Volumes of Games

[Liminal Dusk]

The title may be a little misleading, but what I'm getting at is games like the .hack// and .hack//G.U. series.

Does anyone want to see more games that are set up with the intention of completing one overarching plot through a series of games? I don't mean like what Assassin's Creed, Prince of Persia, or Too Human planned (making sets of sequels planned ahead of time, but with individual plots). I mean like "Name of Game, Volume I: XYZ."

As a follow-up question, are any of you also annoyed when people criticize the .hack series for "unoriginality" when the aesthetic clearly demands for the same game system in each volume?

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I think the proper term refers to "Serial" games, since what an actual "series" is has become blurred by people mistaking Final Fantasy for a "series". It really isn't, a proper serial story requires a more binding approach than that, with continued characters and plot threads throughout, since they take their name from the old "pulp serials" which always ended on cliff hangers and told a continuous story.

The term in gaming has become "Episodic" games, and I don't really like them. Mostly because developers release them at such a slow schedule that it really breaks the flow of the story mid stride. That and I don't have time for monsters like the .hack series.

 

[Mioche]

The term in gaming has become "Episodic" games, and I don't really like them. Mostly because developers release them at such a slow schedule that it really breaks the flow of the story mid stride.

I'm not a big fan of "Episodic" game too. Like he said, it breaks the flow but it can also make the game shorter. Games are already too short. The concept is good but I don't know...

I really enjoyed Hack btw !

 

[willard3]

The only problem I would have is if they didn't really change the gameplay between titles at all. I mean, keeping it roughly the same but adding a few things here and fixing a few things there would be nice. Otherwise it gets boring.

 

[coldfrog]

Like Xenosaga? That was a good one.

Actually, I really really like the idea of serial games, but the biggest problem for me is that I've found a lot of these games to be heavy in the story, but poorly done in the gameplay area. I liked a lot about Xenosaga but the gameplay dragged a bit for me. If they could do it right, though, I'd be all over a good serial game.

 

[pigeon_of_doom]

Nice idea with established franchises I think, which is why Sam and Max and HL2 episodes work well. However, games like Shemnue or Xenosaga show the shortcomings of this kind of idea. There is no way to ensure there will be sufficient sales to justify producing the other episodes. Too risky really, and leaves a lot of angry gamers if the sprawling plot line is cut short halfway through.

 

[squid5580]

The term in gaming has become "Episodic" games, and I don't really like them. Mostly because developers release them at such a slow schedule that it really breaks the flow of the story mid stride.

I'm not a big fan of "Episodic" game too. Like he said, it breaks the flow but it can also make the game shorter. Games are already too short. The concept is good but I don't know...

I really enjoyed Hack btw !

My big problem with alot of episodic games (Mass Effect being the exception) is with the story. Games like Too Human just ended so abruptly they might as well thrown a huge "to be continued" in the middle of the "boss fight" (if you want to call it that). I have the same problem with the Half Life 2 series (yes I bashed HL2 not to worry I tied myself to the stake). It shouldn't cost us gamers 2 or 3 times the amount of cash to see the end of the game. I just think it is a bad idea to plan out a trilogy and make it obvious that is the plan from day 1. Every game should be a stand alone experience

 

[xitel]

I like them in theory, but waiting that long between installments kind of annoys me sometimes. But a bigger problem I have is when a planned trilogy gets cancelled after the first or second game (i.e. Project Breakdown), leaving the fans of the game with no hope for a resolution to the storyline.