The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
About ten years ago when only platform or puzzle games were being played we used to see fun titles, which were a joy to just have a laugh with. For a while these were fun and still are now but was this because there wasn’t much atmosphere or not… And if so what makes it in the first place?
Well I loved the Nintendo games for the Snes and I didn’t really take them very seriously, because to me it was just for a bit of fun. Now days we are seeing games like Resident evil that scare the life out of you all the time. NO matter how you treat games like this there will always be an element of spookiness in it, and you just can’t help it. I was wondering, what type is better… but then I realized both is excellent and the gaming world is about trying new things and enjoying your self with every thing.
SO after I worked that out I thought of this topic… How to make a decent atmosphere for the type of game you are playing on in the first place. Of course seeing the Resident Evil series and other gore/horror is nothing unusual but in a way there isn’t much going on at all. I am not dissin the game because I love it to bits but it is not that hard to play tricks on the human mind. You know what is going to happen so you are naturally nervous and when it happens your heart rate goes rocketing up to lord know high.
But it is not horror games I am wondering how to create an atmosphere in but all games for all consoles. Take a game like confidential mission. It is a cool game but has no real feeling to it in my view and now we are this far into next gen gaming maybe atmospheric games should hit the stores more oftenly. My point is maybe a racing game should have REAL feelings and thinking that you are a driver racing for the gold. Or a beat’ em up where you feel like you are fighting for your life.
I know games like this exist but they are the very best and it would be an idea if several games all had extreme atmosphere on top of the already first rate Calibur.
But what does make the atmosphere?
I think when you are playing Resi evil or silent hill you don’t want your character to get hurt or see them get totally minced and in a way your mind just fears for it self and plays tricks on you. Well I think other games like sports or arcade you don’t fear there for you don’t take as seriously.
In my opinion the future of gaming should contain everything and some games should be atmospheric and others not. I think that sums it up…
Cheers
T_W uk
Well I loved the Nintendo games for the Snes and I didn’t really take them very seriously, because to me it was just for a bit of fun. Now days we are seeing games like Resident evil that scare the life out of you all the time. NO matter how you treat games like this there will always be an element of spookiness in it, and you just can’t help it. I was wondering, what type is better… but then I realized both is excellent and the gaming world is about trying new things and enjoying your self with every thing.
SO after I worked that out I thought of this topic… How to make a decent atmosphere for the type of game you are playing on in the first place. Of course seeing the Resident Evil series and other gore/horror is nothing unusual but in a way there isn’t much going on at all. I am not dissin the game because I love it to bits but it is not that hard to play tricks on the human mind. You know what is going to happen so you are naturally nervous and when it happens your heart rate goes rocketing up to lord know high.
But it is not horror games I am wondering how to create an atmosphere in but all games for all consoles. Take a game like confidential mission. It is a cool game but has no real feeling to it in my view and now we are this far into next gen gaming maybe atmospheric games should hit the stores more oftenly. My point is maybe a racing game should have REAL feelings and thinking that you are a driver racing for the gold. Or a beat’ em up where you feel like you are fighting for your life.
I know games like this exist but they are the very best and it would be an idea if several games all had extreme atmosphere on top of the already first rate Calibur.
But what does make the atmosphere?
I think when you are playing Resi evil or silent hill you don’t want your character to get hurt or see them get totally minced and in a way your mind just fears for it self and plays tricks on you. Well I think other games like sports or arcade you don’t fear there for you don’t take as seriously.
In my opinion the future of gaming should contain everything and some games should be atmospheric and others not. I think that sums it up…
Cheers
T_W uk
Page:
Atmosphere?
Black and White.
(no talking of bugs and "What's the point?" because this is about atmosphere).
From the moment you arrive at the island, introduced to the villagers, choosing your creature - everything makes it real and pulls you in.
No interface, no pop-up menus, no icons, just the game-world.
And a creature you've raised since infancy, taught him to eat, help people (or burn them), everything there is because of you.
And on a later leve, when your creature is stolen from you and tortured?
You feel angry and very annoyed that your "baby" has been taken.
And you forget about being nice, forget about playing on the side of good and go mental.
Destroy villages, burn forests and throw people over mountains to teach them to do that to you.
(I still havent gotten my monkey back yet and no, I'm not bitter)
Black and White.
(no talking of bugs and "What's the point?" because this is about atmosphere).
From the moment you arrive at the island, introduced to the villagers, choosing your creature - everything makes it real and pulls you in.
No interface, no pop-up menus, no icons, just the game-world.
And a creature you've raised since infancy, taught him to eat, help people (or burn them), everything there is because of you.
And on a later leve, when your creature is stolen from you and tortured?
You feel angry and very annoyed that your "baby" has been taken.
And you forget about being nice, forget about playing on the side of good and go mental.
Destroy villages, burn forests and throw people over mountains to teach them to do that to you.
(I still havent gotten my monkey back yet and no, I'm not bitter)
"What an atmosphere! I love a party with a happy atmoshpere!"
Setting the right atmosphere is a careful balance of many things. The graphics and the music are the most immediate things, and vital in setting the right atmosphere. If you want a survival horror, then you dont want a 'sunshine and lollypops' soundtrack. You need something dark and moody, and the sound effects have got to be spot on, such as creaking doors. Likewise the graphics have to suit. I'm not sure that Resident Evil would work if you replaced the zombies with big pink fluffy bunnies. But it might. In fact, that sounds very disturbing indeed...
The style of the game will also set the atmosphere. With a survival horror, you have to survive (did I really need to state that?) the idea is not to kill every zombie you come accross. Because of this you will always be cautious, and on edge.
Eternal Darkess (coming soon for Nintendo GAMECUBE) looks much like a survival horror, but in fact, is not. It has been dubbed a 'psychological thriller'. If you run away from all of the enemies you slowly lose your grasp on sanity, and very strange things begin to happen. This again will change the whole atmosphere of the game.
Setting the right atmosphere is a careful balance of many things. The graphics and the music are the most immediate things, and vital in setting the right atmosphere. If you want a survival horror, then you dont want a 'sunshine and lollypops' soundtrack. You need something dark and moody, and the sound effects have got to be spot on, such as creaking doors. Likewise the graphics have to suit. I'm not sure that Resident Evil would work if you replaced the zombies with big pink fluffy bunnies. But it might. In fact, that sounds very disturbing indeed...
The style of the game will also set the atmosphere. With a survival horror, you have to survive (did I really need to state that?) the idea is not to kill every zombie you come accross. Because of this you will always be cautious, and on edge.
Eternal Darkess (coming soon for Nintendo GAMECUBE) looks much like a survival horror, but in fact, is not. It has been dubbed a 'psychological thriller'. If you run away from all of the enemies you slowly lose your grasp on sanity, and very strange things begin to happen. This again will change the whole atmosphere of the game.
boohoooohoooohooo...
That can be rectified Shocktrooper, The settlers II is available for a very cheap price in any games shop that sells older games. SR don't seem to sell it, but you can't go far wrong with Settlers 3 or 4 either, they're just not as 'pure'.
That can be rectified Shocktrooper, The settlers II is available for a very cheap price in any games shop that sells older games. SR don't seem to sell it, but you can't go far wrong with Settlers 3 or 4 either, they're just not as 'pure'.
The settlers? Sorry if i've upset your feelings pb, but i've never heard of it...
*Shocky hopes that pb doesn't burst out into a fit of histerical tears*
There, there...
Ahh, good post WarpMeister...(better keep to the topic you see, Time_Warps' got a gu...good personality...hehe - BANG)
*Shocky hopes that pb doesn't burst out into a fit of histerical tears*
There, there...
Ahh, good post WarpMeister...(better keep to the topic you see, Time_Warps' got a gu...good personality...hehe - BANG)
Do you know the most atmospheric and addictive game I've ever played? It wasn't a survival horror, like Resident Evil, with it's spooky background music and creepy effects making you jump at every turn.
It wasn't a mario game, with it's cute graphics and feelgood gameplay.
It wasn't even a strategy war game with long FMV clips of Generals shouting orders at a group of grunts and mad dictators trying to take over the world.
It was a subtle little game of village building and brave knights in armour, battling to control the edges of their land, while pigs roamed around in fields. Bakers happily baked bread as people lifted wood for new buildings and fishermen dipped their rods in the cool waters to look for food to sustain the kingdom.
Birds roamed the sky, twittering their happy songs as workmen grunted away at the new fortifications and the sails of the windmill creaked slowly in the distance.
Yes, I'm talking about a little game named The Settlers. Now in it's fourth episode, the game has since evolved from its humble beginnings, but the first game is fondly remembered on my old Amiga and then on the PC I bought afterwards. The second Settlers is always on my harddrive, waiting for the moment I need to wind down and hear those sounds of the village again. Those cute little people work hard all day, but always seem to have a song in their heart and a light step.
The Settlers was a game that could relax you and pull you in to their little farm world, making time disappear in the outside world faster than an alien abduction. Now that's atmosphere.
It wasn't a mario game, with it's cute graphics and feelgood gameplay.
It wasn't even a strategy war game with long FMV clips of Generals shouting orders at a group of grunts and mad dictators trying to take over the world.
It was a subtle little game of village building and brave knights in armour, battling to control the edges of their land, while pigs roamed around in fields. Bakers happily baked bread as people lifted wood for new buildings and fishermen dipped their rods in the cool waters to look for food to sustain the kingdom.
Birds roamed the sky, twittering their happy songs as workmen grunted away at the new fortifications and the sails of the windmill creaked slowly in the distance.
Yes, I'm talking about a little game named The Settlers. Now in it's fourth episode, the game has since evolved from its humble beginnings, but the first game is fondly remembered on my old Amiga and then on the PC I bought afterwards. The second Settlers is always on my harddrive, waiting for the moment I need to wind down and hear those sounds of the village again. Those cute little people work hard all day, but always seem to have a song in their heart and a light step.
The Settlers was a game that could relax you and pull you in to their little farm world, making time disappear in the outside world faster than an alien abduction. Now that's atmosphere.
Time_Warp wrote:
> RastaBillySkank wrote:
> Time_Warp wrote:
> You're supposed
> to be my friend.
I am! Sure....
> It's not even
> long!
True... I'm not in the mood for reading
> tonight
> though... ----YOU NEVER ARE!!!!!!
been playing too much mario...
>
--------Which game?
Well if ya gonna be like that I just won't talk to you...
> RastaBillySkank wrote:
> Time_Warp wrote:
> You're supposed
> to be my friend.
I am! Sure....
> It's not even
> long!
True... I'm not in the mood for reading
> tonight
> though... ----YOU NEVER ARE!!!!!!
been playing too much mario...
>
--------Which game?
Well if ya gonna be like that I just won't talk to you...
Atmosphere was what made games stand out. Remember Smash TV on the Megadrive a few years ago? Basically, every level was the same, the two-player option was frantic, but because of the audience sound effects and the commentator urging you on, you got a feeling that you were really there at the time, which was what made the game stand out.
Sensible Soccer was another one, a great game, fun to play, but without sound effects providing the atmosphere, it wouldn't have been the great title that is was.
Atmosphere is as important now as it ever was, which is why you get all star commentators doing the football game, (well, maybe not Mr Walker's Crisps himself but you get the idea), and why even racing games now have commentaries, like Nascar, TOCA and so on.
Imagine Gran Turismo with commentary, what a game that would be then! (As long as you had the option to turn it off during the Endurance Races).
Imagine Space Invaders with your Base Commander's popping up in a little FMV window screaming "Our base has been hit!" and the Aliens in another window shouting "All your base belong to us! Heh!!"
Imagine Tomb Raider with "Extra Gore" options.
All these extra options are used in other games, there's no reason why they can't be added to future sequels of the originals to make them better games because of the better atmosphere.
But best of all, there's now no reason at all why completely new games can't be brought out for the next-gen consoles with ALL of these ideas implemented, making for some great games in the future.
Sensible Soccer was another one, a great game, fun to play, but without sound effects providing the atmosphere, it wouldn't have been the great title that is was.
Atmosphere is as important now as it ever was, which is why you get all star commentators doing the football game, (well, maybe not Mr Walker's Crisps himself but you get the idea), and why even racing games now have commentaries, like Nascar, TOCA and so on.
Imagine Gran Turismo with commentary, what a game that would be then! (As long as you had the option to turn it off during the Endurance Races).
Imagine Space Invaders with your Base Commander's popping up in a little FMV window screaming "Our base has been hit!" and the Aliens in another window shouting "All your base belong to us! Heh!!"
Imagine Tomb Raider with "Extra Gore" options.
All these extra options are used in other games, there's no reason why they can't be added to future sequels of the originals to make them better games because of the better atmosphere.
But best of all, there's now no reason at all why completely new games can't be brought out for the next-gen consoles with ALL of these ideas implemented, making for some great games in the future.
Time_Warp wrote:
> You're supposed to be my friend.
I am!
It's not even long!
True... I'm not in the mood for reading tonight though... been playing too much mario...
> You're supposed to be my friend.
I am!
It's not even long!
True... I'm not in the mood for reading tonight though... been playing too much mario...
Page: