So Limbo, the Graveyard and Bastion,

[ShakyFiend]

I see a lot of debate about these games, specifically the first two, (here's part of The Graveyard that should give you some idea). They all fall into the category of 'Art' games, especially Graveyard (which you really should play; its free). I was just a-wonderin what you fair members of Escapia thought of these are regards artiness, you have one forum post: GO!

Spoiler: Dont watch this if you plan on playing it

 

[Jmurray21]

I can't speak for Limbo or the Graveyard but Bastion, that game is fantastic. It definitely is extremely arty and looks brilliant. The aesthetics of that game do deserve the title of being an artistic game.

 

[funksobeefy]

if Graveyard is free, where could I get it? I wont try a Google search cause Im sure "graveyard game" will give me too many interesting, yet useless hits.

 

[ramboondiea]

i dont see the bastion as "art", its a fun game that looks beautiful with an interesting narration device (also in my top 5 games), but the other two seem to try to shove a message down your your thought or are just surreal enough to make no sense, seriously bastion is the only one of them them that i think qualifies as a game

 

[Tratchet]

I just finished Bastion and I completely loved it. In my opinion it has one of the best delivered stories of games in general, and it's music and visuals were great as well. I don't think it was without flaws, mostly some gameplay issues that I had, but I still think it was great.

As for Limbo and graveyard, I played through Limbo and really enjoyed it. It was quite beautiful most of the time, and was genuinely creepy during some parts. I have not played Graveyard, but I watched the video and I'm a little undecided on it. On one hand it seems extremely pretentious, something that drives me nuts, but on the other hand, the idea that the lady could die at any time while walking up and down the graveyard (I assume that this is the case) adds a emotional involvement that couldn't be achieved in the same way with a short movie or painting. I just wish they could have done it without the pretentiousness.

 

[Zhukov]

Y'know, I sorta wish people (both developers and players) would get past the notion of art somehow having to be pretentious or cryptic or whatnot.

But I digress. As for those games...

Limbo was cool. Good atmosphere and some neat puzzles. However I felt that the quality dropped off once you got to the urban areas. The forest was nice and creepy, but the factory was just puzzles. While I enjoyed the game, I don't really see any artistic value in it. It's black & white, the protagonist is a kid and it has a crappy obscure ending. Whoop-de-do. I don't pretend to know exactly what "art" is, but I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be more than that.

Never played Graveyard. I did play The Path though, made by the same people. It was... interesting. Bit on the pretentious side for me though. I got the impression that all the supposed symbolism and whatnot didn't have much behind it. The game really needed some more interactive elements, i.e. more to do.

Bastion was really good. Story was interesting, entertaining and really well told. My only complaint was that the combat got repetitive. As for "art", well... if telling a good story qualifies as art then sure, Bastion certainly does that.

 

[Project_Xii]

Never played Graveyard, but I'll look into it now.

Limbo was fantastic. Short, but poignant, and the number of interpretations on what the game represents is staggering. Loved every minute of it, except for the fact that it ended. Art wise... yeah... I suppose it could be seen that way. It's art, but perhaps not in the same manner that Shadow of the Colossus is art. It more has a "stlye", I think.

Same would go for Bastion. It has a fantastic style, but I'm not sure it'd fall to deeply into the art thing. Of course, it's all open to how you interpret art, but for me a truly arty game has to have more then just style. It has to touch to touch you deeply and emotionally as well, and make you think about things far beyond that of its mere video game boundaries.

Fantastic games none the less.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

if Graveyard is free, where could I get it? I wont try a Google search cause Im sure "graveyard game" will give me too many interesting, yet useless hits.

It's on Steam. I would reccomend it as something different, but it's an extremely niche taste, which will be apparent immediately.

I for one enjoy it for the...unusual execution, but it's really more of an interactive art-piece than a game.

That about sums up my views on that, by the way. Limbo is a lovely game in addition, though, and I hear good things about Bastion.

 

[NerfedFalcon]

I don't know about 'art' as 'something that can be scrubbed for symbolism and analogies of real life that aren't really there to begin with', but Bastion is a brilliant game. Simply put, it's the only hack-and-slash RPG that ever held my attention, and that's a good thing. It looks great, plays great, sounds great, the narrator has a sexy voice and a lot of different things to say, and it's cheap as all hell compared to stuff that isn't anywhere near as good despite being made by more people.

And I've never played Limbo and never heard of The Graveyard before you brought it up, so I can't talk about those.

 

[DazZ.]

if Graveyard is free, where could I get it? I wont try a Google search cause Im sure "graveyard game" will give me too many interesting, yet useless hits.

Try Googling "graveyard game".

It's the first link.

 

[ShakyFiend]

if Graveyard is free, where could I get it? I wont try a Google search cause Im sure "graveyard game" will give me too many interesting, yet useless hits.

http://tale-of-tales.com/TheGraveyard/ If you dont have steam here it is, this seems to divide gamers like nothing else, personally I loved it, (read what happens if you buy the game on the linked page)

 

[SpaceBat]

I looked it up on Steam. It says it costs 4 dollars, not free.
I'll check out the link above then.

Hey, it appears to be a dutch game. Sweet.

 

[funksobeefy]

if Graveyard is free, where could I get it? I wont try a Google search cause Im sure "graveyard game" will give me too many interesting, yet useless hits.

Try Googling "graveyard game".

It's the first link.

haha who knew! I thought I was surely gonna get weird games weird people play in the graveyard.

When I get Steam up and rolling again i will check this out

 

[Lukeje]

I looked it up on Steam. It says it costs 4 dollars, not free.
I'll check out the link above then.

Hey, it appears to be a dutch game. Sweet.

The demo is free. Paying adds the possibility of death.

 

[Erana]

Haven't played Bastion, but Limbo and The Path are art. Limbo is a wonderful work of art and a game, demonstrating that the usual format of this medium can be an excellent, emotional experience. Kinda like how great artistic movies can still be narratives and tell a story excellently.

The Graveyard, however, is the kind of stuff I really want to see these days. Someone to push the boundaries of the medium. Is it even a game? If not, what is it, then? Where is the place for others in this category?
I mean, I'm also very happy with Tale of Tales for making an enjoyable game that functioned as an installation in a museum...

Blah, I could rant for a long time on the topic, but for some reason, my being a grad student in Fine Art makes everyone think I'm full of bullshit on the topic of art. o.0