Try out puzzle games like The Swapper, Antichamber and The Witness. There's a lot of creative and mind-bending design to be found here. These are some of the most fulfulling games I've played this gen. There's also The Turing Test but its structure reminded me a bit too much of Portal. There are more I haven't played, like The Talos Principle and Stephen's Sausage Roll.
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This is the poorest generation of all time at creative standpoint...
- Thread starter Angel_DvA
- Start date
The Cartographer
Member
What are you even going on about?
What I'm trying to say is that since we don't know ANYTHING about this new title from KojiPro you so shouldn't expect some soft of genre defining experience from this game just because somehow you feel like it will be.
In the big budget space we finally have FPS games about the fun of shooting again (Doom, Wolfenstein TNO) and shooters fluently blending shooting with the rest of the game (Splatoon). In others we have puzzle games as much about the puzzles themselves as about figuring out their rules (The Witness). Games experimenting with dialog systems (Oxenfree, Firewatch, Wheels of Aurelia) and story framing (Her Story).
Not that all of these are pioneering new "gameplay systems" (whatever that means) but I don't see how the previous generation was any better at that. Almost everything is going to be evolutionary at this point, as it has been since developers became comfortable with the 3d space.
Not that all of these are pioneering new "gameplay systems" (whatever that means) but I don't see how the previous generation was any better at that. Almost everything is going to be evolutionary at this point, as it has been since developers became comfortable with the 3d space.
KratosEnergyDrink
Member
Play some indy, play Nintendo games. Some of these are exceptional creative.
But don't look for creativity on PS4/XOne Blockbusters.
But don't look for creativity on PS4/XOne Blockbusters.
Soul of the Beast
Member
You have a point, but to me, this is really the only new title I would expect to be something new and different. Everything else has become extremely predictable.
To take your post seriously, even if we take just EA & Ubisoft (the publishers most crapped on for creative bankruptcy), they do try to push the envelope in some ways (not just graphixxx) with games like The Division, The Crew, Steep, Titanfall 1 & 2 and such. As steeped as those games are in some gameplay conventions those publishers themselves have popularized that could do with some removal, revision or improvements (dem Ubisoft-towers~ <3 ), all in all they do still try to push these genres/types of games forward in a multitude of ways (technical and/or gameplay) that indies are simply incapable of with their limitations, whether the OP likes them or not....b-but you didn't give a single example!
Souls series started on Playstation, nioh, gravity rush all on Playstation come on man
Dr. Carroll
Banned
One could argue that Souls/Nioh are not particularly creative because they all ape a single formula, without much meaningful "innovation". But that's a complicated squabble.
I disagree with you op. I think this gen has been great.
I'm seeing less remasters than the previous gen and devs coping better with development thanks to the engines available. For example, japanese game developers appear to be embracing the console and pc market more than they did with ps3/360, where they struggled a lot with the shift to hd, higher costs and the portable/mobile market suddenly dominating.
This gen has also introduced vr where you'll find a lot of the experimental games like we had in the days of ps2 and dreamcast, plus the advances in motion controllers (referring to vive and oculus motion). After playing games for oculus rift over the weekend, my mind is blown at the possiblities. I still have lone echo to play which many are claiming to be the next step up for what vr games can do.
This year for me has been amazing where I've had a game to play every month, no down time.
I'm seeing less remasters than the previous gen and devs coping better with development thanks to the engines available. For example, japanese game developers appear to be embracing the console and pc market more than they did with ps3/360, where they struggled a lot with the shift to hd, higher costs and the portable/mobile market suddenly dominating.
This gen has also introduced vr where you'll find a lot of the experimental games like we had in the days of ps2 and dreamcast, plus the advances in motion controllers (referring to vive and oculus motion). After playing games for oculus rift over the weekend, my mind is blown at the possiblities. I still have lone echo to play which many are claiming to be the next step up for what vr games can do.
This year for me has been amazing where I've had a game to play every month, no down time.
KratosEnergyDrink
Member
I don't classify them as blockbuster. Of course there are creative games on PS too...
The publisher whose games are 90% Mario, 9% other IPs that have been around for ~20-30+ years at this point and 1% new IPs?
look, other people can make silly, edgy, untrue posts too!
MineralCraver420
Banned
Indie games are the most vibrant and exciting gaming artistic scene in a long time. Honestly, those games are the most revolutionary stuff the gaming industry has seen since the early days of 3D gaming.
Also, there is still a lot of creativity in AAA, you just have to know where to look. Nier: Automata in particular is a game that wouldn't have been allowed to exist in the gaming cultures of the previous generations.
Also, there is still a lot of creativity in AAA, you just have to know where to look. Nier: Automata in particular is a game that wouldn't have been allowed to exist in the gaming cultures of the previous generations.
...you don't consider the souls series to be 'blockbuster'?
Aztechnology
Member
As someone who owns a PC, I strongly disagree with you.
Nitpicker_Red
Member
A Franchise is just characters and settings, a game's true core is the gameplay.
So I don't get the importance of the "used series" concept.
If you get caught always using that "old IPs" argument automatically to claim that there is a lack of innovation in the game, for me that often meant that you only looked superficially at a game (assets, settings and characters) and not the gameplay (which admiteddly takes a lot of time and effort to actually let the mechanics informations seep in).
But yes, after further analysis, times are when the core doesn't change either.
(That's a matter of perspective, for example before launch I thought adding a second item in MK8D would totally change the dynamics of the game.)
Edit: what I mean is that you have to go just one step further than IPs/genre to prove the point. But it's still provable.
Family Fry
Member
I don't limit myself to blockbuster movies, the most popular music artists, most famous authors etc.
So why should I do that with games?
I try to play as many different games and genres from smallest one person team to the largest publishers/developers, I've always got something to play.
I still think there have been many creative games in gameplay and story, maybe less on AAA because those games take 2
-3 years to make and if they don't succeed they can close a studio down. That's how much pressure is on developers to perform in the eyes of publishers. So they stick to what they know best.
Even then it can go wrong, look at Hitman, perfect example of an amazing quality game simply underperforming EVEN when the full season shipped on disc.
So why should I do that with games?
I try to play as many different games and genres from smallest one person team to the largest publishers/developers, I've always got something to play.
I still think there have been many creative games in gameplay and story, maybe less on AAA because those games take 2
-3 years to make and if they don't succeed they can close a studio down. That's how much pressure is on developers to perform in the eyes of publishers. So they stick to what they know best.
Even then it can go wrong, look at Hitman, perfect example of an amazing quality game simply underperforming EVEN when the full season shipped on disc.
AzureFlame
Member
This generation is definalty better than the previous one, but nothing like the golden age of fresh new ideas and experiences.
I want weird games, please give me more weird games and less realistic games.
I want weird games, please give me more weird games and less realistic games.
ArkhamFantasy
Member
Stop playing EA/Ubisoft/Activision games, everyone else is making better games than they were last gen.
Soul of the Beast
Member
I agree, it's almost like this gen is a remake of last gen.
Everything shit about last gen is pretty much gone in this gen and everything good about last gen is not only here to stay but improved and better.
I guess I am ok with this. Next gen better not be the same shit though.
KratosEnergyDrink
Member
Look someone has no reading comprehension.
Unlike some console warriors think my post never insinuate that there are no creative games on PS4/XOne, but there is no creativity in the blockbuster on these consoles, Switch isn't getting these third party Blockbusters anyway so why mention it?
Unlike some console warriors think my post never insinuate that there are no creative games on PS4/XOne, but there is no creativity in the blockbuster on these consoles, Switch isn't getting these third party Blockbusters anyway so why mention it?
I sure miss the quirky, lighthearted and highly refreshing Japanese games of old (Made in Wario, Ka, Seaman, Ôendan, Gitaroo Man, Muscle Kôshinkyoku, Katamari Damacy, KimiShine/AkaDoko, MogiChin, Guru Logi Champ, Tondemo Crisis, Zekkyô Senshi, Deae Tonosama, etc).
All I see now are unimaginative sequels, remasters, late ports and remakes. The saddest thing being that people, even here on GAF, actually (and daily) beg for more of these...
All I see now are unimaginative sequels, remasters, late ports and remakes. The saddest thing being that people, even here on GAF, actually (and daily) beg for more of these...
Thinking about that era still gives me the shivers. This generation has been a massive step up in terms of diversity, even if said diversity isn't always coming from AAA devs.
31GhostsIV
Banned
I dunno - I think the whole 'game as service' and DLC/microtransactions/loot boxes etc has had a detrimental effect on everything, but that was prominent last gen too.
I think, OP, you're probably like me and needing a break. My PS4 is barely on at all lately apart from a few blasts of Rocksmith here and there. Just take some time off until a game that excites you rears its head.
Oh, didn't see this! Sorry.
I think, OP, you're probably like me and needing a break. My PS4 is barely on at all lately apart from a few blasts of Rocksmith here and there. Just take some time off until a game that excites you rears its head.
Oh, didn't see this! Sorry.
S
Steve.1981
Unconfirmed Member
Things were better in my day as well op. Everything in gaming was new and exciting. Children respected their elders. Every summer was beautiful and sunny and it snowed every Christmas.
Well, there it is.
Well, there it is.
Confused Cheeseburger
Member
Diversity, in nearly all forms, is this generation's biggest leap.
Maxey
Member
You're not completely wrong but the issue is not as bad as it once was years ago.
No doubt the jump to new hardware made possible to realize concepts and ideas that were hard or impossible to make last gen.
Last gen lasted 3 years too long at least.
This gen is poor but there are reasons for it.
-developers were uncertain if anyone would buy consoles due to mobile. this worry set back this gen 2-3 years and only now are we seeing more effort put forth
-the hardware was poor right from the start. this is one part amd and three parts tech stagnation
-sony took advantage of microsofts fuck ups and it got them marketshare but also brought back arrogant sony so they're coasting as Microsoft rebuilds.
-last gen created a lot of huge money making IP and publishers are trying to milk them dry which is a big mistake. if your IP had three games last gen it shouldn't be back again this gen. move onto something new for a while.
-the whole indie scene has been flooded with garbage and its hard for quality games to stand out.
there's been a lot more negativity and stupid fanboy bullshit this gen too which has sucked a lot of the fun out of it although it feels like its calmed down a little bit. sites that are hyping ps5/xbx2 also need to piss off with their click bate bullshit. were only mid cycle so there's still plenty of time for this gen to shine.
-developers were uncertain if anyone would buy consoles due to mobile. this worry set back this gen 2-3 years and only now are we seeing more effort put forth
-the hardware was poor right from the start. this is one part amd and three parts tech stagnation
-sony took advantage of microsofts fuck ups and it got them marketshare but also brought back arrogant sony so they're coasting as Microsoft rebuilds.
-last gen created a lot of huge money making IP and publishers are trying to milk them dry which is a big mistake. if your IP had three games last gen it shouldn't be back again this gen. move onto something new for a while.
-the whole indie scene has been flooded with garbage and its hard for quality games to stand out.
there's been a lot more negativity and stupid fanboy bullshit this gen too which has sucked a lot of the fun out of it although it feels like its calmed down a little bit. sites that are hyping ps5/xbx2 also need to piss off with their click bate bullshit. were only mid cycle so there's still plenty of time for this gen to shine.
Preach bro...
MontyBrown
Banned
Yeah this is a pretty shit generation. The games biz is in a rut.
Intheflorsh
Banned
Total bullshit. We've had a CRPG renaissance. We've had an Immersive Sim revival. Shooters are more mechanically diverse than they've been in a decade. We've had some of the best and most ambitious storytelling in games in recent years. (Check out Edith Finch!) Games are being developed for just about every genre you can think of.
Can you imagine a game like Wolfenstein The New Colossus coming out last gen?
Can you imagine a game like Wolfenstein The New Colossus coming out last gen?
Maxey
Member
Back then, games didn't cost as much to make, neither did they require the collaboration of several teams of hundreds of people.
Taking a risk in the late 90s was different from taking a risk these days.
Like it or not, the reality of the game industry has changed a lot and now indies are the true beacon of creativity and innovation.
Spieler Eins
Member
It started poorly, but we're just having the best year of the decade. In some cases it helps that many series went to shit last generation, so it feels refreshing enough when they are now releasing good entries like Resident Evil 7 - or Japanese console games in general being good again.
I don't care about the MGS story, so the game was amazing to me.
I don't care about the MGS story, so the game was amazing to me.
CrimsonCrescendo
Banned
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
What PSVR have you played?
texhnolyze
Banned
boneyjangles
Member
Making expansive, creative single player titles is riskier than ever, through increased cost of development, indy game competition (you could argue this is now your avenue for creative single player games), and the pivot to multiplayer as a consumer preference.
I don't think it's a creative block, I think it's just a factor of quantity. People just aren't making single player focus games as much as they used to, at least on the high end.
One factor that could actually help mitigate this is if we stopped using disc-as-drm on console. The market is flooded with second hand copies weeks after launch that publishers make zero on. Not so much a problem for a multiplayer titles people cling to, but a big problem for single player titles that people complete and sell on.
MS tried to stop this this generation, but the consumer outcry cancelled it, and set the console gaming market back years in my opinion. This allowed the much smaller PC platform to rise up and flourish as it had ditched disc-as-drm in favor of permanent account-based ownership.
So if you want to blame anyone, blame gamers for their mutliplayer preferences, and backwardness on refusing to let disc-as-drm die. If it would die, we might get an uptick publishers risking big budget single player.
Conversely, I think you are wrong in general, I'm a big fan of multiplayer/indy and I think gaming is better than ever.
I don't think it's a creative block, I think it's just a factor of quantity. People just aren't making single player focus games as much as they used to, at least on the high end.
One factor that could actually help mitigate this is if we stopped using disc-as-drm on console. The market is flooded with second hand copies weeks after launch that publishers make zero on. Not so much a problem for a multiplayer titles people cling to, but a big problem for single player titles that people complete and sell on.
MS tried to stop this this generation, but the consumer outcry cancelled it, and set the console gaming market back years in my opinion. This allowed the much smaller PC platform to rise up and flourish as it had ditched disc-as-drm in favor of permanent account-based ownership.
So if you want to blame anyone, blame gamers for their mutliplayer preferences, and backwardness on refusing to let disc-as-drm die. If it would die, we might get an uptick publishers risking big budget single player.
Conversely, I think you are wrong in general, I'm a big fan of multiplayer/indy and I think gaming is better than ever.
PhantomThief
Banned
Is it really though?
Go play the Witness. That's fresh and interesting. VR is great fun and you could also try some Nintendo games like Splatoon.
Maybe you should have worded the OP differently and requested examples of games that feature these traits as it is clear from this thread that they do exist.
Maybe you should have worded the OP differently and requested examples of games that feature these traits as it is clear from this thread that they do exist.
Batman, Thumper, Robinson, Eve Gunjack, Driveclub, eagle flight, surgeon simulator and the indie game with a female dancer in a cubic world ( don't remember the name of the game but it was amazing )
Spieler Eins
Member
This gen will end up better than last, but I agree with the indie sentiment. Whether it's early PS4, Vita or WiiU - you know a library is in a bad spot once the core userbase starts to defend their favorite machine with "but indies". Small downloadable games are a nice distraction, but they can't even replace mid budget projects from bigger publishers.
However, mid-budget has finally returned and I haven't had interest in this many (single player) games from big publishers this year and next in a long ass time.
chromatic9
Member
Probably true for big titles and games that evolve into big titles. There's been a couple like Watch Dogs and Horizon. The online shooter based games like Destiny, Titanfall, Overwatch I can't get into. We're missing a new hit like Assassins Creed, Mass Effect, Gears or Uncharted or critically acclaimed games like Bioshock. There been a huge reliance on sequels from the new ip's of last gen.