Seventh Generation: The Years of Stagnation

[j_factor]

Metroid Prime is a lot like Power Slave (Saturn, PSX) with platforming and puzzle elements too...

Metroid Prime is a lot like Powerslave. I thought I was the only one who ever noticed this. It's far from an exact copy, but there's definitely a resemblance in gameplay.

[TmEE]

Exhumed(Powerslave) is awesome on Saturn. I need to finish the last 2 stages...

[MrMatthews]

Sounds like I need to check out this Powerslave.

Still, what elements in this game were similar to Metroid Prime? Remember that MP was almost entirely based on Metroid & Super Metroid, so could Powerslave have just pulled from those original games for its content?

[17daysolderthannes]

this is why I am so fond of the 90-95 (maybe 96/97) time period in video games. Companies finally decided video games were a profitable market and went nuts trying to find the next big trend in video games. Alot of shit came out of it, but alot of really unique games came too, games you have never and will never see anything like again. I mean, come on, Robocop vs. Terminator, Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, Kolibri, Lemmings, Worms, the list goes on. So many games were innovative in either gameplay or license (robocob vs. terminator) and it left us with alot of really cool potential experiences that I haven't really seen since. As far as I'm concerned, besides simulator-esque games (racing, flying, skateboarding, FPS, etc.) video games died in about 97. Almost my entire PS2 library is some sort of simulation game, except for a few gems like Sly Cooper. The problem with today isn't the hardware, its the fact that games are too detached and aren't made by a key designer working with a small team like they were back in the early days.

[gamevet]

Metroid Prime was a far more engaging experience; mixing equal parts shooting action, adventure & exploration, platforming, and puzzle elements. Halo was just an FPS; only a few polygons and a headset above Marathon.

Metroid Prime is an evolution of Super Metroid. It's basically Super Metroid in 3-D. If you believe that Guitar Hero wasn't that revolutionary, than I'd say MP and GTA3 weren't either, since all they were was an evolution of a previous game.

I'd love to know why you would think otherwise, just because the game involves rythym? Taiko Drum Master and Donkey Konga both involve rythym as well, but the gameplay wasn't anywhere near as fun. Anyone can make a rythym game, but making it fun is the real challenge.

As far as I'm concerned, besides simulator-esque games (racing, flying, skateboarding, FPS, etc.) video games died in about 97. Almost my entire PS2 library is some sort of simulation game, except for a few gems like Sly Cooper. The problem with today isn't the hardware, its the fact that games are too detached and aren't made by a key designer working with a small team like they were back in the early days.

PS2 has many unique games, if you take the time to look for them. Culdcept and REZ are 2 great Dreamcast ports to the PS2. Ring of Red is a somewhat unique strategy game from Konami. And don't forget Katamari Demacy, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Okami, Disaster Report, Mr. Misquito, Mad Maestro, Guitaroo-man, Fahrenheit and Frequency.

[MrMatthews]

Metroid Prime is an evolution of Super Metroid. It's basically Super Metroid in 3-D. If you believe that Guitar Hero wasn't that revolutionary, than I'd say MP and GTA3 weren't either, since all they were was an evolution of a previous game.

I'd love to know why you would think otherwise, just because the game involves rythym? Taiko Drum Master and Donkey Konga both involve rythym as well, but the gameplay wasn't anywhere near as fun. Anyone can make a rythym game, but making it fun is the real challenge.



PS2 has many unique games, if you take the time to look for them. Culdcept and REZ are 2 great Dreamcast ports to the PS2. Ring of Red is a somewhat unique strategy game from Konami. And don't forget Katamari Demacy, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Okami, Disaster Report, Mr. Misquito, Mad Maestro, Guitaroo-man, Fahrenheit and Frequency.

About Guitar Hero: I won't deny that GH has a huge following, so it must be fun. I only slammed it because I think ALL rhythm games are useless (patapon excluded)

About Metroid Prime: to me, MP qualifies as revolutionary BECAUSE it was an evolution of Super Metroid. Never before (or since, as far as I know) has a FPS so seemlessly integrated what was such a staple of the 2D games before it: platforming. Prime presented all the staples from the series in a first-person perspective (and jumping from platform to platform was a large part of the game) and it all worked perfectly. Few FPS games use "jumping puzzles" in the gameplay because, for the most part, it just doesn't work. MP pulled it off. There's a reason why it is often referred to as a "first-person adventure" rather than a simple shooter.

About Shadow of the Colossus and Ico: amazing games. It's hard to describe what made those games unique among their peers, but something about the realistic animation, atmosphere and minimalist approach to story-telling gelled into a truly remarkable experience.

[Gentlegamer]

Did someone say Powerslave?

UP THE IRONS!

[17daysolderthannes]

PS2 has many unique games, if you take the time to look for them. Culdcept and REZ are 2 great Dreamcast ports to the PS2. Ring of Red is a somewhat unique strategy game from Konami. And don't forget Katamari Demacy, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Okami, Disaster Report, Mr. Misquito, Mad Maestro, Guitaroo-man, Fahrenheit and Frequency.

Keyword: ports from Dreamcast to PS2

I own Shadow of the Colussus (best PS2 game BECAUSE it is unique), Katamari Damacy (gets boring quick for me though...), Fantavision (missed that one), but even still that is less than 1% of the PS2 lineup. Back in the 90-95, almost 50% if not more were completely unique games that did wildly different to gameplay. Imagine how cool a new Michael Jackson's moonwalker could be today!

[Mr Smith]

Had the Wii been implemented properly (properly is probably the worong word) then there was so much potential, however, it seems to be a console designed for casual gamers.

[havok666]

Did someone say Powerslave?

UP THE IRONS!

Powerslave, fuck yeah!

[j_factor]

About Metroid Prime: to me, MP qualifies as revolutionary BECAUSE it was an evolution of Super Metroid. Never before (or since, as far as I know) has a FPS so seemlessly integrated what was such a staple of the 2D games before it: platforming. Prime presented all the staples from the series in a first-person perspective (and jumping from platform to platform was a large part of the game) and it all worked perfectly. Few FPS games use "jumping puzzles" in the gameplay because, for the most part, it just doesn't work. MP pulled it off.

I love Metroid Prime, but I fail to see how that's a big deal. Jumping Flash! (while not an FPS) did the whole first-person platforming thing just fine... in 1995. Quake also featured quite a bit of jumping around.

There's a reason why it is often referred to as a "first-person adventure" rather than a simple shooter.

No, there's not. A first-person adventure would be something like Myst. Anyone who calls Metroid Prime a first-person adventure doesn't know what they're talking about. First-person action-adventure, maybe. But it wouldn't be the only game in that category.

[jesus.arnold]

If you want innovation you need to check out the DS.

I like how much people have been going on about how innovative Little Big Planet is recently when it's just a mario style platformer with Kickstart 2's editor thrown in

Nobody goes on about Kirby Power Paintbrush on the DS or even Viewtiful Joe from last gen and both are still much more innovative than Little Big Planet.

I'd like to say i actually really like Little Big Planet, thought it was a pretty good game, great fun in multiplayer, just not particularly innovative.

Also I think last gen may well of been my most hated gen of them all, how much does it suck that that generation was pretty much decided before anyone came out with anything? Sony had won last gen irrespective of anything anyone brought out.

[17daysolderthannes]

If you want innovation you need to check out the DS.

I like how much people have been going on about how innovative Little Big Planet is recently when it's just a mario style platformer with Kickstart 2's editor thrown in

Nobody goes on about Kirby Power Paintbrush on the DS or even Viewtiful Joe from last gen and both are still much more innovative than Little Big Planet.

I'd like to say i actually really like Little Big Planet, thought it was a pretty good game, great fun in multiplayer, just not particularly innovative.

Also I think last gen may well of been my most hated gen of them all, how much does it suck that that generation was pretty much decided before anyone came out with anything? Sony had won last gen irrespective of anything anyone brought out.

oh yeah, forgot about viewtiful joe, which is ironic seeing as I have both of them

[Metal_Sonic]

Ah nostalgia, this thread is full of it.

[MrMatthews]

It's a dangerous thing, isn't it?