Back to the...recent past.

[Doclector]

Recently, with less than half an hour spare, I couldn't find anything to play on my current gen consoles (360,DS,WII) to fill that time, so I went to play "Killzone" on the PS2. I have fond memories of the days before I had a current gen console, being amazed by killzone's comparitively realistic feel and, at the time, brilliant graphics, but as I loaded the first level, and got ready to kick some glowy-eyed gasmasked ass, I realised something.

I hated it. The controls felt sloppy, the enviroments dull, the sound devoid of any atmosphere, and the AI just plain rubbish.

The point being, I don't know what it is, but it didn't feel like it was because I was comparing it to "modern warfare" or other similiar FPS' of this gen. It felt, somehow, as if it had always been this bad, I just didn't know it. Hell, I still love DOOM, and goodness knows how outdated it feels if you actively compare it to more recent shooters.

The only thing comparitively bad, was the controller. I don't know whether I need a new one, or whether I'm acustomed to actually pulling a trigger instead of pressing R1, but I swear it felt like I needed inapropriate force to press the button, and the reaction felt delayed.

I find myself questioning the entire last gen. Was timesplitters 2 the frag fest I thought it was? Was SSX tricky still gonna be the same exciting snowboard action the next time I played it? Was even my beloved memories of Area 51 safe?

So, I ask you escapist, was last gen bad, or has this gen improved so much it's made last gen feel useless? Have you ever had an experience with going back to a much loved older game, only to find it's not all you thought it was?

 

[The_Healer]

Some games hold their appeal, some do not.

Apart from the graphics... I can enjoy all my old games. And yes, SSX tricky is still fun.

The only problem I've found with the controllers (going from my friends N64) is that they have been used so much that they no longer have retained all their function. I still love falcon punching people though.

 

[MetaKnight19]

No I have never thought that past gens were useless. I still have my Super Nintendo set up and enjoy a quick play of Contra 3 or Super Mario All-Stars.

 

[Legion]

It's what happens. It doesn't mean that the older generation is bad, but once we experience better it's harder to go back to something that is older, and in many ways, inferior.

Let's use films as an example. Try watching a dvd on blu-ray with a HD television, then try watching a VHS. The difference will be astounding, it doesn't mean VHS is bad, but because you have experienced better it feels much worse in comparison.

I tried playing Halo:CE after playing Halo 2. The graphics seemed dreadful, the game felt too slow and the physics (or lack of them) were all too noticeable. However, before I played Halo 2, none of those things were noticeable because I hadn't seen better at the time.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Controles have been the biggest improvement this gen.

I tried the replay Jak 3 a while back. It's still one of my favourite games, but having been acustomed to this gen's silky smooth controles, I just couldn't get past how clunky it felt.

 

[TimeLord]

No matter how much I play Cod4, the first Red Faction never gets old... despite its horrible graphics/sloppy support characters and pathetic AI.

Red Faction will outlast Cod4 for me (mainly cause MF2 will be here soon so Cod4 will be consigned to a bin)

 

[Simalacrum]

I certainly still enjoy Timesplitters 2. Though the control schematics are different in some ways to the current-gen FPS's, the feel and style of the game is just brilliant.

 

[Kermi]

I don't really miss any of my XBox games, though I do occasionally feel like firing up Jet Set Radio Future. I'd like to be able to play my PS2 games but without backwards compatibility I have to buy a new PS2. Do I want to finish Dragon Quest VIII that badly?
No.

The PS2/Xbox gen was great while it lasted, but it's over now. People might feel nostalgic for the previous gen but the games we have now are just fine.