Something I realized lately, this console generation does not have any non-realistic colorful platforming characters of it's own. The closes thing on current gen that I can think of is Drake, but, being all humans and guns it hardly qualifies. I'm talking about the kind of character that uses completely imaginary creatures and protagonists are able to double jump and stuff like that. Every single new game made in this genre uses protagonists and story worlds created by PS2 (Ratchet/Clank, Jak/Daxter) at the absolute latest. Most use characters created even way earlier than that (Mario, Zelda, Kirby, Yoshi etc.) Unless I'm very mistaken, developers seem to be focusing on sequels rather than even trying to create new series in this genre. My question is, would it even be possible to create a new series in the same vein as these games or will established characters dominate this field of gaming indefinitely?
The next non-realistic colorful platforming character??
- Thread starter radioactive lemur
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If I had to pick a mascot to represent this cycle of consoles it would have to be this cute little mofo right here:
EDIT: DAMN! Ninja'd!
EDIT: DAMN! Ninja'd!
I've always considered LBP to be a unique concept that's more about art and level designing than being an actual game like Mario, although you're right. I guess it's kind of close to what I'm talking about.The Arbiter of Cool said:
Sackboy is every colorful non-realistic platform hero you can imagine. Mine wears a Judge Dredd uniform, has fangs, a frilly collar, and a Fu Manchu mustache.
I recently saw a Movie Bob video where he was bemoaning the loss of the franchise mascots mocking the Xbox replacements of Master Chief and Coletrain. Only I don't see the mascot as a major thing. The great bulk of the mascots are from the third and fourth console generation. Each generation has it's own games and characters it reveres and that no one is hitting the crass commercalism button for all it's worth to create a video game, toy, cartoon, movie cross-over button except for Nintendo isn't a bad thing. Games should be about games, not mass-media marketing opportunities.
I recently saw a Movie Bob video where he was bemoaning the loss of the franchise mascots mocking the Xbox replacements of Master Chief and Coletrain. Only I don't see the mascot as a major thing. The great bulk of the mascots are from the third and fourth console generation. Each generation has it's own games and characters it reveres and that no one is hitting the crass commercalism button for all it's worth to create a video game, toy, cartoon, movie cross-over button except for Nintendo isn't a bad thing. Games should be about games, not mass-media marketing opportunities.
Those games are pretty cool and exactly what I'm talking about, but they don't use current-gen graphics. Mario Galaxy and R&C prove that it's entirely possible to make an awesome colorful platforming experience using the full muscle of current gen tech, but there don't seem to be any new series that use it. All truly great platformers seem to have to at least start out with semi-crappy or entirely crappy graphics. Is there something about high tech graphics that stunts creativity in these endeavors?Lucane said:
I'm not sure the platform genre really gained all that much by going 3D. Might explain why most attempts to channel that old Nintendo spirit have been lower tech efforts. LBP is probably the highest profile new franchise using cutting edge tech... and it's mostly a 2D game.
And I know retro gamers went crazy when Mario went back to 2D and Megaman went 8 bit. Platformers seem to be a much more comfortable fit with 2D.
And I know retro gamers went crazy when Mario went back to 2D and Megaman went 8 bit. Platformers seem to be a much more comfortable fit with 2D.
