Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Most Over-rated Game Of All Time

Pellaz · 12-28-2004, 03:08 PM

I vote for a tie between Final Fantasy 8 through x-2.

The franchise came roaring into the modern gaming realm with FF7, which was mind blowing. While I enjoyed 8 for the setting and the rather ballsy style change, loved 9 for the nostalgia, and 10 seemed enjoyable but tedious and more of the same as I watched my wife play through it (and neither one of us has touched x-2, but I'm assuming the same holds true there).

These games have offered little that is new to the franchise, and have actualy devolved in what I consider 'value' complexity (take the magic system-they set the bar high with the materia system, and systematicaly worsened it with every incarnation. Drawing in 8 was interesting but tedious, 9 was a throwback, 10s grid system, while interesting, was unforgiving (which brings me to my next point...))

The 'pointless' complexity, however, has increased dramaticaly as the series has matured through the last two generations. The pinacle of this was hopefully reached in 10. The process for requiring the master weapons were almost all far beyond complex and tedious, and felt like they were added solely to help pad that all important "Over X hours of gameplay" number. The inclusion of this type of thing is not elegant, and it's very purpose is counter to what a game should be.

And yet, somehow, each of these titles has been met with player and critical acclaim over and over again. And with that acceptance, other console rpg developers have split down two paths-cloning the formula of tediousness and pointless complexity over game design, or devolving to the point that they're little more than souped up versions of Gauntlet (not that I don't like Gauntlet).

12-28-2004, 03:08 PM	#16 (permalink)
Pellaz Addict Location: Texas	I vote for a tie between Final Fantasy 8 through x-2. The franchise came roaring into the modern gaming realm with FF7, which was mind blowing. While I enjoyed 8 for the setting and the rather ballsy style change, loved 9 for the nostalgia, and 10 seemed enjoyable but tedious and more of the same as I watched my wife play through it (and neither one of us has touched x-2, but I'm assuming the same holds true there). These games have offered little that is new to the franchise, and have actualy devolved in what I consider 'value' complexity (take the magic system-they set the bar high with the materia system, and systematicaly worsened it with every incarnation. Drawing in 8 was interesting but tedious, 9 was a throwback, 10s grid system, while interesting, was unforgiving (which brings me to my next point...)) The 'pointless' complexity, however, has increased dramaticaly as the series has matured through the last two generations. The pinacle of this was hopefully reached in 10. The process for requiring the master weapons were almost all far beyond complex and tedious, and felt like they were added solely to help pad that all important "Over X hours of gameplay" number. The inclusion of this type of thing is not elegant, and it's very purpose is counter to what a game should be. And yet, somehow, each of these titles has been met with player and critical acclaim over and over again. And with that acceptance, other console rpg developers have split down two paths-cloning the formula of tediousness and pointless complexity over game design, or devolving to the point that they're little more than souped up versions of Gauntlet (not that I don't like Gauntlet). __________________ " ' Big Mouth. Remember it took three of you to kill me. A god, a boy, and, last and least, a hero.' "