So I want to talk about something that is the source of many a nerdy argument and will never be definitively answered but we, as gamers, must discuss - the essence of a great game. Many games have become "legends" and "instant classics" or have "stood the test of time" and they've all done so for various reasons but I think there is a linking factor that every game must have...
Now before I reveal my answer to the golden question, let's look at a couple of answers I've heard and disagree with. First, storyline. Some people say a game must have a gripping storyline in order to hang with the big boys. A great ex
ample of an awesome storyline is Final Fantasy VII. Everyone has played this game (and if you haven't, stop reading this and go play it) and everyone knows the story of Cloud, Sephiroth, the Lifestream and the almost indestructible Meteor. This game, arguably one of the greatest ever made, has been carried through time on the back of it's unique storyline, but it doesn't make a precedent over what makes a great game. Also, many other elements aided in it's rise in the gaming community. With that said, I progress further in my argument.The second solution is innovation. Every game designer wants to bring something new to the table every time he or she creates a game and sometimes it is done so with impeccable taste and creativity. Sometimes so much so that it revolutionizes video games as we know it, like PaRappa the Rapper. Although it never becam
e as popular as the games that followed, PaRappa paved the way for an entire genre of video games. This now classified "Rhythm Game" was the precursor to games like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero. But even with great innovation, PaRappa the Rapper failed to capture our hearts for an extended amount of time (but I have to admit, I played a demo of this when it first came out and I was obsessed, too bad I never actually bought the game).Now it's the moment of truth. The "It" factor that every great game must possess is...
GAMEPLAY!
That's right, gameplay. It all comes down to this simple question: Is it fun to play? Why did PaRappa the Rapper fail? It had poor gameplay. Sitting there pressing X, Triangle, Square, X, Up, X, Down, Circle can get pretty boring after a while. It needed to be a little more interactive, that's why games like DDR and Guitar Hero have done so well, they took the idea of PaRappa the Rapper and made it fun to play. Why, even though I still dont understand this, did Final Fantasy VII not capture the entire gaming community? It had so-so gameplay. Don't get me wrong, I've already pronounced FFVII's dominance in the gaming world but I think if it had strayed from the classic RPG gameplay it could have grabbed the attention of a wider gaming audience. Many games have survived in the gaming world on gameplay alone. Take the "old school" arcade games. Can you tell me the story behind Galaga? I bet not, but it's fun to play. That simplicity even works in today's industry. There is a game that you can download on Xbox Live from the Indie section called "The Impossible Game." The entire game is a red square (you) moving across the screen and it jumps over triangles and uses other squares to jump over said triangles and other obstacles to reach the end. Simple enough, right? Well, let's just say there's a reason it's called the impossible game. I have yet to beat this game, like most people, but it continues to get more and more downloads because it is a game that's captivating and challenging and it achieves this through gameplay alone. Another great example is Borderlands. This first-person shooter/RPG was released in October 2009 and has become one of the most talked about games of the year. It's defining element of excellence is the fact that it relies on sheer gaming ability, reminiscent of retro fighting games. I watched my little brother beat Skagzilla even though he was WAY under the recommended level simply because of his ability as a gamer. It's an appeal like that that most games fail to possess. That, and all my other examples, is why I believe gameplay is the single most important factor in making a great game. Next time you look at a game, strip it from it's storyline and fancy graphics and ask yourself this all important question: Is it fun to play?
Thanks for reading and I hope this sparks a discussion for you and your fellow nerds.
Game on.
3 comments:
Alright dude, here's the deal. I have to agree that gameplay is the 'one most important thing to make a great game'. However, I think you're taking the wrong angle. Gameplay is a very fluid game attribute.
For starters you have to consider what kind of games you like to play. For example, I enjoy playing Halo3, but not any of the CoD series. Not because CoD isn't a 'good game', but purely because I enjoy the storyline. I don't buy games just for the multiplayer action, I personally find that a waste of money. Any game I buy should entertain me by myself or with other people.
Second is that the complexity of a game has to meet my standards. I can't play simple games for an extended period of time. If all you do is move a box around, or push a button every now and then, I can't enjoy playing it. However, I do enjoy guitar hero and DDR. Why? Because in GH I feel like I'm getting to play with the music and to have to move your fingers that fast with precision is a challenge, and DDR requires not only pushing buttons with your feet, but it also requires that you have the ability to move your body fast enough so that you can accurately hit the right part of the pad.
Then you have to take into account the music in a game. The game designers take a lot of time and effort putting in exactly what sounds they want, when they want, and that audible input has an amazingly massive effect on the enjoyment of a game. Would you enjoy all those RPG boss battles as much if it weren't for the new and kick ass music? Would you enjoy walking through a mysterious part of the game while there's an upbeat happy type song going on? Obviously not, you'd sit there saying "wtf dude, seriously?" and then move on.
Is what I'm trying to say is that yes, gameplay is the defining element. But to determine why a game is enjoyable you have to look at not only the game and all of it's many many elements, but also the person. The brain is a very interesting piece of equipment. Each person's is unique, and thus requires different things to make a game enjoyable. And if you think about it, the number of inputs that are taken in while playing any game is astounding. Lighting, mood, music, storyline, complexity, sound effects, controls, required movement, type of gameplay, etc. all of these are taken into account by the brain, filtered and then determines an emotional response to the game.
So in conclusion, agreed... but think about it a bit more.
I like your argument and I see your points however I was mostly speaking about "great" games in a broad perspective. As in, lasting power and the trends in gaming throughout the years. I tried to now have too personal of an approach and stick with the general consensus of the gaming community.
Thanks for reading and thanks for your input! Keep it up!
I agree with Adam that gameplay, although extremely important, is not the defining factor of what makes a game great. Actually, the "It" factor is a game's ability to fluidly and beautifully incorporate many factors into itself like gameplay, story, graphics, music, sound effect, overall immersion, etc., and not fall on its face. Even if one of these factors falters, then a game can lose its "it" factor.
This is very hard thing to do, but it's been done! More recently, Uncharted 2 was able to achieve this seemingly impossible goal in having such an amazingly fluid pace from gun battles to fist fights, from sneaking to running and gunning, all while having amazingly charismatic characters and an awesome story.
A game can have great gameplay, but if it's missing other important factors than it's lost some greatness.
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