Concepts That You Really Liked

[Lilani]

I've been replaying FFX lately, and while there are several things I don't like or just don't make sense[footnote]How the FUCK can Tidus, Wakka, and Rikku hold their breath for that long? Or can they just breathe underwater?[/footnote], there are a lot of concepts and themes I like in there. This time around, I really found myself marveling at the level of detail in the temples and such. Intricate symbols and motifs, tons of design just EVERYWHERE. Those interiors really feel like walking into a cathedral or a mosque.

And I love the way they treated the subject of faith throughout the story. Extra Credits first pointed out to me that faith was a huge theme in FFX, and it was one of the reasons I began replaying it (that, and I'd never finished it the first time around). And going through again, they're right. And so much thought was put into it, it's amazing. The faith of the people in Yevon isn't just a tool being used to control them for the sake of controlling them, as would have been an easy narrative path to go down. No, the faith came from fear, and a desire to maintain balance and control over Sin at all costs. And even when Yevon begins to fall in on itself, there are those who remain faithful. There isn't just a mass exodus and everybody just stops believing. No, many remain faithful, because even if the structure of their religion falls what they believe in is the teachings. And even if the teachings are false, they like the idea of them, and find comfort and direction in that idea.

And as long as they aren't doing those evil and manipulative things, who's to say that is totally wrong? Plenty of parts of our lives are built on lies.

It's just such a fascinating dissection of religion and faith, as well as a great exploration of the beauty to be found in structures built to be as magnificent and reverent as possible. For all its flaws, FFX tackles a lot of issues many games haven't even scratched the surface of, and I think to a certain level of success. While faith wasn't the only theme at work, I think they did about as much as they could have with it without completely restructuring the story and making it all about faith.

 

[Marik2]

The concept of Ikkitousen was great. Ancient reincarnated Chinese warriors fighting in modern Japan for turf wars sounded great but it was never relevant at all

The fanservice was blatantly stupid and shallow and nothing mattered

 

[l3o2828]

Mh...Let's see...

Shugo Chara. just...the entire premise gives you sooo much to do, specially for a kids show, and yeah i watched most of this show and i was dissapointed it almost never went anywhere interesting with it.
All these studies of what makes us who we are, make it more of a social study as what Persona 4 did, or something more personal, like our dreams and hopes, like what Shugo Chara should have done are all very interesting to me.


Then theres Katekayo Hitman Reborn. Mafia anime. Sold.

Oh but then the Mafia thing is almost non-existant. Great.

 

[Esotera]

The Culture (created by the late Iain M Banks) is probably my favourite concept of all time. Basically humanity & a bunch of other alien races merge together as one & live in sentient spaceships. They govern through an adhocracy, where if someone sees a job that needs doing, they do it. And they're also really peaceful & supporting of lesser civilizations.

 

[Morsomk_v1legacy]

I extremely like the idea of a Virtual Reality MMO being done like in .hack and Sword Art Online. I really want to play in that kind of an mmo, even though I might not even be alive once they start making the technology for it. Is so sad but also very happy.

 

[NoMercy Rider]

This...

Spoiler

 

[Terminate421]

I fucking love the concepts of pokemon. Not just creature designs but the whole world in general (The anime stuff really gets down the concepts, I don't watch it, but I still think its awesome.):

Spoiler

But I also know stuff like this would happen every now and then:

But I like Venipede anyway....

I like the way the world feels bigger and alive. We have an entire planet full of creatures that could instakill humans with their powers, but instead, we work with them as friends and family to do the greater good and figure out the mysteries of our universe.

Also Nature in that universe has no logic, and that makes it cool to. And humans seem about 20-30 years in the future as well. And the entire world has yet to be explored.

 

[Gatx]

There was an anime a while back, I forget the name because I didn't end up following it, but the basic premise was: main character has just returned from his "sucked into a fantasy world to save the princess and defeat the demon king" adventure and is taken by the government to be placed in a special school for other people that have gone through similar incidents (you know, because you have a bunch of kids coming back at max level, with magic powers and what not).

In the end it was just a way to explain how the characters got their powers and ended up being a fairly standard action anime (big boob girls, douche-y rival, etc). That idea of following the transported to another world hero after he returns to his own is damn interesting though.

 

[squeebles12]

My favourite concept would have to be the original Turok series, a native american indian is teleported into the lost land where time has no meaning and theres dinosaurs, aliens and alien dinosaurs. My favourite concept would probably be Turok Evolution where you first meet the main character and fight against a massive lizard man army as well as your cowboy arch enemy all to accept your fate save the human's sacred city and become the Son of Stone.The game play was also really well done and had pretty good AI considering the time, AI that would actively seek cover and also avoid grenades and weapons fire as well as using military squad tactics when they were in groups. The game also had really cool level designs such as a city suspended over a chasm that you had to blow up to keep them from crossing after which you escaped... by flying away on the back of a freaking pterodactyl! It also had some really cool weapons like the rocket launcher which had an alternate fire that shot purple swarms that slowly ate away the enemies until they were a head and torso and then exploded, they really had a level of creativity you don't find nowadays which is kinda sad. The best part of that was they managed to pull it all off almost perfectly making a really fun game with awesome concepts and mechanics.

I also did like the concept of Brink story and gameplay wise, a floating city who loses contact with the rest of the world and has to accommodate thousands of refugees that suddenly appear and find a way to provide for all of them and then how to win an all out war between the refugees and the ark members. One of the main features of this story is that it kept a big mystery surrounding the game which was what happened to the rest of the world that would cause all these people to seek safety on the ark, a feature that is never actually revealed throughout the game i might add which i quite enjoyed as it retained some mystery.
The gameplay could have been great too with all the classes, customisation and the free running but repetitive objectives and barely any maps which also all had similar layouts made it really disappointing.

 

[SD-Fiend]

Rakuga Kids

I've never actually played the game and I heard it wasn't very good in the first place but I love the idea of drawing cartoon characters to fight for you. And I especially like how the art style is meant to replicate children's doodles.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Xenoblade Chronicle.

I like that the setting took places that you're standing and living on a super giant titan corpses which are standing on a endless ocean.

Imagine the figures to be the size of skyscrapper!

 

[Brotha Desmond]

Two concepts I liked but I feel failed to live up to it potential are The Purge (movie) and Remember me (game).

 

[The_Great_Galendo]

I like how in a linear story, things that happen in the story actually affect gameplay in interesting ways, as well as hidden trivial things that affect gameplay, like in FF9.

Please elaborate. I like story affecting gameplay as well, but I don't remember that particularly in FF9, other than getting/losing a few of the summons, and losing them didn't affect gameplay since there was basically no way Dagger was casting them at that point in the game anyway.

Shugo Chara. just...the entire premise gives you sooo much to do, specially for a kids show, and yeah i watched most of this show and i was dissapointed it almost never went anywhere interesting with it.

Again, please elaborate. Not all of us have seen this show. Minor amounts of research suggest that the premise is that guardian spirits hatch from eggs and change people's personalities, which honestly sounds pretty weird and not really interesting at all, though I'm guessing from your approbation that there's more to it.

OT: As for me, I have a thing for hopeless lost causes. Maybe my favorite is from The Silmarillion. Here is an excerpt from a certain character's death scene (slightly spoilerish, but it happens pretty early on so whatever):

Spoiler

But as they drew near to Ethel Sirion and were upon the upward path over the mountains, Feanor bade them halt; for his wounds were mortal, and he knew that his hour was come. And looking out from the slopes of Ered Wethrin with his last sight he beheld far off the peaks of Thangorodrim, mightiest of the towers of Middle-earth, and knew with the foreknowledge of death that no power of the Noldor would ever overthrow them; but he cursed the name of Morgoth thrice, and laid it upon his sons to hold their oath, and to avenge their father.

For similar reasons, I like the concept of On the Beach as well. The characters behave rather unrealistically (it's your last few days on earth and nobody's having sex?), but the concept is a good one.

Just to be clear, it's not necessarily that I like stories where the good guys lose in the end; in fact, I usually dislike them. But I do tend to have a soft spot for hopeless lost causes, where there was no chance of victory, there was never a chance of victory, but despite realizing that their cause is literally hopeless the characters fight on to the bitter end. The "ten men against an army" type of last stands. I like those.

Bonus: Another similar scene from The Silmarillion, where a certain character challenges the Big Bad to a one-on-one duel. It qualifies because the Big Bad happens to be an immortal in the true sense of the word -- though not, as is demonstrated, beyond pain:

Spoiler

"Now news came to Hithlum that Dorthonion was lost and the sons of Finarfin overthrown, and that the sons of Feanor were driven from their lands. Then Fingolfin beheld (as it seemed to him) the utter ruin of the Noldor, and the defeat beyond redress of all their houses; and filled with wrath and despair he mounted Rochallor his great horse and rode forth alone, and none might restrain him. He passed over Dor-nu-Fauglith like a wind amid the dust, and all that beheld his onset fled in amaze, thinking that Orome himself was come: for a great madness of rage was upon him, so that his eyes shone like the eyes of the Valar. Thus he came alone to Angband's gates, and challenged Morgoth to come forth to single combat. And Morgoth came.

That was the last time in those wars that he passed the doors of his stronghold, and it is said that he took the challenge willingly; for though his might was greatest of all things in the world, alone of the Valar he knew fear. But he could not deny the challenge before the face of his captains; for the rocks rang with the shrill music of Fingolfin's horn, and his voice came keen and clear down into the depths of Angband; and Fingolfin named Morgoth craven, and lord of slaves. Therefore Morgoth came, climbing slowly from his subterranean throne, and the rumour of his feet was like thunder underground. And he issued forth clad in black armour; and he stood before the King like a tower, iron-crowned, and his vast shield, sable unblazoned, cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it as a star; for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice.

Then Morgoth hurled aloft Grond, the Hammer of the Underworld, and swung it down like a bolt of thunder. But Fingolfin sprang aside, and Grond rent a mighty pit in the earth, whence smoke and fire darted. Many times Morgoth essayed to smite him, and each time Fingolfin leaped away, as a lightening shoots from under a dark cloud; and he wounded Morgoth with seven wounds, and seven times Morgoth gave a cry of anguish, whereat the hosts of Angband fell upon their faces in dismay, and the cries echoed in the Northlands.

But at the last the King grew weary, and Morgoth bore down his shield upon him. Thrice he was crushed to his knees, and thrice arose again and bore up his broken shield and stricken helm. But the earth was all rent and pitted about him, and he stumbled and fell backward before the feet of Morgoth; and Morgoth set his left foot upon his neck, and the weight of it was like a fallen hill. Yet with his last and desperate stroke Fingolfin hewed the foot with Ringil, and the blood gushed forth black and smoking and filled the pits of Grond.

Thus died Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, most proud and valiant of the Elven-kings of old. The Orcs made no boast of that duel at the gate; neither do the Elves sing of it, for their sorrow is too deep....

 

[Diddy_Mao]

Time to whip the dead horse some more.

The Star Wars prequel trilogy.

There are actually some really good concepts at play there. Evil Space Warlock manipulates the fabric of reality to create a worthy apprentice. Same Warlock plays both sides of a Galactic civil war to set the stage for his rise to power and simultaneously eliminate the Space Wizards who put his people into exile.

That sounds like something I'd love to see...damn shame all the hinky little details get in the way and ruin the story.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

Tokyo Red Hood. Starts out as a genuinely intriguing horror story with stylish artwork about a disturbingly adult-acting loli girl who wants to literally be eaten by the Big Bad Wolf, but then it just descends into some shitty story with more focus on the repetitive gore and shock-value sex scenes.

 

[EyeReaper]

I have one: Hyperdimension Neptunia. It was kinda like hetalia, but switch ww2 with the council wars. The Xbox, Playstation and Wii personified as rulers over their own kingdoms? pretty sweet. The monsters personify digital piracy? I can dig that too. Too bad they really didn't expand on that, and you could really play the entire game without noticing these things. And the wii character doesn't even use nunchuks. what a waste