With the announcement of Wind Waker HD, I realized a funny thing: two of my most anticipated games are remakes. Wind Waker being one of them, of course, and the other being the legendary but rarely heard of PS Vita version of Final Fantasy X. I would love to play these games. I’m more excited for them than new games.
Why is that?
Is it because I trust they are good? That I know I will enjoy them, rather than a new game, which might suck (*cough* Skyward Sword, *cough*). I would love to play Wind Waker HD. I never finished the first one, though I got to the end (life got in the way), but some of my happiest memories during a sad part of my life were spent playing that game on my little tube TV in my lonely apartment in Philadelphia.
Likewise, Final Fantasy X reflects a happy time in my life, when I was living in Maryland with my parents when I was 25 (and smoking a lot of weed with my girlfriend). I remember running through Zanarkand in the beginning of FFX and just being wowed by this next generation FF game. I used to really love FF back then, and the PSOne trilogy really had a heavy effect on me. Having a new FF game and knowing in my heart that it was going to be awesome was a great feeling.
I miss that feeling.
Games can be really disappointing these days. I know, I know, FFXIII was okay, but it just wasn’t… IT. I think we can all agree that as good as it might be, it wasn’t a great FF game. Everybody has their favorites and we can all argue about that – but the fact is, XIII just stands out like a sore thumb. Anyway, I’m not here to talk about XIII.
I’m here to talk about great games, and whether or not they’re still being made. Are they? Of course! But have we lost our ability to be charmed as we once were? No, I don’t think so. I think with the next generation coming, there’s going to be some great games coming out. I think this generation has gotten a little lethargic—we know what to expect. AAA games as well take fewer and fewer risks, and it’s risk that shocks and awes.
There are a handful of games that really wowed me this generation. Compared to previous generations they are freaking mindboggling, it’s just that we can’t see that through the trees.
These are some of those games:
Heavy Rain
Mirror’s Edge
Lost Odyssey
Red Dead Redemption
*Mass Effect
There’s others, but I want to talk about these. Now, all of these games have flaws, and they’re not for everyone. But they each have a special something, I think, that could only exist in this generation, and I think they really define what this generation was capable of.
We can debate whether or not Heavy Rain is a real “game”. Personally I think it is, while others think it more of a movie. Anyway, it’s something – let’s agree to that. But personally, I have rarely had as affecting an experience as I had when I played this game. It was so tense and interesting and the characters were so real. IT had it’s flaws of course, but I think if you let go of your preconceptions and just go with it, it’s a great experience.
Mirror’s Edge is another winner, despite being severely flawed. A first person platformer. Not only that, but it looks like nothing else that’s ever existed before. I mean, it’s amazing that a AAA game like this was ever made. It’s insane, almost. While the gunplay and stuff is a little lame, the core of this game is solid, and I hope they make another one, because it’s a great franchise. A truly unique game.
Lost Odyssey certainly has its flaws too, but it is the definition of the current generation JRPG, with great graphics, an adult storyline that’s incredibly multifaceted, a great battle system, and unbelievable Nobuo Uematsu music. This is what I expected next generation JRPG’s to be like, and I was not disappointed, even though the game does have some big problems.
Then there’s Red Dead Redemption. Obviously, not a perfect game by any means, but what it does do, it does tremendously well—that is, riding through the desert on a horse is freaking amazing. And that’s all I need to say about that.
*As far as Mass Effect goes, I think that game speaks for itself.
These games are not perfect, but they ARE great, and when I think of new games that amazed me, these are on the top of the list. So it’s possible for me to still be amazed. It just happens infrequently.
But mostly, disappointment is the word of the day. That’s why I don’t buy many new releases anymore unless they are Steam Sales, and when I do, I still don’t get excited about them. I bought Dishonored and I really want to play it, kind of, but I haven’t yet. I’m sure it’s good, it’s just I’ve been hurt before, you know, and it’s hard to open up my heart to a new game.
Anyway, I had a point in here somewhere, but I forgot where it was. I think what I’m trying to say is that I WANT to be thrilled by a new game, it just most of the time, I’m not. Maybe that’s because I’m getting older, or because I’m jaded, or because games aren’t as good, I don’t know.
I’m still surprised by games these days, but not as often as I want to be, and there’s so many games out there, and most of them are pretty good, it’s just very few of them are Chronotrigger great, or FF7 great, or Halo 1 great, or Wind Waker great.
I expect great things from most games, and when I only get “good” or “pretty good” I am disappointed, and it’s kind of sad. But it’s not the games’ fault. It’s just the way it is.
But I keep expecting to be wowed, because, of all the artistic mediums, I like games the best. And I know that they have brought me so much pleasure over the years, that I expect them to keep delivering. And they WILL deliver. But we have to open ourselves up to them, and see what’s great when it’s before our eyes, and overlook the flaws, just like with the people in our life.
Anyway, that’s snee, signing off.
) 
