Has anyone else noticed a general decline in game quality this generation?

I have been (or had been) a huge gaming fan from the young age of 4, obsessed with SNES, N64, PS and the likes. Over the years I really delved into gaming, exploring every well known title open to me. But over the last maybe 2 years, ever since the start of the current generation of gaming, I have noticed a always prevalent shallowness that seems present in all games recently released.

I am pretty sure this shallowness was derived from the "graphics boom" as I like to call it, and things like DLC, and especially the Multiplayer craze that really gave the industry a huge boost . It just seems like the developers of today aren't putting half the effort into making games fun, immersive, and exciting as they used to and are focusing more on making "the next big hit" to make a nice profit.

I'm only 16, so I am not a "retro gamer" yearning for games of old, it just seems like games are lacking quality lately. Has anyone been able to forget games like Zelda, Mario, and Half-Life? These games redefined gaming, changing the industry upon the release. Do we even see games like that anymore? I mean seriously, years from now are people still going to be marveling at how GTA4 and Little Big Planet CHANGED the history of gaming, altering all the fundamentals and improving our experience overall? I don't think so. Even personal favorites like Final Fantasy X, Banjo-Kazooie, Earthbound, Silent Hill 1 and 2, and Psychonauts have much more depth and authenticity then any of the big titles coming out today. I have to admit, GTA4 did have me addicted and spawned one of my longest gaming sessions to date, but when it was all said and done I looked back and actually felt remorseful that I had wasted that much time on a game that I got very little out of. It is like gaming isn't an art form anymore. I used to openly scoff at Roger Ebert's comment on games not being art, but with today's games, I am not so sure I am entitled to be the one scoffing.

Sorry for super-venting with this huge nostalgic rant, but I can't shake the feeling that over the years something has been lost. Just the way the industry operates and how huge it has become makes it seem like more a source of income than a outlet for art and entertainment. It's to the point where games with the least amount of effort put into them can still make a good deal of change. One of these days, or even generations, we can hopefully experience another revitalization of gaming the likes of the past couple generations. Until then I guess I will just trudge through this generation, hoping the next can bring retribution to what I see as an overall bland and uninspiring era in gaming.

you are just playing wrong games

games like world of goo are prime example there is still great games

you are just playing wrong games

games like world of goo are prime example there is still great games

only on the shooter consoles its getting worse and worse with every shooter :(

The nostalgic part of your post is the flaw. You grew up with games like mario and zelda in your childhood. When you are a child, even crap games can seem good because you don't really look at the flaws. Now that you are older you can critically analyze games, so now they aren't as awe-inspiring. So to answer your question, no, game quality isn't declining, but the flaws in games are now more noticable now that you are older.

The nostalgic part of your post is the flaw. You grew up with games like mario and zelda in your childhood. When you are a child, even crap games can seem good because you don't really look at the flaws. Now that you are older you can critically analyze games, so now they aren't as awe-inspiring. So to answer your question, no, game quality isn't declining, but the flaws in games are now more noticable now that you are older.

cgi15

The nostalgic part of your post is the flaw. You grew up with games like mario and zelda in your childhood. When you are a child, even crap games can seem good because you don't really look at the flaws. Now that you are older you can critically analyze games, so now they aren't as awe-inspiring. So to answer your question, no, game quality isn't declining, but the flaws in games are now more noticable now that you are older.

cgi15

Finaly Fantasy VII < All FF

MGS 1 < MGS4

Halo 1 < Halo 2 & 3

maybe its just console gaming that has i mean PC gaming the new exclusive to PCs seem to be pretty good.

Having been gaming since 1979 I have to say you're wrong. Maybe you should expand outside of console gaming?blue_hazy_basic

...years from now are people still going to be marveling at how GTA4 and Little Big Planet CHANGED the history of gaming, altering all the fundamentals and improving our experience overall?ThaLootDog

Yes, yes they are.

game quality in general is in decline, but you won't hear many people agree with you here.

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

game quality in general is in decline, but you won't hear many people agree with you here.

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

I completely agree. There aren't near as many good games like there were ten years ago with "Banjo Kazooie" (the new one was alright), Donkey Kong 64, Super Mario 64, Paper Mario, and Super Mario World. Now there are just many similar shooters that are very boring like "Halo 3" and "Mass Effect." Just about every shooter game I have played this generation has put me to sleep.awmannn

Having been gaming since 1979 I have to say you're wrong. Maybe you should expand outside of console gaming?blue_hazy_basic

i agree with this, consoles = more of the same

when major changes in gaming happen, they happen on the PC first, then consoles 3 generations later

Some of the best and most enjoyable games I have played in my entire life have come from this generation. As technology improves, so does games.foxhound_fox

Couldnt' agree more.

For me, personally, this gen is my favorite since the 16-bit era.

[QUOTE="Noverech"]

game quality in general is in decline, but you won't hear many people agree with you here.

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

_rpg_FAN

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

[QUOTE="ThaLootDog"] ...years from now are people still going to be marveling at how GTA4 and Little Big Planet CHANGED the history of gaming, altering all the fundamentals and improving our experience overall?rattleheadxyz

Yes, yes they are.

game quality in general is in decline, but you won't hear many people agree with you here.

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

[QUOTE="_rpg_FAN"][QUOTE="Noverech"]

game quality in general is in decline, but you won't hear many people agree with you here.

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

Noverech

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

I completely agree asside from i think Little Big Planet is quite a good game. Last game I played that I thought daymmmmmmmmm was Half Life 2. Gears of war 2 is a great example of what you are on about. That could of been an amazing game but it just feels shallow to me. Online Gaming I think has ruined single player focus some what. Same goes for achivement points i find myself more bothered about gettin the achievments than playing the game and being engrosed in it. Hopefully games will start to get back on track for some truely epic stuff :)o0squishy0o

Accessibility is the whole rage between game design these days. And accessibility is the opposite of depth.PSdual_wielder

this is what is annoying me this generation with consoles and PC ports.

developers like bethesda who make PC-style games primarily for the consoles, and turn their backs on PC players who got them this far.

i want my oblivion like morrowind, not like fable.

[QUOTE="Noverech"][QUOTE="_rpg_FAN"] examples?dotWithShoes

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

its not a cheap shot at those games, im just pointing out that everyone obsesses over "more of the same" style sequals

[QUOTE="Noverech"][QUOTE="_rpg_FAN"] examples?dotWithShoes

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

I think game overall quality has increased and so have expectations so it's going to be harder for games to stand out as so far above anything else. As time passes htough , the new games or spiritual successors will grow in legend. If you look around , you'll see stuff like Bioshock , LittleBigPlanet , Portal and some others. History will be very good to them.

Games like Shadow of the Colossus and God of War blew a few minds when first released , but it also took those games a few years to be looked back on as legendary game titles like they are today. Same thing will likely happen to games from this gen.

[QUOTE="Noverech"][QUOTE="_rpg_FAN"] examples?_rpg_FAN

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

its hard to compare them like that. when gta3 came out that changed the way games were made and played. but i'd rather play gta4 today because of the newer features and whatnot, even though gta3 might be more memorable (at the time)

one i can say is better then their newer counterpart though is morrowind > oblivion.

[QUOTE="awmannn"]I completely agree. There aren't near as many good games like there were ten years ago with "Banjo Kazooie" (the new one was alright), Donkey Kong 64, Super Mario 64, Paper Mario, and Super Mario World. Now there are just many similar shooters that are very boring like "Halo 3" and "Mass Effect." Just about every shooter game I have played this generation has put me to sleep._rpg_FAN

[QUOTE="_rpg_FAN"][QUOTE="awmannn"]I completely agree. There aren't near as many good games like there were ten years ago with "Banjo Kazooie" (the new one was alright), Donkey Kong 64, Super Mario 64, Paper Mario, and Super Mario World. Now there are just many similar shooters that are very boring like "Halo 3" and "Mass Effect." Just about every shooter game I have played this generation has put me to sleep.awmannn

[QUOTE="dotWithShoes"][QUOTE="Noverech"]

these guys are obsessed with metal gear solid 7 and gears of war 4 or whatever they're up to now.

Noverech

its not a cheap shot at those games, im just pointing out that everyone obsesses over "more of the same" style sequals

/QUOTE] Would you expect the sequel to the first game in a series to be vastly different than the first? Did you honestly expect that out of Gears 2? Do you honestly expect sequels to games that are successful to change as much as you are implying? People(not just you) complain about games being rehashed and sequels being the same, yet when someone decides to change up the whole formula of a game(IE: Dead Space), what do we get? Complaining that they are changing the game, whine whine whine. And isn't saying Gears of War 4 when theres been only two being a bit overstating and making my first comment true?

[QUOTE="Noverech"][QUOTE="dotWithShoes"] Game quality has been declining over all I agree, but fanboyish comments are also declining in quality.dotWithShoes

its not a cheap shot at those games, im just pointing out that everyone obsesses over "more of the same" style sequals

i've played gears of war 2 before, it was called gears of war (1)

death to ALL and EVERY sequal

Galaxy can't even compare to SM64. All SMG did was tone the creativy down a notch, put it in space, add a annoying star collection system, and give people headaches with the unimpressive gravity system.ThaLootDog

Game quality has mostly increased:

• Voice/sound quality has seen a big improvement with the large ochestras and the use of hollywood actors like Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer).
• Graphic quality has increased in all of the systems other than the Wii, to allow bigger maps, more realistic worlds, low load times, etc..
• Gameplay has increased due to Devs avoiding last gen problems and ironed out overall gameplay for example GTA4's move from a very limited auto aim.
• Multiplayer has increased through service improvements and new features/game modes in games.
• etc..

Just throwing this out there, but am I also not alone in thinking exclusively or practically exclusively Multiplayer titles like Left 4 Dead, COD4&5, and Gears of War and crap rehash Wii titles are killing the industry? I basically see the Wii as the industry's death and Mutliplayer as an end to all the games I've loved, AKA single player-campaign/story mode focused games produced for the experience, not to keep helplessly bored people occupied and trapped inside their houses instead of going outside to play with their friends like they are supposed to. I should probably also dub Multiplayer gaming as the end of sports, outdoor activites, friendly gatherings, proactive living, fitness, fun in general, and life itself. Yea, it is getting that bad.

Game quality has mostly increased:

• Voice/sound quality has seen a big improvement with the large ochestras and the use of hollywood actors like Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer).
• Graphic quality has increased in all of the systems other than the Wii, to allow bigger maps, more realistic worlds, low load times, etc..
• Gameplay has increased due to Devs avoiding last gen problems and ironed out overall gameplay for example GTA4's move from a very limited auto aim.
• Multiplayer has increased through service improvements and new features/game modes in games.
• etc..

opex07

In my opinion, games really are in decline, and like the guy clearly said, they are too shallow. Although sequels are not bad at all, they are turning shallow, take Metal Gear Solid 4 as a perfect example, what happened to the sneaky gameplay and just enough weapons to get the job done instead of an arsenal with unlimited ammo.

.