Current game trends you love/hate?

[Ziji]

ITT: We post some trends we've noticed in most modern games that we either love or hate.

For me, it's the fact that Multiplayer seems to be killing Singleplayer.

What I mean by that, is that games nowadays seem to be only focused on MP.

Hell, I can think of at least 4 games off the top of my head that had extremely short (and relatively shallow) SP games, and spent most of their development and money on the MP aspect; which is utter bullshit to me.

I can understand their mindset, that MP lasts forever (in theory) and SP only lasts a fixed amount of time, allowing them to make more money with MP over SP, but I digress; it's stupid.

I would rather own a game with only SP than a game with shitty SP, but also MP.

One thing I do like, though, is that new IPs are springing up now.

For the last few years, it's just been the same old crap, but now in the last year and even now, I'm noticing a surge of unique games

So how about you guys?

 

[omega_peaches]

HP represented by blood on screen
I hate it, I'd rather just have a health bar/gauge.

 

[TheTim]

people judge the game too quickly.

 

[Tharwen]

Good trends:

Nice graphics

Bad trends:

DRM
Overpricing
Casualisation
Activision

-Snip-

And why do the sequels need a whole line of text after the title now? What happened to the 2?

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Weak single player campaigns. As most people know when a game offers a multiplayer what is the logical thing to do first? Play the single player by yourself of course so you can familiarize yourself with the terrain and gameplay mechanics then play on the hardest difficulty so you can form strategies for the multiplayer. If the single player is so short then i can't have enough time to prepare myself for the campers and cheaters i'll encounter online.

 

[Denizen]

The hype that goes into really generic and broken shooters. Should I even mention a name?
It makes the purest of gamers to spend time playing in their expectations of the game just to find out how low and how much of a letdown it is. Then a huge rebound of realization comes in to forums how people finally got over these games and the forums go through another cycle of this when another overhyped crappy generic and broken (usually) shooter comes out.

Everything we know about these types of games revolve around hype and undelivery. Can we go back to being able to pick up a game that is good and every once in a while a really good game comes out that didn't need its hype?

Maybe its not a trend but a condition of the industry realizing it can cash in on hyped games instead of the pure desire of wanting others to experience a nice virtual getaway from normal life be it bland or just that time for a break.

 

[Ziji]

The other thing I'm sick of is the fact that the only games that ever get any recognition are the ones that are ONLY for consoles, or only get recognition for their MP (that is to say, if they also have SP; i.e. TF2 I would be fine with as it is MP only).

I am so god damn sick of hearing about Call of Duty, or Halo, because of their MP.

I loved CoD4's SP, and I really enjoyed the entire Halo series SP... MP doesn't matter to me for those series.

And yet, people claim MW2 or Halo 3, or damn near any of games similar to that, are the best because of their MP.

I shit you not, I know people IRL who have never even finished MW2/CoD4/Halo 3's SP mode, and bought the game purely for MP.

That makes my blood boil.

But back to the recognition thing, a few of my favorite games like Men of War, and Mount&Blade; they get NO RECOGNITION. You know why? Because they are relatively low budget, PC only, and don't look as astounding as many others.

These games are amazing, and I have spent more time playing them than all my games on my Xbox 360, and yet almost no one I know has heard of them (or cares, since they aren't FPS games).

It just makes me sad that all people care about are FPS/RPG games on consoles, and that great games never get noticed due to being PC only or (even if they have 360 XBLA/Consoles in general ports) not being FPS/RPG.

:/

 

[trueluigi7]

I heartily agree with you on multiplayer. Games should either focus on multiplayer entirely, or put effort into their storylines. I'm tired of seeing games like MW2 that are obviously built for multiplayer, which I don't even play.

I miss 4 player split screen with bots, I really do. Oh Timesplitters, where are you when we need you the most!

As for things I like, I like the fact that imagination seems to be taking precedence over technical prowess as goes graphics, finally.

I know what you mean...

 

[QuickDEMOL1SHER]

I hate realism. I truly don't get why so many developers are trying to make their games as real as possible. As a great, respected, unbiased game critic once said, "Realism is overrated. Real life is a boring and unintuitive game with frustrating game play mechanics."

What I love, is that games starting to go back to, well, games. With games like Just Cause 2 that allow you to do whatever the fuck you want almost without consequence.

 

[Akihiko]

I agree on the multiplayer front. I'm not usually big on multiplayer. I play a bit of Left 4 Dead 2 now and then, which has a really awesome multiplayer, but other than that I usually don't bother. I usually buy games for a strong single player, multiplayer is like an added bonus. When I don't get that, I feel robbed. Anyone thing is fun if you're doing it with others.

I don't mind sequels, but what really does piss me off, is when companys create a new game, and intentionally, leave the ending open, so that they can create a sequel if it's popular enough. If I buy a game, I want the story ending there and then. I'm not paying for half of a story. I mean I don't mind it being a little open for a sequel, by all means do that, if you so please, but at least close the most of it off.

Casual games is another one. The same minigames being released left right and centre for full price. It's insane.

DRM is definitely another one. Ubisoft being the biggest culprit of this. Restricting the user is only going to make them more likely to pirate the game, so that they aren't restricted.

The Rockband/Guitar Hero series. Don't get me wrong, I love the games as much as the next guy. But what really pisses me off, is the fact that they keep releasing new games at full price, which is the same game, with just new songs. Why can't they just include it as DLC. It's beyond me. I guess it's the lust for money that is to blame.

 

[Bilbo536]

The worst part about the focusing on MP issue is that it leads into a downwards spiral. The gaming industry has gotten away with it for quite some time (Microsoft and Sony have, anyway) and that has led them to believe they should continue making games that cater to the "MP only" crowd. That's one reason I love my Wii, Nintendo knows how to make a killer SP focused game. Same with a lot of PC games too.

 

[Necrodeth]

Id like to see some more coop campaigns out there. i know its not a completely dead concept but more games should have it.
I enjoyed halo3 coop on legendary more than the matchmaking multiplayer by a long shot and when i see games like CoD and BF:BC2 without the coop i wonder why they would leave it out,

 

[Ziji]

Co-Op is the one MP aspect I really like, as it lets me experience the best part of the game.. with my friends.