Thursday, April 13, 2006
Simple Games
http://www.nintendojo.com/editorials/view_item.php?1144972206
The article above talks about how simple, easily accessible games and Nintendo's apparent idea to go this direction in opposition to the more complicated but not always as accessible games that are more common now.
I'm with Nintendo on this in many ways. Games like Super Smash Bros. Melee, Tetris DS, ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and Katamari Damacy are relatively simple (yet very in-depth) in many ways and are addicting and as fun if not more fun to play than many more "complicated" games.
Super Smash Bros. Melee: As far as fighting games go, this is such a streamlined game. No button pressing comboes needed to make one move work. The game is about simplicity and speed. Yet ask anyone who has put major time into this game. It is very deep and a skilled player can be a sight to see. Sure it doesn't have the plethora of moves that Virtual Fighter or Soulcalibur have but I can wager that even skilled players only use a small set of their characters moves. SSBM makes you learn how to make use of nearly every move available to you but yet is very accesible to new people.
Tetris DS: Since this is the most recent version of Tetris available I'll use this one. Still as addictive as it was back in Game Boy days yet very in-depth for all it's simplicity. If I have to explain this, you should feel ashamed.
ICO: Using only 4 or 5 buttons and the analog stick the game asks only one thing of you, lead Yorda through the castle and solve puzzles. They could have made Ico do all kind of crazy stuff but didn't. The took the basic elements of say a Zelda dungeon and streamlined it to create a very complicated yet simple playing games.
SoTC: Similar in respect to ICO, SoTC takes the bosses and makes the main point. Same as ICO they could have had you do all kind of crazy stuff but they simplified it and deliever just as compelling a game as many more complicated games.
Katamari Damacy: Everything about this game screams simple. Simple graphics, simple controls, simple everything. Yet once again it provides in incredibly in depth puzzle experience which is very addictive. Needing to use only two analog sticks was just genius.
These 5 games are good example of simpler games in genres that are increasingly becoming complex. Yet all 5 give an in-depth experience and may be what Nintendo means and would like to see. Yes I named 3 PS2 games but the point still stand.
Nintendo with the DS and Revolution want to reduce the complicated nature of controllers while provided the options that they still have. They key is that many of these games will be more flexible, hopefully, and you got to hope that 3rd parties will also see the potential in these systems and what they can bring to the table. Not saying I think all games should be simplified in the nature I'm thinking of but it is a trend that refreshing to see.
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The article above talks about how simple, easily accessible games and Nintendo's apparent idea to go this direction in opposition to the more complicated but not always as accessible games that are more common now.
I'm with Nintendo on this in many ways. Games like Super Smash Bros. Melee, Tetris DS, ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, and Katamari Damacy are relatively simple (yet very in-depth) in many ways and are addicting and as fun if not more fun to play than many more "complicated" games.
Super Smash Bros. Melee: As far as fighting games go, this is such a streamlined game. No button pressing comboes needed to make one move work. The game is about simplicity and speed. Yet ask anyone who has put major time into this game. It is very deep and a skilled player can be a sight to see. Sure it doesn't have the plethora of moves that Virtual Fighter or Soulcalibur have but I can wager that even skilled players only use a small set of their characters moves. SSBM makes you learn how to make use of nearly every move available to you but yet is very accesible to new people.
Tetris DS: Since this is the most recent version of Tetris available I'll use this one. Still as addictive as it was back in Game Boy days yet very in-depth for all it's simplicity. If I have to explain this, you should feel ashamed.
ICO: Using only 4 or 5 buttons and the analog stick the game asks only one thing of you, lead Yorda through the castle and solve puzzles. They could have made Ico do all kind of crazy stuff but didn't. The took the basic elements of say a Zelda dungeon and streamlined it to create a very complicated yet simple playing games.
SoTC: Similar in respect to ICO, SoTC takes the bosses and makes the main point. Same as ICO they could have had you do all kind of crazy stuff but they simplified it and deliever just as compelling a game as many more complicated games.
Katamari Damacy: Everything about this game screams simple. Simple graphics, simple controls, simple everything. Yet once again it provides in incredibly in depth puzzle experience which is very addictive. Needing to use only two analog sticks was just genius.
These 5 games are good example of simpler games in genres that are increasingly becoming complex. Yet all 5 give an in-depth experience and may be what Nintendo means and would like to see. Yes I named 3 PS2 games but the point still stand.
Nintendo with the DS and Revolution want to reduce the complicated nature of controllers while provided the options that they still have. They key is that many of these games will be more flexible, hopefully, and you got to hope that 3rd parties will also see the potential in these systems and what they can bring to the table. Not saying I think all games should be simplified in the nature I'm thinking of but it is a trend that refreshing to see.
