Poll: How do you judge old games?

[Shycte]

So, I just got around finishing Mafia. I know this game has been praised to death already so I won't beat that cow for you, but I have to say that I absolutly loved to game. One of the best games I ever played.

It got me thinking however, with the sequal coming up and all, how are we supposed to judge a old game like Mafia? By todays standard or by their times standards? The most obvious point is the graphics which only gotten better with time. How big a deal is that?

For my opinion I have to say that they are to be judged by the same standards just because in many cases they can meet those standards and maybe even do better.

 

[dududf]

I judge them as they were when they first came out.

As in I wouldn't judge Pong by todays standards, I'd judge it by the standards of when it came out.

When it comes to sequels however, I look at how they improved upon things with the standards of when it came out. Not many sequels have the same shock and awe as their predecessor had when it came out, and I think of it accordingly.

 

[delet]

Judge it by your standards, which would likely be todays standards. Yes, you may be a little more jaded now, or the game my not be as revolutionary as it was back in the day, but that doesn't matter. What matters is how it plays whenever you're playing it.

 

[AvsJoe]

I always judge games on the same scale, no matter when they were made. Same goes for movies, books, manga, comics, et al. This usually proves disastrous to older games but sometimes they shine through. For instance, most of the classics I have played are better than Culdecept Saga or Colosseum: Road to Freedom. God those games sucked.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Look, at this point, I judge old games by their successors.

For example...the original Pokemon games suck compared to the new ones, as the gameplay has been refined and the metagame consists of more than just "Catch Mewtwo" and "Catch 'em all", thanks to stuff like the Battle Tower.

 

[Shycte]

you're playing it today, judge it by today's standards. timeless gameplay is timeless after all. i just dug out robocop versus the terminator on megadrive (genesis) and it's still wonderful. i also played both previous avp games before the new one and they still both rule.

So you mean a game that hadn't "timeless" gameplay but was good fun back in the days isn't good anymore?

 

[Agarth]

I think things should be judged by the standards of when they were made.

 

[dududf]

Slightly off topic, but HOLY SHIT 17 posts? Do you have to replace keyboards as the friction of your button presses sets it ablaze? :O

(PM me if you want to respond.)

blargh

 

[Interference]

Yes, they are to be judged by the same standards, although mine in particular are a great deal more forgiving as far as graphics are concerned.

Two of my favourite games, Thief 2: The Metal Age and System Shock 2 still stand up and surpass their modern equivalents in most of the ways that count.

SS2, I'd contend for instance, outperforms Bioshock in all aspects save the sheer character of the environment. Rapture has a real personality that's unique and refreshing, whereas SS2's Von Braun and Rickenbacker are far more generic. But the immersion and gameplay mechanics of SS2 are far more engaging and it's got awesome coop.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

I judge a game by my own standards of "can i enjoy this when playing." the graphics are just an added bonus to my eyes if the game already satisfies my thumbs and fingers from the playing part. If there's a sequel then i compare it to the original and depending on the time period the previous came from i make a profound judgment

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I judge them by whether they're good or not.

 

[Shycte]

For example, I consider DOOM better than most FPS's that come out nowadays. And that's not even childhood nostalgia talking, the first time I played it was 4 years ago. It's a masterpiece.

Yeah, DOOM is a great example, it'll always be fun and I still get out on Xbox Live trying to find someone to play with. Just runnin around killing Demons. It's a good simple life.

Same goes for Duke Nukem, simple is the keyword.

For example...the original Pokemon games suck compared to the new ones, as the gameplay has been refined and the metagame consists of more than just "Catch Mewtwo" and "Catch 'em all", thanks to stuff like the Battle Tower.

Nooooooooooo. Pokémon Yellow is and will always be the best pokémon of all time with the possible exeption of Heart Gold/Soul Silver! 151 is the perfect number of Pokémon, not 5865416547864764.

 

[Mayonegg]

If you are playing them today, they should be judged by today's standards. Graphics are something which the player must forgive, but also typically less forgiving gameplay (harsher controls, no checkpoints, poorer AI).

The only thing that should remain is the nostalgia you feel from the time you first played it (for instance, I can easily play LBA2 all the way through).

If it's a classic, it should be timeless; if it's timeless, you should be able to enjoy playing it now.

It's a lot like old movies: films have gotten quicker in editing, more daring in out-there ideas and generally manage to fit more story in the same timespan as the years go by. If you watch a 80-90 year old film, it should still fundamentally entertain you. If it's slow, it's slow.

 

[Axolotl]

I judge them by modern standards, however since I only play the classic games of the past and I have a very high tolerence for the aspects most affected by technology I generally end up feeling old games are at least on level with modern titles.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

For example...the original Pokemon games suck compared to the new ones, as the gameplay has been refined and the metagame consists of more than just "Catch Mewtwo" and "Catch 'em all", thanks to stuff like the Battle Tower.

Nooooooooooo. Pokémon Yellow is and will always be the best pokémon of all time with the possible exeption of Heart Gold/Soul Silver! 151 is the perfect number of Pokémon, not 5865416547864764.

This is the effect of nostalgia, children.

 

[TransMando]

I always judge games based on what they did for that console generation and if any games after that have done or expanded on their ideas.

 

[Shycte]

Two of my favourite games, Thief 2: The Metal Age and System Shock 2 still stand up and surpass their modern equivalents in most of the ways that count.

As the sinner man I am I haven't played System Shock 2 and am therefor to be crucifed but if that can wait a second I can tell you that I have indeed played Theif 2.

That is one of those games who will just never grow old. It holds up better then 90 % of the stealth games that was released after it, I mean it's just fantastic. But I had to cheat bu way passed the third level you were supposed to steal those glasses and frame that guy, but I couldnät drop the glasses.

But I digress.

 

[Shycte]

For example...the original Pokemon games suck compared to the new ones, as the gameplay has been refined and the metagame consists of more than just "Catch Mewtwo" and "Catch 'em all", thanks to stuff like the Battle Tower.

Nooooooooooo. Pokémon Yellow is and will always be the best pokémon of all time with the possible exeption of Heart Gold/Soul Silver! 151 is the perfect number of Pokémon, not 5865416547864764.

This is the effect of nostalgia, children.

It is not!

Okay, I can admit that some things has improved. But the spirit if Yellow is still the best and I do beileve that there has become to many pokémons.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

For example...the original Pokemon games suck compared to the new ones, as the gameplay has been refined and the metagame consists of more than just "Catch Mewtwo" and "Catch 'em all", thanks to stuff like the Battle Tower.

Nooooooooooo. Pokémon Yellow is and will always be the best pokémon of all time with the possible exeption of Heart Gold/Soul Silver! 151 is the perfect number of Pokémon, not 5865416547864764.

This is the effect of nostalgia, children.

It is not!

Okay, I can admit that some things has improved. But the spirit if Yellow is still the best and I do beileve that there has become to many pokémons.

Okay? Before we go on...did you play Platinum?

 

[Shycte]

For example...the original Pokemon games suck compared to the new ones, as the gameplay has been refined and the metagame consists of more than just "Catch Mewtwo" and "Catch 'em all", thanks to stuff like the Battle Tower.

Nooooooooooo. Pokémon Yellow is and will always be the best pokémon of all time with the possible exeption of Heart Gold/Soul Silver! 151 is the perfect number of Pokémon, not 5865416547864764.

This is the effect of nostalgia, children.

It is not!

Okay, I can admit that some things has improved. But the spirit if Yellow is still the best and I do beileve that there has become to many pokémons.

Okay? Before we go on...did you play Platinum?

Yes I did, a short while, during a car trip.

Or maybe it was Dimond or Pearl....

Not sure. Is there a big diffrence? Platinum is the directors cut if I am to recall correctly?