Okay, so this is an odd thing that's been bugging me way back in my head for a while now and I think I'd like to speak my mind about it. Yes, I'm about to lob an opinion at you people. Please don't hurt me. I'd just like some honest feedback here (namely, your opinions), on this thought of mine.
Every time I hear about quicktime events from Yahtzee (the "Press X Not To Die" stuff), I get a laugh, naturally, but there was one review in which he actually put forth the question about whether they have ever been a good idea. It's a fairly simple answer, really. A decided NO. But the curious thing about it is that I can actually think of a game - a decent game, even - in which that sort of thing worked.
Fellow Escapists, I bid they to turn back your clocks to the game known as Dark Cloud. For those of you who are familiar with it, you already know what I'm getting at. For those who don't, brief explantion.
Now then, this game is the first game which I can safely say I encountered quicktime events. Only, they're more or less blended seemlessly into the game in a way that is better than other games for three reasons. One, it's used more or less to further the story as cinematic events. Two, you can save before them and it will let you try again instead of busting you back to the beginning of the level or something anyway. And three, it damn well warns you beforehand when it's going to happen and how it works. This basically turns it into "Press X to be awesome and there's no downside to getting it wrong, seriously.", which is the proper use of such things.
Come to think of it, there's a number of elements that I've heard Yahtzee speak out about. Let's see now... Weapons that take damage are there, but I always found that it's fine because they can be repaired and even upgraded into better weapons. Of course, I always figured it was realistic to use that in a game for one fairly good reason. If your sword is about to break when fighting an enemy, maybe you shouldn't be swinging it as, oh say, a stone golem! But still, I found Dark Cloud to be unique, the breaker of the mold for RPGs that you can't really replicate (unless you're talking the sequel, but I never really got into that).
Anyway, I've had my say. Lemme hear yours.
Every time I hear about quicktime events from Yahtzee (the "Press X Not To Die" stuff), I get a laugh, naturally, but there was one review in which he actually put forth the question about whether they have ever been a good idea. It's a fairly simple answer, really. A decided NO. But the curious thing about it is that I can actually think of a game - a decent game, even - in which that sort of thing worked.
Fellow Escapists, I bid they to turn back your clocks to the game known as Dark Cloud. For those of you who are familiar with it, you already know what I'm getting at. For those who don't, brief explantion.
Dark Cloud is a dungeon-crawler RPG that combines the use of puzzles and strategy in character use. The six characters you use have abilities necessary to get through the various dungeons, and all have different styles of combat which are important for - at the very least - defeating the final boss. The central main character, though, IS responsible for putting the damn world back together, so let's here it for our hero.
Now then, this game is the first game which I can safely say I encountered quicktime events. Only, they're more or less blended seemlessly into the game in a way that is better than other games for three reasons. One, it's used more or less to further the story as cinematic events. Two, you can save before them and it will let you try again instead of busting you back to the beginning of the level or something anyway. And three, it damn well warns you beforehand when it's going to happen and how it works. This basically turns it into "Press X to be awesome and there's no downside to getting it wrong, seriously.", which is the proper use of such things.
Come to think of it, there's a number of elements that I've heard Yahtzee speak out about. Let's see now... Weapons that take damage are there, but I always found that it's fine because they can be repaired and even upgraded into better weapons. Of course, I always figured it was realistic to use that in a game for one fairly good reason. If your sword is about to break when fighting an enemy, maybe you shouldn't be swinging it as, oh say, a stone golem! But still, I found Dark Cloud to be unique, the breaker of the mold for RPGs that you can't really replicate (unless you're talking the sequel, but I never really got into that).
Anyway, I've had my say. Lemme hear yours.
