Last week's debate could have gone so much worse, and I'm thoroughly pleased that it went as well as it did. I went into the PC odd game debates nervous about what games I could possibly pair up against Portal, since I really didn't want to shy away from including it in the brackets. I originally had it matched up against Myst, and still plan to have that debate in a few months, but I'm so glad the battle of old-versus-new went so well last week. Yeah, a lot of people didn't even know what TLJ was, and yes, some people voted for TLJ thinking it was actually Dreamfall, but long time Dtoid reader Im OK summed things up pretty well with:
TLJ is still getting far more votes than I would have expected, which is very heartening to me. I think this one may be closer than the crushing victory for Portal that I first suspected it would be. Whichever one ends up winning doesn't really matter because they are both awesome games which should be played by everyone.
Here are last week's expected, but encouraging, results:
- Portal (52 votes) -- "This was a triumph." -- Winner!
- The Longest Journey (38 votes)
This week we move on to the final odd debate finals debate bracket, and Valve happens to be sitting on both sides of the table. After the PC odd debates are completed, it's back to the random reader-inspired debates we're used to. For this week, which game do you think is better, and why? Give it some serious thought, get some PC friends to share their opinions as well, and check back next week for the winner.
Bonus Question: What are some game debates you'd like to see in the near future? Suggest as many as you like!
Contest:
10:30 PM on 06.23.2009
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Portal got mad boring after an hour, I still have Counter-Strike relapse every now and again.
Bonus: Street Fighter IV
Way too much time spent on that. Portal is amazing, but not CS amazing.
CS: Quality (back then at least) AND Quantity. And more quantity. And more.
VOTE: CS.
Bonus Question: Why are there no debate suggestions yet?!
@ de BLOO -- SFIV vs what?
Bonus: Best competitive game's meta game
Bonus: Cave Story vs Knytt Stories.
Portal had a fun narrative and antagonist, and the only person you had to worry about was your own self. If you died, it was your own fault, not someone using the AWP on you.
Portal wins for me.
Bonus: I want to see supporting cast characters duking it out against each other. Like Roll Caskett versus Maya Fey. But that would turn into Game A versus Game B or Hero A versus Hero B. Hmm.
It's approach to narrative just blew me away. Counter strike got real boring, real fast for me.
Bonus: Fallout 2 vs. Baldur's Gate II
YOU KNOW THIS HAS GOTTA FUCKING HAPPEN!!!
UNLEASH THE FANBOYS!!!!
Portal is a better game overall, but it's not that addicting.
Portal was great but I love the multiplayer.
An incredible game, even if it is incredibly short.
Bonus:Team Fortress 2 vs Counter-strike source
CS is nothing more than Unreal Tournament with a different look.
Portal is brilliant, well thought out, and of course funny as hell. It was a pleasure to go back and play Portal again. Can't really say the same thing about CS.
Portal was a great game, lots of fun, but CS has longevity.
I suspect people will overlook this fact and lean towards the short, one time burst of fun instead of YEARS of entertainment CS has given the community.
Gamers are shallow.
mod potential. portal doesn't have much.
CS is so overrated it's not even funny.
Bonus: No one lives Forever (1 or 2) vs FEAR. I want to know if I'm the only one who likes the old Monolith titles more.
What I'm getting at is, yes CS has a great amount of replay about it - duh, but Portal also changes how you see a game narrated. It is rewarding and gives you that giddy feeling at the end, a sense of accomplishment and awe.
For me, Portal is just a better game because it was strongly revolutionary without using any of the normal gaming hooks to keep it "fun". It was really only 4ish hours long, but nearly every comment in this thread so far has called it a good game. That's pretty rare in today's generation of gaming.
Either way, I think that Portal is the opposite of a shallow experience in gaming. It offers an immersive experience without the long gameplay, multiplayer, co-op, grinding, or any of that stuff we come to expect in games. Add in a great story, comedy, and a dash of ingenuity, and it truly is one of the great games of an era.
Portal all the way for me.
Bonus Question: Final Fantasy bracket deathmatch, Prototype vs. inFAMOUS (because it would be fun(ny)), Mario Kart 64 vs Diddy Kong Racing
Counter Strike
One of the most addictive multiplayer games ever created.
Not only is it still being played today but there are numerous national and international Counter-Strike tournaments being held every year.
Either way, Valve has two winners here, I just prefer Counter-Strike.
Bonus:
Dragon Quest Monster v. Pokemon
Dragon Quest Series v. Final Fantasy series
Battlefield 1942 v. Team Fortress Classic
Battlefield 2 v. Counter strike
Battlefield 2 v. Team Fortress 2
Halflife v. Quake/Doom
Grim Fandago v. Leisure Suit Larry (remade original)
Legend of Zelda series v. Super Mario Series
Chrono Trigger v. FF 6
FF 6 v. any RPG
Fallout 3 v. any RPG
Fallout 3 v. Fallout 1/2
Never winter nights v. Fallout 2
Never winter nights v. Baldurs gate 2
And once again, I will vote for Portal.
CS is a classic, but despite it's staying power, I don't think a 100 hours of it are as memorable as 5 hours of Portal.