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Is this the worst videogame generation yet?
Is this the worst videogame generation yet? There is nothing out there (as of yet) you could call a masterpiece, a truly must have game.
This gen has been modest in terms of quality, so far, to say the least.
Last generation it was just about games, but now consoles have just become minimum spec PC's with frequent firmware updates, game installs, game patches, DLC, and built-in browsers,etc.
Also, i really miss Japanese developed games, last gen there was loads, high quality games that offered truly unique experiences.
Now the market is dominated by mediore western titles, titles that are so over-hyped (Mass Effect, Killzone 2, Bioshock, Fallout 3, Resistance, etc), proclaiming to be triple-A games, when in fact they aren't even anywhere close to hold such status.
In fact, i'm so underwhelmed by this generation, i've went and bought a PS2 to play the huge back-catalogue of games i missed out on the first time around.
So, Is this the worst videogame generation yet? For me personally it is because a) i played way better games last gen b) it was all about the games last gen, not your console trying to be a million things and c) the rise of western (mediocre) titles is seriously unfullfilling me.
BV
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Perhaps you are just getting older and games don't ignite that spark as much as they used to? That's how I feel. There is no denying there have been some fantastic games this gen, but for me nothing will compare to the classics I enjoyed on PS1/N64?Dreamcast.
I think you're correct in someway's as i've been playing games now for 20+ years. In other words you've seen it all over that period of time, and it takes something super special to make a mark on you.
Exactly. I still swot over all the games and get excited about them but for some reason I find them kinda boring after a few days. Like you said, they need to be super special to resonate with you. It's definitely a side effect of growing old. If we were kids experiencing this generation you would have never started this blog.
On a side note. It's nice to see a comment section on this site not full of twatish remarks. Well done you guys!
Im 17 and although Im not everyone, I do agree that this generation hasn't be great. I still remember my neighbour giving he his SNES (thank you sooo much) and I havn't stopped playing games since. I love my PS3 because of its bewards capability, Ico and SotC are excellent, Ive just started playing these, and so was GTA:SA. On the PS1 my jaw dropped after a minute with WipEout, that is a classic.
This generation was built with rushed hardware (look at the overall hardware failure rates across the 3 platforms) and little fore-thought. Last generation games were rated on the enjoyment and story, this generation graphics and realism rule the ratings. The fact that so many games in the top 100 are old generation games show that it they hold a place in gamers hearts and memories, todays games are easy to forget.
What top 100?
I have to say that I disagree with the sentiments that this generation hasn't been that good. There have been many, many excellent games, that my 360 collection has surpassed my PS2 collection speaks volumes for me. I can see the 360 eventually surpassing my Dreamcast and Master System collections as well, which are over 50 games each.
I think it's easy to get disenfranchised by this generation of games but there certainly has been some quality here. Looking back at the last generation I think it was a generation of boundless expansion; new graphics and sound technology allowed developers to do completely new things and expand games into genres and areas never before possible. Gaming itself was also legitimized in great part last generation. I think we are in a generation of momentum building now. We are just seeing the trends of last gen playing out and trying to find a new direction, and when you look at some of the things that are being brought to light like dlc, online gaming (which was mentioned) new interface ideas and a switch to an entirely different video format (hd is a big thing), and with the continued increase in graphics and audio quality we are really just settling in to a world of gaming that we can honestly not even predict. With the budgets for these new AAA games requiring millions of dollars can you honestly blame developers for playing it safe or having a hard time finding room for anything but the games they have put out? While it seems like the same old gaming it really is something unprecedented and from a business standpoint it is pioneering. This is nothing that has been done before, give it time before you damn it. Also, go play ratchet: crack in time.
Its unfortunate that due to high development costs and the risks associated with it. We are not getting that many new innovate IPs compared to the last generation just a lot of sequels. Industry heads recently from Sony, Square-Enix and Codemaster iterated this point....
Couldn't agree more. There isn't enough new IP's out there compared to last gen, which is a shame. Also I'm sick to death of First Person Shooters! I've hand enough of them to last me nine incarnations.
Last generation was great but don't we need wait to before claiming this is the worst generation. Its not over yet, there are decent games this gen. But last generation was awesome, we had the first GTA ( current 3d style) and Devil may cry etc...
I agree, we need to wait until its over before judging it. The best games often come near the end of a consoles lifespan, look at Banjo-Tooie and Conker for the N64, God of War 2 for the PS2
'mediore western titles, titles that are so over-hyped (Mass Effect, Killzone 2, Bioshock, Fallout 3, Resistance, etc), proclaiming to be triple-A games'
I find comments like this highly ignorant & disrespectful to the games industry. If u are 'seriously unfulfilled' this is not due to video games. U need to find some sort of relationshp councilling or self help website to spew out on.
I find comments like this highly ignorant & disrespectful to the games industry. If u are 'seriously unfulfilled' this is not due to video games. U need to find some sort of relationshp councilling or self help website to spew out on.
Well, you shouldn't be here, period, if you don't like the opinions of other readers. Know what i mean....nah, didn't think you did.
for a typical console gamer like me no.the reason is that after 3 generations this is the first time i enjoy online gaming.i agree though that we need more innovative software...
This is the worst video game generation yet, as it is the one that has relied the most on marketing savvy to drive sales.
We have an article on "No Doubt suing activision over Guitar Hero rights" or so, you know?
this only is the worst generation because the past ones were amazingly good. Those past generations have set the bar high.But i´m pretty happy with today games...Mario Galaxy,No More Heroes, Uncharted 2, Left 4 Dead,Gears of War, Earth Defense Force, Bayonetta, Dead Rising, Demons Souls(probally my fave this current gen), the Orange Box and a few others are so good and fresh, as say...Ico or Rez. The indie, low budget scene was never this strong,thanks to digital distribution(Braid,Thrine,Geometry Wars etc...).i thank this gen for keeping the shump alive!has a huge Shump fan i thought last gen was the end of it. But this gen has helped a lot to keep the Shump scene alive. also the platformer or the puzzle game. You also have witnessed a bit of a point n´click renaissance.etc
I kind of half agree with you Barla. There are some very good games that have come out this Gen, but I think the problem is lack of variety.
IMO there are too many "me too" shooters being released by western developers this gen and that seems to be all they're interested in.
I think I may fall into the same feeling as you with these, being an ex-mainly PC gamer, I had my fill of very good shooters years ago, and there are very few released these days that really impress me.
It seems however that these are the kind of games that get released by everyone, because, and lets be honest, it appears to be the only games that the majority of people buying these days. If you're not a floating gun killing thousands of people or in an open world with "choice" then people aren't interested.
We need more Japanses games, and we need a little more imagination in the west.
COD4 is my favourite example of this. The story is excellent, and the shooting is solid. But look how big it's become... Is it really THAT good.
For me, and I've said before and I'm sure will be pointed out, U2 was a breath of fresh air, they wrote a story and script, they kept to it, they didn't try to implement features for the sake of it and for me is the only masterpiece game so far.
There have been some amazing games, I could write you a list of my favs if you want, but you're right, a serious lack of masterpieces. Which appears to be because implementing as many features as possible, online, dlc etc seems to have taken over from game design as the most important factor. Real shame.
Re COD4 - yes it is. As you said the story is excellent and the shooting is solid. I'd go on to add that the level design is sublime.
But I still didn't play it and think "wow, this is genre defining".
I saw a constant flow of enemies from "wardrobes" until you cross an invisible line (very poor!) and simple but solid shooting mechanics. I just don't get the "OMG!!! COD4 is the ****!".
I simply thought it was a good FPS, I played many better FPS's on the PC a long time ago.
As a note I certainly won't be paying £45 for MW2. Please let’s give Activision permission to charge whatever they want!
Out of curiosity, did you play a lot of PC FPS games? In my experience in talking to real people face to face, it's seems to me mainly people who only ever really played consoles that think MW is the best thing since sliced bread.
I'm not a PC/Console elitist, clearly! Its just something I've genuinely observed from speaking to people about the game.
I don't think that MW2 is even in my top 10 games this Gen. I know this is all personal preference, but just my curiosities and my 2p.
I think thats down to your personal preference really. For me, gaming peaked years ago with the Sega Master System, so anything else will always be a disappointment, but there have been plenty of games that have been truly brilliant.
None of them have features a blue hedgehog sadly, but thats been the case for a decade now, so I've adjusted to that fact.
I do miss the lack of JPN developed titles of last gen, that's for sure. As i prefer JPN developed titles as opposed to western titles.
I agree that there is a lack of quality games this gen, compared to last. But i do/hope this gen will get better.