Viewing entries tagged
unique
Sometimes it's hard to remember that video games have the potential to make a statement and be an actual piece of art, especially when faced with the latest big blockbuster that fits the marketable template. Much like all art, the different and unique work is often relegated to niche corners of obscurity without ever being given the attention they deserve. However, for those of us who like to seek out what's hiding in the shadows, there are many rewarding experiences waiting.
It's been a hot minute since I wrote about any games on this blog, but that's not for a lack of choice, as I've been enjoying a whole heap of interesting titles along the way. It's just a matter of fact that life usually wins when prioritising how I spend my time, so as much as I enjoy these little rants about games, they can easily be pushed aside. Nevertheless, I thought it fitting to post about a game that I would usually avoid like the plague, but eventually hooked me in and never let go.
This is something of a different post than usual, as I'll be talking about a collection of games instead of an individual release. From time to time I like to pick up a cheap little bundle of indie games that are nothing more than a showcase of the kind of creative and unique ideas that are out there. Sure it means I've bought a bunch of total stinkers in the past, but every now and then I get lucky and stumble upon a handful of excellent little hors d'oeuvres to wet my creative appetite.
As usual with any kind of racing or fighting game, I have to preface this post with a disclaimer. My enjoyment and enthusiasm for racing games is only equalled by my complete lack of skill. The same goes for fighting games, as these are two genres that I always love to play, but am forever woefully awful in every way.
I often ask myself "how much game is enough game?", and I often come up with the same answer. In fact I don't think it's limited to games, but if you're trying to tell a story or deliver an experience, it needs to be as long as it needs to be. Can you make the point within an hour, or over a couple of pages? Maybe you need a rolling epic to clearly provide the perspective needed to appreciate a fable. Either way, I often find myself thinking that a game might have overstayed its welcome in one way or another.
Occasionally a game comes along that manages to subvert our expectations of what we think a game can be. I, of course, love this kind of creative diversion from the norm, even though it doesn't always pay off. Then again, it's only when a developer makes a strong artistic choice, that they enter the realm of opportunity that may provide room for creativity to truly grow until it becomes something special.
There once was a time where you'd be forgiven for thinking that "indie game" was synonymous with "small gimmick". At least, that's how it seemed for a while, when many successful little indie titles made a name for themselves for whatever unique mechanics they employed. Braid had the rewind-time thing, Super Meat Boy had the tight-controls-but-totally-difficult thing, even Minecraft had its procedurally-generated-blocky thing.
Finding a truly original game is often like finding an original movie. These days they're mostly remakes and reboots of stories and actions that have already been proven to work. Turns out we're a simple kind of animal and seeing the same thing we always expect to see is a good way to sell products. Although, sometimes we need to leave those expectations at the door if we're to experience something truly special.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that a classic genre like point-and-click adventure games has nothing new to offer. In fact, for the most part I believe you would be right, as even when we transitioned from 2D to 3D, the format still remained the same. Turns out that it takes a little bit of imagination and circumstantial context to inspire something truly unique and interesting.
I think I might be able to pinpoint the moment when I lost all interest in online multiplayer. Well, maybe not the exact moment, but it would be whenever voice chat became the norm. Back when I played Team Fortress, Counter-Strike, and Quake III religiously, voice chat was the exception and text chat was the rule. Turns out hearing strangers yelling into their low-quality microphone didn't add much to the online gaming experience.
Lately it might seem as though the only innovations made in narrative game design, have been from the so-called 'walking simulator' end of town. A lot of games enhance their narrative side by removing gameplay elements, which sometimes works, but often ends in boredom. However, keeping in gameplay doesn't automatically fix the problem.
How do you take a familiar game concept and turn it around to be something original and unique? Then again, how do you make this new iteration something interesting and compelling, or is it enough to be different? These questions and more will be raised when anyone dives into Vertiginous Golf.
In a world where narrative gaming and visual novels are more popular than ever before, is there room for an actual comic book to enter the gaming space? I often think about how games can tell stories better, but I'm rarely asked to consider how gamification can enhance other story-telling mediums.
For the longest time, any game built on the reputation of some other form of media, tends to make a big old mess of things. Often I suspect it's because some executive decided that they needed a game to sell alongside the release of their next "blockbuster" movie, and rushed one out to cash in. So why would anyone make a game based on a movie that came out 25 years ago?
Sometimes I wish I didn't love narrative heavy games as much as I do, because they're super difficult to talk about without spoiling anything. Even though I try, there's always that feeling that you're not doing it justice, because you couldn't reveal something amazing. Although, I really feel like this genre is one of the most interesting and innovated genres in gaming right now, so let's have a little think about why.
I'm really enjoying these experimental little games from accomplished developers that are tiny examples of a good idea that probably could never be expanded on. Before playing the wonderful Subsurface Circular, I unironically got my hands on Edmund McMillon's experiment; Fingered.
Do we enjoy short narrative games with innovate methods of story-telling? By now it should be obvious that a game like Wheels Of Aurelia, with an interesting premise and unique gameplay, is right up my alley. Sure it's a small, short indie game that was released to little fanfare, but it's a game that exemplifies how unique telling a story while driving a car can be.
