So instead of making a list of my problems with modern games, or more specially shooters, I’ll just go on about one of my major gripes, the story. I’m not going to say the story is the most important part of a game, but a good one never hurts, and sometimes, for me at least, it can be a major selling point. Nevermind that video game stories are generally bad all around, its just everyone seems to has this idea that more epic equals more better, and that’s about as well written as most videogame stories. Same goes for movies, think about it, 28 Days Later was so much better then 28 Weeks Later, and that’s not exactly to say 28 Weeks Later was horrible, its just that they tried to make it about the whole damn world, where as 28 Weeks Later was about people, simple, focused and deep, nevermind that it is one of the best "zombie" movies ever.
I just saw a trailer for a shooter called (well I just went to check, GT just removed it for some reason) anyway, something with an 8 in it. Well guess what it was? A sci-fi shooter in all likely hood about the war of the worlds, and I’m sure you play as humanities last hope, original, right? Speaking of that, I’d love to at least see a sci-fi shooter with a story on a much smaller scale.
Max Payne and Max Payne II for example, it was about figuring out who was responsible and taking revenge for the murder of your family. Not to sum to the story up that easily, but it was very small scale and very deep [I do mean in comparison to other games], and dark which is always bonus for me.
Now I’m not exactly saying if the whole world is involved it’s instantly too epic and over used. Freedom Fighters for example, yes it was about the Soviets invading the USA, but you weren’t trying to save the world, you were a small group of people trying to do what they could, with no real hope of actually accomplishing your goal. It was not about saving the world; it was about saving what you could.
I’m not saying these games don’t exist, I know a few, and I’m sure there are some I don’t know of, but the over whelming majority of games these days are about saving the world, and I’m sick of it.
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Not to say all save the world games are bad. I've just gotten tired of most of them. Sad but true.
Hasn't there been any in recent years where one destroys the world? And not one of those games where you have a good/bad karma system?
While the save the world cliche will never leave the gaming industry, I think we'll start seeing more developers start creating more contemporary storylines, which won't always include a happy ending.
I guess the problem is that those are the kinds of games that have traditionally done well. I suppose it'll take some more innovative games that take the leap and are rewarded with solid sales before more developers / publishers get the message and start focusing on topics that people actually give a shit about.