I just finished playing a game this week on the Nintendo DS and i'm pissed off enough to almost call it the worst gaming experience of my entire life. I finally picked up a copy of Indiana Jones and the Staff Of Moses the other day on DS after much hesitation. I didn't like the direction of it's two predecessors, though I have to admit The Emperor's Tomb was something of an improvement. If you're a fan of The Staff Of Kings i'd probably stop reading here because I honesty just need to express my disappointment as to how bad it was. I'm not the sort to make whinge threads but this is an exception, I really hated this game and more than ever, it demands that Lucasarts take the Indy gaming franchise in a new direction - fast.
The first thing I should admit is that the last IJ game I enjoyed was FOA. Yes, I realise that's a typical fan-boy type response, but I just can't dispute how timeless that game was. After playing The Staff of Kings, I was really disgusted by the gameplay experience. The controls were unreasonably awkward, the physics of the combat were the worst i've played on the DS and the graphics were appalling. For a Lucasarts title, I expected so much more.
Since the games went on the third person action/adventure route, at best they've been IJ themed imitations of Tomb Raider. I'd caution Lucasarts in going further down this road in future as it still doesn't work, especially after seeing how perfectly the Unchartered series is doing it.
As a positive, I did actually enjoy the story and the telling of it. The graphic novel was brilliant. While the story lacked some depth, there were some brilliant ideas there. My suggestion to Lucasarts is that they need to go back to the classic style. Already by doing that they would achieve more immersive gameplay, an improved treatment to a well intended story and overall capturing the spirit of the films. Never has IJ been about just action, the action was used to move the plot along to heighten tension. Ever since The Infernal Machine, the action has been the narrator. When there was action in Fate of Atlantis, it was an extention of the player's decision as Indiana Jones as to how events unfolded. With the contemporary games, all the games do is benchmark the player's reaction to AI.
I apologise if i've offended anyone or sound as though i've gone into a rant, but it's just how I feel. As corny as it sounds, i'm writing because I really do care about the IJ film and gaming franchise and want to see it do well. But when I play a game of such inept quality like The Staff of Kings, it just doesn't speak to me.
*sighs* Oh well, at least I have FOA via STEAM on both my PC and MAC
But, for this piece of garbage:
1 out of 5
The first thing I should admit is that the last IJ game I enjoyed was FOA. Yes, I realise that's a typical fan-boy type response, but I just can't dispute how timeless that game was. After playing The Staff of Kings, I was really disgusted by the gameplay experience. The controls were unreasonably awkward, the physics of the combat were the worst i've played on the DS and the graphics were appalling. For a Lucasarts title, I expected so much more.
Since the games went on the third person action/adventure route, at best they've been IJ themed imitations of Tomb Raider. I'd caution Lucasarts in going further down this road in future as it still doesn't work, especially after seeing how perfectly the Unchartered series is doing it.
As a positive, I did actually enjoy the story and the telling of it. The graphic novel was brilliant. While the story lacked some depth, there were some brilliant ideas there. My suggestion to Lucasarts is that they need to go back to the classic style. Already by doing that they would achieve more immersive gameplay, an improved treatment to a well intended story and overall capturing the spirit of the films. Never has IJ been about just action, the action was used to move the plot along to heighten tension. Ever since The Infernal Machine, the action has been the narrator. When there was action in Fate of Atlantis, it was an extention of the player's decision as Indiana Jones as to how events unfolded. With the contemporary games, all the games do is benchmark the player's reaction to AI.
I apologise if i've offended anyone or sound as though i've gone into a rant, but it's just how I feel. As corny as it sounds, i'm writing because I really do care about the IJ film and gaming franchise and want to see it do well. But when I play a game of such inept quality like The Staff of Kings, it just doesn't speak to me.
*sighs* Oh well, at least I have FOA via STEAM on both my PC and MAC
But, for this piece of garbage:
1 out of 5
Now there's two of them... 
And Lucasarts axed the cleverness division, remember?
-Fred
And Lucasarts axed the cleverness division, remember?
-Fred
Pirates, vampires, zombies, ninjas, ghouls, aliens, goblins, monsters, robots, sorcerers, undead, werewolves, demons, mutated dinosaur-cyborgs and those pesky phone salesmen! The shotgun is a one-size-fits-all solution!
Nothing good has come out of LucasArts since the 90s. Since then just lots of crap.
Where have all the great adventure games gone? Do I have to start my own computer game company?
This video game nerd is just too depressed to even attempt to play anything in this century.
Where have all the great adventure games gone? Do I have to start my own computer game company?
This video game nerd is just too depressed to even attempt to play anything in this century.
Samantha
Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
Sam, I'd disagree on your Lucasarts statement. Most recently there was Star Wars:The Force Unleashed and it's sequel is bound to be awesome. There's the Star Wars Battlefront games, the Old Republic games...plenty of good stuff!
My blog:
http://nvracar.wordpress.com/
http://nvracar.wordpress.com/
Interplay had some good games back in the day as well...
As for Lucasarts, I have to agree with Vracer... While they took a big nose dive at the turn of the century, they have had some pretty good games, mainly the ones already stated by Vracer, along with a few others... While I agree they are over doing it a bit with all the Star Wars games, you can't argue that a lot of them have been good...
And don't forget The Staff Of Kings, that's a kick ass game...
As for Lucasarts, I have to agree with Vracer... While they took a big nose dive at the turn of the century, they have had some pretty good games, mainly the ones already stated by Vracer, along with a few others... While I agree they are over doing it a bit with all the Star Wars games, you can't argue that a lot of them have been good...
And don't forget The Staff Of Kings, that's a kick ass game...
The Paved Straight Road, Won't Always Get You Farther Than The Winding Dirt Road...
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*Note, Not All Games Have Been Tested & Therefore May Not Be Listed...
Can You Run Your Game??? Click Here And Find Out...
*Note, Not All Games Have Been Tested & Therefore May Not Be Listed...
I guess I should have clarified that they've made nothing good for me as a PC gamer recently.
I can't speak towards console games. All I can say is that I'm just just into action games. Adventure games yes but having to fight to get through a game is not my idea of a good time. While I liked Stars Wars, I never loved it. That's probably why I can't get excited about yet another game about it.
I wish LucasArts would make a NEW game with some NEW characters and NEW storyline. I'm just whining for the sake of whining now.
I can't speak towards console games. All I can say is that I'm just just into action games. Adventure games yes but having to fight to get through a game is not my idea of a good time. While I liked Stars Wars, I never loved it. That's probably why I can't get excited about yet another game about it.
I wish LucasArts would make a NEW game with some NEW characters and NEW storyline. I'm just whining for the sake of whining now.
Samantha
Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
I'd be lying if I said I disliked action games, but I get annoyed when an action game is marketed as an adventure game, such as that of The Staff of Kings. It's not adventure, the flaws alone of the product undermine the very genre they're attempting to market it as. That to me is fundamentlly offensive as it involves an element of deception. The use of the word "adventure" is an attempt by them to inform the prospective buyer that there is more going on than gunning and running. To an extent this is true, but it's extremely limited.
I agree that while Lucasarts isn't anywhere near the brilliance they were in the 1990s, they have produced the odd gem in the decade gone by. I enjoyed the Jedi Knight FPS plus the Republic Commando. The Force Unleashed was ok but was let down by the thin plot and repetitive gameplay but did have very impressive physics and visuals. Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb was alright as an action game with an interesting plot to pass the time but at the same time there was no replay value in it. Outside of that that, there's not a lot to discuss when it comes to post 2000 Lucasarts.
I agree that while Lucasarts isn't anywhere near the brilliance they were in the 1990s, they have produced the odd gem in the decade gone by. I enjoyed the Jedi Knight FPS plus the Republic Commando. The Force Unleashed was ok but was let down by the thin plot and repetitive gameplay but did have very impressive physics and visuals. Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb was alright as an action game with an interesting plot to pass the time but at the same time there was no replay value in it. Outside of that that, there's not a lot to discuss when it comes to post 2000 Lucasarts.
I agree Joel... While I don't dislike Action games, but when marketed as an Adventure game it pisses me off when I go to play expecting one thing and get another...
It'd be like playing a game that is Marketed as a Tex like game, but when you play it you get God Of War... While still a good game it is nothing like you were expecting so it makes you mad...
It'd be like playing a game that is Marketed as a Tex like game, but when you play it you get God Of War... While still a good game it is nothing like you were expecting so it makes you mad...
The Paved Straight Road, Won't Always Get You Farther Than The Winding Dirt Road...
Can You Run Your Game??? Click Here And Find Out...
*Note, Not All Games Have Been Tested & Therefore May Not Be Listed...
Can You Run Your Game??? Click Here And Find Out...
*Note, Not All Games Have Been Tested & Therefore May Not Be Listed...
lies, Jedi Academy was the last good game that ever came out of Lucas Arts. Raven was all that was keeping them alive, and sadly even Raven fell to bits and now produces crap too.Nothing good has come out of LucasArts since the 90s. Since then just lots of crap.
Its the nature of the industry, Bioware and Obsidian did great work with KOTOR but if I remember rightly they both came out before Jedi Academy.
In terms of adventure games though, yeah, they more than truly died in the 90s. But hell look at the industry now, its even taboo to make RPGs and FPS games anymore.. now its all that bullshit Third Person Gears of War crap or God of War clones. What FPSs do exist are usually crap (see MW2) and what RPGs do exist either come off as over simplified garbage that is in every way inferior to games that precede them (see everything Bethesda is making) and even to produce an RTS or TBS game requires you to be Accessible (fortunately for Civ5 accessible actually means what it should "we made the UI easier" not so much "the game design was too complex because our customers are morons.. so we're going to make the game play $#it")
Well in time anyway hardcore gaming will be dismissed as not profitable and soon the market will be flooded with motion games and bejeweled clones. The path we're on now makes me sad to see what industry I'm apart of- and nearly every executive I've spoken to has told me to keep my ambitions locked away because its "not good business" the simple reality is good ideas no longer make money, only apathetic ideas that can be produced as cheaply as possible do. The result is, our Industry is now at the worst it could ever be, just as Hollywood and just as Music and hell even Art and Literature. Future generations will look back on this time and just laugh at how lazy and pathetic all of the creations we're making now truly are.
People have truly given up on creating anything, Culturally our society is dead thanks to over capitalism of creative industry- the result is no more art anymore, its only about products, profit and shareholders.
I fail to see how anyone can be happy with this aside from those being made rich from it all.
I am completely ashamed of my industry, and yet I'm totally powerless to change anything. Everyday at work I'm told to stay out of the design process because my ideas are too ambitious- yet I'm thinking about the market here.. I'm thinking about what people want to buy and why we want to avoid getting into markets that are already flooded.
This kind of hit and miss capitalism pisses me off- and yet every industry does it. Myself being of a classic capitalist (almost socialist) background I feel that none of these people in charge care about their customers, they in the end only want to deprive the people of their hard earned money for the sake of quick greed. Instead I find myself in a position that if I were to ever create anything I'd hold my reputation to account for what the consumer in the end judged my products to be.
I feel that as an indie game development and sales are much more personalized and corporations instead now have faces- there's a person representing their work like a fine craftsman you can talk with them and if you will criticize or even insult them to their faces and expect feedback from them.. with a major corporation however this is non-existent and the rabbid fanboi morons that latch onto simple fads because they have a lack of any amusement in their life. They therefore lack any form of measurement for comparison (simply out of their own oblivious understanding of quality, history and progress.) and they are also so far up on their high horses that they feel as if anyone that even doubts or questions the product is a direct attack on themselves. I say these people are single handedly ensuring nothing good will EVER come of the industry- instead chasing nothing but fads and completely sacrificing any significant progress we might ever see.
In conclusion I feel, LucasArts and what they did was an inevitability to be honest. The industry has corrupted itself and the consumers of today are completely oblivious to the struggles and the progress of the past. No one cares anymore- so the industry says fork it! lets just make a $#it load of money- OH but it applies to all industries too, this isn't just about video games here.. its about society becoming so throw away and full of itself that's why we can't produce anything good anymore. Creative Industries have now become uniform- there's no originality at all- just products to sell.
Sorry I just felt I had to vent over this stuff. Work has been a bit of a pain lately, they keep asking for "good game ideas" and keep shooting all my designs down stating they're too difficult (one of them was an FMV adventure game- identical to the same game design as Tex Murphy and The X Files Game - it was shot down, we came so close to getting funding for it though, it was very sad our pitch was pretty awesome actually but they shot the idea down in favor of nothing more than a Trivia game..
)I'm not thinking that. There's plenty original and wonderful out there.
I thought Modern Warfare 2 was a grand time, along with Fallout 3. The Knights of the Old Republic MMO looks fantastic, along with Force Unleashed 2. Raven does just produce crap though. I'd like to see them make something besides crap x-men or comic book beat'em up things.
Let's see...in regards to the arguments made...
It's not taboo to make either fps's or rpg's. It's just the cost has risen dramatically for both, and while the fps genre has managed to keep up, the rpg genre hasn't. As for everything being third person...it's because they've finally figured out how to make third person a different experience than first person with the camera pulled back. And they're still making first person shooters. They're not going to stop that. With Call of Duty, Bulletstorm, Rage, etc., FPS's are still on the rise. As for RPG's, the American market has been building up. With Bioware, Obsidan and Bethesda, there's still a lot of potential.
I highly doubt hardcore gaming will be considered unprofitable. That was the fear that came out alongside the success of the Wii, and various game companies tried to capture on that success, not truly understanding what gamers wanted to play. This ended up with lots of crap games and games that weren't crap but sold terribly, and companies started closing projects all over the place.
And X-Files made for a terrible FMV game. I'd rather cut out the game portion and just watch the FMV.
I thought Modern Warfare 2 was a grand time, along with Fallout 3. The Knights of the Old Republic MMO looks fantastic, along with Force Unleashed 2. Raven does just produce crap though. I'd like to see them make something besides crap x-men or comic book beat'em up things.
Let's see...in regards to the arguments made...
It's not taboo to make either fps's or rpg's. It's just the cost has risen dramatically for both, and while the fps genre has managed to keep up, the rpg genre hasn't. As for everything being third person...it's because they've finally figured out how to make third person a different experience than first person with the camera pulled back. And they're still making first person shooters. They're not going to stop that. With Call of Duty, Bulletstorm, Rage, etc., FPS's are still on the rise. As for RPG's, the American market has been building up. With Bioware, Obsidan and Bethesda, there's still a lot of potential.
I highly doubt hardcore gaming will be considered unprofitable. That was the fear that came out alongside the success of the Wii, and various game companies tried to capture on that success, not truly understanding what gamers wanted to play. This ended up with lots of crap games and games that weren't crap but sold terribly, and companies started closing projects all over the place.
And X-Files made for a terrible FMV game. I'd rather cut out the game portion and just watch the FMV.
My blog:
http://nvracar.wordpress.com/
http://nvracar.wordpress.com/
It's funny that we all seem to disagree on what we'd consider a good game today. We have so many varying opinions and tastes about what games we like.
I find it cool that somehow we can all come together and agree on ONE awesome game series. Somehow Tex gave us all a little bit of everything we wanted.
I find it cool that somehow we can all come together and agree on ONE awesome game series. Somehow Tex gave us all a little bit of everything we wanted.
Samantha
Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.
