The Golden Age Of Gaming Simply Can't Be Compared To Today

[AppleQueso]

Those are good points, Saturnfan. It falls well in line with some of the frustrated posts I've seen on arcade forums and old Usenet postings and whatnot about how the NES killed the golden age of arcades.

It's too bad this article isn't talking about that. It might actually be interesting if it were.

[Retrozoa]

One thing I saw in the comments of the article I really agree with:

"A lot of stuff is better now thats for sure, but I really haven't felt much sparkle or magic in many games of the last half decade. Ni No Kuni is so far the only game this year to give me that feeling I got when playing great games on the older consoles. Other games this gen have done it too but less and less it would seem. I remember when all the games I got for my PSX filled me with wonder and excitement, and most I would replay over and over again."

I agree with this 100%. I'm currently in love with the new Fire Emblem and playing it like crazy, but I think the last game to instill any emotion like that in me came out over a year ago. A lot of games today lack the spark, which I think is pretty telling as to the differences.

[CD AGES]

The last true home console to attempt the older method, arcade emulation, was the Neo Geo AES

I respectfully disagree here. I feel the Dreamcast embraced this methodology as well and was def one of the last ones to do so. Mind you it wasn't to such an extent as the AES, but with dreamcast, the system did a heck of a job in bringing the arcade experience home with as little to no compromise at all. This is evident in the consoles ties to successful Arcade Hardware (that is perhaps 2nd only to MVS) and Segas own dedication to bring peripherals to help increase that experience at the comfort of your own home via official Arcade Sticks, Steering Wheels, Fishing Rods, Maracas etc. It even took cues from SNKs own philosophies of integrating your gaming experience at home at the local arcade. Many games in Japan encouraged players to take their VMU and connect it to a NAOMI cab for additional content that can be transfered thru both platforms. Sega took the concept even further by allowing you to connect your DC controller or even your favorite DC arcade stick.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

So, which games from this generation and the last one have filled you with that "sparkle" or "sense of wonder?"

[AppleQueso]

One thing I saw in the comments of the article I really agree with:

"A lot of stuff is better now thats for sure, but I really haven't felt much sparkle or magic in many games of the last half decade. Ni No Kuni is so far the only game this year to give me that feeling I got when playing great games on the older consoles. Other games this gen have done it too but less and less it would seem. I remember when all the games I got for my PSX filled me with wonder and excitement, and most I would replay over and over again."

I agree with this 100%. I'm currently in love with the new Fire Emblem and playing it like crazy, but I think the last game to instill any emotion like that in me came out over a year ago. A lot of games today lack the spark, which I think is pretty telling as to the differences.

Honestly, the only thing I'm reading from that comment is "Things were better when I was a kid!" It's not the game's fault if you've grown more cynical and discerning over time.

Plenty of current generation games have given me that sort of 'spark' anyway.

[Gamerforlife]

Games today can't be compared to older games? Really?



Contra was a game on the NES where I ran around as a muscle bound guy blasting aliens with his muscle bound best buddy. Gears of War was a game where I ran around as a muscle bound guy blasting aliens with my muscle bound best buddy Dom.

How bout Nintendo games? Take away the 3D graphics and modern Zelda games are doing the same shit we did on the NES.

Different era, same shit. All that changes is that graphics get prettier with every generation.

[Gamerforlife]

So, which games from this generation and the last one have filled you with that "sparkle" or "sense of wonder?"

Off the top of my head:

Grand Theft Auto Liberty Citie Stories and God of War: Chains of Olympus - Holy shit! Am I really playing these on a handheld system! These look like fucking PS2 games!!!
Peter Jackson games -All the Peter Jackson movie licensed games were amazing. King Kong was better than the movie. The Lord of the Rings games made me feel like I was PLAYING the movies.
Sly Cooper - I knew then this would be my new favorite platform series.
Rez, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and Journey - There aren't enough words to describe them. They're the go to games for the games as art debate
Viva Pinata - It was just so different from anything I'd played before
Pikmin - See above. No other games have made me care about video game animals so much like the Pikmin games and Viva Pinata
Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks - I wish the franchise had stayed in this direction
Dynasty Warriors 3 - The mix of beat 'em up gameplay, strategy elements, rpg elements and large, epic battlefields with awesome metal tunes was a revelation to me. Educated me about Chinese literature and history too.
God of War - First time I saw a gameplay video I was like, "What the fuck is this? It looks amazing! Must play now!"
Knights of the Old Republic - Made me a Bioware fan
Panzer Dragoon Orta - Best rail shooter of last gen
Zone of the Enders 2 - Best anime action game on the PS2 and Kojima's best game IMO. Yeah, I actually said that.
Prince of Persia Sands of Time - Single handedly redefined modern platforming and made parkour a normal part of video games
Resident Evil 4 - What else needs to be said about this game? Single handedly made the Gamecube worth owning.
Lollipop Chainsaw - It's like a Dreamcast era arcade beat 'em up time traveled into the future
Valkyria Chronicles - This is one of the most brilliant strategy rpgs ever made!
Grand Theft Auto III - I knew when I read the first preview article for it, before the game was even released that it was going to change everything. I knew when I played it that I was right.
Final Fantasy XIII - If not the prettiest looking game I've ever seen on a HD console, it's probably in the top 10. The combat system was brilliant too and still is.
Tomb Raider Legend - Holy Fuck!!! They did it! They saved the franchise!
Sonic Generations - Holy Fuck!!! They did it! They saved the franchise!
Batman Arkham City - Holy Fuck!!! Someone cracked the code! THIS is how you do Batman in 3D!!!

There's more games I could mention, but that's enough. Also, if we count the Dreamcast as last gen, just about everything I played on it gave me wonder and magic. The death of the DC and Sega was a sad day in gaming history. A special part of our industry died with them. I firmly believe that.

[MrEco]

So, which games from this generation and the last one have filled you with that "sparkle" or "sense of wonder?"

Too many to count.

[Forlorn Drifter]

Games today can't be compared to older games? Really?



Contra was a game on the NES where I ran around as a muscle bound guy blasting aliens with his muscle bound best buddy. Gears of War was a game where I ran around as a muscle bound guy blasting aliens with my muscle bound best buddy Dom.

How bout Nintendo games? Take away the 3D graphics and modern Zelda games are doing the same shit we did on the NES.

Different era, same shit. All that changes is that graphics get prettier with every generation.

Contra: The Original Dudebro Game

I honestly don't see his argument. The only real "change" was the funding and money behind it, just like everything else.

[AppleQueso]

Space Invaders: Shoot aliens while utilizing a cover system
Gears of War: Shoot aliens while utilizing a cover system

IT'S ALL THE SAME!!!!!