Poll: Back to basics in Video games

[Smooth Operator]

The only game without a soundtrack was pong, back to basics has a limit, when you go below Tetris you are doing it wrong.

Developers should go back and learn the basics not make single color stick figure games, those were simply the limitations of the old tech, and within those limits people figured out some awesome gameplay mechanics that somehow nobody remembers anymore.

 

[Daniel Hailey]

well Mount and Blade may not be a main stream game but DAMN its addicting! and M&B: Warband's competitive multiplayer is like nothing youl play elsewhere so yeah i guess i would if something similar was picked up by a mainstream publisher and development studio and made even better

 

[Sancrkf]

As long as it's fun, I'd buy it. Graphics, soundtrack, voice acting and cinematics aren't requirements for me and I'll never decide if I should buy or not a game based on those things.

 

[Aurgelmir]

no Epic soundtracks ( just some average 10 seconds melody loop

Most games of yesteryer had the epic sound track, most games today are bland and boring. I honestly remember little of the music I hear today, but I could sing you Elec-man theme if youd like?

 

[TheAceTheOne]

well Mount and Blade may not be a main stream game but DAMN its addicting! and M&B: Warband's competitive multiplayer is like nothing youl play elsewhere so yeah i guess i would if something similar was picked up by a mainstream publisher and development studio and made even better

Oh, very much agreed, good sir. You should go the route I did and review it on the Escapist.

On Topic: I voted no on accident. I'd play games like that, easy. Rougelikes, Mount and Blade... A lot of them are really good~

 

[an874]

Never say never when it comes to an idea for making a piece of media, but without the three things you mention, this game had better bring it.

 

[Epona]

No cinematics? Sounds good No voice acting? Probably be ok. However, since the SNES we have seen great soundtracks, I wouldn't want to go back to blips and beeps or even back to scratchy NES music.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Cinematics i can live without, but a voiceless soundtrackless game? No thank you

 

[The Breadcrab]

It depends. For a downloadable game, all right. (I do want some sort of music though, no soundtrack at all just doesn't cut it) But for a $60 game, it'd have to be really good to warrant a purchase without any of the other elements. Besides, I certainly do not take these kind of things for granted. I considered every cinematic, music track, and line of dialogue in respect unless they flat-out suck. I actually look up soundtracks and even buy them sometimes if I like them, I always respect a well-done voice performance, and whenever I'm watching a cutscene I think "man that must have taken some time to make". Of course, I do this with every element of a game, even its gameplay and design.

 

[Axelhander]

I would buy a game sans those frills if the game mechanics were strong. However, abandoning cinematics and voice acting just for the sake of that would make my spider sense tingle about a developer's intentions, as though the dev is blaming things for "the current state of gaming" that aren't truly to blame.

No soundtrack, though? Get out of here with that nonsense.

Also, why do I have this silly feeling the question was asked while wearing the largest pair of rose-tinted glasses this side of the solar system?

 

[zehydra]

I would like to point out that the NES had some games with FANTASTIC soundtracks.

It's not the quality of the instrument, it's the music itself, that counts.

Megaman 2-6, SMB3 are my witnesses.

Edit: Also, I've found lately that Voice acting, can only take away from the game experience. It isn't really that necessary to have a good game, and bad voice acting can really make a okay game, a bad game.

 

[Thaius]

I would, though I don't think good soundtracks are any more new than good story in games. You seem to be talking about the Super Nintendo era, more or less, and some of the greatest soundtracks ever written are from that time. So I would expect that to be in there anyway.

But in short, yes, I would. Wouldn't be my number one priority, most likely, but I would get it.

 

[veloper]

No cinematics? yes please!
No voice-overs? only needed for cinematics anyway.

The only real factor here is how bad the non-epic soundtracks are.
Good game tunes can really improve the game, but Music=off and playing your own music is always a good alternative.

 

[foolish snails]

nope. unless it's some arcade game that I will probably drop in 20 minutes, I like to get into the atmosphere of a game. for me, the music, cinematics, and voice acting create the atmosphere.

 

[Danoloto]

*SNIP* So my question is : would you buy/play a mainstream game ( think of any mainstream game you like ) that had no Voice acting , no epic soundtrack, and no cinematics?

Since your poll is very black/white, I shall have to answer no. Games as a medium has moved on. I would not buy such a mentioned hypothetical game. Maybe if it was play4free i'd give it a go to see what the fuss is all about.
Now, if I take away 2 out of 3 of these options (no voice acting, no cinematics) that can be a wonderful game. I'm thinking of Flower for PS3. Ok, that has a little bit of cinematic works, but it can work without that to some extent. A wonderful game, made complete by it's even gameplay flow, wonderful use of artstyle, and music good for letting your mind wander into tranquility.
Of course, you can use your set handicap of not using voice, long soundtracks and cinematics as a trademark. I have seen creative minds of today make wonders with so little. And still fun, no doubt about that.

Then again, you are asking about a mainstream 2011 game. So this will probably not leave the drawing board. No AAA game studio would take such a huge step backwards. There is so much you can do with adding the right thing to the right game. So some games still don't use voice acting, because it would take away from the adventure the developers want to make. But soundtracks, no way. They should never cut on music and soundeffects. Just watch the Extra Credits on videogame music, that about sums up what I think of it. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2019-Videogame-Music

Short answer: No, I would not. Better immersion in a game is reached by combining effectively all the tools we have that can add to the experience. Taking away some of the tried & true methods would not stir my interest for very long.

 

[stvncpr236]

It's difficult to give a simple answer for this. It all really depends on the game, some games can deliver a story without all those extras, however some games need the epic soundtrack or the dialogue to push the narrative forward. Imagine God of War without the cinematics or Batman Arkham Asylum without the fantastic voice acting. Great voice acting even made Heavenly Sword an enjoyable experience. Hell, even Mario would not have done so well without the catchy tunes that almost everyone remembers. So it all depends on the individual game.

 

[Weaver]

Well, I played 3D Dot Game heroes and liked it so I guess so.