Time and time again I have noticed a pattern. New and potentially great games are given the title of "unoriginal" or "rip-off". It is something that has always bothered me. I am not going to go into the whole "every game rips something off" argument. I am simply going to state a few examples of how something is wrong with this.

We look at games that we have all grown up with. Or at least have been playing for the past few years. Legend of Zelda, Metal Gear, to name just two. Why is it that we over look this while playing games in a series that we all know and loved? Look at Zelda. When the Ocarina of Time was released it had what could only be described as great game-play. It wasn't the most original but it was great. When Majoras Mask came out it added a slight addition to the game-play, but it remained mostly the same. When the Windwaker came out it offered the same game-play. When Twilight Princess came out it offered the same game-play (The Wii might have a new control scheme but the game-play is the same) How is this acceptable? Any other series who failed to evolve over three count them three console generations would be stoned to death in the streets. Why is it acceptable with the Zelda series? Because we overlook things like that. Especially when it is a series that we have played for the past twenty years.

The Metal Gear, and Final Fantasy are other examples. Why do we have to love these games? Many predetermine that they are great even before playing them. Many people forget that a game actually has to be good and not just like them because they are part of a good series.

And to another point. Why do we rate our games with different systems by comparing them with games on that same system? Don't get me wrong I have nothing against HALO. It is a good game. It isn't a great game but it is probably the best console FPS. However it doesn't really compare to PC FPSs like Farcry (PC version), Halflife 2(PC version), Counterstrike, Call of Duty series (PC versions), Battlefield series. Because HALO is the best FPS (arguably) on the consoles many believe it is the greatest of all time. Why do we see it that way?