I've been doing a bit of retro gaming lately. Maybe it's just to have a break from the plethora of MMO's that I kill my free time with, and also, I just occasionally like to look back at games that made me say WOW! years ago, and now make my eyes hurt from strain.
It got me to thinking about games that inspired me, or excited me, or just simply moved me.
Whether or not you agree about the standard of FF 7,9 and 10, they all had very strong story lines once you gave them a few hours, and I for one, got completely sucked in to all 3 titles, and by the end of each, i was provoked into an emotional response, albeit a very small one.
Silent hill, had myself and a friend (although admittedly we were under the influence) jumping out of our skins (the bit where you first encounter the little baby things that dont set off the radio was the prime culprit)
Sim City 4 had some pretty impressive depth for a "God Game"
Assassin's Creed was the first game which made my jaw drop for how amazingly beautiful it looked.
Gran turismo and GT2 Wowed me with what were impressive visuals and physics at the time, and the shear number of car and customization choices were incredible.
But even before PC gaming was a big deal and consoles were pretty basic, the Amiga had the solution, with games like Flashback, which for its time again was amazing to look at.
But what games had the greatest impact on the games i choose to play now?
What games set the standard for the level that i demand from and game i decide to develop myself? and why am I so hard on game developers for the titles they throw out nowadays?
The gaming market is huge as i am sure we are all aware, and as long as parents have deep pockets, and the ability to say no is diminished, the market will always be flooded with shallow, shiny button mashers to keep the console fanboys spending their pocket money. But delving a little deeper, there are still some good titles out and about for people with a slightly longer attention span.
Some games, give us the impression of magnitude, depth and style. But after a short time we realise just how limited we are. Fable 2 is a good example. At first you find yourself in a land where you have many things to occupy your time with, but after a pair of hours, you realise that its actually a pretty small game.
My personal preference in choice of game these days, leans very much toward open world, rpg types of game.
Fallout 3 was a great game, as was oblivion. The storylines were painfully short, so on first playthrough i was kind of dissapointed. But on second time through, I spent a while wandering around, doing side quests, talking to npc's, and (in oblivion) joining factions.
These games should have been a good benchmark for open world rpg games, especially with the power of PS3 and Xbox360 hardly being challenged by either title.
I have digressed a little from my original point.
I dont want to know necessarily what people's favourite game of all time is. I am certain there are thousands of similar threads on that topic. But what games sucked you in? what game got you so involved in the storyline, that you actually felt like you had accomplished something at the end or maybe even made you a little tearful? What games made you feel as if you truly were part of something greater, or part of a real team of heroic characters?
For my part those games would be:
FF 7,9 & 10
Ghost recon
Star Wars Republic Commando
Black and White
Silent Hill
It got me to thinking about games that inspired me, or excited me, or just simply moved me.
Whether or not you agree about the standard of FF 7,9 and 10, they all had very strong story lines once you gave them a few hours, and I for one, got completely sucked in to all 3 titles, and by the end of each, i was provoked into an emotional response, albeit a very small one.
Silent hill, had myself and a friend (although admittedly we were under the influence) jumping out of our skins (the bit where you first encounter the little baby things that dont set off the radio was the prime culprit)
Sim City 4 had some pretty impressive depth for a "God Game"
Assassin's Creed was the first game which made my jaw drop for how amazingly beautiful it looked.
Gran turismo and GT2 Wowed me with what were impressive visuals and physics at the time, and the shear number of car and customization choices were incredible.
But even before PC gaming was a big deal and consoles were pretty basic, the Amiga had the solution, with games like Flashback, which for its time again was amazing to look at.
But what games had the greatest impact on the games i choose to play now?
What games set the standard for the level that i demand from and game i decide to develop myself? and why am I so hard on game developers for the titles they throw out nowadays?
The gaming market is huge as i am sure we are all aware, and as long as parents have deep pockets, and the ability to say no is diminished, the market will always be flooded with shallow, shiny button mashers to keep the console fanboys spending their pocket money. But delving a little deeper, there are still some good titles out and about for people with a slightly longer attention span.
Some games, give us the impression of magnitude, depth and style. But after a short time we realise just how limited we are. Fable 2 is a good example. At first you find yourself in a land where you have many things to occupy your time with, but after a pair of hours, you realise that its actually a pretty small game.
My personal preference in choice of game these days, leans very much toward open world, rpg types of game.
Fallout 3 was a great game, as was oblivion. The storylines were painfully short, so on first playthrough i was kind of dissapointed. But on second time through, I spent a while wandering around, doing side quests, talking to npc's, and (in oblivion) joining factions.
These games should have been a good benchmark for open world rpg games, especially with the power of PS3 and Xbox360 hardly being challenged by either title.
I have digressed a little from my original point.
I dont want to know necessarily what people's favourite game of all time is. I am certain there are thousands of similar threads on that topic. But what games sucked you in? what game got you so involved in the storyline, that you actually felt like you had accomplished something at the end or maybe even made you a little tearful? What games made you feel as if you truly were part of something greater, or part of a real team of heroic characters?
For my part those games would be:
FF 7,9 & 10
Ghost recon
Star Wars Republic Commando
Black and White
Silent Hill
