lostwolfe: that's actually one of the things i really enjoyed about those games. they don't have "the best graphics," but everything you need to know about and see in those scenes is [generally] "reasonably" well articulated. and it's kind of stylized now, given the sorts of graphics we have in the modern era. they're not the best graphics, but it's a very "pure" expression of gaming for my tastes.
Stilton: Absolutely. I get the feeling 'games' - which I very much feel the old-school side of things to be - have evolved into a different medium altogether. Some of the frankly incredible images of what might be called blockbuster games are now so comparable to interactive films that the meaning of the word 'game' has altered. Along with this incredible gain there is also a loss of a simpler and more pure involvement with a title, where its simplicity is something that gets into you with little visual distraction and perhaps has a deeper emotional effect (depending on the game, of course). Today's games tend to raise their voice and frequently even scream and yell. Older games, through their relative simplicity, were maybe more eloquent. I like both types, but I prefer the older sensibilities.
i can agree with this sentiment completely.
one of the few "modern games" to get this right - as in: it looks good, but it has that old-school sort of feel to it with the simplicity of it's design and simplicity of it's graphics is the game "journey" for the playstation three. if you haven't played it, then i suggest you watch a walkthrough of it, because it's absolutely just a wonderful emotional "journey" from end to end.
the very best playthrough i've seen of it - which was done in a very relaxed, gentle manner was lucajin's from about a year and a bit ago now, i believe. she got into the atmosphere of the game and completely respected it for exactly what it was. but there are /very/ few modern games [to me] that manage this. as you say: modern games seem to want to bludgeon the gamer over the head with: THE GRAPHICS. GOOD LORD YES! but they seem to roget that for a game to be a game, it has to be sort of wistful and pleasant, too.
this, in fact, is why i can't stand - and didn't like - the move towards shooters like doom. i felt like they were doing away with all that elegance for some gore and a cheap thrill.
so, i never played a third person shooter past doom, because they all seemed "much the same" to me. the only game i've played in that vein was portal. and i played that at a friend's urging and over a couple of days while i was staying at his house. whenever we wern't watching movies, he was watching over my shoulder while i played it. nudging me on the one or two occasions where i got stuck. that - to me - is a wonderful gaming memory, because of - again - how simple that game was.
but i digress:
i'm going to link you to journey, next, but before i go, this is absolutely one game i wish they'd port to pc [but i doubt they ever will] - i'd pay /good/ money to own this.
lucahjin's playthrough of journey: [best watched with your favourite beverage of choice [hot chocolate for me], a good set of headphones and the lights down low.]
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6FCB779DA20D237C
