YianGaruga
Banned
It has a unique battle system but aside from that, it's pretty shallow
and bad.
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I'm in the mood for an ambitious console game
- Thread starter DocSeuss
- Start date
It has a unique battle system but aside from that, it's pretty shallow
dragonlife
Member
I agree with this one, too. It's a mix of Demon's/Dark Souls and a roguelike, but not as punishing.
This and Dead Rising are interesting as they invert the Rouge Like Mechanic. If you like interesting takes on resource management get one of these.
You need to go in blind. RoF has a battle system that is enigmatic to some but if you put in the work figuring out a optimized build and battle strategy is incredibly satisfying.
The pinnacle of pattern recognition and measured battle approach. Unfortunately kind of broken in singleplayer.
Other interesting games worth a look would be games by Sting Entertainment and From SW.
The Mana Legend
Banned
whalleywhat
Member
Nope, it's great.
I'd recommend Vagrant Story. And Just Cause 2.
DocSeuss said:
Or maybe I'll take my recommendations elsewhere.
I literally don't know anything about God Hand. If possible, I'd appreciate a better explanation, because literally all I know about the game is that it is a game about punching people. My hope was that, with my comment, you would say something like "well, actually, God Hand is..." and explain stuff.
Vagrant Story I can get. Just Cause 2 I already have--and on the PC, because yay multiplayer and modding.
Why? Everything I've seen of Naughty Dog's current output has been scripted as hell. If anything, I feel like it's anti-game, because they keep trying to make movies instead of, y'know, video games. From what I've seen of The Last of Us, it's just another linear scriptfest, but now it's an escort mission and you have an inventory.
I don't mean to sound down on it or anything, because for all I know, it could be a good game, but after three Uncharted titles (bad characterization/plotting, very subpar gunplay, boring puzzles, frequent loss of camera control and excessive cutscenes), I have little faith that Naughty Dog can create a good game, much less an extremely ambitious one.
Honestly, I think Gears of War: Judgement looks more ambitious, because they're going to randomize details of the levels, so the experience is different every time. And, apparently, they're also having unlockable levels so you can go through and play things the way they "really" happened.
That's not particularly ambitious--Left 4 Dead and Payday have already done similar things--but it's more of a step in the right direction, I think, than The Last of Us.
It's a PC game, first and foremost, heavily grounded in the design of games like Thief. The PC version is currently scoring the highest on Metacritic. I have the PC version. I am looking for ambitious console games, because I am very familiar with kickass ambitious PC games.
LolRobert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Came in here to recommend BoF: Dragon Quarter and saw that everyone already beat me to it.
If you're in Europe (since it was never released in America), I highly recommend picking up Siren 2 as that's a very ambitious stealth/horror game with a storyline that you need to piece together through different perspectives and lots of ambitious ideas with its gameplay (for example, in one scenario, you play as a blind man and use a seeing eye dog to see).
If you're in Europe (since it was never released in America), I highly recommend picking up Siren 2 as that's a very ambitious stealth/horror game with a storyline that you need to piece together through different perspectives and lots of ambitious ideas with its gameplay (for example, in one scenario, you play as a blind man and use a seeing eye dog to see).
protonion
Member
Please watch the clip from the 6th minute.
Edit:
Esp the part from 10-13 where he finishes off the remaining enemies is just out of this world.
but The Last of Us isn't scripted?
Will do in a few hours.
What I've seen and heard has contradicted that, so I've stopped paying attention. Things have changed, maybe? That would be a refreshing change.
I'm starting to get a feel for your particular need, and some of the suggestions are way off the mark. For the most part the consoles aren't the place for the games you're looking for.
Have you played Far Cry 2? New Vegas on Hardcore? I am Alive? Those are PC games also though. On console I still stand by Heavy Rain, but if you're interested in systems and consequences, Dark Souls, as others have said.
That gameplay from E3 looks scripted, specially the last few seconds were the guy is on the ground pleading for his life. Yeah.. that wasnt set up at all.... What if he didnt shoot? what would have happened then?
Thread title (and original post) are misleading.
Every game with innovative and ambitious gameplay is shot down by the OP while games like Witcher 2 (with its shitty combat engine) are praised. OP doesn't explain what he means by "ambitious", but it appears the qualifying factors are:
1. open-world,
2. fantasy/medieval/scifi, and
3. encounter options (sneak, kill, talk).
The emphasis, perhaps, is on the third option. OP needs to re-examine what he is really looking for.
Polishin8r
Member
Ico+ Shadow of Colossus and you can try Yakuza 3, myself i am about to start Yakuza 4
I remember them saying at E3 that it wasn't scripted and it was all AI. Maybe they're lying, I don't know.
I have played Far Cry 2 and New Vegas on Hardcore, and I own I Am Alive on my 360 (bought it the WEEK before it was announced on the PC), but since I've currently traded in my 360 in anticipation of the Halo 4 limited edition box, I haven't gotten around to it yet. The way it let you use the gun was REALLY cool in the demo.
1. Not necessarily. Thief is not an open world game.
2. No. I don't care what the setting is. Could be a real life mob game for all I care. Setting is irrelevant to me.
3. Hm. I'd say "depth of interactivity," maybe? I'm looking for games that try to do a lot of unique things, particularly games where I ask "can I do this?" and the answer is "yes." It's one of the reasons that Seaman is one of the games I've been looking at. Majora's Mask and Shenmue seem pretty ambitious as well. I'd say Mafia II attempted it (the world changes as you progress through the story), but the lack of interactivity with the world hurts the gameplay experience.
You're right, though. I could have explained what I was looking for.
Seriously, though, how would anyone say "yes, Vanquish is totally an ambitious game." It is a run of the mill, low-quality third-person shooter with a jetpack. Spec-Ops is a lot more ambitious because, while it's also a low-quality, run-of-the-mill shooter (but with sand, not a jetpack), it experiments with the idea of killing being a bad thing, and the choices you make in the game affect you in more ways than just an ending video.
That is a hard question to answer. I like a lot of games. My latest gaming binge has been with Orcs Must Die 2. Other times, I'll feel like playing Homeworld, World in Conflict, Halo: Wars, or Age of Empires. When Darksiders II came out, I needed it in my veins, and the same was true for Arkham City. STALKER, I believe, was the greatest game released this generation, but Dishonored's making me doubt myself. Mass Effect always seemed like a good idea that never went far enough. I've recently been dipping my toes into Skies of Arcadia.
Right now, I'm interested in... well, what I described above: games with a "depth of interactivity." They don't necessarily have to be like Dishonored, but being a first-person game in a world that tries to emulate reality is definitely something I'm always interested in.
Is the HD collection okay to try?
whalleywhat
Member
Well, I think you'll find that the way in which console games are 'ambitious' tends to differ from the PC lineage, meaning they're less about simulation and openness and more about drilling as far as possible into one concept, like, say, 'punching dudes'. But maybe this is a thinly veiled East/West distinction.
Wonko_C
Member
hahahaohwow.jpg, now I want to know what does this man think of fighting games, especially of cerebral ones like Street Fighter or Virtua Fighter, games that have been called "Chess of fighting games" more than once.
Ah. Yeah... I'm interested in sort of a "how many things can I do/how many things can I affect?" kind of ambition.
That said, out of curiosity, I might pick up God Hand.
I've only played fighting games for a few minutes at a time before, so I've never really had the chance to get into them. My nature as a gamer, however, is to fiddle with the gamey systems and see how far I can stretch them. In a way, that's what I'm trying to get at with this thread: I want games that, when I push them, seeing how far I can go, they've got a lot for me to mess with. The mark of a good shooter is ultimately how far you can push it--how encounters can change based on your weapon loadout, movement, and enemy AI. It's why games like FEAR and Halo are excellent; they've got a nice variation of weapons, level spaces, and AI, so the experience can be different every time.
Instead of learning 'how' to play, and then playing that way, and only that way, as you progress, a good shooter is one that's ultimately a blank canvas for the art of combat.
Vanquish isn't very good at that.
High level VF play is one of if not the most technical fighting game. Why speak when you have no knowledge on the topic?
What about something like the Disgaea games on the PS3?
Sure you can power level and smash your way through the game, but that takes time.
In the meantime you can choose to be strategic about the makeup of your team, and use the level design to best assist you in making your way through the levels.
It can get very difficult if you try and get through the story without grinding, or if you try and get deep into an item level without overlevelling first.
But anyways might not be to your taste, they have a huge amount of depth to them if you dig deeper.
Sure you can power level and smash your way through the game, but that takes time.
In the meantime you can choose to be strategic about the makeup of your team, and use the level design to best assist you in making your way through the levels.
It can get very difficult if you try and get through the story without grinding, or if you try and get deep into an item level without overlevelling first.
But anyways might not be to your taste, they have a huge amount of depth to them if you dig deeper.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
LittleBigPlanet 1 & 2. I can't think of a much more ambitious effort in gaming recently than those two games. The kind of stuff people have created with them is completely insane and far outmatches what games' creators even had in mind with them.
Some of your comments are a bit confusing. You say for example that you don't consider GTA4 intelligent, which is fine, but then you say it changes when you add some lighting and FPS mods to it, which doesn't make much sense. I suppose what you use the terminology for is not the same I'd use it for. To me, Journey is a very intelligent and groundbreaking game, but it doesn't really sound like what you're looking for.
Some of your comments are a bit confusing. You say for example that you don't consider GTA4 intelligent, which is fine, but then you say it changes when you add some lighting and FPS mods to it, which doesn't make much sense. I suppose what you use the terminology for is not the same I'd use it for. To me, Journey is a very intelligent and groundbreaking game, but it doesn't really sound like what you're looking for.
Developers say a lot of things, I man the new fable game is not supposed to be on rails either..
I am just saying what was shown was totally setup. If the game was not scripted it would have not ended in such a way it did..
I imagine the fps aspect made shooting gameplay better. GTA rely so heavily on lock on and shit its awful.
Yeah, I'm realizing that as I reply, I'm having a hard time communicating what I want. I can point to, say, Chris Roberts' new game and say "this. This is what I want." I can point to Dishonored and say the same thing.
GTAIV modded is a really unique experience, because you can just buck the story and walk around the world. Rockstar has a lot of little details in their games that make them interesting worlds to inhabit, but by participating in the game's story system--the combat, the cutscenes, and all that--it stops being interesting. If you mod it to act like you're just a person walking around Liberty City for a day, it's pretty unique.
hmm that is a hard but I would like to suggest you Persona series but not sure if that's your taste. 3 or 4 would be best
HD collection is like 20 dollars now.
I would suggest Folklore but I haven't played it myself but I'm always hearing good things about it.
Macmanus
Member
There is a game for OGXbox that is both a must own and fulfills your desire for something ambitious, but for the life of me I can't remember the name. It was a budget title and unlike anything I've ever played.
Essentially you run around in an arena-like area and collect different offensive and defensive powers that you've selected before the match. Typically you'll want the abilities to somewhat augment each other in the same way one might build a Magic deck. They're scattered throughout the level and randomized so you're essentially leveling your character as you fight. Matches last anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. There is also a single player game that allows you to unlock more abilities. The split screen combat was actually very good.
I'm sorry if I'm not selling it, but I consider it one of the most rare gems of the previous console generation. I've yet to hear anyone who has tried it that didn't like it. Hopefully GAF can help me remember the name. Now I want to go out and re-buy it.
FlashbladeGAF
Member
What?!! Thats's Vanquish all the way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aswf37_pQLE&list=FLpdHf5s2Gz5ibDhA8lw6tHQ&index=36&feature=plpp_video
^and this is just basic stuff. Your doing it wrong if your playing it like your standard peek-a-boo cover shooter.
I was constantly changing up stuff, and occasionally going back through bits while trying new tactics with different weapons. I wasn't really getting that feel. I wasn't playing it like a peek-a-boo cover shooter. I used the jetpack quite a bit. It was just... I dunno. Imagine FEAR, if FEAR didn't have good AI and the enemies/weapons didn't have the same kind of glorious feel (Penetrator/Shotgun combo? Godlike), so it was basically just a shooter where you ran around and shot dudes, and also sometimes slowed down time. That is how Vanquish felt to me.
If they deliver on the AI and variables that were hinted in the gameplay videos yes, ambitious.
Dark Souls is the obvious answer. Far and away my favorite game this generation, despite being primarily a PC gamer.
You can boil down any game to simple concepts and make them sound unappealing. The Last of Us is ambitious. Watch a few playthroughs of the same section...they pan out very different, yet in a very organic way, thanks to some seemingly fantastic AI. This seems to be wrapped around proper survival game so I expect great things from TLOU.
You can boil down any game to simple concepts and make them sound unappealing. The Last of Us is ambitious. Watch a few playthroughs of the same section...they pan out very different, yet in a very organic way, thanks to some seemingly fantastic AI. This seems to be wrapped around proper survival game so I expect great things from TLOU.
FlashbladeGAF
Member
I knew I was playing it wrong when I watched a couple speed runs on the demo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6dkrx1qwm8
I saw grenades in a whole new light
back on topic
Xenoblade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6dkrx1qwm8
I saw grenades in a whole new light
back on topic
Xenoblade
Really? How well can you define your player character and his/her effect on the game world? 'cause as far as I could tell, the Souls games at least were just "here, walk around and fight stuff in a unique and excellent way." I didn't really get the sense that they offered any roleplay.
You asked for ambitious, not games defined by their role-playability.
SatelliteOfLove
Member
I see the Souls games have been covered. Good times.
Friend, let me welcome you to the glory of Lord Matsuno.
Final Fantasy Tactics was a landmark title, filled with secrets, nuance, and brutal painful difficulty to be mastered by cunning (till chapter 4). Dozens of classes, over a dozen stats, with terrain, gear layout, skill choice, placement, gender, class, even zodiacal signs of the combatants having an influence on every move. It's on PS1 if you have a PS2.
Vagrant Story is his magnum opus. Dark, deep, difficult...with masterful cinematics, a magnificient soundtrack, a plot that doesn't assume you read Image in the 90s, and an oppressive, exhilirating atmosphere of danger, adventure, and empowerment that never leaves. Oh right, the ambition:
The best thing about this is once you draw it within your mind and master it, you can focus to your liking on a few strengths to carve your way beyond obstacles. I rocked 2-handed maces thru the last 2/3 of the game, which some say is suicide. I made it work by working the systems. Elegant and purposeful, the way complex game systems should be.
Final Fantasy XII Flawed, as it was taken from under his and his crew's control midway, but the intelligent, subtle, epic scope of his design still shines thru.
Also: Megaten, especially SMT3 (there's a LTTP thread on it now), Digital Devil Saga 1/2, and arguably Persona 3 and 4 are outstanding mix of nuance and brashness. I can't recommend enough.
YES. Shit will leave you grinning once you figure stuff out. "From restriction, freedom" and all that.
Virtua Fighter 4: Evo and Street Fighter 3: Third Strike are your best bets here. Lots of smooth ramp ups provided you dont Flowchart Ken it up.
Also, Front Mission 3 if you can find it. PS1, rather rare, though.
Friend, let me welcome you to the glory of Lord Matsuno.
Final Fantasy Tactics was a landmark title, filled with secrets, nuance, and brutal painful difficulty to be mastered by cunning (till chapter 4). Dozens of classes, over a dozen stats, with terrain, gear layout, skill choice, placement, gender, class, even zodiacal signs of the combatants having an influence on every move. It's on PS1 if you have a PS2.
Vagrant Story is his magnum opus. Dark, deep, difficult...with masterful cinematics, a magnificient soundtrack, a plot that doesn't assume you read Image in the 90s, and an oppressive, exhilirating atmosphere of danger, adventure, and empowerment that never leaves. Oh right, the ambition:
The best thing about this is once you draw it within your mind and master it, you can focus to your liking on a few strengths to carve your way beyond obstacles. I rocked 2-handed maces thru the last 2/3 of the game, which some say is suicide. I made it work by working the systems. Elegant and purposeful, the way complex game systems should be.
Final Fantasy XII Flawed, as it was taken from under his and his crew's control midway, but the intelligent, subtle, epic scope of his design still shines thru.
Also: Megaten, especially SMT3 (there's a LTTP thread on it now), Digital Devil Saga 1/2, and arguably Persona 3 and 4 are outstanding mix of nuance and brashness. I can't recommend enough.
This and Dead Rising are interesting as they invert the Rouge Like Mechanic. If you like interesting takes on resource management get one of these.
YES. Shit will leave you grinning once you figure stuff out. "From restriction, freedom" and all that.
Virtua Fighter 4: Evo and Street Fighter 3: Third Strike are your best bets here. Lots of smooth ramp ups provided you dont Flowchart Ken it up.
Also, Front Mission 3 if you can find it. PS1, rather rare, though.
Should've rephrashed it, everything I said after Xenoblade Chronicles is referring to that game, rather than the Souls titles.
With Demon's Souls I personally found the game very refreshing when I first played it in late 2009, it's one of the few recent games in recent years that actually amazed me when I played it (Xenoblade Chronicles is the best other example), everything from the controls, the difficulty, the online, etc all gave me a gaming experience almost unrivalled IMO.
Dark Souls and Xenoblade are ambitious in their world design, and they succeed extraordinarily well. No, they don't offer you as much freedom as to how you approach the game as something like Deus Ex, but they do offer you incredibly well crafted and ambitious worlds to explore.
Also, in the case of Dark Souls, it treats you like a seasoned gamer, and doesn't hold your hand at all, which is refreshing.
Also, in the case of Dark Souls, it treats you like a seasoned gamer, and doesn't hold your hand at all, which is refreshing.
This can be found on the US PSN.
I was responding to the RPG remark. They didn't sound like RPGs to me. I've already expressed an interest in playing them, and yet another argument for why is a great thing to hear.
Just curious why someone would call them RPGs, because hopefully, the answer is "yes, they have all of those things that RPGs should have."
I have FFXII, actually. Some of those others, though... welp. You've sold me.
Right, right, I was just interested in the RPG remark. Both the Souls games and Xenoblade sound like games I'll be taking a look at very soon.