Certain days, you feel like you have energy enough to save the world.
Other days, getting out of bed feels like a heroic effort in and of itself
My two modes theses days, it seems. I always look forward to writing about video games for ATE, but will often times lament I do no possess the time required to come up with a truly bangarang idea involved with the matter, so it’s random asides posited where need be. Even though the article that spawned this next thought involving the MGS3 remake is weeks old, I was struck with the notion that I don’t always write about the game series that are my favorites, or the stuff I’m always super excited about. I generally go where the most popping headlines feel like they lay in the gaming landscape, even if it’s something as straight forward as commenting on remake qualities. I can totally understand why a lot of remakes recently are accused of playing it almost “too safe”, as any major deviation whatsoever is seriously derided, which is something I even was reminded of recently in my replay of the RE3 remake.
Seen here: what happens when autocorrect sabotages my attempts
at an angry critique in dealing with the RE3 Nemesis remake
Going off script is a big risk, and most gamers just don’t have the stomach for it, but it’s not necessarily due to them being sticks in the mud or totally resistant to new ideas. A big part of what makes the original content of the game so enjoyable is not just the ridiculous nostalgia factor involved with the title, but the sense and sensibilities of the game and the industry at the time. Change too much of what made the design work, and you’re essentially just doing an interpretative dance version of the original property, with the name only being present with none of the magic involved.
Other times, getting a clash of opinions over “what works”
in regards to a remake is maybe the best one can even hope for
Especially when you consider that millions may ride on a series success with one break out title, like the recent release of the Silent Hill 2 remake playing it largely safe, combined with the ridiculous layoffs that have plagued the industry as of late, and the playing it safe route starts to make a lot more sense. I know this isn’t always possible within the confines of development or even feasible depending on the title, but focus on the big, core idea first, flesh that out, and then throw in some microcosmic sense of deviation somewhere in the title, whether it be a mini-game, an experimental chapter in single player, a specialized playlist in multiplayer. I think there are enough positive examples of games making the strong case for concentrating on creating an effective delivery platform first and foremost instead of just “a game” so to speak, cause then you have a whole universe to play with, instead of just a satellite drifting through the vacuum with some shiny bling adorning the side.
Not to discount the simplified short and sweet approach
in making games in their purest, distilled forms…remake or otherwise
I suppose I’ve shifted tracks here a bit, from what makes a remake work to just video games in general, but I think the sentiment buffs out. There is something to be said about the formula of game design, and I’ve even commented on this in regards to questioning just how different or deviated could the new Zelda game, Echoes of Wisdom even be before it ceased to be a Zelda game and became something else entirely? Not saying be lazy and cash in on the same old idea year in, year out like Call of Duty or Madden, but play to your strengths and know your weaknesses. Sometimes, it’s not about saving the world, its just getting out of bed that day that starts the whole being a hero process.
~Pashford
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