Today, I Feel Spoiled
(20/05/2011) For the last couple of years now, I’ve been getting the feeling that games companies just aren’t that interested in making the sort of games I like anymore. Cerebral, slow-paced solo experiences seem to be in the process of being filtered out in place of loud, action-centric multiplayer games.
That’s fine, of course. That’s just the direction the industry’s taking; it just doesn’t happen to fit my tastes. I’ve lamented this for a while, and resigned myself to playing and enjoying the 2- 3 genuinely great games that come out per year. I resigned myself to months-long dry spells with little to play but the next big shooter, which I’d play through to alleviate boredom, enjoy to a point, then chuck aside when the next one comes out.
In the last few days, I’ve changed my outlook. Firstly I finished off Portal 2, which I expected to be great anyway, and delivered exactly what I was looking for.
Then yesterday, I finished the excellent Don’t Take It Personally Babe, It Just Ain’tYour Story. More a piece of interactive fiction than a ‘proper’ videogame, it felt a little like the game was built purely to give me hope. This is interactive fiction done right. This is videogames writing that outclasses most anything put out by the big companies. And it’s a free indie title. It sucked me in in a way few games do these days, and I came out with a massive grin on my face.
Then I picked up SuperbrothersSword and Sworcery EP on my aging iPod Iouch. It’s as if the developers got inside my head, took a look at all the things I really like, and made a game about them. It’s a little bit like Another World. It’s a little bit like Zelda. It’s also completely unique, in a way you can’t possibly understand until you play it. I’m engrossed.
And today, Rockstar’s L.A.Noire was released. It’s pretty much what I’ve wanted since I first played GTA, the kind of game I really wished Heavy Rain had been. It’s a blockbuster title with brains, where wits and conversation take precedence over shooting things in the face.
So far it’s wonderful, and I hope it does really, really well. The game is a big risk on Rockstar’s part, a huge divergence in formula, and I hope it sells a trillion copies because I want to see other developers try and make this sort of game. This is just the sort of shit I want to see out of AAA titles.
Today, I feel spoiled. I feel as though the videogame world at large has given me a great big present. I should certainly cherish the feeling – four great games at once? I doubt that’s going to happen again for a while, especially as the year grinds onwards towards its blockbuster-filled, Modern Warfare 3-flavoured climax.
But I’ve learned from this. It’s reaffirmed my conviction that the indie scene is the way forwards for me, but also taught me that there are still big companies out there who’ve got my back; they’re willing to take risks to create the sort of game I want to play.
I want to give a big personal ‘thank you’ to the people who made these games. Thanks, guys. Now get back to work; make me more videogames!
