An original idea in the gaming industry seems to be a kill shot now a days, especially looking back on previous generations. Back in the day, a plumber saving a princess was not only likeable but interesting and unique in its premise. And it only got better from there: a blue hedgehog moving at great speeds (at least for back in the Genesis days anyway) to save the world from one guy and his robot army, Generation2; A dimwit bear teams up with a wisecracking red ostrich to save his sister from a witch, Generation3; A jouvinile dragon takes on a mixbreed wizard involving enough lore mutilation to make D&D-ers cut themselves to free adult dragons imprisoned in crystal, Generation4. Generation5 was the peak of gaming and had enough unique and experimental ideas that it blew most average minds. Heres some examples I can think of: The PS2s top contender for original premise IMO is Shadow of the Colosus. A boy trying to save his girlfried slays giant stone-armoured beasts unknowingly unleashing a great evil. For the XBOX I actually am going to bring up a lesser known game. Oddworld: Strangers Wrath. A tough bounty hunter uses live amunition, trying desperately to hide his identity so he will not become the hunted. [I know Psychonauts was an original premise but it has become over popularized ever since Ben opened his mouth and gushed about it.] For Gamecube it was a tough decision, but I went with the more original one. Beyond Good and Evil. A ninja photojournalist, who was raised by a pig discovers and intergalactic plot deep within her own planets government which... I have to stop. Needless to say, it gets pretty out there.
But in this day and age, in Generation6, there is a rising tide of sequels, spin-offs, and clones. And when a game comes along with a truely original thought it becomes shunned or ridiculed. No! Take your fingers away from the keyboard! If you tell me that Portal, Little Big Planet, or the like were completely unique in everyway and was greatly appreciated by the masses then I will be forced to ask, "Why are you lying to me?" Portal was a fps puzzle solver, something Valve have been doing since they could code. While games like Little Big Planet cannot technically be considered original because they rely heavily on user made content.
The last game I remember in this generation with a spark of creativity was Mirrors Edge. Gameplay opperated differently than standard FPS, the standard of graphics were outstanding and were set appart from the rest of the genre by throwing the "Dirt Rainbow" out of the fucking window and replacing it with a bright shining world. The story line is even a startler, in that it has no twists! A girl information trafficer thinks that the government is corrupt only to figure out.. Oh, shit! It is!
All this is bringing me to the next OP of recent events. Brutal Legend. Now before I begin I do want to state: I will not be getting it. I hate Jack Black to the point of praying to Horus to take him to the underworld, and listening to him for 30+ hours would cause me to eat people. But I like what it represents. Something to stand out amongst the crowd. An idea of sparkling genious. Which is why I think after the hype has died people will do what they always do to genious. Beat the shit out of it.
What happened to us? Did we grow so complacent with mediocraty that we willingly pay, and praise, games like Halo, Madden, DOA, and the bastard offspring they produce? In less than a decade games have gon from superb to mediocre. Storylines have been filled with drivel, gameplay has gotten stale. Graphics have improved, but is it worth the cost? I've found myself dreading new releases of late, wondering which doppleganger of worn out titles will be released, not to please players, but to increase revenue. Thoughts? Constructive thoughts?
But in this day and age, in Generation6, there is a rising tide of sequels, spin-offs, and clones. And when a game comes along with a truely original thought it becomes shunned or ridiculed. No! Take your fingers away from the keyboard! If you tell me that Portal, Little Big Planet, or the like were completely unique in everyway and was greatly appreciated by the masses then I will be forced to ask, "Why are you lying to me?" Portal was a fps puzzle solver, something Valve have been doing since they could code. While games like Little Big Planet cannot technically be considered original because they rely heavily on user made content.
The last game I remember in this generation with a spark of creativity was Mirrors Edge. Gameplay opperated differently than standard FPS, the standard of graphics were outstanding and were set appart from the rest of the genre by throwing the "Dirt Rainbow" out of the fucking window and replacing it with a bright shining world. The story line is even a startler, in that it has no twists! A girl information trafficer thinks that the government is corrupt only to figure out.. Oh, shit! It is!
All this is bringing me to the next OP of recent events. Brutal Legend. Now before I begin I do want to state: I will not be getting it. I hate Jack Black to the point of praying to Horus to take him to the underworld, and listening to him for 30+ hours would cause me to eat people. But I like what it represents. Something to stand out amongst the crowd. An idea of sparkling genious. Which is why I think after the hype has died people will do what they always do to genious. Beat the shit out of it.
What happened to us? Did we grow so complacent with mediocraty that we willingly pay, and praise, games like Halo, Madden, DOA, and the bastard offspring they produce? In less than a decade games have gon from superb to mediocre. Storylines have been filled with drivel, gameplay has gotten stale. Graphics have improved, but is it worth the cost? I've found myself dreading new releases of late, wondering which doppleganger of worn out titles will be released, not to please players, but to increase revenue. Thoughts? Constructive thoughts?
