Perfect Stu
05-30-2003, 03:49 PM
The videogame industry has become ridiculously large...total revenue surpassed that of worldwide cinema box offices. Production costs for games have been on the steady incline for YEARS now...games are being funded by millions upon millions of dollars. And yet, I can honestly look back and count but a few games that really connected with me on the level of blockbuster films.
I think the word I'm looking for here is EPIC. Dozens of games hold the meaning 'classic' in my mind, but few have reached the level of epic. Metal Gear Solid, to me, was epic. Ocarina of Time? Possibly.
As an example
I look at a genre like the platformer and while I like many platformers, I feel like a lot more could be done with the genre. Super Mario Bros. was truly revolutionary, and offered a gameplay experience not nearly like any other for its time. The core gameplay elements went hand-in-hand with many Mario games to follow like SMB3, SMW, and even through its transition to 3D gaming with SM64 and SMS. To me, the series started on NES with an absolute EXPLOSION. SMB and SMB3 still remain 10 ten of all time quality games in my mind. But as the series progressed, a hint of staleness emerged. And it got just a little worse with each next installment. Simplified:
SMB - 94/100
SMB3 - 95/100
SMW - 91/100
SM64 - 87/100
SMS - 81/100
Not much thought went into those scores, but it gives you an idea anyway. I think that as the times changed, the Mario series (along with others...I just use Mario as an example) didn't keep pace. Since I was exposed to the afformentioned epics MGS and OoT, I've expected more from a AAA game. Comelling soundtrack and overall game sound, thought-provoking, hollywood-calibur storyline, character development, quality voice work, replay value (10+ hours at least for a story-driven game), top notch visuals, stylish presentation and addictive gameplay.
Imagine a Mario game. Mario has more personality and character traits...he will embark over a gigantic adventure through Mushroom Kingdom, through green hills and rocky valleys, through snow topped mountains and overactive volcanos. Up to the clouds and into the sea. And he isn't doing it for the good of his own health. He isn't doing it to add to his coin and star collection. He has a reason...something to drive him. The story can include saving the princess from Bowser for all I care, but I want it to be something important. Something you'll remember and think about for years to come. Imagine cutscenes, humour, and voicework for TONS of characters along your quest. Talking fish, rock-monsters, turtles, mushrooms, whatever. And then realize that it COULD be done today.
The whole "Bowser stole the princess for no apparent reason other than to give Mario a half-assed reason to hop all over the place" worked back in the 80's. It really worked. But the times have changed, like I said.
***See, this thread really doesn't have much to do with Mario. I used Mario as the example for obvious reasons (most recognizable character in gaming history, and a series I'm sure all of you have experienced). The same scenario could apply to almost any given game of any given genre. Gaming is expensive, and money is both valuable and limited. For what I pay for gaming, I want more out of it these days. I expect more.***
I think the word I'm looking for here is EPIC. Dozens of games hold the meaning 'classic' in my mind, but few have reached the level of epic. Metal Gear Solid, to me, was epic. Ocarina of Time? Possibly.
As an example
I look at a genre like the platformer and while I like many platformers, I feel like a lot more could be done with the genre. Super Mario Bros. was truly revolutionary, and offered a gameplay experience not nearly like any other for its time. The core gameplay elements went hand-in-hand with many Mario games to follow like SMB3, SMW, and even through its transition to 3D gaming with SM64 and SMS. To me, the series started on NES with an absolute EXPLOSION. SMB and SMB3 still remain 10 ten of all time quality games in my mind. But as the series progressed, a hint of staleness emerged. And it got just a little worse with each next installment. Simplified:
SMB - 94/100
SMB3 - 95/100
SMW - 91/100
SM64 - 87/100
SMS - 81/100
Not much thought went into those scores, but it gives you an idea anyway. I think that as the times changed, the Mario series (along with others...I just use Mario as an example) didn't keep pace. Since I was exposed to the afformentioned epics MGS and OoT, I've expected more from a AAA game. Comelling soundtrack and overall game sound, thought-provoking, hollywood-calibur storyline, character development, quality voice work, replay value (10+ hours at least for a story-driven game), top notch visuals, stylish presentation and addictive gameplay.
Imagine a Mario game. Mario has more personality and character traits...he will embark over a gigantic adventure through Mushroom Kingdom, through green hills and rocky valleys, through snow topped mountains and overactive volcanos. Up to the clouds and into the sea. And he isn't doing it for the good of his own health. He isn't doing it to add to his coin and star collection. He has a reason...something to drive him. The story can include saving the princess from Bowser for all I care, but I want it to be something important. Something you'll remember and think about for years to come. Imagine cutscenes, humour, and voicework for TONS of characters along your quest. Talking fish, rock-monsters, turtles, mushrooms, whatever. And then realize that it COULD be done today.
The whole "Bowser stole the princess for no apparent reason other than to give Mario a half-assed reason to hop all over the place" worked back in the 80's. It really worked. But the times have changed, like I said.
***See, this thread really doesn't have much to do with Mario. I used Mario as the example for obvious reasons (most recognizable character in gaming history, and a series I'm sure all of you have experienced). The same scenario could apply to almost any given game of any given genre. Gaming is expensive, and money is both valuable and limited. For what I pay for gaming, I want more out of it these days. I expect more.***