There were no good games in 2004. None. I remember building building a computer with 1gb RAM, Pentium 4, and an ATI Radeon 9800xt... And just having nothing good to play.
When I played the original back on PS3, I would definitely say it's that good. To me, it did feel like it was the game making the generational leap. It's not so noticeable these days now that technology and game design has advanced so much, but my first playthrough was wonderful.
As a note: I haven't played the sequels, the remasters on modern consoles, or watched the TV show.
The second game is arguably even better than the first. The story telling made me care about someone I did not think I would care about. Highly recommend you give it a playthrough!
It’s pretty hilarious to me the mental gymnastics some people will go through to refuse to admit that the gameplay is hugely improved in the sequel just because they don’t like one thing that happened in the story.
I didn't get from OPs comment that they didn't play the second one for any particular reason. They didn't really add any qualifiers as to why they didn't play it.
I played it about a year ago. I was pleasantly surprised. It's very well-done for it's time. It's a bit dated now but not in a bad way. I'd recommend it if you like horror and/or adventure games.
I think it depends a lot on how much you like serious stories in your video games. I prefer lighthearted games so I didn't even make it through the first one, but my best friend loves them.
It's good historically. Publishers and developers didn't really care much about story in their games before then (2013). "Video Game story" was often horribly bad, like porn acting; but more often it was just forgettable. Like mandatory lubricant to keep the gameplay going, rather than a feature to make good. Think, Far Cry 3, Borderlands 2, Dishonored, etc. They're ok, but they don't make you really "feel" something. Mostly you just go around killing everything until it's done. Heck, speaking of which, even Doom Eternal (2020) has a coherent storyline and lore.
After The Last of Us, publishers suddenly realised that people actually really like it when their videogames have good stories, that make sense narratively, have twists, low plot holes, emotional investment and climax, etc. Now we have even better stories like Ghost of Tsushima, Expedition 33, Baldur's Gate 3, etc.
It's a bit dated now, but 13 years ago gaming was very different. It's actually expected nowadays for games to have a reasonably good story. Today, I would probably recommend the TV show instead for most people, or maybe a Let's Play.
Edit: I've triggered the gaming circle jerk "all retro games were perfect" rose tinted glasses crowd again. Seems to happen a lot
It's good historically. Publishers and developers didn't really care much about story in their games before then (2013). "Video Game story" was often horribly bad, like porn acting; but more often it was just forgettable. Like mandatory lubricant to keep the gameplay going, rather than a feature to make good.
[...]
After The Last of Us, publishers suddenly realised that people actually really like it when their videogames have good stories, that make sense narratively, have twists, low plot holes, emotional investment and climax, etc. Now we have even better stories [...]
You're still being vague. I assume you're implying that the existence of games like Final Fantasy 7 (1997) having a good story for it's time, means that no other game from then on can have a story that's revolutionary for it's time? It's nonsensical. Technology improves, storywriting gets better, game mechanics get woven into the narrative.
Good stories in games back then were the exception, not the norm. Listing a few exceptions doesn't counter anything.
As a reminder, my original comment was explaining the context of this game to somebody and why they would want to play it or not. You're the one that turned it into a debate with your list of "counter examples". Don't try and turn this shit around on me.
You're conclusion isn't wrong but you're giving it credit for the wrong things. All of those elements were present in games that came long before, TLOU was just a lot more marketable.
The story-first approach made you feel in control of a zombie movie during peak zombie mania. You just binged The Walking Dead, what if you could play an episode...
In that sense, you're right that its success opened up a whole new market that we all benefit from. I knew so many people whose game libraries were like NBA 2k 2011, NBA 2k 2012, and The Last Of Us. It made a lot of non-hobbyists realize that games can be art.
It's a good game that would have earned a place in video game history regardless BUT it wasn't particularly innovative. It just did what it did very well
Your comment feels like it's trying to simultaneously agree with me and vaguely correct me at the same time. I'm not really sure what to make of it.
The Last of Us had the best story in gaming in quite a while. That's my opinion, backed up by the huge amount of media coverage and acclaim at the time. Yes, other games had stories in them, but they mostly sucked. They don't suck as much anymore, because that game made publishers and developers and players care more. That's my point.
I didn't mean to come off as hostile because yes, I do agree with your conclusion that TLOU was a big deal for games. It was an accessible game that did all of the things you mentioned extremely well...but it wasn't the first to do any of them.
And highlighting just those games ignores the plethora with great stories and acting that just just didn't click with the mainstream. Try pitching a space opera to the average person in 2013...now try a zombie apocalypse. It got a boost from being in the right place at the right time.
I'm not insulting the game at all but that's like saying Bob Marley was the first to do reggae.
You didn't even read my comment properly. If anyone's wrong here, it's objectively you, since the comment is still there for anyone to read and compare; in it's original, non-misinterpreted form. You and the other commenter somehow read one thing and ended up with a completely different conclusion, and then smugly make fun of / attack my comment based on those incorrect interpretations. So forgive me for forgoing the pleasantries in the face of unpleasantness.
So: what, specifically, in my original comment is factually incorrect? Not paraphrasing. Actually carefully read my comment and directly quote the part you disagree with. Also, since apparently I'm not just of an opposing opinion to you, but actually completely "wrong", explain how it's wrong, exactly. No vagueness.
Publishers and developers didn't really care much about story in their games before then (2013). "Video Game story" was often horribly bad, like porn acting; but more often it was just forgettable
Notice the qualifiers. "didn't really care much", "often horribly bad", "more often it was just forgettable". None of those are absolute terms talking about every goddamn publisher and every game made before then.
You also use that word "objectively" without giving any counterpoints. I don't think that word means what you think it means; you can't have an objective opinion piece. So kindly fuck right off with your high horse "ignorant".
People like to belittle and demean things they think are a threat to their bottom line, especially if they don't actually understand it.
Recently encountered this with people knocking FOSS as "children's software", clearly because they've already sunk enormous cost into their expensive licensed corporate pipeline and they don't want a FOSS artist getting a piece.
You could probably carry around a small keyboard to plug into your phone if you really wanted to. I don't know how well it works with iPhone, but it should work just fine on Android.
38 Comments
psx_crab@lemmy.zip · 29 pts · 1d
Yeah, kinda sucks actually. I remember having to jump on Combine and insert another coin when i want to get a Gravity Gun in Half Life 2.
chunkystyles@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 1d
There were no good games in 2004. None. I remember building building a computer with 1gb RAM, Pentium 4, and an ATI Radeon 9800xt... And just having nothing good to play.
/s
DeadEndLink@lemmy.ca · 22 pts · 1d
Was it really that good? It was just jump scares and ego-gun-tripping...mixed with decent voice acting...
PineRune@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 1d
When I played the original back on PS3, I would definitely say it's that good. To me, it did feel like it was the game making the generational leap. It's not so noticeable these days now that technology and game design has advanced so much, but my first playthrough was wonderful.
As a note: I haven't played the sequels, the remasters on modern consoles, or watched the TV show.
NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 16h
The second game is arguably even better than the first. The story telling made me care about someone I did not think I would care about. Highly recommend you give it a playthrough!
FluidBeef@quokk.au · 2 pts · 11h
It’s pretty hilarious to me the mental gymnastics some people will go through to refuse to admit that the gameplay is hugely improved in the sequel just because they don’t like one thing that happened in the story.
NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1h
I didn't get from OPs comment that they didn't play the second one for any particular reason. They didn't really add any qualifiers as to why they didn't play it.
nullpotential@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 9 pts · 1d
Yes.
daggermoon@piefed.world · 5 pts · 1d
I played it about a year ago. I was pleasantly surprised. It's very well-done for it's time. It's a bit dated now but not in a bad way. I'd recommend it if you like horror and/or adventure games.
ryven@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 1d
I think it depends a lot on how much you like serious stories in your video games. I prefer lighthearted games so I didn't even make it through the first one, but my best friend loves them.
Zarobi@aussie.zone · -3 pts · 1d
It's good historically. Publishers and developers didn't really care much about story in their games before then (2013). "Video Game story" was often horribly bad, like porn acting; but more often it was just forgettable. Like mandatory lubricant to keep the gameplay going, rather than a feature to make good. Think, Far Cry 3, Borderlands 2, Dishonored, etc. They're ok, but they don't make you really "feel" something. Mostly you just go around killing everything until it's done. Heck, speaking of which, even Doom Eternal (2020) has a coherent storyline and lore.
After The Last of Us, publishers suddenly realised that people actually really like it when their videogames have good stories, that make sense narratively, have twists, low plot holes, emotional investment and climax, etc. Now we have even better stories like Ghost of Tsushima, Expedition 33, Baldur's Gate 3, etc.
It's a bit dated now, but 13 years ago gaming was very different. It's actually expected nowadays for games to have a reasonably good story. Today, I would probably recommend the TV show instead for most people, or maybe a Let's Play.
Edit: I've triggered the gaming circle jerk "all retro games were perfect" rose tinted glasses crowd again. Seems to happen a lot
funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works · 10 pts · 1d
Half Life (1998) was considered revolutionary for putting all its cut scenes in game and you had to press E to listen to characters.
Final Fantasy 6 (1994) and 7 (1997) were considered masterpieces of storytelling
Myst was 1993
Sid Meier was making story based games in the mid 80s.
Zarobi@aussie.zone · -8 pts · 1d
What's your point?
funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 23h
You said
My reply gives counter-examples
Zarobi@aussie.zone · -9 pts · 22h
And you said
You're still being vague. I assume you're implying that the existence of games like Final Fantasy 7 (1997) having a good story for it's time, means that no other game from then on can have a story that's revolutionary for it's time? It's nonsensical. Technology improves, storywriting gets better, game mechanics get woven into the narrative.
Good stories in games back then were the exception, not the norm. Listing a few exceptions doesn't counter anything.
funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 17h
you said not much, and this is a conversation not a contract negotiation in a court of law
Zarobi@aussie.zone · -6 pts · 16h
As a reminder, my original comment was explaining the context of this game to somebody and why they would want to play it or not. You're the one that turned it into a debate with your list of "counter examples". Don't try and turn this shit around on me.
glimse@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1d
You're conclusion isn't wrong but you're giving it credit for the wrong things. All of those elements were present in games that came long before, TLOU was just a lot more marketable.
The story-first approach made you feel in control of a zombie movie during peak zombie mania. You just binged The Walking Dead, what if you could play an episode...
In that sense, you're right that its success opened up a whole new market that we all benefit from. I knew so many people whose game libraries were like NBA 2k 2011, NBA 2k 2012, and The Last Of Us. It made a lot of non-hobbyists realize that games can be art.
It's a good game that would have earned a place in video game history regardless BUT it wasn't particularly innovative. It just did what it did very well
Zarobi@aussie.zone · -5 pts · 1d
Your comment feels like it's trying to simultaneously agree with me and vaguely correct me at the same time. I'm not really sure what to make of it.
The Last of Us had the best story in gaming in quite a while. That's my opinion, backed up by the huge amount of media coverage and acclaim at the time. Yes, other games had stories in them, but they mostly sucked. They don't suck as much anymore, because that game made publishers and developers and players care more. That's my point.
glimse@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 22h
I didn't mean to come off as hostile because yes, I do agree with your conclusion that TLOU was a big deal for games. It was an accessible game that did all of the things you mentioned extremely well...but it wasn't the first to do any of them.
And highlighting just those games ignores the plethora with great stories and acting that just just didn't click with the mainstream. Try pitching a space opera to the average person in 2013...now try a zombie apocalypse. It got a boost from being in the right place at the right time.
I'm not insulting the game at all but that's like saying Bob Marley was the first to do reggae.
NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3h
Lol, lots of games before The Last of Us had fantastic stories.
Zarobi@aussie.zone · -1 pts · 3h
Oh no, not another one
NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2h
You didn't trigger a circle jerk. You're just wrong. And based on your other comments in this thread, not a very pleasant person.
Zarobi@aussie.zone · -1 pts · 1h
You didn't even read my comment properly. If anyone's wrong here, it's objectively you, since the comment is still there for anyone to read and compare; in it's original, non-misinterpreted form. You and the other commenter somehow read one thing and ended up with a completely different conclusion, and then smugly make fun of / attack my comment based on those incorrect interpretations. So forgive me for forgoing the pleasantries in the face of unpleasantness.
So: what, specifically, in my original comment is factually incorrect? Not paraphrasing. Actually carefully read my comment and directly quote the part you disagree with. Also, since apparently I'm not just of an opposing opinion to you, but actually completely "wrong", explain how it's wrong, exactly. No vagueness.
KeenFlame@feddit.nu · 1 pts · 1h
Publishers and developers before 2013 did not care much about the story.
This is the claim that is objectively and philosophically ignorant
Zarobi@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 1h
That's both misquoted and out of context.
Notice the qualifiers. "didn't really care much", "often horribly bad", "more often it was just forgettable". None of those are absolute terms talking about every goddamn publisher and every game made before then.
You also use that word "objectively" without giving any counterpoints. I don't think that word means what you think it means; you can't have an objective opinion piece. So kindly fuck right off with your high horse "ignorant".
64bithero@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 1d
Video games in many cases now cost more to make than movies / tv. And for years video games have out sold movies.
Yet to this day the movie / tv industry still treats the gaming industry as an unloved red headed step child.
They do their own thing and the movie or tv show ends up flopping.
Rinse and repeat.
MonkeMischief@lemmy.today · 6 pts · 11h
People like to belittle and demean things they think are a threat to their bottom line, especially if they don't actually understand it.
Recently encountered this with people knocking FOSS as "children's software", clearly because they've already sunk enormous cost into their expensive licensed corporate pipeline and they don't want a FOSS artist getting a piece.
Ioughttamow@fedia.io · 11 pts · 1d
In this household, you jump on an enemy, and they invert and fall off the screen, unless they have spikes
LordMayor@piefed.social · 2 pts · 1d
But why put Mario Bros in 1972?
Tilgare@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 21h
I'm sure they meant 1982.
Zen_Shinobi@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1d
I mean The Last of Us was really good, I cat think of a better game /jk (The Last of Us was good though)
BewareOfIdiot@nord.pub · 10 pts · 1d
I dog of plenty of better games
Zen_Shinobi@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d
Lmao I just saw the typo. I wish we had physical keys still for phones.
Zorque@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1d
You could probably carry around a small keyboard to plug into your phone if you really wanted to. I don't know how well it works with iPhone, but it should work just fine on Android.
Dojan@pawb.social · 3 pts · 1d
Works just fine on iOS too.