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Freedom in a game is an odd thing, and an area that often excels in one aspect, but in doing so ignores the other areas of that freedom. For example, Red Faction supposedly let you blast away any walls that were obstructing you, which in an idea is brilliant. However, in execution, it failed miserably – you could only destroy certain walls that led to secret areas or kill some guards in a falsely constructed scene. That is trying to be freedom, but is not. Of course, games will never ever be able to give players total freedom, so they need to concentrate on giving certain aspects of freedom a wider run, while keeping the other elements satisfied.
A good example of this is the GTA series. It does not let you inside buildings, it does not let you fly (In a proper plane) it does not let you destroy absolutely everything in sight, but what it does do makes up for that – You can go on murderous rampage, and not have to do the missions. This means people enjoy the game more, as they get a sense of control that a linear game, such as Goldeneye, does not. Other games, like Deus Ex, flaunt total freedom as their selling point, and that’s where I think these games come unstuck. Of course it offers you total freedom – but only in a constricted area, with only a certain amount of things to do, which of course, you can do totally off your own back, but its still not the complete free reign it promises. While a game like Deus Ex is almost successful, I think it is better for games not to flaunt their free qualities, and just give them to the player. This delights me far more anyway.
Older games also had the idea. Harvest Moon lets you do pretty much anything you want to, and it does not involve killing. It’s the freedom to construct and make a living, a purpose is given to you, and you do that in anyway you can. While the game is pretty small in size, it does allow you to go anywhere – you move obstacles, rather than having to go around them. Again, this is not the perfect ‘free’ game, but it shows, like GTA1 and 2, that simplicity works.
I’m not saying linear games are rubbish – Rogue Leader and Homeworld are both linear, and both are excellent games. However, I am saying that a game that offers almost total freedom is perhaps impossible, but it would be nice if somebody tried, such as Lionhead with first Black & White, and now Fable. I think the worst thing is a game that claims to be what it is not – I dislike the game for it, such as Red Faction. Freedom is an excellent thing, and I think that it’s the most important quality in a game that you love – Zelda and Mario mix the two – linear dungeons/levels with free roaming ‘outer’ areas that allow you to do pretty much anything, and they are two of the best games ever. It’s the control freedom gives you that makes game so popular, such as GTA3, Mario 64, Zelda OOT and other games in that category.
So heres hoping that the next ‘ladder’ of games evolution is not multiplayer melees or VR. I hope it’s a series of games that make freedom a necessity, not a selling point. After all, don’t you all love to be in control of a wider situation that controlling one thing? I do.
Cheers.
A good example of this is the GTA series. It does not let you inside buildings, it does not let you fly (In a proper plane) it does not let you destroy absolutely everything in sight, but what it does do makes up for that – You can go on murderous rampage, and not have to do the missions. This means people enjoy the game more, as they get a sense of control that a linear game, such as Goldeneye, does not. Other games, like Deus Ex, flaunt total freedom as their selling point, and that’s where I think these games come unstuck. Of course it offers you total freedom – but only in a constricted area, with only a certain amount of things to do, which of course, you can do totally off your own back, but its still not the complete free reign it promises. While a game like Deus Ex is almost successful, I think it is better for games not to flaunt their free qualities, and just give them to the player. This delights me far more anyway.
Older games also had the idea. Harvest Moon lets you do pretty much anything you want to, and it does not involve killing. It’s the freedom to construct and make a living, a purpose is given to you, and you do that in anyway you can. While the game is pretty small in size, it does allow you to go anywhere – you move obstacles, rather than having to go around them. Again, this is not the perfect ‘free’ game, but it shows, like GTA1 and 2, that simplicity works.
I’m not saying linear games are rubbish – Rogue Leader and Homeworld are both linear, and both are excellent games. However, I am saying that a game that offers almost total freedom is perhaps impossible, but it would be nice if somebody tried, such as Lionhead with first Black & White, and now Fable. I think the worst thing is a game that claims to be what it is not – I dislike the game for it, such as Red Faction. Freedom is an excellent thing, and I think that it’s the most important quality in a game that you love – Zelda and Mario mix the two – linear dungeons/levels with free roaming ‘outer’ areas that allow you to do pretty much anything, and they are two of the best games ever. It’s the control freedom gives you that makes game so popular, such as GTA3, Mario 64, Zelda OOT and other games in that category.
So heres hoping that the next ‘ladder’ of games evolution is not multiplayer melees or VR. I hope it’s a series of games that make freedom a necessity, not a selling point. After all, don’t you all love to be in control of a wider situation that controlling one thing? I do.
Cheers.
If a game's got freedom I love it.
If some kid asked me if I liked graphics over gameplay i'd say freedom and make myself sound like Braveheart. Then he'd probably walk off leaving me doing Scotish poses, however they may go...
GTA 3 is probably the game which has the most freedom and that is the reason I bought it, and that is also the reason why I sometimes stick it on to play at anytime. I mean, I can't just pick up something like Shenmue and play and put down anytime I want. With GTA 3 I'm put into this world where I can do almost anything and have that little bit of fun too. That's why I play it ever so often. Other game will just see me bust my brain out trying to complete it then let it sit on the shelf, gather dust and maybe the odd fly.
We've got to realise though that technology is limited. In this day and age the freedom GTA 3 has given us is probably the most in any game. That will probably change very soon and that's all good too.
Freedom is a re-play factor for me probably the biggest and it is become a part of more games.
*skips*
If some kid asked me if I liked graphics over gameplay i'd say freedom and make myself sound like Braveheart. Then he'd probably walk off leaving me doing Scotish poses, however they may go...
GTA 3 is probably the game which has the most freedom and that is the reason I bought it, and that is also the reason why I sometimes stick it on to play at anytime. I mean, I can't just pick up something like Shenmue and play and put down anytime I want. With GTA 3 I'm put into this world where I can do almost anything and have that little bit of fun too. That's why I play it ever so often. Other game will just see me bust my brain out trying to complete it then let it sit on the shelf, gather dust and maybe the odd fly.
We've got to realise though that technology is limited. In this day and age the freedom GTA 3 has given us is probably the most in any game. That will probably change very soon and that's all good too.
Freedom is a re-play factor for me probably the biggest and it is become a part of more games.
*skips*
Freedom in a game is an odd thing, and an area that often excels in one aspect, but in doing so ignores the other areas of that freedom. For example, Red Faction supposedly let you blast away any walls that were obstructing you, which in an idea is brilliant. However, in execution, it failed miserably – you could only destroy certain walls that led to secret areas or kill some guards in a falsely constructed scene. That is trying to be freedom, but is not. Of course, games will never ever be able to give players total freedom, so they need to concentrate on giving certain aspects of freedom a wider run, while keeping the other elements satisfied.
A good example of this is the GTA series. It does not let you inside buildings, it does not let you fly (In a proper plane) it does not let you destroy absolutely everything in sight, but what it does do makes up for that – You can go on murderous rampage, and not have to do the missions. This means people enjoy the game more, as they get a sense of control that a linear game, such as Goldeneye, does not. Other games, like Deus Ex, flaunt total freedom as their selling point, and that’s where I think these games come unstuck. Of course it offers you total freedom – but only in a constricted area, with only a certain amount of things to do, which of course, you can do totally off your own back, but its still not the complete free reign it promises. While a game like Deus Ex is almost successful, I think it is better for games not to flaunt their free qualities, and just give them to the player. This delights me far more anyway.
Older games also had the idea. Harvest Moon lets you do pretty much anything you want to, and it does not involve killing. It’s the freedom to construct and make a living, a purpose is given to you, and you do that in anyway you can. While the game is pretty small in size, it does allow you to go anywhere – you move obstacles, rather than having to go around them. Again, this is not the perfect ‘free’ game, but it shows, like GTA1 and 2, that simplicity works.
I’m not saying linear games are rubbish – Rogue Leader and Homeworld are both linear, and both are excellent games. However, I am saying that a game that offers almost total freedom is perhaps impossible, but it would be nice if somebody tried, such as Lionhead with first Black & White, and now Fable. I think the worst thing is a game that claims to be what it is not – I dislike the game for it, such as Red Faction. Freedom is an excellent thing, and I think that it’s the most important quality in a game that you love – Zelda and Mario mix the two – linear dungeons/levels with free roaming ‘outer’ areas that allow you to do pretty much anything, and they are two of the best games ever. It’s the control freedom gives you that makes game so popular, such as GTA3, Mario 64, Zelda OOT and other games in that category.
So heres hoping that the next ‘ladder’ of games evolution is not multiplayer melees or VR. I hope it’s a series of games that make freedom a necessity, not a selling point. After all, don’t you all love to be in control of a wider situation that controlling one thing? I do.
Cheers.
A good example of this is the GTA series. It does not let you inside buildings, it does not let you fly (In a proper plane) it does not let you destroy absolutely everything in sight, but what it does do makes up for that – You can go on murderous rampage, and not have to do the missions. This means people enjoy the game more, as they get a sense of control that a linear game, such as Goldeneye, does not. Other games, like Deus Ex, flaunt total freedom as their selling point, and that’s where I think these games come unstuck. Of course it offers you total freedom – but only in a constricted area, with only a certain amount of things to do, which of course, you can do totally off your own back, but its still not the complete free reign it promises. While a game like Deus Ex is almost successful, I think it is better for games not to flaunt their free qualities, and just give them to the player. This delights me far more anyway.
Older games also had the idea. Harvest Moon lets you do pretty much anything you want to, and it does not involve killing. It’s the freedom to construct and make a living, a purpose is given to you, and you do that in anyway you can. While the game is pretty small in size, it does allow you to go anywhere – you move obstacles, rather than having to go around them. Again, this is not the perfect ‘free’ game, but it shows, like GTA1 and 2, that simplicity works.
I’m not saying linear games are rubbish – Rogue Leader and Homeworld are both linear, and both are excellent games. However, I am saying that a game that offers almost total freedom is perhaps impossible, but it would be nice if somebody tried, such as Lionhead with first Black & White, and now Fable. I think the worst thing is a game that claims to be what it is not – I dislike the game for it, such as Red Faction. Freedom is an excellent thing, and I think that it’s the most important quality in a game that you love – Zelda and Mario mix the two – linear dungeons/levels with free roaming ‘outer’ areas that allow you to do pretty much anything, and they are two of the best games ever. It’s the control freedom gives you that makes game so popular, such as GTA3, Mario 64, Zelda OOT and other games in that category.
So heres hoping that the next ‘ladder’ of games evolution is not multiplayer melees or VR. I hope it’s a series of games that make freedom a necessity, not a selling point. After all, don’t you all love to be in control of a wider situation that controlling one thing? I do.
Cheers.