Style vs. Substance

[Toaster]

I left a while back cause I faded from the gaming scene and had a few things I needed to sort out. Whatever. But now that I'm "back" I got a few things I wanna rant about. Spoilers abound.

Killer 7

I was SO excited to play this game. I mean, it just LOOKED cool. And I'm all for creative merit, but I quickly grew tired of the games asthetics and it was an utter chore to play through--not to mention and storyline was complete garbage. Literally, it was garbage. I played it through to the end hoping that there would be SOMETHING at the end. But no. It's just complete nonsense throw together with a nice coat of paint coupled with some very bland gameplay mechanics. Mayve my expectations were too high?

Indigo Prophecy

Here's an interesting premise. An interactive movie. But the end result is something very bland. You play the entire game with these simon says like action sequeneces and you know what, it's boring. Especilly since the game's creator Cage emphasizes that "your every action will have a direct effect". Lies. The game doesn't have multiple storyline paths, and your actions don't really affect the course of the game. Hell, no matter what you do at the end you can STILL get any of the 3 games very unrewarding endings. Plus at the end, well, it just seems rushed. Suddenly Carla is in love with Lucas? WTF?? Shadow of Destiny is a much better example of how to do this type of game right.

Well, that's about it really. But I just wanted to put that out there. I don't care how "stylish" your game is. If deep down it sucks, then well, it sucks.

[Magus]

Re: Style vs. Substance

Damn you. The two plot-heavy games I've yet to play-- er, experience.

Though I did start Killer 7. The graphics are blocky and the gameplay is almost there... I don't really see any other reason to play other than to see how well the hyped story plays out. Which probably isn't very well.

[The Dark Jester]

Re: Style vs. Substance

I dunno. Im digging whats going on in Killer 7 and Im so close to the end. I love the game. and I like the story, granted Ill have to beat it more than once to understand it comepletely.

[Loki]

Re: Style vs. Substance

Killer 7 frustrates a lot of people because the storyline requires you to read between the lines.

A skill I've noticed most gamers lacking, in my experiance.

[Jeroak Nelave]

Re: Style vs. Substance

I love Robot Alchemic Drive, but i thought the graphics were good for an early PS2 game, and the controls and gameplay were cool!

[The_Real_Crunk]

Re: Style vs. Substance

Ive never been able to find R.A.D

[The Dark Jester]

Re: Style vs. Substance

I own RAD.

and Loki.

thats exactly what i was thinking.

WTF.

the game is rad.

[Garr123]

Re: Style vs. Substance

Yeah, Killer 7's storyline certainly isn't garbage. One of the few game's I've played recently that wasn't cliche'd as hell.

[OmegaD3k]

Re: Style vs. Substance

I couldn't care any less about story-driven games. I leave that for movies and books, that's what they're there for.

Rather be blasting hundreds of 2D baddies to chunky pieces in wonderful mindless ways. Loads of graphic detail and fluid gameplay execution is most important.
I.e.: DoDonPachi, Metal Slug

[Crimson Knight]

Re: Style vs. Substance

Substance. Matters. SRSLY.

I'd rather play an awesome hack n' slash with FFVII graphics than play a QTE fest that looks like real life.

I guess that's why, despite player reviews, that I played and thuroughly enjoyed MGS2 Substance. And that Tenchu mission disc.

[marcus]

Re: Style vs. Substance

Killer 7 frustrates a lot of people because the storyline requires you to read between the lines.

A skill I've noticed most gamers lacking, in my experiance.

But the game still sucks... the story is great and the graphics are unique and awesome... but the fundamentals of the game are horribly broken. I enjoyed it for it's unique look and its easy challenge (which thankfully made it feel like I was playing a movie) but take away the graphics and writing and you have a below average game.

I agree with you on substance over style. While I praise game developers for trying new things, the games themselves also have to be good or else it's just a wasted effort. For example, Viewtiful Joe was a stylish game that was an awesome throwback to 2D beat-em-ups but Okami, despite being beautiful and having novel ideas like painting on the world, the game suffers from bad framerate drops, long load times, and the fact that it's really, really easy (based on the Japanese version; european/american versions are usually fixed).

Regardless, I always end up buying games like these because they're, well, different and that's all that usually matters to warrant a purchase from me. If a game doesn't include a "testosterone pumped musclehead who shoots aliens with big guns in identical corridors and all red barrels explode inexplainably" or "stars a spikey haired kid with a massive sword with his soft spoken female healer accomplice taking on the long haired pretty boy villain" then I'll probably end up buying it.

Personally, I don't care about graphics anymore but I'm the minority when it comes to taste in videogames. Afterall, my favorite rpg is NetHack and I play Galactic Civilizations II...

[Magus]

Re: Style vs. Substance

Killer 7 frustrates a lot of people because the storyline requires you to read between the lines.

A skill I've noticed most gamers lacking, in my experiance.

Keep in mind those were just my initial impressions. I'm not even out of the first area yet. It's just not very fun.

[John Mora]

Re: Style vs. Substance

The thing about RAD was that I couldn't ever get used to the controls. And I would walk on myself. But the attractive Toshihiro Kawamoto designs... [whimper]

[Loki]

Re: Style vs. Substance

I tend to like games that have an unique style or design, regardless of substinance. Hence my love for Herdy-Gerdy, Legend of Mana, Mark of Kri (great game, but love those cut-scenes, Ratchet and Clank (awesome gameplay but I really love them for the cartoon sci0fi designs and worlds), etc.

[John Mora]

Re: Style vs. Substance

I also like my games to look pretty. If a game has a visual style that I think it ugly, I usually won't play it. Probably a big reason why I don't get into American RPGs.