20 games which throw out tonal consistency like Nathan Drake throws innocent Turks from rooftops.

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Something Amyss

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KarmaTheAlligator said:
Didn't know Bioware was a game. Who made it?
Bioware. You know how you have bands who name an album or song after themselves, like Black Sabbath?

Well, Bioware did that when they made Bioware.
Altorin said:
Spoony's most recent review for Minority Report: Everybody Runs is certainly an example of this. The whole point of the game's story is that the character is trying to prove that he's not going to commit "future murder".. by committing hundreds of acts of "present cop murder".. All of it unmentioned in the dialogue of the game, but every cop you kill is necessary to beat the game.

It's... kind of like a huge joke.
Wonder why the precogs didn't see that coming. >.>

OT Howabout Army of Two (Especially the first two)? Brofists and air guitars in the midst of slaughtering thousands upon thousands of enemies.

However, Call of Duty is not particularly inconsistent, unless you count between games (since Modern warfare started off as pretty subversive and by MW3 it was pretty much 'MURRICA! FUCK YEAH!).
 

Thyunda

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FoolKiller said:
Because you assholes don't use spoilers on some things that are

[spoiler='In Borderlands 2 when you meet Roland'
]he dies because Jack shoots him, yet he should be revived at a NewU station based on all given information[/spoiler]
Maybe only Vault Hunters are permitted the use of those, and the character in question no longer possesses the right - maybe people integral to Pandoran politics are forbidden the use of such machines.
 

Mikeyfell

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For what it's worth, you completely misunderstood Journey.
And Shadow of the Colossus

Also in Heavy Rain, the only logical choice is to tell Madison to fuck off when she tries to make out with you.
It's not the game's fault you couldn't keep it in your pants.

And you misspelled Gears, it's not spelled "God"

Other than those the list is solid

I would stick Tales of the Abyss in there just for that scene at the beginning "Oh god, I can't believe I killed a person" After the 50th person he's killed,
 

Mikeyfell

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FoolKiller said:
Because you assholes don't use spoilers on some things that are

[spoiler='In Borderlands 2 when you meet Roland'
]he dies because Jack shoots him, yet he should be revived at a NewU station based on all given information[/spoiler]
Handsome Jack does own all the NewU stations. He could have just uninstalled Roland's genetic print from the machines.

But then why wouldn't he have just re-spawned at one of the machines...
Maybe he's just a cocky bastard who never expected to be killed.

Or maybe you're right and it's just a weird gameplay mechanic the writers couldn't be bothered with writing around.

Yay for Ludo-narrative dissonance! I mean BOO! Ludo-narrative dissonance!
 

Mr F.

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Just saying, Number 7 is so true it hurts. I agree with the list, although this is not so much a thread as a mini article, with some decent editting this should be on the front page as a thing. Just saying, I found this amusing.

And again, Number 7 is so true it hurts. Although in defence of FO:3, Megaton has like, 30 people living in it. You kill far more to get to your father, so maybe it is understandable xD
 

Angelowl

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Kiwi the Tortoise said:
kyokoshouse said:
1. Uncharted (series) FOR playfully sarcastic banter played out amidst a bloodied landscape of bullet-riddled ethnic corpses, as well as wanton destruction of myriad cultural artifacts.


15. Valkyria Chronicles FOR attempting to tell a dark story of opression, racial segregation and war, then failing to explain the presence of an incongruously chibi flying pig.
1. Nathan Drake is a pretty self-rightious sociopath. In U2 he rather casually murders hundreds of hapless Mercs (they aren't inheritly evil you know, they work to feed their kids) and in the end claims moralic superiority because he did it for "Fame & Fortune" which is of course a much better motive than "power".....

15. VCII is far worse in this matter, because genocide and bikini pool parties match so well in tone.
Gods yes. The first game felt somewhat consistent in tone and purpose, and I could actually buy most of the stuff happening. In the second game the monarch reveals that she is a jew, with whole aristocracy rising up in rebellion.

Civil war, xenophobia, genocide etc and what do they focus the game on? HIGH SCHOOL, all the while I kept wondering "is this supposed to be a military? HOW is 20-30 teenaged cadets and ONE tank an effective combat formation? Why are you holding school tournaments when you are in a civil war because the nobility wants the princess dead due to her ethnicity?"

The worst part, is that the third game seems pretty serious in tone and story. I really looked forward to it and of course, as usual not released in Europe. Do the publishers really think that a fairly serious tactical game would not sell due us not liking their high school drama?

On topic: I'll add Metal Gear Solid 3: snake eater. A fairly serious bondesque survival stealth action game. And then there is the bosses... "A guy fueling a massive tank with his own body's electricity! isn't it awesome?!" Uhm... what?
 

HardkorSB

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kyokoshouse said:
17. Shadow of the Colossus FOR Wander, a man willing to kill off the very last eagle, gorilla, leopard, rhino, elephant, lion, tiger, orangutan, chimpanzee, snake, crocodile, turtle, bison, whale, bear and dolphin left on the planet...for a girl.
Not for A girl, for HIS girl.
I take it you're not familiar with the concept of love?
When you're in love, you don't care about eagles, gorillas and leopards, you care about the person you love.
I was in love once and if back then my girlfriend would die and killing a bunch of things could bring her back, I would probably kill a bunch of things.

SPOILERS AHEAD!
The point of the game is to realize that, although your character has good intentions, he's selfish and commits evil deeds (the end doesn't justify the means).
Your character changes after every colossus he kills (e.g. he grows horns).
The land is called the Forbidden Land (or something along those lines) meaning that it's not a place for humans.
The mysterious wizard helping you is called Dormin. That's Nimrod backwards. Nimrod in the Bible was basically an evil king who rebelled against god (your character seeks help from evil forces).
At the end of the game, it turns out that you're the monster and the guy who appears at the end with his crew and defeats you is the real hero.
SPOILERS OVER!

I think it's one of the most tonally consistent games ever made. Every story element is there for a reason.
 

McMarbles

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FF7:
The love of your life was just murdered and you've just found out your whole life is a sham. LET'S GO SNOWBOARDING!
 

MetalMagpie

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FoolKiller said:
Because you assholes don't use spoilers on some things that are

The audiolog of Jack massacring Helena Pierce's group felt a bit weird so near the start (and bookended by cheerful-chappy Sir Hammerlock's banter).

But that's just for my tastes. *shrug*
 

MetalMagpie

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Thyunda said:
FoolKiller said:
Because you assholes don't use spoilers on some things that are

[spoiler='In Borderlands 2 when you meet Roland'
]he dies because Jack shoots him, yet he should be revived at a NewU station based on all given information[/spoiler]
Maybe only Vault Hunters are permitted the use of those, and the character in question no longer possesses the right - maybe people integral to Pandoran politics are forbidden the use of such machines.
A lot of the bosses use them (at least in the first game). If you go back to their haunts later, they've returned. ;)
 

kyokoshouse

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Jun 19, 2012
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Ghaleon640 said:
Did not like the Journey spoiler...
I legitimately apologise.

bartholen said:
I get that it's supposed to be tongue in cheek, but picks #8 and #17 are just wrong. God of War, for better or worse, has a very consistent and serious tone to it...
I should clarify that I'm really referring to GOWIII overall - I think the first one did a pretty good job. I've never really played Borderlands 2, so feel free to tell me what you are referring to if you like as I'd be interested to know.

Mikeyfell said:
For what it's worth, you completely misunderstood Journey.
And Shadow of the Colossus

Also in Heavy Rain, the only logical choice is to tell Madison to fuck off when she tries to make out with you.
It's not the game's fault you couldn't keep it in your pants.

And you misspelled Gears, it's not spelled "God"

Other than those the list is solid
As I've said above, Journey's themes are open to interpretation and not set in stone, regardless of the creators' intentions. Also, I didn't write anything about SOTC that wasn't technically true - I actually don't think there's anything wrong with its story, I just want to get people talking about Wander. I treat it as a tragedy to justify my guilt over the colossi.

The fact that Heavy Rain includes the option to unspool Ethan's fleshy cutlery for a shameful motel fumble at all was to the detriment of the characterisation, and weakens David Cage's attempts at validation as a storyteller. On the bright side, there is a trophy unlock. (Art, people!).

I'm not too familiar with the story of Gears of War but what I've seen of it suggests it is the ultimate parody of what people who do not like games think games are like - please feel free to tell me what you like or dislike about it in more detail.

Capitano Segnaposto said:
Was there a point to this thread? I am confused.
To prompt debate.
 

pyrosaw

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Mar 18, 2010
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Beyond Good and Evil's got a lot of tonal inconsistency. I mean, geez, light-hearted cartoon graphics for a game about slavery, oppression, using the media to your advantage, and then it has like a screwed up cthulhuoid villian. Love the game, but still.
 

Johnny Novgorod

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kyokoshouse said:
17. Shadow of the Colossus FOR Wander, a man willing to kill off the very last eagle, gorilla, leopard, rhino, elephant, lion, tiger, orangutan, chimpanzee, snake, crocodile, turtle, bison, whale, bear and dolphin left on the planet...for a girl.
The whole point of the game is to make you doubt Wander's quest and Dormin's intentions while you're forced to proceed nonetheless down a morally questionable path!
 

KOMega

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Aug 30, 2010
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I don't agree with some of your list, but w/e.

If we are talking about tonal consistency, or rather tonal inconsistency, then you should really have mentioned Metal Gear Solid 4!

There was the dude pooping in a barrel.
There was the "indigestion, upset stomach, dirarhea?" line.
There was the "switch to disc two".
There was the CQC hug at the end, which I found funny [sub]bit subtle I guess in this company[/sub]
If I pressed the remote, everyone would be discussing important plans infront of a big screen TV with a bikini model on it.
The big mechfight that then ends with liquid basically going "Haw Haw you can't catch me" and then tries to ram a ship on you.
One of your weapons is basically a porn mag which you toss on the ground. (okay not really porn, just like bikini models.)
I'm so sure there is more.

And that's just MGS4. Don't forget the other games.
Like the last boss of revengeance.
["But imagine watching something like say, Ghost in the Shell. But right before the end, you sit on the remote and the TV switches over to an episode of Biker Mice from Mars, or Dragon Ball Z where the special guest villain turns out to be Hulk Hogan who goes on about how awesome right-wing policies are for 20 minutes before doing body-slams on anyone who disagrees." - Ben ?Yahtzee" Croshaw - Zero Punctuation

[sub][sub]SUNLIGHT![/sub][/sub]
 

TheCommanders

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Nov 30, 2011
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Honestly, I think Bioshock Infinite should be on this list. The frantic combat it borrowed from it's predecessors felt somewhat out of place and jarring amidst the philosophies they were trying to expound upon in the game. Also, I was never sure why I couldn't NOT shoot a lot of these people who I had absolutely no problem with, and who had no problem with me. But no, I guess some shit for brains marketing exec was like NEED MOAR COMBAT, and now I have to fight random people because I needed to walk past them, and apparently that can't be accomplished unless it's on a red carpet of their blood. Seriously, of all the games coming out this year, I thought Infinite might be the one that realizes that violence is a lot more significant if it's rarer. The Last of Us got closer to what I had hoped Infinite would achieve; long stretches of exploration with nothing happening that make the short bursts of action much more significant. But for the most part Infinite was just run run bang bang loot loot run run bang bang. It made me tire of the game a lot faster.
 

XMark

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Jan 25, 2010
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Regarding the part where Nathan Drake tosses the guard off - yes, the guard survives and swims away, but realistically a fall of that distance into water could very easily be fatal, so by doing that, Drake is a horrible, horrible person.

Most of the list seems to be more about Ludonarrative Dissonance than tonal inconsistency... so I think it's missing Max Payne 3 - the game where Max is supposedly a washed-out drunk loser who screws up everything, yet he is able to singlehandedly slaughter entire gangs of criminals multiple times over, and even wipe out an entire police station, an entire airport's security force and a couple of private armies.