What is the best game type ever?

[Torrasque]

Instead of the flame-war inducing question "What is the best game ever?", I figured I'd ask you all this question instead.

There are many different types of games: shooters, rpgs, platformers, dungeon crawlers, rts, fighters, etc. etc.
There are also many different hybrids like shooter rpgs, dungeon crawler mmos, etc. etc.
Everyone has their niche 'type', that certain game type that you always love to play, but I would like to know what you think is the best for all gamers.

I think platformers are the best game type ever.
Why? Because they are simple. No, not the kind of simple that would make you think "thats it?" and be disappointed. I mean the kind of simple where you think "oh, well thats how that works". For example, Chess is a very simple game. There are very few rules, every piece has a set amount of movements that it can and cannot execute, and playing a game is really quite simple. What makes platformers and Chess stand the test of time and continue to be good games, is that the execution of each can be very complex.

For example, Super Mario World is a very simple game. You can run, jump, step on enemies, and besides a few power-ups, the game is very simple. Despite being simple, anyone who has played Super Mario World can tell you that the game is far from easy. Fez is another great example of the power of platformers. In Fez, there are no enemies to worry about (unless you count the lava, acid, and gravity) so you can do whatever you like. Your controls are: run, jump, pick up blocks/bombs, and change perspective. A very simple game to understand, but it can be dizzyingly complex at times. Some of the puzzles can also be very draining.

Shooters have the problem of getting used to moving and aiming, figuring out what gun to use, adjusting for recoil, map memorization, etc. Fighters have attack speed to get used to, combos to memorize, strengths and weaknesses to account for, etc. RTS' have build orders to memorize, unit control to master, maps to memorize, etc.
Platformers are very intuitive. You either get it right away, or you get it after a few deaths. Even the worst platformers have very simple controls and rules.

It doesn't matter the age of the player, how much gaming they do, if they do any gaming at all, or how smart they are. I think everyone can and has enjoyed a platformer in their life.

Well, what do you think is the best game type ever? Agree with me? Disagree?
If you want, you can also include what you think is the best game of your selected type, but I'd prefer you don't... That is the kind of kindling that starts the nastiest kind of flame-wars =|

 

[lRookiel]

My personal preference is the old school RPG like Baldurs gate, I probably should play through Dragon age since they are similar, I bet I would enjoy it.

 

[Scrustle]

I don't really think that Fez fits in with your definition of simple. The messages you have to decode re ridiculously cryptic. Like the only clue on how to translate the writing in the game is one random block of symbols in only one place, with no clue to how significant it is. It's also obtuse to work out in that the writing is read vertically and lines go from right to left. I would have never of had any clue what all the cryptic stuff in that game meant if it wasn't for the internet.

I don't really know what I would call the "best" game genre. Of course this topic isn't supposed to really be about what is objectively best but I don't think I could use the same reasons that I prefer my favourite genres as arguments for why they are the "best", even if it's just for me.

 

[General Twinkletoes]

Hmmm... I can't decide between RTS and FPS. I love tf2, and have devoted so much time to it, along with countless others, but then I have played the AoE series for a long, long time, I love watching starcraft 2, I play a bit of starcraft 1 recently, and I'm going to get starcraft 2 next time I can. Locked in the house for 3 months from sickness, bah

 

[Torrasque]

I don't really think that Fez fits in with your definition of simple. The messages you have to decode re ridiculously cryptic. Like the only clue on how to translate the writing in the game is one random block of symbols in only one place, with no clue to how significant it is. It's also obtuse to work out in that the writing is read vertically and lines go from right to left. I would have never of had any clue what all the cryptic stuff in that game meant if it wasn't for the internet.

Ah, but that is what I meant about "simple".

I'll use Chess as an example again.
The game starts with white moving first, and the white player can only move one of 10 pieces for the first move of the game (a pawn or a knight). The white player can move pawns 1 space or 2, and the knights have only 2 spaces they can move to (each). After that initial move, the white player can potentially open up any piece in the back row to move. This could be a rook, a bishop, a queen, anything. so the game goes from pawns and knights, to just about anything goes. All after a single move.

I consider the first move to be one of the most important moves in the game because it sets the tone of the whole match.

The puzzles of Fez confounded me as well at times, but getting around the world and beating the game is still very simple. It is maxing out the game and getting everything that is challenging. What made me laugh when playing Fez, was looking online to figure out how to do certain puzzles or figure out certain riddles, and then realizing how incredibly simple the puzzles were.

 

[Torrasque]

Locked in the house for 3 months from sickness, bah

3 month sickness?!
What even

I like watching Starcraft 2 more than playing it myself, lol...
I'll watch Stephano casually kick ass in tournaments, watch Day9's funday mondays, get a huge urge to play Starcraft, play a game on the ladder... And then realize that I am not that good at playing against other humans =|
I'll see MKP and MMA do stupidly good micro and split their marines and go "oh man, I'd love to do that!", but I have trouble remembering to keep making units while attacking the enemy...

 

[General Twinkletoes]

Locked in the house for 3 months from sickness, bah

3 month sickness?!
What even

I like watching Starcraft 2 more than playing it myself, lol...
I'll watch Stephano casually kick ass in tournaments, watch Day9's funday mondays, get a huge urge to play Starcraft, play a game on the ladder... And then realize that I am not that good at playing against other humans =|
I'll see MKP and MMA do stupidly good micro and split their marines and go "oh man, I'd love to do that!", but I have trouble remembering to keep making units while attacking the enemy...

It's looking fairly likely that I have lupus

Bit of a bummer, really

And I am certain that when I get starcraft 2, I'm going to absolutely suck. I see the micro from the top tier player it's insane, in the middle of a fight, they've swapped back to their base 3 times while still keeping on top of the enemy

Looking forward to being forever a bronze

 

[Torrasque]

Locked in the house for 3 months from sickness, bah

3 month sickness?!
What even

I like watching Starcraft 2 more than playing it myself, lol...
I'll watch Stephano casually kick ass in tournaments, watch Day9's funday mondays, get a huge urge to play Starcraft, play a game on the ladder... And then realize that I am not that good at playing against other humans =|
I'll see MKP and MMA do stupidly good micro and split their marines and go "oh man, I'd love to do that!", but I have trouble remembering to keep making units while attacking the enemy...

It's looking fairly likely that I have lupus

Bit of a bummer, really

And I am certain that when I get starcraft 2, I'm going to absolutely suck. I see the micro from the top tier player it's insane, in the middle of a fight, they've swapped back to their base 3 times while still keeping on top of the enemy

Looking forward to being forever a bronze

"Lupus? What the hell is that? Do you suddenly turn into a werebear when the moon is full?"
*googles*
"Oh... Well that sucks =|"

My favorite kind of micro usually involves marine splits to dodge the kind of things that makes marines die horrible deaths. The absolute best micro I have ever seen, was a tourny game of MKP against MC where MKP dodged 3 storms--3 storms in a row--with a huge wad of marines, and only took a very tiny amount of damage on his marines. All of this while still shooting and engaging the force of MC. Even the casters were "HOLY SHIT. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON, HOW IS HE DOING THIS". Just less cursy since they are professional casters, lol.

Then of course, I try to recreate it and I accidentally all my marines or lings =|

 

[The Abhorrent]

When it comes down to the best genre (or "type) of gaming, there are two juggernauts which come to mind:

- Platforming
- Action-Adventure

Platformers are often under-appreciated in the current era of gaming, but they represent something surprisingly primal in games: they are fun personified. Deceptively simple, they often conceal a high level of difficulty and can require a great deal of player skill to complete; but no matter what, they're always fun to play from start to finish. The art of making platformers has been honed to perfection over the decades, and almost all of the recent releases in the genre (such as Super Mario Galaxy and Donkey Kong Country Returns) have received near universal praise from critics. They are the essence of what makes video games fun to play; no more, no less.

Action-Adventure games on the other hand, represent the potential of the medium. If any genre of games can claim to be an epic (in the classical sense), this is it; here you can not just hear about an adventure of the ages, you get to experience it. The revered Legend of Zelda franchise is the most prominent example, but many other great games also qualify; nevertheless, these make up the "legends" of gaming. The art of storytelling in games may have grown under the label of RPGs, but action-adventure games have begun adopting those stories just the same; the line between action-RPGs and action-adventure games is becoming increasingly blurred, arguably to the benefit of both genres. In any event, the main point is that action-adventure games are that "something more" where games can transcend from being "just a game".

---

Platformers revel in what they are; and in doing so, approach perfection.
Action-Adventures push the boundaries of what can be, and try to transcend the medium.

Picking which is better is no small task.

 

[Torrasque]

When it comes down to the best genre (or "type) of gaming, there are two juggernauts which come to mind:

- Platforming
- Action-Adventure

Platformers are often under-appreciated in the current era of gaming, but they represent something surprisingly primal in games: they are fun personified. Deceptively simple, they often conceal a high level of difficulty and can require a great deal of player skill to complete; but no matter what, they're always fun to play from start to finish. The art of making platformers has been honed to perfection over the decades, and almost all of the recent releases in the genre (such as Super Mario Galaxy and Donkey Kong Country Returns) have received near universal praise from critics. They are the essence of what makes video games fun to play; no more, no less.

Action-Adventure games on the other hand, represent the potential of the medium. If any genre of games can claim to be an epic (in the classical sense), this is it; here you can not just hear about an adventure of the ages, you get to experience it. The revered Legend of Zelda franchise is the most prominent example, but many other great games also qualify; nevertheless, these make up the "legends" of gaming. The art of storytelling in games may have grown under the label of RPGs, but action-adventure games have begun adopting those stories just the same; the line between action-RPGs and action-adventure games is becoming increasingly blurred, arguably to the benefit of both genres. In any event, the main point is that action-adventure games are that "something more" where games can transcend from being "just a game".

---

Platformers revel in what they are; and in doing so, approach perfection.
Action-Adventures push the boundaries of what can be, and try to transcend the medium.

Picking which is better is no small task.

Well said.

I would still give my vote (by a narrow margin to be sure) to platformers just because someone new to gaming is more likely to start their gaming career with a platformer, than an action-adventure. Actually, a better way to say that would be: someone new to gaming is more likely to get into gaming, if they start with a platformer, because it is so simple to get into. Some action-adventure games have wonky learning curves that some people are not ready/able/willing to climb, while platformers generally have gradual learning curves.
Of course a lot of platformers have their "Holy shit, what do I do now? How do I get past this part!", but I think players are more likely to get past those parts in platformers because the simplicity in the tools they have at their disposal, compared to action-adventure games.

My two big reasons for picking platforming are:
1. Simplicity
2. Timeless-ness

There are fewer timeless action-adventure games than platformers. That could be because there are more platformers, or more amazing platformers, but even games like OoT can begin to show their age after a while.

 

[Vitale]

My personal preference is the old school RPG like Baldurs gate, I probably should play through Dragon age since they are similar, I bet I would enjoy it.

i completely agree... what did you think of mafia 2 i thought it was one of best rpg's ever except for the ending and the fact you can free roam like on gta

i also like puzzle games like portal... i found no flaws in portal 1 but in portal 2 i found it was mostly looking for the one tiny spot of white in and incredibly detailed and massive room.

 

[BENZOOKA]

You're trying to describe the classic "Easy to learn, difficult to master" there it seems.

It's impossible to pick one best game type for all. But from a personal perspective I'd say turn-based strategy (Civilization (V)). It's not that difficult to learn, plenty of difficulty settings, every game is different, it hasn't got any big flaws as such, it's very vast, and so on.

Another choice would be FPS's. Especially something as refined as CS:S.

 

[ElPatron]

adjusting for recoil

That was true in Counter Strike, but today weapons hardly have any recoil in games.

 

[Squidbulb]

I don't really have any particular preference. I don't really pick favourites.

 

[spectrenihlus]

Horde mode. Just add it in every single game imo.

Imagine playing a mario game with horde mode.

 

[WoW Killer]

I tend to play RPGs more than anything. That's probably because they're longer than other games and you feel like you get your moneys worth. But I do like the central mechanic of starting out weak and getting progressively stronger with the same character; customisation along that path is all the better. I think it plays into the learning curve as well, in that you can start out with a simple game and make it progressively more complex as you learn new abilities.

I do like platformers though, or at least 2d platformers. Super Mario World is like one of my best games of all time, probably even better than SMB3. SM64 on the other hand; I hated it. I've just never got on with 3d platformers. It doesn't seem to work somehow.

2d platform RPGs, i.e. Metroidvania? Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about. The world needs more of those.

 

[Twilight_guy]

I don't have a favorite, never have. I like lots of games and I can't really label one as best. Call me a fence-straddler I guess.

 

[Skeggers]

When I think long and hard about it, the only conclusion I can come to is that games that actually engage you and make you think about what you're doing are my favourite ones, even if it's just adding some tactical elements into a First Person Shooter - a la Ghost Recon. But despite being the type of game I would usually dislike, I really enjoyed my time with the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series, particularly the former, peculiarly, despite my traditional hatred of fantasy games. Turn Based Strategy just settles right with me when applied in small quantities.

There are exceptions though, like No More Heroes and Painkiller, two of my favourite series in some time, which are basically just a few glorious stages of mindless violence with no sense of tactics but immense appeal all the same, so that throws me a bit.