Most Influential Games of Epic Design EVAR

[benji]

Wind Waker looked better and that was on Gamecube!

Art design > technology.

^ i agree with benji, a good example of seamless art designing/directing was 2001's ICO and it's successor the shadow of colossus on the ps2... those two could still fairly hold up a candle against any modern games even though they had some years in them...

thanks for your impressions -Young Buck-, the simpsons always had least success on their video game iterations so i really was kinda expecting their current game to follow the same path... the last time i had fun with a game incorporated to them was the arcade game...

YES. Ico = the hottness. Everything is pretty close to perfect with that game except for the US not getting the complete version.



The thing is, after GTA, Ico is probably the most influential game of the last generation. Kojima, Aonuma, both Jaffe and Balrog, the guy who relaunched Prince of Persia, all of them have been inspired by the game and it has shown.

right on the money benji, they not only gave inspiration to other A list games but also spawned hordes and hordes of failed clones...

Well, I think most of the good developers have used it to make their games better. God of War clearly uses Ico inspiration, so does the latest Zelda games, and they are better for it in terms of displaying grand epic views. Ico (and Colossus) have shown developers that sometimes "simple" gameplay can be the deepest and most rewarding.

[benji]

I am double posting for a reason. Get over it plz. kthx.

Some other games that have been amazingly influential, and redefined what games could be design-wise for me. I'm looking at last gen mainly for now.

Metroid Prime (GCN): The look, sound, atmosphere, simply amazing. It was really just a perfectly constructed game in my opinion in terms of its' design. The sequels have met and surpassed it in someways, but nothing can compare to the original still and the first time through.

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (GCN): The instant I saw the grass, the island and the motion of Link at the start of this game this changed the way I thought about how games appeared. The design of the world is incredible (like MP) and there is no reason to dismiss it as kiddy, it looks amazing.

God of War and God of War II (PS2): II really perfects the formula, but the original was the first game that delivered the epic feel of movies in many ways for me. II has so many "holy fuck" moments of plain batshit insaneness.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requim (GCN): Insanity effects.

[Glen]

others that come to mind is:

shadow of the colossus (ps2): there has never been a game that lets you slay giants (not just orc-like giants, i'm talking huge ass mountain sized ones) and gives you utmost satisfaction in succeeding... the environment basically is low res but great art directing, right doses of motion blur, and brilliant lighting effects more than make up for ps2's aging specs and gives the game that epic feel... and i almost forgot to mention you only get to use a sword, bow and arrow, and a trusty steed to conquer these majestic beasts...




other games i saw it influenced was god of war 2, the titans in it basically... and most probably all the other next gen games that needs a dose hugeness in them...

[benji]

Fantastic article about how they did some of the graphics on the PS2: http://www.team-ico.net/sotc/index.html

[Glen]

^ thanks for the heads up on the article benji...

another that comes to mind as influential is:

metal gear solid: sons of liberty/substance/snake eater (ps2): the way how elements in the game reacts leaves me in awe... even though it's genre is basically stealth, you still can go "rambo" on it... and the sniper battle with "the end" in snake eater (if you play against him in difficulty level other than easy, that way he wouldn't have any pattern when hiding) would always stand out as "one of a kind feel" for me and put even other pure fps shooters to shame... it stands out as one of the best graphical ps2 games along with God of War franchise in my opinion...



other noticeable game i saw it influenced were the tom clancys splinter cell series...

[Lean]

But Splinter Cell in my opinion is much linear compared to MGS. And gameplay is far inferior than MGS.

[-Young Buck-]

Ive never played ICO or Shadow. But i have to say God of War was an amazing game, and number 2 was right behind it. Funny thing is i wasnt even interested in God of war, and picked the first one up as a greatest hits title just for the hell of it. It was great. Especially the level where you climb up the area on the back of the titan. When you are close to the edge and can see him walking underneath you.

[Jugs]

God of War is the greatest gaming experience I've ever had.

Second was when I was playing 7 Sins and I got caught having sex with a girl on the shop window by the manager.

[Glen]

being released at a later date (2005 to be exact) god of war had the luxury of drawing inspiration from a lot of other games that suceeded before it (prince of persia, shadow of the colossus, devil may cry, and as benji stated... ICO) now what made it epic is that they polished those gameplay elements that made those other titles great to near perfection, and added there own ingredients to the mix (blood and gore, soundtrack is impeccable, the storyline is A1... because really, it's not everyday you get to kick mythological God's and creatures arses, it's graphics is one of the best... if not, the best the ps2 has to offer, and of course... the arrogant anti hero that defied them all)

at your 2nd greatest gaming experience Jugs (gotta try me some of that game sometime )

another game that comes to mind is:

okami (again for the ps2 , i owned a gamecube once but having 2 consoles at the time wasn't too forgiving on my budget... so i had to sell it, benji has it covered anyways... ) like what -Young Buck- felt with god of war at first, i felt the same for this game... wasn't really a fan of cel shaded games, i felt most of the ones before were just eye candies, until this game came along... visuals are a given, good light humor is present, what sets it apart from other cel shaded games is the innovation that came with it... it kinda lets you "paint" (literally using an ingame brush) your way in or out of situations...

heres a vid to see what i am talking about:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pJKfUBMuFEE