The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only.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.
Graphics are the first impressions a player receives when they start up a game for the first time. Something looking like a complete pig's ear isn't going to encourage you to play very much, let alone buy it. Therefore developers need to make their games at the very least presentable, with some very nice cut-scenes to slap on the back of the case in order to persuade moronic gamers to fork out £40 for the title, oblivious to whether the damn thing's actually any good or not.
Graphics are all well and good, though, but are games beginning to favour visually stunning scenes over thrilling and exciting gameplay?
Back in the olden days we never had any fancy special effects or flashy photo-realistic character models, we just had plain, simple cartoon-like graphics that a 7-year-old could have drawn up within about 10 minutes. Back in the good ol' days of Super Hang-on and Golden Axe, nobody cared about the games' looks- it was the play that counted. To this day I still have fond memories of thrashing my cousin on Streets of Rage, whilst laughing hysterically at the ridiculous noises the baddies screamed out on death. I've never had so much fun...
Return to today's violence-infested gaming market and you'll find the shelves stacked full of blood-filled, sweary adult titles containing brutal violence and misery. Play something like The Getaway and you'll find brutal torture scenes complete with extreme amounts of violence, or play a ten minute session on MK: DA and you'll find more claret than in the wine shops of Bordeaux. Put simply, games seem to have turned into depressing, violent experiences that require either master skill or none at all.
So games might be intended for adult audiences, but who cares, it's the fun that counts, right? Right. The thing is, 'fun' is no longer present in a lot of games. For example, The getaway obviously had a lot of effort put into the visuals, but there's the small matter of a game supposed to be in there somewhere, guys! The same is applicable to Metal Gear Solid 2.
Fair enough, there are still an overwhelming amount of quality titles (GTA: VC, MK: DA, SOF 2 etc.) that may be strictly for over 18's and still provide a considerable amount of amusement, but can anyone honestly say that they find these titles anywhere near as hilarious or generally fun to play as some of the old 16bit classics?
I know for me, the answer is 'no'.
So, are graphical achievments the heart of today's games, with gameplay coming second, or do people miss the harmless 16bit classics that graced our store's shelves a decade ago?
Graphics are all well and good, though, but are games beginning to favour visually stunning scenes over thrilling and exciting gameplay?
Back in the olden days we never had any fancy special effects or flashy photo-realistic character models, we just had plain, simple cartoon-like graphics that a 7-year-old could have drawn up within about 10 minutes. Back in the good ol' days of Super Hang-on and Golden Axe, nobody cared about the games' looks- it was the play that counted. To this day I still have fond memories of thrashing my cousin on Streets of Rage, whilst laughing hysterically at the ridiculous noises the baddies screamed out on death. I've never had so much fun...
Return to today's violence-infested gaming market and you'll find the shelves stacked full of blood-filled, sweary adult titles containing brutal violence and misery. Play something like The Getaway and you'll find brutal torture scenes complete with extreme amounts of violence, or play a ten minute session on MK: DA and you'll find more claret than in the wine shops of Bordeaux. Put simply, games seem to have turned into depressing, violent experiences that require either master skill or none at all.
So games might be intended for adult audiences, but who cares, it's the fun that counts, right? Right. The thing is, 'fun' is no longer present in a lot of games. For example, The getaway obviously had a lot of effort put into the visuals, but there's the small matter of a game supposed to be in there somewhere, guys! The same is applicable to Metal Gear Solid 2.
Fair enough, there are still an overwhelming amount of quality titles (GTA: VC, MK: DA, SOF 2 etc.) that may be strictly for over 18's and still provide a considerable amount of amusement, but can anyone honestly say that they find these titles anywhere near as hilarious or generally fun to play as some of the old 16bit classics?
I know for me, the answer is 'no'.
So, are graphical achievments the heart of today's games, with gameplay coming second, or do people miss the harmless 16bit classics that graced our store's shelves a decade ago?
Robin wrote:
> I hate sundays, there is always nothing to do...
Yeah, I always end up messing around on the internet all day because if I turn the telly on Eastenders always manages to get in the way of civilised viewing and old granny programs are always infesting the TV at night. Apart from Only fools and Horses, which was quite funny.
> I hate sundays, there is always nothing to do...
Yeah, I always end up messing around on the internet all day because if I turn the telly on Eastenders always manages to get in the way of civilised viewing and old granny programs are always infesting the TV at night. Apart from Only fools and Horses, which was quite funny.
I hat a sunday once as well.
It wasn't a very nice sunday in all fairness, so it deserved it.
It wasn't a very nice sunday in all fairness, so it deserved it.
I hat sundays, there is always nothing to do...
Arrgh got to go to bed soon, and because of damn clock changing i aint tired...
Arrgh got to go to bed soon, and because of damn clock changing i aint tired...
Is this national GAD attempt day?
No it's just a sunday.
No it's just a sunday.
Mostly yes, but good game play is essential, but mainly good graphics lead to most good game play...
Mario Party for the Nintendo 64 was fun.VERY FUN.If you invite 3 friends round to your house, nothing can beat it.All of the fun, all of the laughs and Luigi always losing in BUMPER BALLS.Oh The Good old days....
Semajal wrote:
> Also i used to have fun on Mario Bros on my NES. But then
> what was at the cutting edge.
It is - cutting edge gameplay.
> Also i used to have fun on Mario Bros on my NES. But then
> what was at the cutting edge.
It is - cutting edge gameplay.
Metroid Prime is in my opinion gaming perfection. The cut scenes blend very well and there is no graphical difference between them and the main game. There are no loading screens. EVER. :D this is a game that looks amazing and plays better than anything. Personally it is what developers should strive for. A mix of brilliant gameplay and graphics. Also i used to have fun on Mario Bros on my NES. But then what was at the cutting edge.
Graphics are the first impressions a player receives when they start up a game for the first time. Something looking like a complete pig's ear isn't going to encourage you to play very much, let alone buy it. Therefore developers need to make their games at the very least presentable, with some very nice cut-scenes to slap on the back of the case in order to persuade moronic gamers to fork out £40 for the title, oblivious to whether the damn thing's actually any good or not.
Graphics are all well and good, though, but are games beginning to favour visually stunning scenes over thrilling and exciting gameplay?
Back in the olden days we never had any fancy special effects or flashy photo-realistic character models, we just had plain, simple cartoon-like graphics that a 7-year-old could have drawn up within about 10 minutes. Back in the good ol' days of Super Hang-on and Golden Axe, nobody cared about the games' looks- it was the play that counted. To this day I still have fond memories of thrashing my cousin on Streets of Rage, whilst laughing hysterically at the ridiculous noises the baddies screamed out on death. I've never had so much fun...
Return to today's violence-infested gaming market and you'll find the shelves stacked full of blood-filled, sweary adult titles containing brutal violence and misery. Play something like The Getaway and you'll find brutal torture scenes complete with extreme amounts of violence, or play a ten minute session on MK: DA and you'll find more claret than in the wine shops of Bordeaux. Put simply, games seem to have turned into depressing, violent experiences that require either master skill or none at all.
So games might be intended for adult audiences, but who cares, it's the fun that counts, right? Right. The thing is, 'fun' is no longer present in a lot of games. For example, The getaway obviously had a lot of effort put into the visuals, but there's the small matter of a game supposed to be in there somewhere, guys! The same is applicable to Metal Gear Solid 2.
Fair enough, there are still an overwhelming amount of quality titles (GTA: VC, MK: DA, SOF 2 etc.) that may be strictly for over 18's and still provide a considerable amount of amusement, but can anyone honestly say that they find these titles anywhere near as hilarious or generally fun to play as some of the old 16bit classics?
I know for me, the answer is 'no'.
So, are graphical achievments the heart of today's games, with gameplay coming second, or do people miss the harmless 16bit classics that graced our store's shelves a decade ago?
Graphics are all well and good, though, but are games beginning to favour visually stunning scenes over thrilling and exciting gameplay?
Back in the olden days we never had any fancy special effects or flashy photo-realistic character models, we just had plain, simple cartoon-like graphics that a 7-year-old could have drawn up within about 10 minutes. Back in the good ol' days of Super Hang-on and Golden Axe, nobody cared about the games' looks- it was the play that counted. To this day I still have fond memories of thrashing my cousin on Streets of Rage, whilst laughing hysterically at the ridiculous noises the baddies screamed out on death. I've never had so much fun...
Return to today's violence-infested gaming market and you'll find the shelves stacked full of blood-filled, sweary adult titles containing brutal violence and misery. Play something like The Getaway and you'll find brutal torture scenes complete with extreme amounts of violence, or play a ten minute session on MK: DA and you'll find more claret than in the wine shops of Bordeaux. Put simply, games seem to have turned into depressing, violent experiences that require either master skill or none at all.
So games might be intended for adult audiences, but who cares, it's the fun that counts, right? Right. The thing is, 'fun' is no longer present in a lot of games. For example, The getaway obviously had a lot of effort put into the visuals, but there's the small matter of a game supposed to be in there somewhere, guys! The same is applicable to Metal Gear Solid 2.
Fair enough, there are still an overwhelming amount of quality titles (GTA: VC, MK: DA, SOF 2 etc.) that may be strictly for over 18's and still provide a considerable amount of amusement, but can anyone honestly say that they find these titles anywhere near as hilarious or generally fun to play as some of the old 16bit classics?
I know for me, the answer is 'no'.
So, are graphical achievments the heart of today's games, with gameplay coming second, or do people miss the harmless 16bit classics that graced our store's shelves a decade ago?