Gameplay: Old and New

Just a random thought from your resident dragon…

I’ve noticed, over the course of the last couple of years, that games haven’t been holding my attention as much as they used to. There has been one game in the last two years (Morrowind) that I have felt the inclination to play through more than once and dedicate a lot of my time to. Everything else I’ve played in hour bursts and sometimes days can pass between one session and the next.

Which brings up the question. Has gameplay deteriorated since the era of the SNES and the Megadrive? I went through a golden period of gaming where I couldn’t put the joypad down no matter what I was doing elsewhere. I spent HOURS playing Super Mario Kart and Streetfighter 2, and games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Shining Force 2. The games were so addictive. Nowadays, I can’t seem to motivate myself to pick up the joypad for certain games. Legaia 2, to pull a name out of my mind. I’ve had the game since January and I’m only five hours into it. Whereas I played Final Fantasy IV recently, and have a clock of 18 hours on it at the moment in two weeks.

So has gameplay deteriorated, in your opinion, with this current wave of consoles? Or am I just unique in my own world by not being impressed by pretty graphics?

I believe that gameplay for certain consoles has deteriorated as well. Especially for the Sony’s playstation; No disrespect meant but the marketing stratagy was really to put up so many games as possible and not looking at the gameplay of games.
All the graphic improvements also add to the deteration of gameplay. Some games just go for the looks instead of the feeling.
Luckily ofcourse there are exceptions to the rule and by that Final Fantasy can be considered such a thing, as well as the first party games of Nintendo which said by Nintendo self that it would create games evolving around gameplay and not mass producing or looks.

The Era of the SNES was the best period though for gameplay.

I think it’s just more of a matter of growing out of excessive gaming than anything else. Back in the day I’d play anything. Because my interests have changed, however, so have my gaming interests, and I’ve become picky. In the same way others can become just as picky and even cynical when it comes to "next-gen" games.

I’ll note that many current games, especially RPGs don’t seem to be as challenging as once before. But before I make an issue out of it and delude myself into thinking that complaining will change anything, I simply sit back and enjoy what I can.

There’s a message amongst all that somewhere, but Ikaruga doesn’t want me to take the time to point it out.

bubye.

In my opinion games are just getting too short. Whatever happened to the RPGs were it took atleast 40+ hours to beat it. Not with games like FF9 and 10 they made it 12- hours.

Also I think all the ideas have been taken so it’s harder to make good long games.

I can remember playing my SNES and yeah spent hours playing Mario Cart and Street Fighter 2. Nowadays it seems that when games are made, you buy them to find they have taken shortcuts it seems, lots of things missing. To me it makes me think they go "ahh fuck it, release it" for some odd reason, maybe to beat competition and the game could use another month or two to be a fully awesome game.

As for gameplay, well, goes back to what I said above about the shortcuts. Mind you I only own PS2 games, my PC blows chunks so PS2 is enough for me.

Well I think old game tended to take you more time and be ‘tricker’ because you were younger and just shit at games:cool: or maybe that there wasnt so much competition to make AAA titles and get them out quickly, such is the case today. But the FF games a Kingdom Hearts, I played that for a week, a rathe rlot, about 45 hours on the clock, and finished it, it was really grippping great stroy etc. I cant remember why old game were so gripping, the werent even many great innovation in gameplay either in those times:S Now there are many gameplay changes but on verage only take bout 8 hours to complete……that is rather naff. I spend like 8 hours leveling up in FF’s when I first start them and ive hardly touched the story:S Ah me rant is over:)

I would say that, in general, console gameply is deteriorating. Most developers beleive a great game to be one which looks great, and plays ok, while a good game is one which looks OK and plays pretty well.
There are some exceptions. But for me its like books, I’ll play a game for a while, let it gather dust, then play it again. That way I’ll catch things I missed but without growing too bored. Usually by playing this way, I can bear to play a game 3 or 4 times, and some great games lots more than that. But really if I go into my room now, and sit at my TV, there wont be a signle game I want to play. And that’s from about 40 games spread over Mega Drive, N64, Playstation and Gamecube.
Now PC gaming, that’s different. jamie, if you want an RPG that lasts 40+ hours, look at things like Baldurs Gate, or more recently Neverwinter Nights or Morrowind. If you’re into that sorta thing.
Summary: SNES ruled, consoles used to be good, PC nowadays. At least for me.

If anyone takes only 12 hours to finish FF10, then they simply weren’t playing the game. Between my two FF10 saves, i’ve got over 100 hours of game time clocked up. Kingdom Hearts, 68 hours. FF 9 and 8, about 40 hours each. FF7 63 hours. Vagrant Story, 50 hours.

Meanwhile, FF4 and 5, I didn’t have the patience to get past the 20 hour mark on either – FF6 is the exception, i’ve got about 50 hours on that.

Holy crap, I’ve got a lot of time on my hands. And i’m getting Unlimited SaGa today.

Anyway, what i’m trying to say is – I think it’s just a matter of what you prefer. The old style gameplay in FF4 just grates on me, while the perfectly balanced gameplay in FF10 draws me back.

On PC RPGs… I’ve got Baldur’s Gate. I’ve never had the patience to play it for more than 4 hours or so. Nothing to do with the game – I just always get to a certain point, and then something happens – i’m sooooo bored of the opening part of Baldur’s Gate now, I can’t convince myself to do it again. So yeah.