Post by MMCC0203 on Jul 27, 2015 17:06:17 GMT -5
So, I was going through some of Giant Bomb's old stuff today when I came across their old Quick Look of PD:
Part of me was frustrated that all they really did was try to replicate Goldeneye's multiplayer in PD, but another part of me was immediately reminded of what occurred when I tried to get my friends into the re-release a few years ago. Long story short: I got two friends to play it with me for about an hour before we all just gave up. It was clear they just weren't having fun, and I distinctly remember feeling embarrassed about the whole thing. I felt like an idiot for hyping up something I thought everyone was going to enjoy when, in the end, nobody except myself enjoyed.
Being reminded of the above, it got me thinking. Have I been blinded by nostalgia? Is there some sort of magic modern shooters possess that PD simply doesn't have? Most importantly, has Perfect Dark aged as well as I and some of you think? As much I would love to to say yes and be done with it, I don't think the answer is that simple. In some ways I'd say PD shows its age; SP and MP levels are fairly small, auto-aim is overzealous, the number of multiplayer modes is a little low, and the lack of a jump button is conspicuous in its absence. On the other hand, there are still so many things in this game that continue to amaze. These are the things that still stick out to me:
-Non-linear level design. Unlike the corridor shooters of today, each single-player level is treated as a sandbox in which you have to rely on the tools given to you as well as your wits in order to succeed. Many levels have objectives that can be completed out of order and you're rewarded for exploration.
-Objectives that change with difficulty. I'm amazed that more shooters haven't really replicated this over the years because it seems like a no-brainer. I'm tired of difficulty levels that simply increase enemy accuracy, damage, or health.
-Enemies that react appropriately when shot. This is a seemingly small detail that actually makes a huge difference in gameplay terms. Think about it, how unfair would Perfect Agent be if you couldn't stagger enemies by shooting them? It sort of changes how the game is played, and I love how it can often result in enemies surrendering or even limping away.
-Insane customization. No other console series other than Halo has bested PD on this front. Then again even Halo has nothing on PD's sim customization/commanding.
All of these features seem so great, it's hard to see why they wouldn't overpower what hasn't aged so well. So I have to ask, what is it that modern gamers don't see in PD? It's really not all that hardcore and I'd say it's a fairly easy shooter to pick up and play. Is there some aspect that's aged poorly that I'm just not seeing, or is there something else at play? Have people become so hooked on the modern Skinner Box shooters (i.e., shooters that drip feed you XP, unlocks, etc) of today that anything else isn't worth playing?
*Sorry if I rambled in this post. I'm genuinely curious why so few people seem to enjoy games like this nowadays.*
Part of me was frustrated that all they really did was try to replicate Goldeneye's multiplayer in PD, but another part of me was immediately reminded of what occurred when I tried to get my friends into the re-release a few years ago. Long story short: I got two friends to play it with me for about an hour before we all just gave up. It was clear they just weren't having fun, and I distinctly remember feeling embarrassed about the whole thing. I felt like an idiot for hyping up something I thought everyone was going to enjoy when, in the end, nobody except myself enjoyed.
Being reminded of the above, it got me thinking. Have I been blinded by nostalgia? Is there some sort of magic modern shooters possess that PD simply doesn't have? Most importantly, has Perfect Dark aged as well as I and some of you think? As much I would love to to say yes and be done with it, I don't think the answer is that simple. In some ways I'd say PD shows its age; SP and MP levels are fairly small, auto-aim is overzealous, the number of multiplayer modes is a little low, and the lack of a jump button is conspicuous in its absence. On the other hand, there are still so many things in this game that continue to amaze. These are the things that still stick out to me:
-Non-linear level design. Unlike the corridor shooters of today, each single-player level is treated as a sandbox in which you have to rely on the tools given to you as well as your wits in order to succeed. Many levels have objectives that can be completed out of order and you're rewarded for exploration.
-Objectives that change with difficulty. I'm amazed that more shooters haven't really replicated this over the years because it seems like a no-brainer. I'm tired of difficulty levels that simply increase enemy accuracy, damage, or health.
-Enemies that react appropriately when shot. This is a seemingly small detail that actually makes a huge difference in gameplay terms. Think about it, how unfair would Perfect Agent be if you couldn't stagger enemies by shooting them? It sort of changes how the game is played, and I love how it can often result in enemies surrendering or even limping away.
-Insane customization. No other console series other than Halo has bested PD on this front. Then again even Halo has nothing on PD's sim customization/commanding.
All of these features seem so great, it's hard to see why they wouldn't overpower what hasn't aged so well. So I have to ask, what is it that modern gamers don't see in PD? It's really not all that hardcore and I'd say it's a fairly easy shooter to pick up and play. Is there some aspect that's aged poorly that I'm just not seeing, or is there something else at play? Have people become so hooked on the modern Skinner Box shooters (i.e., shooters that drip feed you XP, unlocks, etc) of today that anything else isn't worth playing?
*Sorry if I rambled in this post. I'm genuinely curious why so few people seem to enjoy games like this nowadays.*