When will the horror stop?

[sikkinixx]

I am fed up with horror themed video games. God forbid a studio go "hmm maybe we can make an action/FPS/3rdPS game that DOESN'T involve horror survival!" or "hey.. do we REALLY need aliens/zombies this time?"

Look at the big action games coming out,

RFoM = Horror/Aliens,
GoW=Horror/Aliens,
Bioshock=Horror/some zombies no doubt
Halo 3= Aliens
HL2 = Aliens
Alan Wake =Horror and probably ********** some sort of undead
Lost Planet = Aliens

ARGH! I am tired of aliens and spooky music and *insert sharp note on a piano* omg a dead body with a zombie eating its brain! It's so overdone. Why can't I blow away a human super solider or something? Or kill endless henchmen like in Max Payne 2 (best.action.game.ever) The horror thing was cute back with Resident Evil 1/2 and Clock Tower and even Silent Hill. But some genius decided that action=Horror tied in.

*phew* Ok I feel better now, all the horror/zombie/alien lovers can flame me to ashes now.

[bobber205]

I've noticed the trendd too. Especially with next-gen.
Weird huh?

[sikkinixx]

well cuz ya know, 'old' gen graphics weren't good enough to show off the coool alien character models (that all look alike) and everyone knows you need 7.1 to get spooky music at its prime

[Mackilroy]

There are plenty of FPS games upcoming (and already out) that aren't horror/alien themed. Frontlines: Fuel of War, Rainbow Six Vegas, Battlefield 2142, Battlefield: Bad Company, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, Call of Duty 3, Fall of Liberty, Army of Two, Dog Tag… you get the picture.

[Eidorian]

There are plenty of FPS games upcoming (and already out) that aren't horror/alien themed. Frontlines: Fuel of War, Rainbow Six Vegas, Battlefield 2142, Battlefield: Bad Company, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, Call of Duty 3, Fall of Liberty, Army of Two, Dog Tag… you get the picture.And yet none of them are worth buying.

[sikkinixx]

There are plenty of FPS games upcoming (and already out) that aren't horror/alien themed. Frontlines: Fuel of War, Rainbow Six Vegas, Battlefield 2142, Battlefield: Bad Company, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, Call of Duty 3, Fall of Liberty, Army of Two, Dog Tag… you get the picture.

and most are WWII games of which there are already dozens of, how many times can developers make WWII games?

[Demon Hunter]

and most are WWII games of which there are already dozens of, how many times can developers make WWII games?

It's a genre now, there will be World War II games for the rest of time, I'm sure.

[Eidorian]

and most are WWII games of which there are already dozens of, how many times can developers make WWII games?Don't remind me.

It's a genre now, there will be World War II games for the rest of time, I'm sure.BF 1942 and it's over. Please stop making them. Though Company of Heroes is a nice direction. I can't wait for mods...

[greatdevourer]

I remember when stealth used to be the big thing, just after Splinter Cell was released. Every damn game had a friggin' stealth level!

[sikkinixx]

I remember when stealth used to be the big thing, just after Splinter Cell was released. Every damn game had a friggin' stealth level!

you know this means?

Stealth-Espionage-Alien-Horror-Action! the ultimate genre (in 1941 with Nazis)

[Counterfit]

I would say only the levels involving the Flood count as horror in Halo. The Covenant species are more of a sci-fi style enemy, rather than horror (or sci-fi horror).

[takao]

personally i'm only waiting for the first "space marines vs. nazis" game :rolleyes:

let's face it: at the moment shooters are reduced to
WW2
space marines vs. aliens/mutants
horror-shooter involving aliens,mutants,zombies
special forces vs. terrorists

that's part of the reason i nearly stopped playing shooters... heck at last year's game convention i was happy playing a game where i for once was killing vampires (even though the rest of the game was crap)

anybody seen the the latest Turok trailer ? remember when you were an indian dinosaur hunter in that ? now you are a generic space marine there too and you are mostly fighting other guys who look like generic space marines instead of dinosaurs

[Erasmus]

I'm sorry, but I don't mind the genre. May have something to do with the fact I haven't played any of them. But I would definitely like to.

Personally I would like Legends of Dune to be made into a massive game like Oblivion. It would be absolutely awesome if you could play as Ginaz mercenary, starship captain, cymek, robot, etc. etc.

They should also make a movie of Legends of Dune. At the same time, so the result is both an excellent game that can be played on and on for weeks, and an excellent movie.

Am a massive fan of Legends of Dune. Humans versus Cyborgs versus Robots. What could be more entertaining?

How cool would it be to have a game where if you can't follow orders, you get demoted, and get boring missions, or if you fail a flying exam, you get thrown in with ground troop cannon fodder? Make the difficulty level adjust to how well you play the game. That would be awesome.

[BoyBach]

Fed up with horror and aliens in videogames? Get over it. The industry is run by accountants and marketeers, whose job is to sell games to pre-pubescent males. That's why games are full of tits & arse, zombies, fast cars and guns. It's not a new trend, it's just that the publishers are only interested in 'safe investments' and bullet points on the back of the games box.

[Haoshiro]

you know this means?

Stealth-Espionage-Alien-Horror-Action! the ultimate genre (in 1941 with Nazis)

Isn't that coming out alread? Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3)?

Personally I thought Call of Duty was the best WW2 game released, so I'm glad that gem came out even if it took the hundreds of other generic WW2 shooters being released as well.

I'm also a fan of Sci-Fi, so I like the "futuristic shooters" you mention (at least some of them I am anticipating).

So what kind of FPS do you want then? I'm sure it's been made, and made plenty of times... share a solution to the problem, don't just complain! heheh

[Cloudgazer]

I agree with the original poster.

There is no reason not to make unique FPS games.
Max Payne 2 was the last original FPS.
Great action, incredible style, good story.

I'm surprised it never made it to Mac.
Actually... wait a sec... I'm not surprised.

There are so many games that should have been ported, and have never seen the light of day.

[XNine]

Metal Gear was the best, and truly stealth game of all time. I can't stand splinter cell. The controls are awful.

There are good games in every genre, unfortunately there's a lot of horrible games in every genre too. I'm waiting for the next release of Twisted Metal...

[2nyRiggz]

Dude don't knock the horror games..finally some of us are getting some good games besides all the crappy FPS and RPG plus the MMO..something.

3rd person horror games are the best...I'm not a fan of FPS horror.

Bless

[greatdevourer]

Metal Gear was the best, and truly stealth game of all time. I can't stand splinter cell. The controls are awful. Hehe, I find it the other way round :D (it's almost as though we're destined to fight :p)

[SpankyPenzaanz]

There is a simple solution to all of this - don't play

[Chone]

Well... what else can you make an FPS about? I mean, sure there is war themed games like Battlefield and CoD, etc, but those are hell annoying too, the best FPS have dealt with horror and the "supernatural", F.E.A.R., Half Life 2, Doom 3, Far Cry, Quake, Unreal Tournament, etc and thats just some recent FPS.

I don't understand why it annoys you, FPS are just friendly to those kind of things, just like RPGs are friendly to fantasy themes, its not a recent trend, FPS have been about horror and aliens and stuff like that ever since the first FPS came out and guess what... the best FPS of all time have been horror/alien/monster themed so maybe you just don't like FPS and like I said its not a recent trend... this has been going on since the creation of FPS.

Why not complain about all RPGs being fantasy themed next?

[Dagless]

Fed up with horror and aliens in videogames? Get over it. The industry is run by accountants and marketeers, whose job is to sell games to pre-pubescent males. That's why games are full of tits & arse, zombies, fast cars and guns. It's not a new trend, it's just that the publishers are only interested in 'safe investments' and bullet points on the back of the games box.

That doesn't make that much sense, unless you are an accountant or marketeer. He's talking from his own view and opinions not the corp. side of things.

I fully agree with you Sikkinixx. This is part of the reason I'm feeling less and less impressed with next gen gaming, it's last gen with more polygons, and the genre's that are recycled. I'd love for some originality in this area, seems to be only Puzzlers and little games that get originality these days.

That said I do love HL2, THAT said it's the only game in its genre I play.

[Mackilroy]

And yet none of them are worth buying.

In your opinion, perhaps. There's probably two or three on that list I'd buy. The rest? Either can't run 'em or haven't looked at them.

Metal Gear was the best, and truly stealth game of all time. I can't stand splinter cell. The controls are awful.

Funnily enough, I agree with greatdevourer. I tried MGS and hated the control scheme, while I loved Splinter Cell's.

[Eric5h5]

Max Payne 2 was the last original FPS.
Great action, incredible style, good story.

I'm surprised it never made it to Mac.
Actually... wait a sec... I'm not surprised.


I'm not either: it uses Havok.

--Eric

[Chone]

Wait a second... isnt Max Payne 2 a THIRD person shooter?

That just made this topic extremely stupid.

[sikkinixx]

Wait a second... isnt Max Payne 2 a THIRD person shooter?


yeah whoever said it was an FPS is confused lol


I'm not saying that i HATE all these Alien-Horror-Zombie-shooters just that its a little stale. I got nothing against Sci-Fi games, just Aliens because aliens seem to be the ultimate bail out for a writer.

Why can they teleport like that?
"well because they have better technology!"
umm ok, well why do they wanna kill us?
"duh! their planet is running out of resources so they need earth!"

And aliens create the same old scenarios, fighting on a ruined earth/planet, then fighting on a ship, then the mothership, then you kill the grand master alien, etc. Look at Halo! Thats what you do. Ship, planet, biggership. I still liked Halo, just that it was a little predictable in where I was going next.

Someone mentioned cyborgs and robots, hell bring them in. I would love to waste some cyborgs. I like the look of Assassin's Creed because there is a sci-fi twist lurking in it from what I hear, and hopefully there aren't aliens.

[dukebound85]

all i know is that i bought doom 3 for the xbox and am too scared to play it.

bring back turok the dinosaur hunter!

[sikkinixx]

nice car duke ;) I have a 91 Celica

[bobber205]

Beyond Good and Evil is a good example of a alien/sci-fi story with a well written plot.

[Jasonbot]

Why don't we all just play Pac-Man, the original and classicest game out besides pong of course!

[greatdevourer]

Beyond Good and Evil is a good example of a alien/sci-fi story with a well written plot. I'm so glad that game bummed in the US - £20 original RRP :D

[Dagless]

Oh I'm going to be different. I didn't like the GC or Xbox's Splinter Cell controls at all, though I'm yet to play any SC games to great depth. I don't like the PS2's uneventful controller so I didn't like the controls well there. But I did like the Cube one (big button - action, digital click on the analogue shoulder buttons etc all came in very handy).

I tell you whats irritating my face off - Final Fantasy. Be nice if they could either end the series or just do a Zelda and bring them out so far apart that each game has more merits, the anticipation is higher etc. The whole FF thing has turned me off 3D RPG's. I'm trying to get back into them with Tales of Symphonia on the Cube.

[Lord Blackadder]

and most are WWII games of which there are already dozens of, how many times can developers make WWII games?
I don't think I'll ever get sick of WWII FPS games...

[sikkinixx]

I tell you whats irritating my face off - Final Fantasy. Be nice if they could either end the series or just do a Zelda and bring them out so far apart that each game has more merits, the anticipation is higher etc. The whole FF thing has turned me off 3D RPG's. I'm trying to get back into them with Tales of Symphonia on the Cube.


way to ruin my anticipation of FFXII ;) I loved the PS1 versions (the most loved and the most hated I imagine) then FFX was sucky, but then amazing but now its kinda sucky again. FFX-2 had a cool battle system but was just lame. FFXI shouldnt be included :mad: damn online BS.

But 12 seems to be getting good reviews. The battle system etc. looks pretty sharp and I have talked to a few buddie at uni (japanese guys so they can actually understand the language) who imported it and say it's their favorite one in a long time. I have hope because I have been off RPG's for a long time now and I would love to get back into them

[greatdevourer]

I tell you whats irritating my face off - Final Fantasy. Be nice if they could either end the series or just do a Zelda and bring them out so far apart that each game has more merits, the anticipation is higher etc. The whole FF thing has turned me off 3D RPG's. I'm trying to get back into them with Tales of Symphonia on the Cube. Ah, but FFXIII/Versus will be different ;) It's in real time, and fully 3D, rather than reverse 2.5D

[jdechko]

Hehe, I find it the other way round :D (it's almost as though we're destined to fight :p)

I agree with you, though I can't completely disagree with Oni. MGS pretty much defined the "Stealth Action" genre, and for that, I'm greatful. I've only played the first Metal Gear game (both on PC and Gamecube) and I found fault with the camera angles in each of them - though the GC added first person shooting which relieved some of the problem. I don't know whether or not they were resolved in Sons of Liberty and Substance, but in my opinion, good camera controls (IE: not a static view) are essential to a stealth action game. I like the style that the Tom Clancy tag brought to Splinter Cell: believable times, locations and events, realistic weapons and gadgets (though the weapons and gadgets are a wash as they're realistic in both series).

[XNine]

I agree with you, though I can't completely disagree with Oni. MGS pretty much defined the "Stealth Action" genre, and for that, I'm greatful. I've only played the first Metal Gear game (both on PC and Gamecube) and I found fault with the camera angles in each of them - though the GC added first person shooting which relieved some of the problem. I don't know whether or not they were resolved in Sons of Liberty and Substance, but in my opinion, good camera controls (IE: not a static view) are essential to a stealth action game. I like the style that the Tom Clancy tag brought to Splinter Cell: believable times, locations and events, realistic weapons and gadgets (though the weapons and gadgets are a wash as they're realistic in both series).

MGS3 had much better camera angles, though through the whole series, the point is LIMITING your sight to give more of a challenge like you would have in real life. Not being able to see around multiple corners is what makes it so challenging, and for what you can do with Snake, the controls are laid out perfectly (only on the PS2, though).

Final Fantasy... I agree with Jimmi. I loved X, but hated every other FF. RPG's are becoming so redundant these days. My favorite of all time is Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete for the PS. That was one GREAT game.

And really, until the last few years there weren't that many great American or UK game companies. They've finally learned some things from the japanese, which means more games (though some of them still lack any real earth-shattering, heart swooning content).

Though, the one thing I think EVERYONE will agree on, is never letting games getting TOO life-like.

[Antares]

Gun was a recent "non-alien, non-horror, non-WWII" first person shooter. It was set in the Old West. The game could have been great with a few improvements here and there. But at least it was bold enough to have an underused setting.

I, myself, am sick of Bond games (and Bond-type games). WII is too overdone now and that genre also needs to take a rest. But I don't think I'll ever get tired of sci-fi fps's...only generic ones with cliche' plots and boring graphics.

[sikkinixx]

Gun was a recent "non-alien, non-horror, non-WWII" first person shooter. It was set in the Old West. The game could have been great with a few improvements here and there. But at least it was bold enough to have an underused setting.



The old west is a cool setting, anyone play Red Dead Revolver? that game was sweet.

I think the problem is that those guns back then aren't very fast and FPS's now are much more twitch kinda games. You know, fire off hundreds of rounds over and over and over, jump, duck, run and gun etc. An old west game needs to be a little slower imho, a revolver slow duel style.

[2nyRiggz]

I really can't say anything on the FF front because I don't play them and I'm in no hurry. MGS3: subsistance was great with the 3rd person view made the game feel different.

I could never get tired of 3rd person horror games...RE,SH,Siren,Fatal Frame are what cause me to start playing games again.

RE started to get annoying with its controls but we all know what they did about that:)

Haunting grounds....Fatal Frame....classic games
Silent Hill....Siren...beautiful stories.



Bless

[Dagless]

I like the static camera in MGS, it separates it from Splinter Cell. It does seem to be a style used a lot in Japanese games. The first game that came to mind was Cave Story and how that limited the player so you were forced along a single route with other routes opening when you get the right abilities (very very true in Metroid and Castlevania too). Whereas if you up the enemies AI and allow for camera control then you get Splinter Cell. But there has to be a balance of camera control to enemy functionality/AI.

At least that's how I see it. The restriction is a kind of cheap gameplay technique to make sure your playing the game right. It's a style I want to use in some of my upcoming games too.

[Haoshiro]

I like the static camera in MGS, it separates it from Splinter Cell. It does seem to be a style used a lot in Japanese games. The first game that came to mind was Cave Story and how that limited the player so you were forced along a single route with other routes opening when you get the right abilities (very very true in Metroid and Castlevania too). Whereas if you up the enemies AI and allow for camera control then you get Splinter Cell. But there has to be a balance of camera control to enemy functionality/AI.

At least that's how I see it. The restriction is a kind of cheap gameplay technique to make sure your playing the game right. It's a style I want to use in some of my upcoming games too.

I always felt it was especially cheap in MGS, forcing a lot of Trial & Error just because it purposefully hides things from view. That just really annoys me!

I personally prefer SC over MGS for gameplay, it just feels like it plays so much better and more realistic (which I like in stealth games).

[Dagless]

I always felt it was especially cheap in MGS, forcing a lot of Trial & Error just because it purposefully hides things from view. That just really annoys me!

I personally prefer SC over MGS for gameplay, it just feels like it plays so much better and more realistic (which I like in stealth games).

I love the Snake character, I love the story from the first MGS but it ends there. I can't stand the Sam Fisher character or plot lines from any SC games but the engine seems much more refined, much more fun to play. They should mate :p

[twistedlegato]

I have never played horrer games...

Mainly because my mom wont let me even play most T rated games:o


But SSBM and if the New Zelda is T, she will let me:)

[sikkinixx]

I have never played horrer games...

Mainly because my mom wont let me even play most T rated games:o


But SSBM and if the New Zelda is T, she will let me:)

dude are you only 12? And why do you love Old Navy so much?! their clothes are pretty weak compared to BR (which is also owned by Gap lol)

[Dagless]

dude are you only 12? And why do you love Old Navy so much?! their clothes are pretty weak compared to BR (which is also owned by Gap lol)

My girlfriend was in a similar position - her mum wouldn't allow violent games in the house. She missed out on Mortal Kombat and all that. Whereas I had all the violent games and we're both timid as sheep! oh wait this isn't a Violent games=Violent people discussion.

Tch, all clothes shops fail next to River Island and Selfridges :p

[sikkinixx]

Tch, all clothes shops fail next to River Island and Selfridges :p

that River Island stuff isn't too bad, a little too mid 20's year old -ish for me, I like the classic style stuff that is entirely too old for my age lol All clothes shops fail next to Ogilvy in Montreal (well in Canada anyway, New York has some damn nice shops). I tried on this $5000 Burberry raincoat *sigh* to be rich.... :(

[Dagless]

Burberry? *pukes* you're supposed to be a Mac person WHERE IS YOUR TASTE?!
Selfridges is a little ridiculous too, £85 for a sandwich etc. No doormen unlike Harvey Nichols, got a nice jacket from there once.

[jdechko]

I like the static camera in MGS, it separates it from Splinter Cell. It does seem to be a style used a lot in Japanese games. The first game that came to mind was Cave Story and how that limited the player so you were forced along a single route with other routes opening when you get the right abilities (very very true in Metroid and Castlevania too). Whereas if you up the enemies AI and allow for camera control then you get Splinter Cell. But there has to be a balance of camera control to enemy functionality/AI.

At least that's how I see it. The restriction is a kind of cheap gameplay technique to make sure your playing the game right. It's a style I want to use in some of my upcoming games too.

I just kinda feel like the static camera is un-natural, and it's not well suited for the genre. It's not that I'm against static cameras... The 2D Zelda games work extremely well... proof that top-down can work. But I just think that it limits the focus of the player by taking away what is probably the most important things in a stealth action game. A shooter type game (like Halo, or the beloved Half-Life/Counter Strike) wouldn't be nearly as effective or as popular if the camera were locked/restricted.

[sikkinixx]

Burberry? *pukes* you're supposed to be a Mac person WHERE IS YOUR TASTE?!
Selfridges is a little ridiculous too, £85 for a sandwich etc. No doormen unlike Harvey Nichols, got a nice jacket from there once.

hey they make nice coats :p Some of it is a little too odd for my taste though

[XNine]

PFt, nothing beats an old punk t-shirt that you bought at the show after you got all bloodied from the pit. My favorite shirt is actually my Ghost In the Shell shirt (cover of the first film). It's a 10 year old shirt now. Best godamn shirt I've ever owned!

Anyway, the camera in MGS is the way it is for a reason. In the 2nd and third games, it really hid extra routes and terrain that could be traveled. MGS is a very well thought out series.

I remember the first time we were playing MGS when it first came out. We were stuck at the hangar with the infrared beams. And I said "equip a cigarette." Lo and behold, it worked. Just so godamn ingenious the things they hide in those games. And let's not forget Psycho Mantis, undeniably the GREATEST boss battle ever (on PS at least, when he reads the memory cards.)

If more developers put the time and creativity into their games, we'd have more quality like MGS delivers. Instead we get Fight Club and 50 Cent's game...

[Dagless]

He read the Cube's memory card too ;) the whole "check the back of the packaging" was genius too. That's why the later MGS games never interested me, they were more like traditional games where the first one really surpassed everything.

[Yvan256]

I'm glad to be a Nintendo player. At least I get Mario Hoops, Mario Strickers, Mario World, Mario.... eh wait a minute!

Just kidding. I play Zelda and Metroid. And Pikmin.

Can't wait to see what Nintendo will do with Animal Crossing for the Wii (especially with an always-on network feature).

I guess that's another reason I don't really want an Xbox 360 or a PS3. Not only to they still use the same controllers ("SixAxis" aside) that aren't designed for first-person shooters, that's almost the only genre they have.

Can't wait to see Dead or Alive Xtreme 2, though. :o

[MacsRgr8]

It's a genre now, there will be World War II games for the rest of time, I'm sure.

Until WW III arrives.... ;)

How many WW I games do we know of?

[MacsRgr8]

There are so many games that should have been ported, and have never seen the light of day.

Yep.

The sole reason I occasionaly use a PC with windows is beacuse of the gr8 games that haven't made it to the Mac.

[greatdevourer]

Until WW III arrives.... ;)

How many WW I games do we know of? Duuude... Battlefield 1916... Sit there, waiting, then BOOM! All your troops lost :D

[joepunk]

Until WW III arrives.... ;)

How many WW I games do we know of?
There are a few arial dogfighting games. One comes to mind is Dawn of Aces (http://www.dawnofaces.com/fs_doa.html) although it is a very old game.