Is Time Underused in Games?

[NeutralMunchHotel]

When I say this, I mean rewinding, fastforwarding, not just a timer in the corner.

I remember reading a preview for a game called Timeshift in GamesTM once, and it sounded incredible. The idea was that you could blow a van up, wait for a soldier to get to the spot, and rewind the timeline of the van thus crushing the guard. There were many other things you could do, and that was just one of the examples they gave. Now, checking on Metacritic, it got a score something in the 60s. Hmm.

Braid and Prince of Persia seem to be the two main games that have done something with time, and argueably Braid was the only one that actually incorporated it into the game - Prince of Persia was for the most part a glorified short 'Game Over' screen. And don't get me wrong, I loved what I played of Braid in the demo and at a friend's house, but there is still the big 3D game that needs to be made, something better than what Timeshift seemed to become.

So, what do you think of time in video games, and should it be used more? Also, are there any other games that mess with time that you think I should check out?

 

[Subzerowings]

The ratchet and clank "future" series has some moments where you can slow down time to complete puzzles. I think the reason behind the not using time in games is that it screws with the difficulty. If you could slow down time in any game, while retaining your normal speed, it would be too easy. It's also difficult to integrate as a part of the game, without it seaming like a gimmick.

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Yes, if you mean like in Achron. Though it does seem pretty challenging to program something like that.

 

[fletch_talon]

Once played a demo for PS1 (came with a magazine) where you play a snail and you make your way to the goal basic platformer style. However there's a timer at the top that activates a "ghost" of you at the start of the level that takes the exact same route through the level that you did. You lose the game if you run into your past self... or any of them because I believe the timer started from the beginning once it activates.
It was a rather clever premise cuz you had to get your past self to stand on switches to open doors and stuff like that.

Besides that I also like games that use real time. Pokemon Silver would be a good example in my opinion. Want to catch a bug pokemon? You'll have to wait for Tuesday between __ and __ when the bug catching comp opens its gates.

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

The ratchet and clank "future" series has some moments where you can slow down time to complete puzzles. I think the reason behind the not using time in games is that it screws with the difficulty. If you could slow down time in any game, while retaining your normal speed, it would be too easy. It's also difficult to integrate as a part of the game, without it seaming like a gimmick.

The thing about difficulty - if a talented developer did it they could make it work. That's why they make physics defying games and we don't. Also, if integrated well, I don't think it would feel like a gimmick. Using it in Braid felt perfectly natural by the end, and I'm sure that would transfer easily into 3D.

 

[Sampler]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora's_Mask

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

Blinx The Time Sweeper 1 and 2!
It's Cute Cats And Time Control!

 

[riskroWe]

Doesn't Okami have a slow-down-time thing?
And yes I'd like to see some multiplayer games with these abilities.

 

[similar.squirrel]

Singularity seems to promise lots of those van-crushing moments you yearn for.

 

[Markness]

I

The ratchet and clank "future" series has some moments where you can slow down time to complete puzzles. I think the reason behind the not using time in games is that it screws with the difficulty. If you could slow down time in any game, while retaining your normal speed, it would be too easy.

If you have a look at Braids gameplay. It has a lot of moments where if you didn't have the time thing It would be incredibly difficult. All you have to do to counter this problem is to make the game a little harder.

OP: yes, time is a fun mechanic and not enough games use it.

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

Singularity seems to promise lots of those van-crushing moments you yearn for.

Just Googled this - never heard of it before, and now I can't wait for it to come out - it looks great!

 

[the1ultimate]

There totally needs to be a game where you can control time either like PoP (total rewind), Timeshift (time control leaving you unaffected) or maybe another type which can focus on a specific object. Add a bit of Majora's Mask time travel into that and you would have the ultimate total time control game. With insanely complicated puzzle sequences.

 

[ghalkhsdkssakgh]

Doesn't Okami have a slow-down-time thing?
And yes I'd like to see some multiplayer games with these abilities.

Yes it does. Great fun to use

Blinx The Time Sweeper 1 and 2!
It's Cute Cats And Time Control!

YES!

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

-snip-

Blinx The Time Sweeper 1 and 2!
It's Cute Cats And Time Control!

YES!

For all those unbelievers out there...
or people who are ignorant of this mightiness

Spoiler: Blinx The Time Sweeper!

[HEADING=1]This. Is. Blinx![/HEADING]​

 

[geon106]

When I say this, I mean rewinding, fastforwarding, not just a timer in the corner.

I remember reading a preview for a game called Timeshift in GamesTM once, and it sounded incredible. The idea was that you could blow a van up, wait for a soldier to get to the spot, and rewind the timeline of the van thus crushing the guard. There were many other things you could do, and that was just one of the examples they gave. Now, checking on Metacritic, it got a score something in the 60s. Hmm.

Braid and Prince of Persia seem to be the two main games that have done something with time, and argueably Braid was the only one that actually incorporated it into the game - Prince of Persia was for the most part a glorified short 'Game Over' screen. And don't get me wrong, I loved what I played of Braid in the demo and at a friend's house, but there is still the big 3D game that needs to be made, something better than what Timeshift seemed to become.

So, what do you think of time in video games, and should it be used more? Also, are there any other games that mess with time that you think I should check out?

oh i was expecting this thread to be about something else. So i'll continue to post my reply and I think games should use a proper 24hr clock more and have it take place in real-time. Such as Crysis, FSX, Rail Sim, World of Warcraft etc

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Why has no one said Max Payne yet?.

Oh well Max Payne had bullet time as did Enter the Matrix (obviously!).

Fable 2 has time manipulation as a spell, which apart from slowing time down lets you teleport. There was also timequest that did things with time but to what extent I can't remember (It was on DOS ages ago).

There is also the yet to be released 'Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom' that has an interesting take on time manipulation.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNl-_7dGmL0]

http://www.winterbottomgame.com/info.html

 

[olee12343]

I believe it's up to the developers to decide whether or not time mechanics should be used. Implementing time mechanics into gameplay is no easy task, and while it might be cool, not all games would really have a use for it. However, when done right, i.e. Sands of Time, it can lead to some pretty cool moments.

 

[Zacharine]

Timeshift had a great idea. Which it then proceeded to botch beyond all recognition. Sure, you could, in theory, do the van trick. But it would be far faster, easier and health-bar friendly to just shoot the poor guard.

The time shifting abilities were used mainly to solve a few puzzles, some of them even good. But mostly it just acted as a super-speed effect to dodge bullets or run through a minefield without getting shredded.

And thus Timeshift became less than your average FPS.

But I'd love to see more games built around the idea of manipulating time. But that kind of thing is extremely hard to do with even halfway realistic limitations that deny the player the immediate godhood inherent in being able to twist and bend time according to ones wishes.

Games do however have Chrono Trigger-esque jumping from one time period to another and it has been done well, mainly because it doesn't immediately turn any and all enemy confrontations to a ridiculous slaughterfests.

 

[Ultrasnail]

i have yet to play a game that uses time travel well, it just either seems as a way to make the game easier or as a giant redo button. time travel isnt used well as a feature but i like it when its a good concept.

looking at achron though... i think they may be on to something there.

 

[A Weary Exile]

What they shouldn't do is make time your worst enemy like in Zelda MM.