Are Linear Games Inherently Bad?

[iDoom46]

The closest thing to true non-linearity in gaming would probably be Mass Effect.

Can you expand a little on how ME represents the pinnacle of non-linearity, given that it conforms neatly to the old RPG trope of:

"Doom is coming, you must hurry to save the world! But, whilst you're out, can you pop down the shops and pick me up a snickers? and a healing potion? Oh, and the various misfits you've collected together to save the world have some issues from their past they'd like to waste your time...er...resolve."

Not that I'm massively knocking ME for being hideously linear or anything. I just think that it's a long way from being truly non-linear.

Just because Mass Effect follows lots of RPG tropes doesn't make the game linear.

Just to be clear, I never said that Mass Effect was the pinnacle of non-linearity, you just misquoted me. I probably should have been more clear, allow me to rephrase; Mass Effect is the closest to non-linearity in a AAA main-stream title that immediately comes to mind.

What I meant was that Mass Effect offers tools that give the player the chance to approach obstacles in a variety of different ways, be it going in guns blazing, disabling the enemy with tech/biotic powers, or sometimes even talking yourself out of a sticky situation. BioWare specifically engineered it so that virtually no two players will have the same experience.

You can also choose your missions as they come, and doing one and not another will result in some sort of consequence for you. Ultimately, these consequences have little to no effect on the end result of the game, but at least it is something.

Yeah, the plot is linear, but the gameplay mechanics are far from that. As a matter of fact, I'd think you'd have a hard time finding a non-linear story in ANY game.

Similar to I said before, Mass Effect is like a mountain biking/ski resort, you can choose which path you want to take, but when you're done you're always going to end up in the same spot every time.
Sure, its nowhere near the pinnacle of non-linearity, but neither are sandbox games (and Mass Effect works sort of like a sandbox RPG). If you want true non-linearity, I suggest learning how to play Dungeons and Dragons.

 

[cgentero]

No, linearity in a game isn't bad and I think usually when people claim a game is "too linear" what they usually mean is that the game is "noticeably linear". It the same way a game is "noticeably non linear" when in sandbox games when you can't figure out where you are or where you need to go.

 

[Osaka117]

Call me crazy, but I actually prefer linear games to sandboxes. Well of course I'd take a good sandbox over a bad linear game, but all the free roaming in the world just doesn't add up to a well told story for me.

 

[Balobo]

Half Life 2 is commonly considered the greatest game ever made.

Since When? I have never heard of anyone say this sentence in real life, sure people say its good, but do people really think its worthy of that title?

Half Life 2 is commonly considered the greatest game ever made.

I think you mean to say worst. Honestly just because some random wackjob calls it the greatest game ever that does not mean its true.

Perhaps I should explain why I say that Half Life 2 is commonly considered the greatest game made. Here are my sources:
Number 8 on Metacritic out of every single game ever rated. http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/score/metascore/all/all?view=condensed&sort=desc
Number 1 on Steam. http://store.steampowered.com/search/?sort_by=Metascore&sort_order=DESC&
Number 1 PC Game on IGN. http://pc.ign.com/articles/101/1011624p26.html
Number 6 Xbox 360 Game on IGN. Technically, it's the Orange Box, but I think it still counts. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/104/1045042p21.html
Number 4 Best Selling PC Game on Wikipedia, not including expansions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_PC_video_games
Number 4 on Gamefaqs.com. http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/top10/2288.html
Number 2 on Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/the-top-50-videogames-of-the-decade-10-1--155591.phtml

I believe I've made my point.

Right so the only thing it is actually number 1 on is steam and IGN the site that is less trustworthy then wikipedia on a university paper. Honestly it even says on the wikipedia that it may not even include just pc sales. Also for the 360 game come on the orange box contained both portal and half life 2 so that kind of skews it in their favour.

Pretty much you have proven that alot of people like it thats it. Nothing about it being the best game ever or anything. We already knew it was popular so no you havnt proved any point.

Will you settle for "among the best of the best"?

 

[SilentCom]

Linear games aren't necessarily bad but it makes it feel like you don't have much choice and there is often less replayability.

 

[zehydra]

When someone complains that a game is too linear, it's usually within the context of the game, in that the game would've been improved by a more dynamic gameplay.

You mentioned Left 4 Dead as linear gameplay, and while the movement and level design certainly is linear, it works very well because the experience is never the same each time. The enemies are randomly generated, creating a brand new experience every time you play, which is why few people complain about Left 4 Dead's linearity.

Super Mario Bros, on the other hand, is the pure definition of linearity, without the kind of randomization found in Left 4 Dead. Nobody complains about this game either, because it makes the linearity part of the gameplay itself.

 

[mexicola]

I think the problem is in the presentation. If the game feels like it's forcibly restricting your options so it would get you to play it the way developers imagined and to hell with you - then it can rub people the wrong way. But if you do it masterfully the way Valve does it, most people won't mind and might even end up praising it.

But no nothing bad with linearity, a lot of time I prefer it over direction-less open world games.

 

[blankedboy]

No!
Portal 2
/thread

Replay value!
/argument

 

[Lunar Templar]

No.

Well... it depends what you mean by linear. I have nothing against linear stories or linear progression (i.e. level 1 -> level 2 -> level 3 etc).

However, I prefer the gameplay and level design to allow for a little bit of elbow room.

this
a game on the DS i got recently is, linear, pretty short to, but there's lots of nooks and crannys to explore, >.> probably doubled my play time exploring em all with each new transformation dance i got, and still not done poking around XD (its Shantae btw)

also see::
Devil May Cry 3
linear game, not alot of exploration, still owns much face

 

[KissofKetchup]

No, just look at the Half-Life series, L4D, pretty much everything by Valve. As long as the levels are well designed they're fine.

However I find it in my own personal experience that the level design has to be that the player is given the illusion that it is an open world and that there are logical and easily explained boundaries. Otherwise you just get pissed because you can't go past a barrier

 

[Kahunaburger]

All games are nonlinear to a degree, and have some sort of limitations. I say whatever you gotta do to tell the story the way you want to tell it.

 

[Timbydude]

No, I generally prefer linear games over sandboxes. No sandbox game has yet convinced me that their style of play is better. Sure, there are some gems (Fallout 3, Oblivion, Grand Theft Auto [sort of]), but these work because as soon as you're bored of the sandbox, they let you immediately revert to a high-quality linear objective.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I think what people mean when the say that about a game, is that it lacks 'depth'. It also depends alot on genre.

People expect certain things from games. I expect RPG's to have a certain depth and non linearity to them. I expect side quests and an over world map so I can explore the world that has been set out in front of me. I expect small puzzles on the way to the next boss and small detours to get hidden weapons and monsters. This is why I consider Final Fantasy 13 to be a bad 'linear' game. and Tales of Vesperia to be an excellent 'in depth' one.

I prefer Fallout's style of FPS to Half Life (even though I love both games) anyday because to me exploration and discovery is my gaming preference. I think at the end of the day it's all down to personal opinion and what you like to get out of a game. Even a game like Mario Galaxy lets you discover hidden things and go off the beaten path.

To me a game shouldn't be a corridor with a movie at the end of each part.

 

[ItsAPaul]

Linear is fine, just as long as its not FF13 linear where you're literally going in one direction. New Vegas was linear as hell and it worked (even kept weapons from you til certain levels).

 

[moosek]

It kinda limits the replay value, but they can certainly be good games

 

[viranimus]

Cause its cool to knock the old school in favor of the bright shiney new toy?

Seriously, as an RPG guy, I cant stand the notion that RPGs need to be sandbox. Honestly RPG was made for linear gameplay. Its a good thing. Its the most effective way to deliver a cohesive storyline.

Honestly I am not really a fan of most sandbox type gaming experiences. About the only one that absolutely truly gets it right is minecraft.

 

[Frozengale]

Linearity is nothing bad, but when you seriously feel like you are just walking down different corridors to get from cutscene to cutscene then there is a problem. Many games do that these days. Your pushed out the door, pushed into an environment you've never seen, pushed through that environment post haste, then pushed into the next. It becomes very discomforting and awkward and you feel like you are missing half the experience.

 

[vxicepickxv]

I think artificial sandboxes can be terrible too. Crackdown presented a huge explorable city, complete with bad guys of different skill levels in each area. Too tough to take on these guys? Okay, you can go here, every new game.

 

[Plinglebob]

I'd much rather have a linier game then an open world game.

 

[Roxor]

Secret levels aside, vertical-scrolling shooters are linear by design and nobody ever complains about them being too linear.