@JohnnyShoulder Although we were being a bit facetious, it’s an interesting discussion and to your point - in reality, the vast majority of games lately are mixtures of elements inspired by multiple types and subgenres; meaning broad categories really are the simplest way to truly classify them. Things like RPG mechanics, puzzle platforming, cover shooting, survival, bullet hell, sandbox, simulation, etc., etc. Most games have more than one thing going on. Even game labels like horror, or sports, or even action are often inadequate to communicate a game’s real DNA.
Like, in a word, what type of game is Death Stranding, or Shadow of the Colossus or What Remains of Edith Finch or Nier Automata? In an effort to be granular about describing what type of game something is, we do often undersell what it really is.
For example, I just finished Persona 5 (I’ll devote a separate post to my full impressions - I’ll probably put it in the game’s proper thread) and I guess we’d call it a turn-based JRPG. But the game is so much more than that. I’ve heard it called a visual novel, a social sim, and a dungeon crawler. It certainly has all of those elements too. I would even say the persona fusion parts and aspects of some palaces are very much puzzle games. (I’d also call it an endurance marathon, but that’s another topic entirely)
I’ve mentioned it before, but I had to scoff initially when I heard it but Madden is actually a turn based RPG; when you think about it, it’s true.
Games are really complex now. And I love that about modern gaming.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
@Th3solution There are RPG elements in most games these days, that does not mean they should be classed as one though. Final Fantasy X
had you partaking in blitzball. Does that means it is a sports game? No, of course not, it is a JRPG. Like I say, it is getting a bit ridiculous these days. Especially when an annual sports game is being classed as turn based RPG. I've heard that before elsewhere, and I thought is was nonsense then and I think it is still nonsense now.
Life is more fun when you help people succeed, instead of wishing them to fail.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
@JohnnyShoulder Calling Madden a turn based RPG is a stretch, and going with a technical definition rather than the overall feel and setting of the game, which is sports sim.
But how to class Rocket League? Tony Hawks Pro Skater? I mean, I guess these are sports games, kind of, but Tony Hawk is almost as much a rhythm game as a sports game.
RPG is the toughest genre to define for me. Push Square has a list “Best RPGs” and it has games like Bloodborne in it. I guess technically it is an RPG but I never think of it that way. To me RPGs have a lot of character interactions and story, along with the required elements of building up of a character, gathering XP, and leveling up. Yeah, almost every game is an RPG.
@RogerRoger I really like that observation about a given property carrying a genre or game style that we otherwise wouldn’t care for. The value and importance of the art direction, setting, characters, story, intellectual property, and other intangibles cannot be understated. A recent example for me would be Astrobot’s Playroom. I absolutely adored that game. And I don’t really care for mascot platformers. Was it the pretty graphics, the zippy reload times, and the fancy haptic feedback? Well, sure that’s part of it, but I just love the PlayStation ecosystem and the absolutely fabulous labor of love the game is toward the legacy Sony products. I was so excited to uncover the artifacts and puzzle pieces and to see if I could identify the different classic PS games that the bots were pantomiming. When I played a bit of Mario Odyssey on a friends Switch a few months ago, I felt nothing — no nostalgic grab, no intangible dopamine surge. All this and with really the same (or similar at least) core gameplay. I mean Mario Odyssey was okay I guess, I just wasn’t feeling it. I’m sure the Nintendo fans out there might have the same response to Astrobot’s Playroom.
If they made a high quality Tomb Raider RTS, I’d probably play it 😅, even though I’ve never touched one of those strategy games. Heck, I’ve come close several times to buying Avengers, just because I like the property, even though the online style GAAS approach is a definite turn-off for me usually.
And yeah, I saw Avengers was going to $20, which is fair I think, even if it’s just to play the short but supposedly decent single player campaign. I’m wondering if it will eventually make the jump to F2P or PS Plus though. It’s already gone to PS Now, so maybe Plus is coming soon. 😄
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
I was deliberating over posting a summary impression piece on here or on the game’s thread, and decided to do it there, but if anyone’s interested in my thoughts after finishing Persona 5, I left them over on the Persona 5 thread. Not a full review, just some thoughts.
In a nutshell — I’m glad it’s over, but I think I’ll miss it too. 🤔
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
I was deliberating over posting a summary impression piece on here or on the game’s thread, and decided to do it there, but if anyone’s interested in my thoughts after finishing Persona 5, I left them over on the Persona 5 thread. Not a full review, just some thoughts.
In a nutshell — I’m glad it’s over, but I think I’ll miss it too. 🤔
If there is a desire, no one will bother to return
@Kidfried Yeah, they could have stretched the final section out for a whole other game. I honestly felt that it was one of the tightest experiences I’ve played in a long time though and I’m glad I spent my money on it.
@colonelkilgore Hey man! I just beat MGS3: Snake Eater over the weekend. My goodness, my goodness what a game. A timeless piece of art, masterful in every single way. I remember discussing it with you but I can't remember if it's your first playthrough through the series. This was my first time ever playing this game and at the end it became a top 5 of all time taking the spot of the Red Dead Redemption series. I. Love. This. Game. Anything I wanna talk about is spoilers so I'll be waiting on you my friend! I just started the first hour of MGS4, and it went up from top 5 to top 3, moving God of War to number 4. Even though I can't talk about my favorite story beats, I can share with you probably my favorite part of the game, the main theme. Give a listen and tell me what you think! Or maybe you heard it before and it'll be a wave of nostalgia.
@RogerRoger I really think you should! MGS2-4, Peace Walker, Rising, and MGS5 are all on PS Now which where I'm playing now. Two things already sold MGS4 for me. His suit and the iPod!! I'm looking forward to seeing the conclusion to this wonderful story and experience Kojima and crew crafted.
@TraCuz- I was supposed to have started it today but both my co-op partner and I were free today so we ‘played Remnant from the Ashes instead. It will be my first playthru too... I’ve played V and Peace Walker but none of the others. Hopefully I will have cleared all of them from the backlog by the time 2021 draws to a close.
@colonelkilgore Ahh okay and honestly going back and playing a game from that era I really appreciate how small the games were. Both MGS2&3 are about 12-15 hours each so that made it really manageable. Can't wait for the discussion later this year!
@RogerRoger There's no price that can equal their greatness. I will say a nice perspective of playing them all 20 years later is not having to wait years for the release of the next game. As you know these games are keen on little details so being able to play them back to back makes them feel very cohesive.
So I recently beat this small game, I don't know if you've heard of it, it's called The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? In all seriousness, this is a masterpiece. Not my favourite game of all time (That would be mario odyssey) because some parts like Zelda's terrible voice acting and the weapon durability system are pretty annoying but literally everything else is fantastic. I can see why this was given so many awards and 10/10 reviews. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves zelda or open world games.
@Jackpaza0508 Glad you had such a good time! Breath of the Wild truly does live up to all the hype, to me that game is the pinnacle of exploration and discovery. Still to this day I'm amazed at how huge the map is, I did not expect that much density from my little Switch.
From the first time you glide, to the first time you use the Sheikah slate, to the first korok seed, to the first elemental weapon, the first guardian encounter, the first time trying to figure out how to get into Hyrule Castle, the first time I figured out why I kept getting struck by lighting, to my first dragon sighting, my first shield surf, I can go on and on. I have so many fond memories with this game, I love it to pieces. What's some of your favorite moments friend?
@TraCuz- I'm glad you did end up enjoying MGS3; who knew a game could make climbing a ladder so iconic??
Like you said in your initial thoughts, the camo mechanism is pretty unique and works really well. The healing mechanics are equally unique but I can't say I was too upset that it didn't catch on in other games..
How did your fight with The End go? That's one of my favourite boss fights in the series.
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