Glad I didn't pick up the sequel. The original had this darkness around it, complimenting the tone of Sera's impending doom. Bright and cheerful lighting, especially in multiplayer (deigned to be replayed over and over) doesn't fit at all. I'm picky about tone in my chosen games; even the popular ones can succumb to such mistakes in world-view/design. As an example, I couldn't get into Twilight Princess. Zelda has always been a cartoon series for me. TP's items and characters are not realistic and they didn't mesh well with the brown graphics. In contrast, Wind Waker and Link to the Past are a joy to play.
Great feature, Gamespot; you talked to many informative views on this subject. Many indie studios are striving for this kind of media expression. You guys could've talked to someone like Denis Dyack if you wanted to discuss games as art. Regardless of what you think of his latest project, you have to admit the studio strives for a total engagement with the player inside their created universe. The studio even works with academia and has some that teach courses over at the local universities near Ontario. Courses like "Interactive Arts and Sciences" can essentially get new artists a degree in interactive media. New talent like this is future for our industry.
Want further proof The PS3 is a sub par PC needing an upgrade now and then... And don't try to tell me the 360 has the same situation (HDD upgrades aside, it's not like you'd ever have to upgrade something in the console to increase performance. :roll: )
I like the addition of this feature as well. Even if it is only a continuation of "The Quality of Unlife in Gaming" http://www.gamespot.com/live-event/zombie_genocider/index.php
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