Reflecting upon the 7th Generation of consoles/handhelds.

[PartridgeSenpai]

Honestly, this generation was a weird one for me. The beginning of this generation was about when I discovered and fell in love with PC gaming, where I'd primarily been purely a retro guy before that, but I'll try mah best.

What was your favorite platform in general?
DS, far and away. I have spent untold hours on my DS, from everything from Pokemon Black and White I don't know how many times, to Civilization Revolution letting me discover my love for 'Four X' games, to the Phoenix Wright series letting me discover visual novels. For someone who does most of his gaming waiting on busses or in the car, the DS was just one of my favorite consoles of all time, let alone of this generation.

What was your overall favorite game(s) for each platform?
DS: The World Ends With You. This is a really tough one, but I'd have to hand it to this Squeenix game. Despite how much I loved Phoenix Wright 3, Puzzle Quest, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, the really cool dual-screen combat coupled with the story that kept me guessing leaves TWEWY as something I always recommend to everyone.

360: Lost Odyssey. I've only had my 360 for less than a year, but this was an RPG that I tried on a whim that really surprised me. The first RPG for a while that just kept me coming back to it, eager to see more of the story and the world.

PS3: Nier. A multiplatform release, but yet another example of a game where with how hard this is to find on 360, it might as well be an exclusive. A great LoZ-style game with a great story and fun combat. It's everything that I'd wanted Xenoblade to be.

Wii: Fortune Street. As someone who loves board games, this 'Monopoly with Stocks' as I describe it, really struck a cord with me, especially as a Dragon Quest fan.

PSP: LocoRoco 2. Very simple gameplay, but very very addicting. Such a happy, cheery game with fun and great music and adorable characters, this is the PSP game I recommend to absolutely everyone.

What do you think was the most underrated game for each console?

DS: Okamiden. I have to agree that this is a sequel with SO much character, that it's such a shame that more people didn't play it. Even though I really didn't care for the combat, as someone versed in Japanese and Japanese folklore, this game just had me in stitches constantly.

Wii: Castlevania: Judgment. I'm not someone who really enjoys fighting games usually, but this was a game I was expecting to be AWFUL, and turned out to be very surprisingly competent. I mean, if you're an MLG Soulcaliber fan this isn't exactly going to set your world on fire, but as a Castlevania fan, I found it a delightfully campy and fun 3D fighter that seems to get a lot more crap than it deserves.

360: Not really familiar enough with others' opinions to comment, especially as someone who's mostly only played the weird/cheap exclusives like Dead Rising and Lost Odyssey.

PS3: Asura's Wrath. I've harped on enough about how great I think Nier is, so I'll talk about another game I think got passed over. I found it a very compelling interactive anime mixed with a brawler. All of the set-pieces and story are just so crazy and legitimately awesome that this epic story was just a great romp to play through.

What are some of your fondest memories of games from this era?
Given the disclaimer I gave at the start, I do gotta get out that all of my favorite memories are on PC really. The untold hours I spent, both by myself and with friends, playing Blood Bowl: Legendary Edition, Dota 2, TF2, Civ 5, and Crusader Kings II these past few years, time sinks like those just defined the past few years for me as stuff I just can't stop going back to.

[MrEco]

What was your favorite platform in general?

Playstation 3

Which game do you think had the best graphics for each platform?

To be honest I don't have a good enough memory to answer this question accurately. But I'll give it a shot.

Xbox 360: Uh, the Witcher 2 I guess?
Wii: Probably Super Mario Galaxy.
PSP: Crisis Core was very pretty, I'll choose that one.
DS: The Dark Spire, for the art style alone.
PS3: Dragon's Crown for art style, but Dark Souls 2 for graphical fidelity.

What was your overall favorite game(s) for each platform?

Small note, I'm only answering these based on the game's I've actually played. I haven't played every game for each of these platforms, not even all the ones I want to play, so these answers aren't necessarily set in stone.

Xbox 360: The Witcher 2. But I actually played the PC version. Is that cheating?
Wii: Fragile Dreams. The only major downside to this game for me was the buggy controls. But the oppressive atmosphere and the mystery/horror/dramatic story really made an impression on me when I played this.
PSP: Final Fantasy. The remake of the original, with fantastic sprites and solid combat. The freedom to pick my own party of classes was very welcome. Over all it's a simple game, but relaxing and fun to play.
DS: Ghost Trick. Very nice art, a fun story with many fun and often cute characters, and puzzles that are just simple enough that the kinda gimmicky mechanics stayed interesting for the whole way.
PS3: Being that this is the console I played the most of, by far, from the seventh generation that makes it also the hardest to pick a favorite from. I would probably pick Fallout: New Vegas... but I only played the PS3 version of that game once, and now I always play the PC version of it whenever I go back for more. So to me that's a PC game, and I won't count it here. Same case for Fallout 3, another game which is a strong contender for the number one spot. I think that helps narrow it down quite well to just two titles. Demon's Souls, and Dark Souls. Unfortunately this is a very hard comparison to make, because it's been quite a lot longer than I last played Demon's Souls than it's successor. I've also watched at least two full playthroughs of Dark Souls on youtube since then. So I'm much more familiar with Dark, and in particular it's story, while my memories of Demon's are a bit foggy. This play's into Dark's favor because I can't honestly say I prefer Demon's Souls' story, because I don't remember much of the intricate lore which is so important to it. And the gameplay and world design of both games is so similar that I can't really say either is better. But... in trying really hard to pinpoint some criticism, I have to say the later half of Dark Souls isn't nearly as strong as it's first half. The area's of New Londo, Lost Izalith, The Dukes Archives, and The Tomb of Giants, which make up the majority of the games later half are not nearly as interesting as the first half. They're more linear, more straightforward, more "gamey," and just not as fun. In comparison, if my memory serves correct, all the area's in Demon's Souls were solidly designed, with no clear weaknesses. Plus the over all atmosphere for Demon's Souls was a fair bit more melancholy. More depressing and lonely, and that really is a good thing. It made it more interesting, personally, than the atmosphere of Dark Souls which was (in comparison only) more like a "standard" fantasy setting. So, over all, I've gotta say that Demon's Souls wins.

What do you think was the most overrated game(s) for each platform?

I honestly can't do that for each platform. I'm not familiar enough with most of the libraries of 360 or Wii, and I haven't played nearly as many games as I wish I had from the DS or PSP. So I'll just say what I think was the most "overrated" game in general. In that case, I'll choose the Uncharted series. I honestly never got into this series. It's like Indiana Jones but more... "family friendly" for lack of a better term. And I was never huge on Indiana Jones to begin with. But people seem to like it. A lot of people.

What do you think was the most underrated game for each console?**

Same deal here, I don't really feel qualified to run through every platform to answer this. So I'll just do the over all most underrated. In my opinion that would be... Fragile Dreams for the Wii actually. I never hear anyone talk about that game. It left such an impression on me, both as a game and as an emotional experience, that it feels like a crime that no one else seems to have half the interest in it that I do.

What are some of your fondest memories of games from this era?

I suppose, generally speaking, I think the greatest thing this generation gave to me was a new appreciation for dark tones and macabre atmosphere's in games. I still haven't quite taken the dive into Silent Hill territory, I'm too much of a wimp for that, but games like Demon's Souls kicked off an obsession in me for wanting games to "feel" kinda scary, even if they aren't actually scary. The Tower of Latria from Demon's Souls was the first place I really experienced this. The post-death-of-humanity world from Fragile Dreams had it too, as well as the Cthulhu drenched swampland of Fallout 3's Point Lookout DLC/expansion. Also Dead Space was one of the first "real" horror games I've ever played through.

Ultimately, what changes do you think the Seventh Generation made to this medium overall?

Well, this generation made DLC popular. Unfortunately. As well as furthering the popularity of online multiplayer. Unfortunately. Oh, and it made digital games a thing. Unfortunately.

As for positive things... well, I think this generation really kicked up the popularity of open world games. Though most open world games are the (imo) boring style of filling a map with rinse and repeat missions and pointless collectibles, all for the purpose of filling out a nearly endless checklist of accomplishments (I mean the Farcry 3 mentality of open world games basically). I prefer the Fallout/Elder Scrolls style of open world, where you get a variety of visual locations and hand crafted quests to go on. There are a decent number of those, and hopefully we'll see more of them over time.

[Exhuminator]

Ack took the "reflections" part of this thread in a different direction than I imagined, but I enjoyed it. Not that I enjoyed reading about bad stuff in his life, but the way it was correlated to gaming at that time was really interesting.

I'm totally loving reading everyone's responses so far, very contemplative stuff and wholly indicative of the quality discussion that keeps me coming back to Racketboy.

MrEco, there are some Fragile Dreams fans around here. I've seen it mentioned a few times at least. And I own a copy of it myself, but haven't gotten around to playing it yet. Since you're a fan of dark, melancholy, and lonely games, you owe it to yourself to play the King's Field and Shadow Tower games. Especially and at least King's Field: The Ancient City. That game fits that tone more strongly than anything else I've ever played.

[MrEco]

MrEco, there are some Fragile Dreams fans around here. I've seen it mentioned a few times at least. And I own a copy of it myself, but haven't gotten around to playing it yet. Since you're a fan of dark, melancholy, and lonely games, you owe it to yourself to play the King's Field and Shadow Tower games. Especially and at least King's Field: The Ancient City. That game fits that tone more strongly than anything else I've ever played.

Very good recommendation, but I'm a bit ahead of ya there. I played through Ancient City a few weeks ago, and I plan on going through the other King's Field/Shadow Tower games when I have the time.

[Exhuminator]

Very good recommendation, but I'm a bit ahead of ya there. I played through Ancient City a few weeks ago

Did you write a review for it? I missed it if you did. I'd like to know how you think Ancient City contrasts to say Demon's Souls or Dark Souls.

[noiseredux]

What was your favorite platform in general?

This is a tough one, surprisingly.

My immediate thought was PS3, as I felt like there were more exclusives there that I enjoyed like 3D Dot Game Heroes, or Heavy Rain, or Journey. But then I started thinking about all the shmups on 360.

So I don't know. 360 had the better controller. PS3 probably edges it out slightly on exclusives though.

My real answer would be that "7th gen is when I finally got into PC gaming though" and ultimately PC gaming killed my interest in gaming on modern consoles anyway.


Which game do you think had the best graphics for each platform?

I'm struggling to answer this at all. I don't think I paid a whole lot of attention to 'best graphics' on those consoles. The only thing coming to mind immediately was that FFXIII was my first PS3 game and the intro movie really impressed me because it was the first time I owned an HDMI console. But I don't really think that I cared a whole lot about graphics until I got into PC gaming heavily at the end of the 7th Gen and started tweaking graphical settings.


What was your overall favorite game(s) for each platform?

PS3 - 3D Dot Game Heroes. No question. I'm glad that's getting a lot of love in this thread. It was one of the games that made me want a PS3 at all. And I loved every moment of it.

360 - Deathsmiles. #brokenrecord

Wii - House Of The Dead 2 & 3. Is it a dick-move to call a Dreamcast game my favorite Wii game? It's the one that comes to mind as the one Wii game I keep coming back to each year. I'm really just not a big Wii fan. But at least the motion controls were perfect for lightgun games.

DS - Mario Kart DS. I guess? Yeah must be that. Certainly my favorite non-Double Dash Mario Kart game.

PSP - Pangya Fantasy Golf. Totally serious. Great golf game.


What do you think was the most overrated game(s) for each platform?

I think the term 'overrated' is overrated, but I'll try my best...

PS3 - Uncharted series, I guess? I haven't played them but don't waste any breath trying to convince me I should. I've got plenty of Tomb Raiders to still get through and I'm far more interested in Lara than Drake.

360 - I don't know... are the Gears games third person? I don't really like 3rd person shooters. I can't say I pay a lot of attention to games that don't interest me though, so not much is coming to mind here.

Wii - um. I hated Donkey Kong Country returns. That's something I guess.

DS - no idea. Did people 'rate' Nintendogz highly? Haha.

PSP - Nothing comes to mind. PSP's library as a whole was pretty 'underrated.'


What do you think was the most underrated game for each console?**

I'm gonna assume 'underrated' means like "hidden gem"...

PS3 - I feel like enough of us know about 3D Dot Game Heroes, though it certainly comes to immediate mind. But I guess I'll say Catherine (also on 360) as it's a brilliant meshing of puzzle game and visual novel that I found compelling on both fronts.

360 - Deadly Premonition (Red Seeds Profile on PS3). Though it certainly has a cult-following that's been growing. "Twin Peaks: The Game" rules.

Wii - The fact that I keep drawing blanks when trying to discuss the Wii despite having owned one since 2009 is leading me to think that I'm really just not a fan of that console. Don't hate me.

DS - um. Alien Infestation I guess? It's basically a Metroid game skinned via the Alien license.

PSP - Pangya Fantasy Golf


What are some of your fondest memories of games from this era?

1. The DS was how I got back into gaming after something like a five year hiatus. Hilariously, I bought a DS to play things like NY Times Crosswords. But it ended up being a gateway.

2. The Wii was the first console I bought of the 7th gen. My wife and I bought it as an anniversary gift for each other in 2009. While I'm not much of a fan of the console or its library exactly, I do have fond memories of playing co-op Wii games with her.

3. When I got a PS3 (2011?) I finally discovered how easy it was to play games online with friends. This was huge, and for a while a lot of us here spent a fair amount of time playing fighting games with each other online. That was fun.


Ultimately, what changes do you think the Seventh Generation made to this medium overall?

Blah, blah digital distribution like you guys already said.

*I did not include PC, because PC has been an ongoing platform for years and years, and doesn't cleanly break into generational segments as well as dedicated consoles/handhelds.

I disagree because you have GPU series which to me feel like console generations. But it's cool. I'll play by the OP rules.

[Exhuminator]

I think the term 'overrated' is overrated, but I'll try my best...

Would you prefer the term "inappropriately lauded" instead?

Wii - um. I hated Donkey Kong Country returns.

Thank you.

I'm gonna assume 'underrated' means like "hidden gem"...

It means a game you enjoyed and thought was great, but on average said game received bad reviews, or little to zero attention in the media.

My real answer would be that "7th gen is when I finally got into PC gaming though" | I disagree because you have GPU series which to me feel like console generations.

Since so many people apparently only started PC gaming in the 7th gen (why wait so long?), I'm going to make a variant of this thread for PC gaming alone. It's worth talking about.

[noiseredux]

(why wait so long?),

I should have said "got back into" PC gaming really. I was heavy into PC games in the 90's. I did a lot of DOS gaming. Played a ton of shareware. But then I got out of gaming for a while and then just focused on console stuff for quite a while until I got back into it a few years ago.

[ElkinFencer10]

My big period of PC gaming was late 6th gen/early 7th gen (when I was in middle school and early high school), but by 2008, I had pretty much switched back to consoles primarily. I try to keep a balance today, but I'm still mostly a console gamer. My PC, despite being beastly, is still mostly used for games that didn't get a console release and whatever's super cheap on Steam or Humble Bundle.

[Czernobog]

What was your favorite platform in general?

PS3, as it just had more games I was interested in playing.

Which game do you think had the best graphics for each platform?

No idea. Everything I've been playing looks damn good to me.

What was your overall favorite game(s) for each platform?

PS3 - Nier, Demon's Souls, every Yakuza - Kenzan, Ishin, 3/4/5/0, hell even Dead Souls, The Last of Us, Uncharted 2, The Evil Within, Dead Space, Ni no Kuni, 3D Dot Game Heroes, probably 15 more that aren't coming to mind.

XBOX360 - Halo Reach, Lost Odyssey, haven't played much else on there.

PSP - Ys Seven, the Kurohyou Yakuza spin-offs, Type-0, Crisis Core

DS - I barely played the DS. Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light was pretty good, but the Zeldas pissed me off.

Wii - Super Mario Galaxy, Fragile Dreams: Farewell to the Ruins of the Moon (despite the gameplay issues, this one hits the atmosphere hard and manages to feel like a bizzare version of a survival horror game to some degree), Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (loved what they did with the story despite the running sequences being kind of annoying), Xenoblade Chronicles, the Zeldas, Last Story

Other/PC that fit - Deadly Premonition/Red Seeds Profile: I love Twin Peaks, and being able to play something that managed to produce the same vibes as it was incredible.

What do you think was the most overrated game(s) for each platform?

I'm also hesitant to use the term overrated, just because it seems to have become a buzzword lately where everyone uses it synonymous with bad without putting any thought behind it or uses it to be 'edgy.' Granted that's not an issue with this forum by any means, but outside of here I see it all the time.

So...with that being said, I guess MGSV: Phantom Pain (I guess this counts? Played it on PS3). I enjoyed the game a lot, but I don't think it deserved perfect scores by so many. It had issues, especially in the story department, that I don't think should have been swept under the rug just because it did some other things really well. As a long time MG fan, I was sorely disappointed but some aspects, and I don't doubt there are many others who were as well.

What do you think was the most underrated game for each console?**

PS3 - Nier definitely. Game was blasted by critics who I have significant doubt played much of the game. It's hard to remember all the details of why I loved it because it's been a few years now but I remember my emotional investment, which says something.

Also, Playstation All Stars Battle Royal was hugely fun and had a lot going for it, despite so many dismissing it as a Smash clone.

PSP - Eh, the entirety of the handheld? Really there are a lot of gems on the PSP and the thing seems to get hand-waved quite a lot. It's unfortunate the little guy didn't get two analog sticks. Absolutely kills it in the RPG department, including some great remasters. Also, it was capable of some impressive games which showed me the hardware could actually do some surprising things, like Type-O and Kurohyou 2.

What are some of your fondest memories of gaming during this era?

Kicking back with a 12 pack of Asahi beer and playing the Yakuza games. That is honestly where most of my gaming time was spent this generation. I just can't get enough of those games and there's so much to do you can easily spend over 100 hours in each game.

Ultimately, what changes do you think the Seventh Generation made to this medium overall?

Graphics have gotten to the point where I personally can barely see a difference between these consoles and the new ones, which gives me hope that innovation will be a bigger driving force than graphical presentation between competitors. May just be a pipe dream though. There's also been a huge push in indie titles, which is nice, as we get more diversified gameplay styles. Not all of them are great, and some are clearly cash-ins but others really knock it out of the park.

One unfortunate thing going on is seeing so many unfinished games getting released on Steam as Betas with the promise of using the funds and consumer feedback to continuously improve the game until release and then stagnating or abandoning the development.