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"Inside Or Outside?"

I was playing Deus Ex yesterday, and I wondered to myself while trying to incapacitate a boss with tranquilizer darts (as you can guess, it didn't work,) "why do I prefer games such as Deus Ex and Metal Gear, to titles such as Mario." I wrestled with it for a while, and finally came up with what I believe is the answer.

In games such as Deus Ex and MGS, your are normally situated inside a building of some kind. Whether it be a house, some hi-tech laboratory, offices, hotels and basically anywhere (in Deus Ex especially,) you're normally indoors. Of course, on some occasions, you are outside, but it's usually in a big city.

But when I think of Mario, I think of pretty gardens with colourful flowers, the sun, mushrooms and other outdoor...stuff, for want of a better word. Now, this is in no means bad (although it may be in some people's opinions,) but I reckon it does make a large difference in the gameplay.

Here's a question for you-where would you prefer a game to be situated in? Chicago or the Chelsea Flower Show? It's a serious question, and one that could take a while to answer. While controlling your character, would you rather explore the realms of a huge city with massive buildings and lots of vehicles and people, or a park, full of flowers and animals.

Now I know not all of Mario is situated outside, but I would say most of it is. I think an important word here is environment. There are many different types of environment, and usually a specific type is used for a specific sort of game. I mean, think about it, would Deus Ex really be such a great game if it was situated in a sunny, beautiful part of the world, with lots of lovely flowers and cute animals. Would Mario be as good if your enemies were guards with machine guns, or Cyborgs with Rocket Launchers attached to their arm?

Can you really imagine Mario giving it, "MUM-A-MIA!!" as he gets completely obliterated by a grenade, blood and guts flying everywhere?

Another factor is day and night. In Deus Ex, it always seems to be dark. I have to have all the lights off because the light reflects of the screen so much when I play. But it's an effective technique-it wouldn't be such a tense and perhaps even nerve-wracking experience if it was set in daylight, and the same goes for games like MGS and Red Faction as well.

So, what sort of gamer are you? Do you prefer to play in the dark with scary mutants or gun-carrying baddies looking for you, and lots of buildings, vehicles and cities surrounding you? Or would you prefer to play in a bright, colourful game, full of innovative and imaginitive game ideas? Do you like playing a game in which 1 wrong move could spell the end of you? Or, are you both?

Most people would say they were both, but I would disagree. I, personally, prefer the first type I mentioned. I don't MIND games that are set outside in the woods or something (hell, I enjoyed playing Crash 2 and Spyro The Dragon,) but if I had the choice between the 2, I'd pick the more tense, perhaps even more realistic environment.

The point of this topic? That the environment of a game can make much more difference to the gameplay and enjoyment of it overall, and you would be wise to consider which you prefer before making a purchase. Right, I'm off to spend another hour or so trying to knock out cyborb-mutant Gunther Hermann with my crossbow, without being caught and killed with the massive flamethrower he appears to pull out of no where.

Thanks for reading, Ant.

So basically...are you an inny or an outty?

Personally i am an Inny but i like outty's. Ok, i shall shut up now.
:D