in particular is extremely unhealthy

So every game that has ever been released has flaws?

ok just checking,

Frankly this board's obsession with Uncharted and MW in particular is extremely unhealthy

Zaibach

I like cinematic elements in games, but a lot of games these days take it way too far.

dommeus

Yeah, I question why the aiming in the game is like this. Although it was fantastic in UC2's campaign.

But, the story is meant to be a one time roller coaster spectecal, and once again to get all the treasures and extra's in the game.

Then you move on to the multiplayer which has fantastic gameplay, and no over the top set pieces take away from that.

---

But the absolute truth is, the Uncharted games are overrated, and while they're incredibly well made and excellent overall, (2 and 3, Drakes fortune is garbage) should never be mentioned in the same breath as games that marriage fantastic gameplay and pacing in place of over the top action.

I've enjoyed the ride of Uncharted, but next generation, I don't necessarily want these games to not be made ever, but they absolutely shouldn't be the focus.

theuncharted34

It seems like this forum is a the training ground for people who end up flooding NeoGAF. Nothing but complaining and negativity constantly. If games are so damn bad to you, then STOP PLAYING THEM!

[QUOTE="dommeus"]

I like cinematic elements in games, but a lot of games these days take it way too far.

topsemag55

It seems like this forum is a the training ground for people who end up flooding NeoGAF. Nothing but complaining and negativity constantly. If games are so damn bad to you, then STOP PLAYING THEM!

darktx2005

I sense alot of bitterness in your post, why so mad?

Zaibach

Best get your senses checked, my good fellow. I don't get bitter over baseless numerical scores. :P

I'm here for the lulz. To see them and make them.

That is why Mass Effect 2 is so great. It has both the cinematic and gameplay aspect of games in a high level. I would say the former is in the highest level and the latter "just" in a high level.
.
So what is needed is that ME3 improves the gameplay without sacrificing the rest and we will all be able to agree ME3 is the best game ever made.

padaporra

You win the thread :lol:

[QUOTE="Blazerdt47"]

So appartently they all think it's the best graphics they have ever seen on console. Console Graphics King confirmed.

DarkLink77

Actually I did read the whole article and it seems everyone loves Uncharted 3. Your post seems fanboyish, your bashing the game. There is no point to discuss.

[QUOTE="padaporra"]

That is why Mass Effect 2 is so great. It has both the cinematic and gameplay aspect of games in a high level. I would say the former is in the highest level and the latter "just" in a high level.
.
So what is needed is that ME3 improves the gameplay without sacrificing the rest and we will all be able to agree ME3 is the best game ever made.

Slashkice

I don't know if you posted this intentionally, but this is probably one of the greatest responses I've ever seen in a darklink thread.

I'm still trying to figure out where to begin when I point out all of the things that are wrong about it.

are professional reviewers praising a game that is completely unoriginal and, lets be honest, doesn't have amazing writing

DarkLink77

It seems like this forum is a the training ground for people who end up flooding NeoGAF. Nothing but complaining and negativity constantly. If games are so damn bad to you, then STOP PLAYING THEM!

darktx2005

Crysis was reviewed as having average gameplay, being boring and monotonous, and being the epitome over style and substance, but we still have to hear about it like it was the greatest PC game ever made. But it had leaves.

People like games for different reasons. Until the gaming gestapo raids my house and confiscates UC3, I'm going to play it because it's fun.

The ironic thing is I bought Crysis 2 based on IGN's review. After two hours of playing with no deaths and no enjoyment, I got rid of it.

And the cinematics sucked.

[QUOTE="darktx2005"]

It seems like this forum is a the training ground for people who end up flooding NeoGAF. Nothing but complaining and negativity constantly. If games are so damn bad to you, then STOP PLAYING THEM!

DarkLink77

Because people like you who do nothing but complain constantly annoy the hell out of me. I hear this garbage every generation (oh gaming has gone downhill, we're regressing as an industry blah blah blah). It gets old.

Actually I did read the whole article and it seems everyone loves Uncharted 3. Your post seems fanboyish, your bashing the game. There is no point to discuss.

Blazerdt47

I'm using the game to make a point. Which you clearly missed.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"]

are professional reviewers praising a game that is completely unoriginal and, lets be honest, doesn't have amazing writing

FrozenLiquid

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

Yeah, I question why the aiming in the game is like this. Although it was fantastic in UC2's campaign.

But, the story is meant to be a one time roller coaster spectecal, and once again to get all the treasures and extra's in the game.

Then you move on to the multiplayer which has fantastic gameplay, and no over the top set pieces take away from that.

---

But the absolute truth is, the Uncharted games are overrated, and while they're incredibly well made and excellent overall, (2 and 3, Drakes fortune is garbage) should never be mentioned in the same breath as games that marriage fantastic gameplay and pacing in place of over the top action.

I've enjoyed the ride of Uncharted, but next generation, I don't necessarily want these games to not be made ever, but they absolutely shouldn't be the focus.

charizard1605

Thanks man. :)

Games with dated gameplay also seem to be masterpieces, for instance, zelda.

[QUOTE="DarkLink77"][QUOTE="darktx2005"]

It seems like this forum is a the training ground for people who end up flooding NeoGAF. Nothing but complaining and negativity constantly. If games are so damn bad to you, then STOP PLAYING THEM!

darktx2005

Because people like you who do nothing but complain constantly annoy the hell out of me. I hear this garbage every generation (oh gaming has gone downhill, we're regressing as an industry blah blah blah). It gets old.