Has your gaming taste changed or Can't get into a Classic?

[TheKbob]

I have noticed through the years that my tolerance for things in games has changed along with what I like. What brought this idea around is that I'm trying to go back and play the original Fallout series and Baldurs Gate II. I know these games are classic PC titles that many enjoy still today, but I'm struggling to get into them. The older combat system, the slow dialog...

...yet I still like games in that style. To me, it's just the new making the old unplayable. I would be hard pressed to even go back to KOTOR after playing Mass Effect with the easy and intuitive dialog system. I'm not one that is against reading (thumbing through the Dresden files series, right now), but I hate the "Read all options, then have it repeated" style.


I have also fallen out of favor with adventure titles. Maybe it's because it has been so many years since I played The Dig, Sam & Max, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Alantis, Maniac Mansion, and more, but I can't get into the new Sam & Max and other series. I'm still going to try The Longest Journey, but I'm going into that with baited breath.


So it seems slower PC RPGs and Adventures don't do it for me anymore. There is plenty of character there, but behind aging interfaces,... I just cannot get into them. How about you guys? Any genre or game interest that has lost it's luster or that one classic title everyone raves about that you just can't get into?

Edit: Oh, and these 2 will get me shot. I can't get into Chrono Trigger and I'm really sad to say Planescape: Torment

 

[CombineSoldier]

i agree with u, and hile i havnt played Chrono Trigger or Planetscape: Torment, i can say i have played other ood older games. Like Gunstar Heroes . If only developers took their ideas from older games, but blended them well with a mix of possibly a new story, better graphics, and innovations that werent in the 1st game and that MAKE THE GAME GOOD

 

[LisaB1138]

It's very hard to backtrack to D-pad control. My thumb just screams "not the PS1! Please god no!"

I wish someone had thought to upgrade some of the old games on the PS store with analog control. I would have paid more to have it too.

 

[fusion_cell]

Hey I feel worse I cant play System Shock 2 anymore, I dono what has changed. I tried to play the orginal Zelda and again, I still love it they just seem so hard to play.

 

[J'aen]

I used to really like racing games, none of them appeal to me any more.

 

[guko84]

i can't play any of the classic metal gear games i grew up with the ps1 and mgs1 but i never could play the really old ones.

 

[ReverseEngineered]

I'm sure it's a combination of things.

For one, your tastes have likely changed. I know I used to love Starcraft, but now I can't stand any RTS. I still can't figure out why.

Secondly, new technology has replaced the old. It's hard going back to 640x480, 8-bit graphics, especially when it means missing out on the radial menus, animated NPCs, voiceovers, and everything else.

On the other hand, I'm replaying Fallout right now and I must say, I forget about all of that and really enjoy the game. It's nice to find an RPG that doesn't consist of grind and the same old stories. The unique world and story that made Fallout great is still part of the game, like a classic novel that's still appreciated 100 years later.

Lastly, video games have undoubtedly become easier. Whether it's just better interfaces, removing annoying realisms like bullet drop, or plain old dumbing-down the AI, modern games are easier. This is probably a good thing -- a lot of old games were impossibly hard (ET anyone?) -- but it certainly shows when you go back to play your old games. It probably doesn't help that you were once really good at them, but it's been so long that you're out of practise and getting your ass handed to you.

 

[ReverseEngineered]

One other thing that likely plays against most classics: they have lost their novelty.

Games like Half-Life and Fallout were big hits because of how unique they were. Really, who had made a game about life after a nuclear holocaust before Fallout? Who could have imagined that Valve would make an entire company out of Gordon Freeman and Black Mesa? At the time, these classics appeared out of nowhere and stole our hearts.

Nowadays, we've seen them all and more. If you've played even one episode of Half-Life 2, the original just doesn't seem that unique anymore -- if nothing else, it lacks some of the neat features (gravity gun) that HL2 has. Look at a classic FPS like Quake and look at how many copycats have followed it. Now that the clones have come, the original just looks like another clone (though the NIN soundtrack still makes it a great experience).

 

[ShadeOfRed]

I can't play Final Fantasy for the NES. I really enjoyed it when I could, I just can't look at the layout for it and have my eyes not hurt. I also can't play OoT, but I can play Majora's Mask just fine.

 

[Goenitz]

After games like Quake Wars, CoD4 and UT3... I can never go back to old-skool online FPS.

 

[CatmanStu]

I actually feel the opposite. I find it harder and harder to get into modern games as they just seem shallow.

In the past games didn't have Hollywood level production, or even the storage space for it, so the gamer had to be kept interested by one or more of the following: game balancing, scripting, and innovation. These days all of the things a game had to have as standard have become afterthoughts when the dazzling HD visuals and cinematic score has been finished.

If they are given any thought at all.

 

[TheKbob]

ReversedEngineered:

Makes sense. I'm in no way saying Fallout, Planescape, Baldurs Gate, etc are not bad games. I just can't into the old play styles. The settings are great, so I guess I'll be getting Fallout 3 and enjoying it.

I think if you played it when it was so fresh, it makes it easier to go back to. Like I can pick up Diablo 2 and enjoy the days away while someone else might be like, eh... My major point with a game like Fallout is my feeling of not doing something right. While some may call it harder, I call it old design and inability to do so: saving systems. Sure I can mash quick save and click a slot, but I like other games with good check points (Like Half Life series) that is generous but still makes death something to avoid. There are points of taking that too far with Bioshock. Instead of resetting enemies, it just keeps them at status quo when you died making the game a bit too easy (a subsequent patch made it so you can turn em off!)

CamtamStu:

I can see your viewpoint somewhat, but there are great games still out there with that. Most certainly old titles (old console games) were not about game balance AT ALL. Scripting, if you mean code, it was easier to code those games then that it is now, if you mean story, there are a plenty of great games with great stories out there. Innovation? That gets harder, but you have too look for it in the new technologies being made available. Dynamic Lighting and Physics are two great new additions to add immersion and make games more fun! (Half Life 2 to Boom Blox)


As far as I see it, there are just as many turds and hits as there has always been based on %. Yes, less games come out due to rising cost, but it's possible your tastes haven't changed enough where as mine, too much.

 

[HomeAliveIn45]

I got The Secret of Monkey Island and ran it using scummvm. Although I appreciate the comedy, writing and whatnot, the graphics just give me a headache.

 

[J9387]

I used to love RPG's, tactics games, platformers, and Zelda and Mario games.

Now the majority of what I play are FPS's, FPS/RPG hybrids, and music games like GH, RB, and Audiosurf. I have no tolerance for JRPGS. (The Tales series and FFIV being recent exceptions.) I dislike RTS's (CoH being another exception) and I can barely stand to pick up Twilight Princess or Super Mario 64 even though I know they're great games.

 

[monodiabloloco]

I can't play grind games the way I used to. As a kid, I played FF 2 (FF 5 overseas) on the SNES until all my characters were at max level and loved every moment of the grind. Every fight was a huge life or death struggle and a chance to increase my chars skills. Now, I am playing it on the DS (they just keep getting my money!) and have little of the tolerance for the constant attacks that occur as you walk about.
The only other issue I seem to have with older games is in DnD based games. I have trouble with Baldur's gate now because we play 3rd ed table top and I like those rules better.
Torment I can overlook that because it's just darn fun.
Other than that, I don't have that problem! I love old games! I play the old Zelda and Mario at least once a year just messing around.

 

[SteinFaust]

i played my relative's n64 and perfect dark almost made my eyes bleed. too blocky and colorful (i can't believe that was the pinnacle of graphics engines back then), now i'm too used to well-rendered, coffee filter vision. :'(

 

[LewsTherin]

I actually feel the opposite. I find it harder and harder to get into modern games as they just seem shallow.

In the past games didn't have Hollywood level production, or even the storage space for it, so the gamer had to be kept interested by one or more of the following: game balancing, scripting, and innovation. These days all of the things a game had to have as standard have become afterthoughts when the dazzling HD visuals and cinematic score has been finished.

If they are given any thought at all.

The sad, sad truth comrade.

I'm really in the same boat. older games are just more FUN. Probably because they don't try and imitate halo or take themselves so seriously. i mean, a fox, frog, bird and rabbit in starships? But it works.

 

[Mikav]

I kinda got the opposite. I loved Ocarina of Time, and I can't beat Twilight princess. (Seriously, it's been over a year.)

Mmm, I'mma play me some OoT now.

 

[fyrh56]

I wish someone had thought to upgrade some of the old games on the PS store with analog control. I would have paid more to have it too.

There are these cheapo NGS playstation/pc controllers that do just that. If the analog control is off, the left analog stick emulates the D-pad. They're the NGS Maverick if I'm not mistaken.

Back on topic, yes, my gaming taste has changed but i still love my classics. Sam & Max Hit The Road is one heck of a game, but damn me if i can play those new Sam & Max series.
Actually, it's the newer games that i have a problem with. Pixel/sprite art looks way more appealing and artistic than (most) 3D. Especially the "brown" 3D.

 

[Harfish]

I installed FireNES (it's an extension for Firefox which plays NES games right in your browser) and have been trying out a whole host of old game, but one thing strikes me about all of them: they're really hard! It seems learning curves, tutorials and the like are fairly recent innovations.

In saying that, I can't put down Dr Mario. I only played it a couple of times as a kid, but damn is it addictive!