Has anybody else ever backtracked a generation?

[rutcommapat]

I only got into gaming about 3 years ago, and when I first started it was on a PS3, so throughout that time I spent a lot of time hearing about great PS2 games I never bought. So a month ago, I finally caved in and bought a PS2 to see what I missed, hoping all the while that the games don't feel outdated.

And I have to admit, I wasn't disappointed. So far I've played through the GTA trilogy, Resident Evil 4, Silent Hill 2, and Timesplitters 1. I love all of them.

The only really frustrating aspect of all the games mentioned is that PS2 games don't generally sprinkle checkpoints in as well as newer titles, which led to an incredibly arbitrary section in Resident Evil 4 where I passed three save points in a row and then didn't come across another for the next half hour. But I'm still enjoying myself, regardless.

And now I'm disappointed that I missed out on this generation. Anybody else ever do something like this?

 

[nyaman]

PS2 was a very good generation, probably my favourite console. If it's up your alley, Metal Gear Solid 3 was one of my favourite games of all time. It definitely helps to understand the game if you play 1 and 2 first, but it can stand alone if you aren't interested in following up the entire series.

 

[rutcommapat]

Going back to checkpoints last gen is certainly difficult, though it's certainly better than even the PS1 days where "checkpoints" were virtually unheard of and your ass saved between levels and at far away save points or not at all.

Other than that and the graphics, though, last-gen games often hold up quite well to this generation. Actually, I'd wager that the PS2 is still so popular because its library holds many excellent examples of types of games that just aren't seen very often this generation. Many of the nuances of last generation's games are just slightly different to this gen's and are still quite entertaining today.

Anyway, OP, I'm going to have to recommend picking up the Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank Series, particularly the first three of each.

Yeah, I was thinking about trying out some PS1 games, but I do think that might be going back a bit too far. If anything, I do want to play through the first three Metal Gear Solid games, if only to actually have the slightest idea what the hell is going on in 4.

The thing I've noticed about PS2 games so far is that the graphics are detailed enough to actually be immersed in the games, but not so detailed that they require about 75 percent of the developement time. So basically, the PS2 generation was the time where everything came together.

I've never heard of either of those games. Their titles make them sound oddly similar, yet interesting. I'll have to check them out.

 

[rutcommapat]

PS2 was a very good generation, probably my favourite console. If it's up your alley, Metal Gear Solid 3 was one of my favourite games of all time. It definitely helps to understand the game if you play 1 and 2 first, but it can stand alone if you aren't interested in following up the entire series.

My thing about the Metal Gear Solid series is that a lot of the time I spend playing the game, I'm not actually playing the game.

Seriously, it never made any sense to me that not one person in the development process even once suggested "Er, you think we're making these cutscenes a bit too long?"

 

[Tanakh]

And now I'm disappointed that I missed out on this generation. Anybody else ever do something like this?

Too old for that... even though my first console was a NES i played almost all the big titles of the first and second generation of videogames.

And on the old games note, i think ill play some shadow of the colossus; have a nice evening.

 

[WouldYouKindly]

PS2 was a very good generation, probably my favourite console. If it's up your alley, Metal Gear Solid 3 was one of my favourite games of all time. It definitely helps to understand the game if you play 1 and 2 first, but it can stand alone if you aren't interested in following up the entire series.

Only if you don't mind, and I timed this when my cousin bought it, something like 23 minutes before it actually lets you play the game and another 3-4 minutes before you actually shoot someone. Also, the controls seem a bit difficult since I read the freaking manual and still couldn't figure out how to sneak up behind someone and grab them.

 

[nyaman]

Unlike most I actually liked the cutscenes. Chalk it up to personal taste. MGS3 is probably the most straightforward of the series, the plot is a bit crazy but there are some pretty interesting characters throughout the game to keep you interested, and it's not all over the place like 2 and 4. It does have some issues with gameplay but it's a solid stealth game with some of the most interesting bosses I've ever faced.
If you've only played MGS4 then I completely understand why you thought the cutscenes were too long, that game was downright ridiculous.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

Going back to checkpoints last gen is certainly difficult, though it's certainly better than even the PS1 days where "checkpoints" were virtually unheard of and your ass saved between levels and at far away save points or not at all.

Other than that and the graphics, though, last-gen games often hold up quite well to this generation. Actually, I'd wager that the PS2 is still so popular because its library holds many excellent examples of types of games that just aren't seen very often this generation. Many of the nuances of last generation's games are just slightly different to this gen's and are still quite entertaining today.

Anyway, OP, I'm going to have to recommend picking up the Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank Series, particularly the first three of each.

Yeah, I was thinking about trying out some PS1 games, but I do think that might be going back a bit too far. If anything, I do want to play through the first three Metal Gear Solid games, if only to actually have the slightest idea what the hell is going on in 4.

The thing I've noticed about PS2 games so far is that the graphics are detailed enough to actually be immersed in the games, but not so detailed that they require about 75 percent of the developement time. So basically, the PS2 generation was the time where everything came together.

I've never heard of either of those games. Their titles make them sound oddly similar, yet interesting. I'll have to check them out.

The Ratchet and Clank series make for insane amounts of fun. Definitely a fantastic series.

Also some more recommendations off the top of my head:
Final Fantasy X if you like JRPGs at all.
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and MGS2 and 3 if you like stealth at all.
God of War 1 and 2 if you like violent action, I've played through God of War 2 countless times.

 

[Ghengis John]

And now I'm disappointed that I missed out on this generation. Anybody else ever do something like this?

Ahhh you're a good kid to want to go back and I'm happy you're enjoying yourself. But be happy you were born when you were. We had to WAIT for the releases of a lot of the games you can go back and pick up any time you like now. And you have more to choose from between this generation's hits and the previous ones. As for me, I can't backtrack that well really. I started on Nintendo and played a lot of my friend's Atari. There isn't much before that.

 

[Austin Howe]

Can we not turn this into the "Metal Gear Cutscenes" thread? Please?

If you own a PS2, please make sure to play some PS1 classics as well, especially the inter-generational series: for example, go out, right now, and find Soul Reaver for PS1, and Soul Reaver 2 and Legacy of Kain: Defiance for PS2.

Now those. Those are some cutscenes. Some damn good ones too, ones I was always glad to be watching.

 

[Johann610]

Dance Dance Revolution backtrack to first American and Disney mixes.

 

[CarbonEagle]

If ive been playing games for nearly 20 years, does going back and playing games I used to play count? If so, yes, all the time. I love the old DOS sidescrollers like Duke Nukem, Commander Keen and Bio Menace
Its nice to see people picking up gems of the past. I wish my wife would do that. She refuses to play old games because of the graphics... and yet she loves minecraft. Bizzare

 

[octafish]

I've been playing games at home since we got a Spectrum in the eighties, I still play my Commodore every now and then, I don't consider that backtracking though.