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"Triple A"

Question that I’ve posed myself is what is classed as a triple A title? Simple answers will be fired at me, from a Nintendo point of view Triple A titles include Mario, Starfox Adventures, Zelda, Metroid and Eternal Darkness. But several confusions can occur as regards what IS a triple A title, do separate consoles class different things as Triple A and can our personal preferences determine a Triple A title.

Now the launch of the Nintendo Gamecube isn’t too far away and looking at the launch line up I can’t say that I’m not impressed. But many have pointed out that launch game, Luigi’s Mansion, is far from the triple A title that we come to expect from a Nintendo launch game (like lets say Mario 64 on the good old N64). But as far as I’m concerned the launch is littered with Triple A titles. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle is one of these, so is Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3, but when I say these games I get laughed at claiming that these games aren’t triple A titles. Another game, which appears not on day one but certainly during the launch period is Super Smash Brothers: Melee, but again people say this is not a Triple A title. So now I get confused and ask, “what the hell is a Triple A title??”

My quest to find out what defines a Triple A title has taken me to the dead but not forgotten SEGA Dreamcast. This system was filled with class games such as Crazy Taxi, Sonic Adventures and Jet Set Radio. A system that had its fair share of amazing triple A games. Phantasy Star Online Version 2 is a prime example of a triple A Dreamcast game, the game really has shown what a console game can do with the Internet! SEGA RPG’s do normally turn out to be spectacular take the critically acclaimed Skies of Arcadia for example, one of the Dreamcast’s best Triple A titles. Now here is where a problem arises - the above Triple A titles have appeared or will appear on other systems. Crazy Taxi has got released on all formats, but why was it a Triple A title on the Dreamcast but a simply good game on other systems? Well the fact that a sequel has since appeared on the Dreamcast makes Crazy Taxi seem very much outdated but what about the others? Sonic has always been a Triple A, first rate SEGA game, it has been the game that SEGA use to show of their wares on more than one occasion. So why is it then that the awesome Sonic Adventure 2 on the Dreamcast is no more than a good game on the Gamecube? Sonic Adventure 2: Battle is an upgraded Dreamcast game but a damn good one, but that is all it is, what has caused this game to get demoted? Phantasy Star Online version 2 is about to get a release on all formats (looking at how its updated I think it should be called Phantasy Star Online version 3) but although it has generated some excitement it isn’t looking at being a Triple A title on the Gamecube, on the Playstation 2 or the X-box but it was on the Dreamcast… why? Skies of Arcadia is now going multi-format, one of the best RPG’s of all time but again this won’t get the prestigious triple A rating.

So the mystery deepens, and so my quest continues. The next part takes me to Sony’s Playstation 2 one of the most successful consoles of all time (except maybe Gameboy) and so I look why. And it isn’t hard to work that one out, the end of last year saw a wealth of triple A titles hit shores worldwide. Triple A Playstation titles seem to include Tony Hawks series, Tomb Raider series, Tekken Series, Final Fantasy series, Metal Gear Solid series and Grand Theft Auto series (I would of added Resident Evil to that list once upon a time). Now Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 is a huge game, it deserved Gamespots game of the year award beating competition from Metal Gear Solid 2 and Grand Theft Auto 3, but the game is a multi-format game with both Gamecube and X-box versions - but on these systems it isn’t a Triple A title and why is that? I could say that what Playstation fans class as Triple A and what Nintendo fans class as Triple A are different, but I’m not here to make cheap digs at the opposition I’m here to find out what a Triple A title is and I am not going to lie. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 is a Triple A title on the Playstation 2, but the Gamecube is a different console and the Tony Hawks series although popular, is no where near as popular as its Playstation counterpart. And for Christ’s sake how can you call a port a Triple A title? Sonic Adventure 2, yeah good but it’s a port, so is Crazy Taxi as is Tony Hawks 3. Imagine if Nintendo went around parading Tony Hawks 3 as one of the “BIG” Gamecube launch titles, a game that has been around for over 6 months on the Playstation 2 that would be quite frankly embarrassing. Which is why when the X-box make a big deal out of GTA3 and Metal Gear Solid 2 I feel like laughing, you call yourself the greatest console on the market but your best games are games that came out on the Playstation 2 6 months before?

So why isn’t Super Smash Brothers Melee classed as a Triple A title? The game will be one of my most favourite games of all time and Famitsu magazine awarded it 37/40 which is about 93%. Does personal preference not influence what is classed as a Triple A title? Super Smash Brothers is one of my favorite N64 games, beating Triple A Playstation 2 title Tekken into a cocked hat but Melee isn’t one. A game that has so many options that you would be playing it for years to come, a multiplayer game so addictive that your friends will be around everyday and it looks sooo good. And as I’ve already pointed out a high scoring game as well, so what did the game not have that lets say Mario and Zelda does? One of the things I noticed is lack of hype, it is very good game and it sold very well, the first Gamecube million seller but compare the hype Luigi’s Mansion got compared with Smash Brothers, it pales in comparison. And again I get back to what the Gamecube is, look at virtually all of the Triple A games DUE out this year, they are adventure games something Smash Brothers is not. But Resident Evil doesn’t fit in with the Gamecube image, in fact less than Smash Brothers. But do you class Resident Evil as a Triple A title, a game that got 39/40 from Famitsu, about 98% higher than what Zelda was scored. It is topping the Game charts, millions are buying Gamecube’s simply for this game but do you guys class it as Triple A? Back to Smash Brothers though the simple system although effective and original isn’t spectacular or clever and it didn’t require any huge teams to work with it in order to get over any complicated hurdles, the game although packed with options is very simple and very similar to the N64 version… does this prevent it getting the prestigious Triple A rating?

What I have deduced from my quest is that how good a game is doesn’t honestly matter originality, how the game is made, the look and the ideas, that is what makes it a Triple A title. Animal Forest + is a brilliantly huge game, amazingly original and complicated with the in built clock (Famitsu scored it 37/40) but it has graphics borrowed from the N64 version, does this stop it being Triple A game. If a game is a port then it can’t be called a Triple A title on the system it was ported on to and no matter how much you like the game, if it doesn’t obey the above rules then it isn’t a triple A title… What a load of crap! Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 is a port ok, but it was the game of last year, it is brilliant, it is fun, it is good looking and so therefore it is a Triple A title port or no port. Grand Theft Auto 3, one of the best games of all time can’t be classed as AAA on the X-box because it was on the Playstation 2 first, now that is just rubbish. Super Smash Brothers melee, yes it is similar to the first game, but this one has an adventure mode, tones more characters, more spectacular arenas, tones of extra Gameplay options and for major Smash Brothers fans a Triple A title, it has sold over 1 million copies it got 37/40 a brilliant score and it is absolutely amazing… this is a Triple A title. Why isn’t Sonic Adventure 2: Battle a Triple A title? Simple, the Dreamcast is not up to par with the Gamecube, a Triple A title on the Dreamcast but the Dreamcast is old now and so Sonic Adventure 2 really isn’t that good, a Sonic Adventure 3 maybe but not an enhanced Dreamcast port. Triple A titles, are the biggest, most enjoyable, best looking games in the world and weather it is a port or relatively unpopular title like Jet Set Radio it doesn’t stop it being as good as it is. So the Gamecube launch may not have games people call Triple A it does have titles that are Triple A standard, like Tony Hawks 3. And so in conclusion a Triple A title is a damn good game.

Here’s to the future.

Dringo.

I see where you are coming from with the Mario 64 compare with SA2 but what about your most favourite game...

Smash Brothers is one of mine i adore it to bits, gorgeous, instantly playable and in my mind perfect... surly this is an AAA title to me????

Sonic Adventure 2 will be someones favourite game... is that not an AAA title to them... and what about THPS3, fun, long lasting, great leearnung curve, long lasting, internet access, great multiplayer, long lasting, good looking, funny, long lasting... and gamespots game of last year... is this not AAA?

Dringo wrote:
> WE did have this conversation Sonic that is why i posted it... I believe Smash Brothers is a AAA title you do not, Edgy thinks SA2 is the best game he has ever played you quite obviously do not...

So is SA2 AAA? Is Smash Brothers AAA?


Ok, firstly, let me tell you what a AAA game is. It is a totally revolutionary game that sets new highs in it's genre and introduces new innovations.

What is the point in saying a game is AAA if, as you believe, there are about half a dozen AAA games coming out on the GC soon. Can you honestly say that you rate a game like Mario 64, which defined the 3D genre and set standards that are still used today, and something like SA2 in the same catagory?

Your way of rating AAA games is akin to the NOM's reviews. The whole system was defunked because ALL games got above 90%. In theory only 1/10 games should get that score.

Now, is SA2 AAA? No. Simply because it does none of the above. All the game does ot take SA1, play around with some characters, and introduce a few, very short, levels. Same goes for Smash bros. What does this game do to put it in the elite catagory of AAA games.

The whole point of saying a game is AAA is that, even for years to come, it will influence gaming to no end. There are very few games that, honestly, do this. Mario 64 defined 3D gaming, Zelda OOT perfected it, Mario Kart (SNES) and Street Fighter 2 defined perfectly balanced gameplay, and Goldeneye was the perfect adaptation of FPS games on a console. These games have had a MASSIVE lasting effect on gaming. SA2 and Smash Bros will do nothing near as much as what these games have done.

Sonic

I haven't a clue, but remember with Metroid there are third person moments... and Shigsy isn't making the game he is making sure it doesnt go off track and become a "Western game". The original maker of metroid are intellegent studio's maker of paper mario, apparently the lead designer of metroid is making metroid 4 on the GBA.

Meka Dragon wrote:
> Regarding Metroid:

It's first person, because that's the only way they could
> do it in 3D, apparently.

Much of the game is played down narrow passageways,
> and the like. If a 3rd person view was used, there would be serious camera
> problems.

That's their excuse?

Is the entire game based around claustraphobic corridors?
Giving the player the option to switch into first person for these little bits would have solved the problem without destorying freedom and the platforming.

I don't think Shigsy's put half the thought into this one as he has his own franchises. It shows that the original creator isn't around.

Apparently this view gives more of a sense of claustrophobia, and a
> feeling that you're in all of these locations that they wanted to create, rather
> than open land.

So if you're playing as YOU, why bother having Samus there?
If Nintendo decided you should play as YOU for a Mario or Zelda game (pretty much eliminating Mario and Link), there would be a huge outcry.

The only difference here is that only a few hardcore Snes owners remember Samus so most of the gaming world cares little what Nintendo do to her.

I only know she exists because she was in Smash Brothers (which led me on to playing Super Metroid...)

Metroid isn't Shigsy's style of game.
He probably shouldn't have been put in charge of it.

Talking of Triple A titles, which one will you be choosing this time Dringo, you lucky devil!

Congrats on your win

Regarding Metroid:

It's first person, because that's the only way they could do it in 3D, apparently.

Much of the game is played down narrow passageways, and the like. If a 3rd person view was used, there would be serious camera problems.

Apparently this view gives more of a sense of claustrophobia, and a feeling that you're in all of these locations that they wanted to create, rather than open land.

WE did have this conversation Sonic that is why i posted it... I believe Smash Brothers is a AAA title you do not, Edgy thinks SA2 is the best game he has ever played you quite obviously do not...

So is SA2 AAA? Is Smash Brothers AAA? I did this to find out if this is the case... Smash Brothers is now a title that features in nintendo's release list along with Mario Kart... it is an AAA title to me... but not to you... so is it an AAA title?

I swear I had this conversation with you online Dringo!

Anyway, I disagree with your definition of Triple A games. A triple A game is one that really perfects gaming, sets the target for future games, and produces new concepts and ideas for future games in the genre to build on. In short, triple A games are as rare as eclipses- there are only a handful every decade.

Calling Sonic Adventure 2 AAA quality tells me one of 2 things:
*You haven't played it
*You have played it, but have never played a decent Sonic game.

Basically, SA2 is possibly the worst Sonic game released: it has long slow stages that involve finding hidden gems and get boring, it lacks major bosses, it's short (takes 2 days!), and it in no way pushes technology. Sonic Adventure (1) was a far, far superior game- massive, fast, fun levels; a huge plot; 7 characters; loads of bosses- each massively fun... it was the greatest acheivement for the series.

Anyway, getting back to the topic.

To say "I think there is a handful of launch games that are AAA quality," completely destroys the whole point of having a AAA branding system. Put another way, if a magazine scores games as a percentage, yet gives every game over 70%, the whole system is redundant. Only 1/10 games should get above 90%.

Simply put, the label "AAA game" should only ever be put on games that will, for years to come, be talked about and used to compare games of the same genre. Games like Mario 64, Zelda OOT, Goldeneye, MGS2.

Sonic

Shigsy's confirmed that there's not platforming in it.

Metroid might be an alright gave but it won't be half the game it should've been.

According to shigs it is a Platform game in first person mode...

I think Nintendo are doing great reinventing classics, Zelda, Mario Kart, Metroid even Mario in a way, well done to them...

Considering how much time and money is being pushed into Metroid I expect it to be a AAA title, just because it doesn't resemble the older vesions doesn't mean it isn't an AAA title. And of course there is those screenshots where you can see Samus and Samus rolling in a ball... both third person.